One month road trip in Thailand - Itinerary and tips

One month in Thailand sounds like more than enough. But honestly, I think even double that wouldn’t have been enough! When I arrived in Bangkok, I had almost no plans. I just knew I wanted to start in the south and work my way up north. I also knew I didn’t want to rush through things and preferred to take my time exploring the places I’d visit.

In this article I will only talk about the ways to go to thoses places by bus, train or boat.

One month itinerary in Thailand

• Bangkok: 3 nights

• Surat Thani: 1 night (train)

• Khao Sok: 2 nights

• Phi Phi Islands: 3 nights

• Ao Nang: 3 nights

• Koh Phangan: 4 nights

• Ko Tao: 4 nights

• Bangkok: 1 night

• Sukhothai: 2 nights

• Chiang Mai: 4 nights

• Pai: 4 nights

• Chiang Rai: 1 night

One month itinerary Thailand

Planning

12Go Asia

Before diving in, I want to give a quick shoutout to 12Go Asia, which I’ll be mentioning a lot in this article because it became my travel buddy in Asia.

12Go Asia is a platform where you can buy bus, train, and ferry tickets from local transportation companies in Thailand. It’s basically just a booking platform. You can see the transport company’s name and rating on 12Go Asia when you pick a route.

The site is available in English and French, and you can view prices in euros, dollars, or Thai Baht (THB). Depending on your bank fees and daily conversion rates, it can sometimes be cheaper to pay in euros directly on the site.

Keep in mind that 12Go Asia takes a commission, so if you’re on the ground, it might be cheaper to book directly with the transport company.

I’ve personally never had a bad experience with them!

Leave Some Buffer Time!

When planning your trip around Southeast Asia, remember that time works a little differently there. A 2-hour journey might (possibly) mean 2.5 or even 3 hours. Be happy if things run on time, but don’t get too frustrated if they don’t—it’s part of the local culture, and one of those differences you learn to appreciate when you travel! Bottom line: always plan for some extra time.

Quick Disclaimer

I’m not someone who plans everything in advance. I like to leave room for spontaneity and stay flexible. In this article, I’ll share my itinerary and some tips on how to make the most of your road trip! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or comments.

One-Month Itinerary in Thailand

Bangkok ➡️ Surat Thani: Overnight train – 13 hours

Price: €30-50 (depending on class)

Booking: 2 weeks in advance

Starting at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station in Bangkok (a bit out of the city

center but easily accessible by metro), the cost varies based on class. You’re looking at about 1,862 THB (around €50 in 2024) for first class (with beds and AC) or just 266 THB (around €7) for third class (metal seats, fans). Train tickets are usually cheaper at the station, but I highly recommend booking sleeper trains in advance (at least 1 to 2 weeks before).

Trust me—don’t do what I did and skip the sleeper car! My economy class experience wasn’t great. Read all about my adventure in this article.

Bottom line: Book in advance!

Here is the timetabe for the train to go from Bangkok to the south of Thailand. You can click on the picture to access the website.

Trains timetable Bangkok to Surat Thani

Surat Thani ➡️ Khao Sok: Bus – 2 hours

Price: €7-8

Booking: The day before / morning of

To book this bus, you can either use 12Go Asia or buy directly from local tourist companies when you arrive at Surat Thani station. Booking in person ensures up-to-date info and gives you someone to turn to if your bus isn’t on time. Plus, you’ll have a place to hang out and charge your phone while you wait.

If no one approaches you at the station offering services, head out and take a left (you’ll find a parking area past the taxi stand). There you’ll find plenty of companies offering transport services for the region.

Pro tip: Check 12Go Asia for price ranges to avoid getting ripped off, and always negotiate the first price you’re offered—start by halving it. If it matches the online price, ask them to meet it.

I personally bought my ticket from a local lady at the station, and everything went smoothly (though there can be delays and conditions aren’t always top-notch, but hey—that’s part of the adventure, right?).

Khao Sok ➡️ Phi Phi Islands: Bus + Ferry – 6 hours

Price: Around €23

Booking: The day before / morning of

There are several ways to get from Khao Sok to Phi Phi, with the most common being via Phuket or Krabi. Either way, you’ll need to take a bus or minivan (or taxi) followed by a ferry to the islands. In total, it’s about 6 hours, including a 1h20 ferry ride. Check out 12Go Asia for ferry schedules.

I booked everything through 12Go Asia for peace of mind regarding transfers between van and ferry. But I did end up waiting almost 2 hours at Krabi (Ao Nam Pier specifically). If that happens to you, grab a drink at Joy Beach Thai Food—it’s a chill little beach bar/restaurant about a 10-minute walk away.

Several Access Points to Koh Phi Phi

The island is highly popular, making it the most crowded and touristy place I visited during my trip to Thailand (though it’s still stunning). One of the few advantages of this is how easy it is to reach. There are ferries departing from 2 ports in Phuket and 3 around Krabi, as well as from the famous island of Ko Lanta.

