Thailand: Night Markets & Blue Waters — Self-Launched

Land in Bangkok and get your bearings in the old town around Khao San Road or Riverside. Grab a Thai SIM/eSIM at the airport, change some cash and settle into a hostel. In the evening, walk to the riverside night market or Soi Rambuttri for street food — pad thai, mango sticky rice and grilled skewers — and start plotting the days ahead.

🚌Airport Rail Link + BTS/MRT (~£1)

🛏Hostel dorm in Banglamphu/Khao San (~£8-12)

• →Airport rail link into the city (~£1)
• →Khao San Road orientation walk
• →Riverside night market street-food dinner

Do the classic Bangkok double. Book a longtail boat (shared or private fare shareable with fellow travellers) to cruise the busy Chao Phraya and the quieter Thonburi khlongs past stilted riverside homes. In the afternoon, visit Wat Pho to see the giant reclining Buddha and its mother-of-pearl feet — the temple is also the birthplace of traditional Thai massage, so book a cheap massage at the on-site school.

🚌Chao Phraya Express boat + walking (~£1-2)

🛏Hostel dorm in Banglamphu/Khao San (~£8-12)

• →Longtail boat canal cruise (Chao Phraya + Thonburi)
• →Wat Pho reclining Buddha entry (~£4)
• →Traditional Thai massage at Wat Pho school (~£8-10)

Start early at the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew before the heat and crowds peak, then cool off in a food court for lunch. In the late afternoon head to Krung Thep Aphiwat (Bang Sue) station and board the overnight sleeper train north to Chiang Mai — book a second-class sleeper berth in advance. Tip: buy a Khantoke-style northern dinner or a Bangkok cooking class on a later Chiang Mai stop instead, as these are cheaper and better locally.

🚌Overnight sleeper train Bangkok–Chiang Mai (~£18-25)

🛏Second-class sleeper train berth

• →Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew (~£14)
• →Lunch at a local food court
• →Overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai

Arrive in Chiang Mai mid-morning, drop your bag at a guesthouse in the Old City, then wander the moat-ringed lanes. Visit a couple of the big temples — Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang — and refuel with khao soi, the city's signature curry noodle soup. In the evening, hit the Sunday Walking Street (or the Night Bazaar on other days) for handicrafts and cheap eats.

🚌Songthaew shared red truck around the city (~£1)

🛏Guesthouse twin/dorm in the Old City (~£10-15)

• →Old City temple walk (Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang)
• →Khao soi noodle lunch
• →Walking Street / Night Bazaar

Book a half-day northern Thai cooking class (plenty run daily and are far cheaper locally than as a tour add-on). You'll shop at a market for ingredients then cook several dishes — perfect for a solo traveller to meet people. Spend the afternoon relaxing or hire a bicycle to loop the Old City.

🚌Songthaew / bicycle (~£1-2)

🛏Guesthouse twin/dorm in the Old City (~£10-15)

• →Half-day northern Thai cooking class incl. market visit (~£22-30)
• →Bicycle hire around the Old City (~£2)

Take a shared songthaew or book a seat on a local minivan up to Doi Suthep temple for sweeping views over the city, then walk the nature trail to Wat Pha Lat — a beautiful, quiet forest temple many tourists miss. In the afternoon, head back for a night market dinner and maybe a rooftop bar for sunset drinks.

🚌Shared songthaew to Doi Suthep (~£3 return)

🛏Guesthouse twin/dorm in the Old City (~£10-15)

• →Doi Suthep temple (~£1 entry + transport)
• →Wat Pha Lat forest temple walk (free)
• →Night market dinner

Head north toward the Mae Taeng area for the start of your hilltribe trek. Book through a reputable local trekking outfit (check reviews and animal-welfare policies) — a 2-day/1-night trek with an overnight in a simple village hut is the standard, with meals and a local guide included. Trek through jungle and rice fields, passing Karen and other hilltribe communities to learn about local life.

