Thailand 5 Days: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket [Short Description
3 cities |
15 attraction(s) |
total distance 1837
km
TIPS
Day1
Day2
Day3
Day4
Day5
Day1: Bangkok
3 attraction(s) ·
2 km
1
Built in 1782, this ornate royal palace complex now houses a museum & is open to visitors.
1
km
2
On the grounds of the Grand Palace, this sacred temple is renowned for its Emerald Buddha.
1
km
3
Khao San Road has always been a favorite place for backpackers. It is close to many tourist attractions, such as the Grand Palace, National Museum, and Art Galleries. There are numerous bars and unique shops where you can experience the local culture and buy souvenirs. Additionally, the famous Lumphini Night Market, Wholesale Souvenir Market, and open-air Beer Gardens are also located near Khao San Road. The annual Songkran Festival, known as the Water Festival, takes place here and is an important cultural event in Thailand. For budget travelers, almost all ATMs near Khao San Road accept UnionPay cards, and the withdrawal fees for debit cards are relatively low.
Day2: Bangkok
3 attraction(s) ·
3 km
Day3: Chiang Mai
3 attraction(s) ·
5 km
1
One of Thailand's important cultural heritages, the ancient city is in a square shape with a perimeter of approximately 1.5 kilometers, and the city walls and moat are well-preserved. Inside the ancient city, there are numerous traditional temples and pagodas, as well as unique hotels, guesthouses, cafes, and restaurants. There are many city gates in the ancient city, and the East Gate Tapae Gate is well-preserved.
Famous temples in the ancient city include Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh, and Wat Chiang Man, most of which can be visited for free, with only a 20 Baht entrance fee for foreigners at Wat Phra Singh.
The ancient city is also the location of the popular Sunday Night Market, which is held on the street near the East Gate Tapae Gate.
1
km
2
Wat Phra Singh, built in 1345, is the largest temple in the ancient city of Chiang Mai and one of the must-visit attractions for tourists. The most famous part of the temple is the sacred hall that houses the Phra Singh, a lion-shaped Buddha statue. It is the highest-ranking and largest temple in Chiang Mai, alongside Wat Chedi Luang. The temple has undergone several expansions and renovations to reach its present size. It houses the ashes of King Kaewfa and exquisite wooden carvings and murals. The most impressive feature is the gold-plated Phra Singh Buddha statue, which gives the temple its name. The temple also features a library and collection of traditional art. The outside walls are adorned with large advertisements about Buddhism, and two white mythological creatures stand at the entrance. Inside the temple, traditional music is performed while the temple is lit up with decorations. Across the street from Wat Phra Singh is Wat Pha Bong.
5
km
3
Chiang Mai Zoo was established in 1974 and is located in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. It was originally a privately owned zoo and became an official zoo on June 16, 1977. The zoo features a monorail and a 133-meter-long aquarium, allowing visitors to observe various animals in an excellent position and experience the animal culture of Thailand.
Day4: Chiang Mai
3 attraction(s) ·
9 km
1
5,499-foot mountain featuring trails through evergreen forests & a picturesque, hilltop temple.
7
km
2
Chiang Mai University was founded in 1964 and is the first higher education institution in northern Thailand. Today, it is ranked second in Thailand and is the top university outside of Bangkok. The campus covers an area of 14 square kilometers and has 107 faculties, with over 18,000 students and over 2,000 faculty members. While its overall academic reputation may not match some of the well-known universities in Bangkok, Chiang Mai University is highly regarded for its engineering and medical technology programs, earning a good reputation. Additionally, the campus is located near Doi Suthep Mountain, about 2 kilometers west of the city center, offering a beautiful environment.
2
km
3
Buzzing road lined with craft coffee shops, boutiques, hip restaurants & cocktail bars.
Day5: Phuket
3 attraction(s) ·
22 km
1
Patong Beach is a public beach located in the middle of the west coast of Phuket Island. It is three kilometers long, requires no entrance fee, and is open to the public 24 hours a day. Due to the natural bay barrier, the waves here are relatively calm and perfect for swimming and beach activities. Patong Beach's unique geographical conditions have made it one of the earliest and most mature beaches in Phuket Island. Here, you can find a large number of hotels, restaurants, bars, and small shops, and enjoy a wonderful holiday. However, the prosperity of Patong Beach also brings commercialization and environmental pollution, and the beach and seawater are some of the most polluted in Phuket.
Choosing to stay in Patong Beach, you can enjoy beach activities such as beach chairs, umbrellas, Thai massages, motor boats, banana boats, and parasailing during the day, and taste seafood stalls, buy souvenirs or spend a beautiful night in a bar at night. If you are interested in Phuket's bar culture, you might as well go to Bangala Road and experience the pedestrian street perpendicular to the beach, enjoy the performances of pole dancing girls and ladyboys, or watch various unique performances. Even if you are not a fan of nightlife, you can stroll through the bar street at night and experience Phuket's unique culture.
11
km
2
Phuket Town is located in the central part of Phuket, about a 30-minute drive from Phuket Airport and a 45-minute drive from Patong. This is where the Phuket government is located, while Patong is the tourist center, and the two have different atmospheres. In Phuket Town, you can get an in-depth look at the local way of life and taste cheap and delicious food. Phuket Town includes residential areas, commercial areas, schools, and other areas, but not all areas are worth visiting.
Early Chinese immigrants once gathered in Phuket Town, and the old street preserves nearly a century of Portuguese-style architecture, which is one of the shooting locations for the Thai movie "Seasons Change." These buildings have been protected by the government. On the old street, you can find shops selling traditional Peranakan-style clothing, and some old houses have been converted into bars and guesthouses, suitable for fresh tourists or photography enthusiasts who like to look for the shadows of old times in Phuket Town.
In addition to the old street, Phuket Town also has a viewing point located on Rang Hill. On the hill, besides dense vegetation and negative oxygen ions, you can also enjoy the beautiful scenery of Phuket Town and the east coast. At night, Rang Hill is a good place for local couples to date, and there are several famous restaurants on the hill, suitable for enjoying the night view of Phuket. During the day, when you go up to Rang Hill, you also have the chance to see groups of macaques. You can feed them with peanuts, but please do not touch them. If you are injured, you need to go to the hospital for timely vaccination.
12
km
3
Karon Beach is located in the south of Patong, with a small hill in between. Compared to Patong Beach, Karon Beach has a longer coastline, softer sand, and clearer water. However, the waves are bigger than Patong, so swimming is not suitable for the whole year. This is also a high-risk area for drowning accidents, so Karon Beach does not have sun loungers or umbrellas, nor water activities such as parasailing and banana boats. Occasionally, surfers will surf here. There are many star hotels near Karon, just across the road from the beach, suitable for tourists who like a quiet vacation. The shopping and dining areas are scattered compared to Patong, and there are convenience stores and night markets along the beach. Karon Beach and the surrounding areas are public areas, no tickets are required, and open to tourists all day. At night, there will be sparkling fishing fires in the distance, giving people a sense of peace and romance on the beach.
