Self-Launched Iconic Thailand: Bangkok to Bangkok

Land at Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang and take the Airport Rail Link / A1 bus to the old town (~£0.60–£1.50). Check into a hostel or guesthouse in Banglamphu near Khao San Road. Spend the evening walking the riverside, grabbing pad thai from a street cart and getting your bearings. Complete your Thailand E-Arrival form online at least 3 days before arrival and pick up a local SIM (AIS/True) at 7-Eleven for ~£8 for 30 days of data.

🚌Airport Rail Link / A1 bus from airport (~£1)

🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel, Banglamphu (dorm £6–9, private £18–25)

• →Airport transfer by public rail/bus
• →Khao San Road evening wander
• →Street-food dinner

Do the big-ticket temples early to beat the heat and crowds. Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew (entry 500 THB / ~£11), then walk 10 minutes to Wat Pho for the giant Reclining Buddha (~£6). In the afternoon book a shared longtail boat on the Chao Phraya and Thonburi canals (~£15 per person when split 4 ways) to see stilt-house riverside communities — the same waterways the tour cruises. Dinner at a Thip Samai-style pad thai spot.

🚌Chao Phraya Express boat (single ride ~£0.35), walking, tuk-tuk

🛏Budget guesthouse/hostel, Banglamphu

• →Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew
• →Wat Pho Reclining Buddha
• →Chao Phraya / Thonburi longtail canal cruise

Take the ordinary 3rd-class train from Thonburi station to Kanchanaburi (~£1.50, ~3 hrs) — no need to fly or book a private van. Afternoon: walk or cycle to the Bridge on the River Kwai and the WWII cemetery, then ride the historic Burma Railway section from Nam Tok across the wooden trestles (~£1). Stay in a riverside guesthouse or raft house in Kanchanaburi.

🚌3rd-class train Thonburi–Kanchanaburi (~£1.50)

🛏Riverside guesthouse / raft house, Kanchanaburi (private £15–25)

• →Bridge on the River Kwai
• →Burma Railway train ride
• →War cemetery visit

Catch the local bus or songthaew to Erawan National Park (~£1.50 each way, first departures around 08:00). Pay the 300 THB park entry (~£6.50) and hike the seven-tier trail, swimming in the turquoise pools at levels 2–4. Bring reef-safe sunscreen and enough water. Back in town late afternoon; dinner at the night market.

🚌Local bus / songthaew to Erawan (~£3 return)

🛏Riverside guesthouse / raft house, Kanchanaburi

• →Erawan Waterfall seven-tier hike
• →Jungle swim

Return to Bangkok and take a 60–80 min train from Hua Lamphong or Bang Sue Grand to Ayutthaya (~£0.70). Rent a bicycle (~£1.50/day) and loop the UNESCO Historical Park — Wat Mahathat, Wat Chaiwatthanaram and the riverside ruins. Entry to the park is 220 THB (~£5) for foreign visitors. Overnight in Ayutthaya old town so you can catch a night train north.

🚌Train Bangkok–Ayutthaya (~£0.70)

🛏Budget guesthouse, Ayutthaya old town (private £15–20)

• →Ayutthaya Historical Park by bicycle
• →Wat Mahathat & Wat Chaiwatthanaram

Spend the day exploring Ayutthaya's smaller ruins and the boat museum, then board the overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai from Ayutthaya station (2nd-class sleeper around £22–30, departing early evening, arriving early morning). Book at the station or via the 12Go/D-Ticket apps a few days ahead in high season.

🚌Overnight sleeper train Ayutthaya–Chiang Mai (~£25)

🛏Overnight sleeper train (lower berth £22–30)

• →Free time among Ayutthaya ruins
• →Overnight rail journey

Arrive early, drop bags at a guesthouse inside the moat, then explore the old city temples on foot or by rented bicycle — Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Chiang Man and Wat Phra Singh. In the late afternoon do the free evening 'Monk Chat' at Wat Suan Dok to talk with young monks about Buddhism and daily life (donation appreciated, ~£3). Sunday Walking Street market if you're timing it right.

🚌Songthaew from station (~£1), bicycle hire (~£1.50)

🛏Guesthouse in the old city, Chiang Mai (private £15–25)

• →Chiang Mai old city temple walk
• →Wat Suan Dok Monk Chat
• →Walking Street market

Book a half-day market-to-table cooking class (GetYourGuide, Klook, or a well-reviewed local school) — expect £22–30 and includes a market tour, five dishes and a recipe book. Afternoon free to nap or visit the Nimman area. Evening: eat at a local khantoke-style dinner show or a simpler family-run northern Thai restaurant to try khao soi and sai ua.