Preparing for Your Arrival

I suggest notifying your hotel of your arrival time so they can pick you up from the port. Some hotels (often those over 20 euros per night) offer baggage handling services. If your hotel is far from the port, they might even arrange a boat to take you there. The center of the island, where the port is located, can be quite crowded, and the streets are narrow, so it’s not always pleasant to walk through with luggage, especially in the sand.

Phi Phi Islands ➡️ Ao Nang: Ferry - 2 hours

Price: 13 euros

Booking: the day before / same day

As mentioned earlier, it’s very easy to leave the Phi Phi Islands. Ferries run every hour from 8:30 am to 5 pm to Krabi, Phuket, or Ko Lanta. If you're heading to Ao Nang, you'll need a ferry to Muelle Noppharat Pier, Krabi.

You can book your trip via Direct Ferries (sometimes cheaper than 12Go Asia but requires booking two days in advance) or on-site. However, if your hotel isn’t close to Koh Phi Phi’s port, I suggest contacting them directly, as the taxi boat to the port is sometimes included if you book your return through the hotel. Again, don't hesitate to compare on-site offers with online prices.

You don’t need to book far in advance for this kind of trip—booking the night before should be sufficient. Hotels are well-connected with travel companies.

Ao Nang ➡️ Koh Pha Ngan: Bus + Ferry - 5 to 7 hours

Price: 16 - 20 euros

Booking: the day before, as departures are only in the morning

The trip includes:

• Bus from Ao Nang to Surat Thani (city center) - 3 hours

• 1-hour lunch break in Surat Thani (meal not included)

• Bus from Surat Thani center to Donsak Pier - 1 hour

• Direct ferry from Surat Thani to Koh Pha Ngan- 2 hours

It’s a journey that will take an entire day, so keep that in mind when planning your itinerary.

Tip: If you want to save time, you can take a taxi from Ao Nang to Donsak Pier, then a ferry, which will save you 2 hours.

If you're heading to Donsak Pier on your own (note that it's far from both Surat Thani town and the train station), you can book your ferry ticket directly on the ferry company’s website, which is often cheaper. First, check 12Go Asia to identify your preferred route and the ferry company, then book directly on their website.

• Seatran Ferry: 250 THB (about 7 euros). The last ferry is at 4 pm!

• Lomprayah: 550 THB

Be 30 minutes early before the ferry departs!

Arriving in Koh Pha Ngan

Upon arrival, “taxis”/trucks will be waiting to take you to your hotel/hostel. The price depends on your hotel’s location on the island—expect to pay between 100 and 200 THB. My arrival was a bit chaotic because it was nighttime, and an entire ferry unloading at once meant a lot of people.

You might think the drivers don’t listen about your destination, but don’t worry, they’ve noted it and won’t forget! They even remember the color of your bag (I was really impressed!). If in doubt, feel free to follow along on Google Maps and tap on the window if you need to stop. There’s no need to negotiate the price here; it’s fixed, and everyone applies the same rates.

Koh Pha Ngan ➡️ Koh Tao: Ferry - 1 hour

Price: 12 - 16 euros (500 THB on-site)

Booking: the day before

Ferries regularly connect the islands of Koh Pha Ngan, Koh Samui, and Koh Tao from 8:30 am to 5 pm daily. You can book your ticket on 12Go Asia, Direct Ferries, at Koh Pha Ngan’s port, or through your hostel/hotel.

If you're traveling during the high season or right after the Full Moon Party or Half Moon Party, expect a lot of visitors, and ferries departing from the island may be full! I recommend booking your ticket at least the day before and arriving 30 minutes early to secure a seat.

Allow extra time, as everyone must drop off their bags upon boarding and retrieve them among hundreds of others upon arrival.

Koh Tao ➡️ Bangkok - 3 Options

Option 1: Ferry + Bus - 10 hours

Koh Tao ➡️ Chumphon ➡️ Bangkok: Ferry (1h30) + Bus (7h)

Price: 34 - 40 euros

Booking: the day before

The only way to leave the beautiful island of Koh Tao is by boat. Even though there are several ferries per day, they tend to be busy, so it’s best to book your journey at least one day in advance. Keep in mind there are only two ferries per day for this route (from Koh Tao to Chumphon): one at 10:30 am and the other at 2:45 pm. I took the afternoon ferry and arrived in Bangkok around 1 am.

Since there are at least 7 hours on the bus, I opted for the VIP bus option, which offers wide, comfortable seats and USB ports. There’s also a cheaper option in a minivan. You can book this journey through 12Go Asia or at one of the many travel agencies in Koh Tao’s town center.

