Thailand Island Hopping: Bangkok, Phuket, Phi Phi and Krabi in 12 Days

Your guide meets you at Bangkok airport and takes you by private vehicle to your hotel in the Silom area. The rest of the day is free. Rest after the flight, or head out for a first taste of Thai street food in the evening, when the city is cooler and full of life.Overnight: Bangkok

Begin at the Grand Palace, built from 1782 as the royal residence, and Wat Phra Kaew, home of the Emerald Buddha. Then cross the Chao Phraya on the local ferry to Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, with its porcelain-covered tower. Ride back to Wat Pho to see the giant Reclining Buddha, and end at Wat Traimit with its solid gold Buddha. The afternoon is yours.Overnight: Bangkok · Meals: B

Head out of the city to Samut Songkhram. At the Maeklong railway market, vendors pull back their stalls each time the train passes. Continue to Damnoen Saduak for a 30-minute long-tail boat ride past orchards and stilt houses, then explore the floating market by paddle boat. After lunch, visit the Ban Bang Phlap community to cycle through village lanes, see an organic pomelo farm, learn to make preserved fruit and build a Thai kite. Taste fresh coconut and pomelo before you return.Overnight: Bangkok · Meals: B, L

Your guide takes you to the airport for the flight to Phuket. On arrival you are met by a guide and driver and taken to your hotel. The rest of the day is free. Phuket Old Town, with its colorful Sino-Portuguese shophouses and small cafes, is a pleasant place for a stroll and dinner.Overnight: Phuket · Meals: B

Board a shared cruise boat at Ao Por pier and head into Phang Nga Bay. At Koh Panak, a paddle guide takes you by canoe into the caves and mangroves. Ride a long-tail boat to James Bond Island and its famous rock, then have a buffet lunch on board. Visit Koh Panyee, a Muslim fishing village built on stilts over the water, and canoe again around the lagoons of Koh Hong. End with time on the beach at Naka or Lawa island before returning to Phuket.Overnight: Phuket · Meals: B, L

A day at leisure. Spend it on the beach or by the pool, book a spa treatment, or explore more of the island on your own, from the viewpoints of the south coast to the markets of the old town. Your guide can help arrange anything you would like. In the evening, the beaches on the west coast are a lovely place to watch the sun go down over the Andaman Sea.Overnight: Phuket · Meals: B

Your guide and driver take you to the pier for a speedboat crossing to Ton Sai Pier on Koh Phi Phi. Hotel staff meet you there and walk with you to the hotel while they take care of your luggage. There are no cars on the island, so life slows down at once. Spend the afternoon swimming and watching the long-tail boats come and go.Overnight: Koh Phi Phi · Meals: B

A whole day to enjoy the island. Swim and snorkel off the beach, or hire a long-tail boat to quieter coves. In the late afternoon, many visitors walk up to the island viewpoint to watch the light change over the two curving bays of Ton Sai and Loh Dalum. Dinner is easy to find in the small village by the pier.Overnight: Koh Phi Phi · Meals: B

Hotel staff take your luggage to Ton Sai Pier, where you board a speedboat to Krabi. A private driver meets you on arrival and takes you to your resort near Ao Nang Beach. The afternoon is free to settle in and watch the sunset behind the limestone islands. Ao Nang has an easy seafront promenade with cafes and seafood restaurants, and long-tail boats wait on the beach for trips to nearby bays.Overnight: Krabi · Meals: B

Join a half-day shared speedboat trip to four islands. Start at Phra Nang Beach, reachable only by boat, with its small cave shrine. At Tup Island, walk across the white sandbar at low tide. Snorkel among coral off Chicken Island, then enjoy a picnic lunch on the long beach of Poda Island, backed by cliffs. You are back at the hotel by mid-afternoon.Overnight: Krabi · Meals: B, L

Your last full day by the sea. Relax at the resort, or take a long-tail boat from Ao Nang to the beaches of Railay, framed by tall limestone cliffs. In the evening, enjoy a seafood dinner along the seafront. If you would like to try something new, your guide can also help you book a Thai cooking class, a sea kayaking trip among the mangroves or a relaxing spa treatment near your resort.Overnight: Krabi · Meals: B

Enjoy a slow breakfast and check out by midday. A private driver takes you to Krabi airport for your flight home or on to your next destination. Krabi airport is about 30 to 40 minutes from Ao Nang. If you have a late flight, the hotel can usually keep your luggage so you can spend a last hour on the beach, and your driver will collect you in good time for check-in.Meals: B