🚌Songthaew / Grab around town (~£2)

🛏Guesthouse in the old city, Chiang Mai

• →Market tour + Thai cooking class
• →Khantoke / northern Thai dinner

Take a cheap AirAsia or Nok Air flight Chiang Mai–Surat Thani (£25–45 if booked early) or, as a cheaper alternative, an overnight bus (~£20, 16 hrs). From Surat Thani take a shared minivan to Khao Sok village (~£4). Settle into a jungle lodge or raft house on Cheow Lan Lake — this replaces the tour's lodge nights with more rustic independent equivalents.

🚌Budget flight Chiang Mai–Surat Thani (~£35) + shared minivan (~£4)

🛏Jungle lodge / lake raft house, Khao Sok (dorm £8–14, private £20–35)

• →Travel day
• →Evening at Khao Sok village

Book a guided day trek or jungle hike through the park (park entry 200 THB / ~£4.50; a half-day local guide costs £15–25 shared). Learn about bamboo cooking, rubber tapping and organic gardens with a village homestay family — many community lodges offer a farm-and-forest experience for £10–15 including lunch. Alternatively do the Cheow Lan Lake longtail day trip with cave visit (~£30).

🚌Walking / longtail boat

🛏Jungle lodge / lake raft house, Khao Sok

• →Khao Sok National Park trek
• →Bamboo-cooking & rubber plantation visit
• →Optional Cheow Lan Lake longtail tour

Shared minivan from Khao Sok to Don Sak pier (~£5, ~2 hrs), then the Seatran or Raja ferry to Ko Samui (~£5, 1.5 hrs). Choose a beach bungalow on quieter Mae Nam or Bang Po instead of the busier Chaweng strip. Afternoon swim, sunset at a beach bar.

🚌Minivan + ferry to Ko Samui (~£10)

🛏Beach bungalow, Mae Nam / Bang Po, Ko Samui (private £18–30)

• →Ferry crossing
• →Beach afternoon
• →Sunset drinks

Rent a scooter (£6–8/day, bring an IDP) or join a shared songthaew to explore: Na Muang waterfalls, the Big Buddha and the Hin Ta Hin Yai rocks. Keep lunch cheap at a local food court, and consider a night market dinner in Fisherman's Village. If diving appeals, Ang Thong Marine Park day trips (self-booked, ~£30) leave from here too.

🚌Scooter hire (~£7) or shared songthaew

🛏Beach bungalow, Ko Samui

• →Na Muang waterfalls
• →Big Buddha & Hin Ta Hin Yai
• →Fisherman's Village night market

Take the combined minivan + ferry (or bus via Surat Thani) from Ko Samui to Krabi (~£12–18, 5–7 hrs). Base yourself in Ao Nang or Krabi Town. Late afternoon: a Krabi River longtail boat ride and a tuk-tuk through the rural riverside villages to see local life, then sunset at Ao Nang beach with fresh seafood at the night market.

🚌Minivan + ferry Ko Samui–Krabi (~£15)

🛏Guesthouse in Ao Nang / Krabi Town (private £18–30)

• →Krabi River longtail ride
• →Riverside village tuk-tuk loop

Book a shared longtail island-hopping day trip (self-bookable at any Ao Nang travel desk or via Klook, ~£20–28) covering Ko Hong, Lading Island and Pak Bia with snorkelling and a beachside picnic lunch. The Hong lagoon viewpoint is the highlight. Return late afternoon; optional evening Thai massage (~£6/hr) on the beachfront.

🚌Shared longtail boat (included in tour)

🛏Guesthouse in Ao Nang / Krabi Town

• →Hong Island archipelago longtail tour
• →Snorkelling at Lading Island
• →Beach picnic

Take a cheap morning flight from Krabi to Bangkok (£30–50) — flights are frequent and usually cheaper and faster than the 12-hour bus/rail option. If you have a late flight out, stash bags and squeeze in a final Bangkok stop (Chatuchak weekend market or a rooftop viewpoint). Allow 3 hours at Suvarnabhumi for international check-in.

🚌Domestic flight Krabi–Bangkok (~£40)

🛏None (departure day) or one final night if flight is next morning

• →Domestic flight
• →Optional last-minute Bangkok shopping