🚌Local songthaew/minivan from Chiang Mai to trailhead (included)

🛏Basic hilltribe hut, multi-share (included in trek price)

• →Guided 2-day hilltribe trekking (jungle + village homestay, meals included)
• →Village homestay evening

Finish the trek with a morning walk out and a river or waterfall stop if your route includes one, then return to Chiang Mai by early afternoon. Shower, rest, then treat yourself to a Khantoke-style northern dinner and cultural show — sticky rice, Burmese-influenced curry and crispy pork with traditional music and dance.

🚌Shared minivan back to Chiang Mai (included in trek)

🛏Guesthouse twin/dorm in the Old City (~£10-15)

• →Morning trek out + waterfall stop
• →Khantoke dinner and cultural show (~£15-20)

Use the day for anything you missed — a Thai massage, the Art in Paradise or MAIIAM gallery, or a cafe crawl. In the evening, board the overnight sleeper train back south toward Bangkok. If you'd rather push on to the islands directly, you can also fly Chiang Mai–Surat Thani cheaply and skip the second Bangkok night.

🚌Overnight sleeper train Chiang Mai–Bangkok (~£18-25)

🛏Second-class sleeper train berth

• →Free day: massage, galleries or markets
• →Overnight sleeper train south

Arrive back in Bangkok, then continue south by bus or train toward the Gulf coast. Stop at (or detour to) a community-run farm to tour organic gardens and a rubber plantation — a hands-on look at how sustainable tourism supports local families. If timing is tight, this can be done as a half-day add-on before your overnight bus south.

🚌Local bus / train south from Bangkok (~£8-12)

🛏Overnight bus or budget guesthouse near the coast (~£8-12)

• →Community farm tour: organic gardens + rubber plantation
• →Local market stop

Continue south by bus or train to the ferry piers at Chumphon or Surat Thani, then take the ferry across to Koh Tao. Book a combined bus+ferry ticket for the easiest journey. Arrive on the island, check into a beachside hostel or bungalow, and catch your first sunset over the water.

🚌Bus/train + ferry combo to Koh Tao (~£18-28 total)

🛏Hostel dorm or beach bungalow on Koh Tao (~£10-18)

• →Ferry crossing to Koh Tao (~£12-18)
• →Sunset on the beach

Explore Koh Tao on foot and by scooter. Hike to the John-Suwan or Fraggle Rock viewpoints for panoramic views, or take the short climb to Love Koh Tao viewpoint. Hire a scooter (only if you're a confident rider) to reach quiet west-coast beaches like Sai Nuan. Keep an eye out for the island's famously cheap dive schools if you fancy an open-water course.

🚌Walking / scooter hire (~£5)

🛏Hostel dorm or beach bungalow on Koh Tao (~£10-18)

• →Viewpoint hikes (John-Suwan / Fraggle Rock)
• →Beach-hopping to Sai Nuan
• →Optional scooter hire (~£5/day)

Book a boat snorkelling day trip to the best reef sites around Koh Tao and neighbouring Koh Nang Yuan — expect colourful coral, tropical fish and warm, clear blue water. Many trips include lunch and gear. Alternatively, snorkel straight off Sairee or Shark Bay for free.

🚌Boat trip (included)

🛏Hostel dorm or beach bungalow on Koh Tao (~£10-18)

• →Boat snorkelling day trip incl. gear (~£18-25)
• →Koh Nang Yuan sandbar visit
• →Beach time & swimming

Spend your last full island day how you like: a try-dive or fun dive (Koh Tao is one of the cheapest places in the world to dive), a Thai massage on the beach, or simply snoozing in the sand. In the evening, join a beach bar for a final island sunset and seafood barbecue.

🚌Walking

🛏Hostel dorm or beach bungalow on Koh Tao (~£10-18)

• →Optional try-dive / fun dive (~£30-45)
• →Beach massage (~£8-10)
• →Sunset beach bar & seafood BBQ

Enjoy a slow breakfast by the water, then take the ferry back to the mainland and connect onward. If you're flying out of Bangkok, factor in the long bus/ferry/coach combo (or book a cheap island-to-Bangkok flight from Surat Thani or Samui) — allow a full day of travel before any international departure.

🚌Ferry + bus/coach or flight back to Bangkok (~£20-45)

🛏—

• →Ferry to mainland
• →Onward bus/train/flight connection