Option 2: Ferry + Flight - 8 hours

Koh Tao ➡️ Koh Samui ➡️ Bangkok: Ferry (2h) + transfer + Flight (1h30)

Price: 100+ euros

Booking: several weeks in advance (for the flight)

Another option is to fly from Koh Samui or Surat Thani. The flight takes about 1.5 hours to Bangkok, but factoring in at least 2 hours for the ferry, the trip to the airport, and waiting time, the time savings aren’t significant. Plus, this option incurs significantly higher costs and more logistics for your luggage.

Option 3: Ferry + Train - 10 hours

Price: 10 - 14 euros

Booking: a week in advance

Lastly, if you haven’t had the chance to take a train in Thailand and want to experience it, you can also take a ferry to Chumphon, then catch a train. The train ride from Chumphon to Bangkok is around 8 hours. Be sure to book your train tickets several days in advance to secure a first-class seat!

Bangkok ➡️ Sukhothai: Bus - 7 hours 30 minutes

Price: 11 to 13 euros

Booking: the day before / same day

Several buses run from Bangkok to Sukhothai from 7 am to 9 pm. Expect between 7 to 10 hours of travel depending on the bus you select. I recommend choosing a VIP bus given the length of the journey for more comfort. The advantage of these long bus trips is that they give you the opportunity to see Thailand’s beautiful landscapes!

Alternative Option: Train + Bus - 8 hours

Bangkok ➡️ Phitsanulok ➡️ Sukhothai: Train (6h) + Bus (1h)

Price: 8 euros (second class) + 3 euros

Booking: a week in advance

To get from Bangkok to Sukhothai by train, you’ll need to get off at Phitsanulok, then take a bus for an additional hour to reach Sukhothai. The train takes about 6 hours. Again, make sure to book the train tickets several days ahead of time.

Sukhothai ➡️ Chiang Mai: Bus - 6 hours

Price:15 euros

Booking: the day before

Despite the beauty of Sukhothai’s ancient ruins, this destination is not very crowded because it is somewhat remote. The upside is that you don’t need to book your trips far in advance to go there or leave. You can book your journey through 12Go Asia or directly with your hostel/hotel.

Chiang Mai ➡️ Pai: Minivan or Scooter - 4 hours

Option 1 - Minivan

⚠️ Caution - Frequent Accidents on This Route ⚠️

Price: 6 euros

Booking: the day before / same day

The most common option is to take a minivan from Chiang Mai, which will drop you off in Pai in about 4 hours. Minivans depart early in the day, from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm. The fare is around 6 euros. You can book the trip through  12 Go Asia or directly with your hostel/hotel, either the day before or the morning of your trip.

Note: The road between Chiang Mai and Pai is a mountain road with many twists and turns, and many drivers tend to drive fast. If you are prone to motion sickness, make sure to take precautions before the journey. Unfortunately, there have been several minivan accidents on this route, including one during my visit.

Option 2 - Scooter

Price: 5 - 13 euros (200 - 500 THB)

Booking: the day before

Another option is to rent a scooter from **AYA Service** and drop it off in Pai. The price depends on the scooter you choose, ranging between 200 and 500 THB for 24 hours. If you’re traveling with another person, I’d recommend the larger scooters at 500 THB.

For the deposit, as is common in many places in Thailand, you have the option of leaving your passport as collateral or a significant sum of money (compared to the rental price), which in this case is 2,000 THB (about 55 euros). You will also need to leave a 100 THB deposit for the helmet. You’ll also be asked to leave a copy of your passport. Luggage transfer costs between 100 and 150 THB per bag.

This option, besides avoiding the minivans, also allows you to explore the surrounding area and enjoy the beautiful Thai landscapes. Upon arrival, we had no issues retrieving our bags and deposit. We kept the scooter until the next morning.

Pai ➡️ Chiang Rai: Taxi - 4 hours

Price: 25 euros

Booking: the day before

To get from Pai to Chiang Rai, there are minivan shuttles available. These shuttles first go to Chiang Mai and then to Pai. The total journey takes about 6.5 hours for a price of 16 euros. You can book these through 12Go Asia, at agencies in Pai’s town center, or through your hotel/hostel.

After considering the minivan accident I witnessed in Chiang Mai and the small price difference for a much shorter trip, I opted for a shared taxi. I booked through a travel company in Pai (near Aya Services). The taxi picked me up from my hostel, and the journey lasted about 4 hours. The driver was very friendly and kindly dropped me off directly at the White Temple in Chiang Rai.

The next day, I embarked on new adventures in Laos!

That’s all for my Thailand itinerary. Of course, 34 days wasn’t enough to see everything. If I could do it again, I’d try the overnight train between Bangkok and Chiang Mai (either before or after Sukhothai), as I’ve heard many great stories about that journey.

I decided to skip the cities of Phuket and Pattaya, and from what I’ve heard, I have no regrets.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them here or contact me directly via the chat or the Call Me page!

See you soon for more adventures!