If I could do it all again,
this would be my perfect route
A mix of island life, mountain escapes, street food, and slowing down enough to truly experience the magic of the country.
And thats what Thailand is to me.
What started as a backpacking trip turned into months of ❥Adventures,
❥Friendships,
❥Incredible food,
❥And places I still think about every single day.
This isn’t about seeing everything.
It’s about staying long enough to see
how special Thailand truly.
🗺️ The Perfect 5-Week Route
START IN BANGKOK
MY PERSONAL ADVICE
Bangkok is a big & chaotic city, so it might feel A LOT TO HANDLE
but Forget strict itineraries.
WALK through the city, take a BOLT (taxi) to one of the destinations you wanna see and just look around and see the beauty in it.
Eat street food you’ve never heard of. (do not miss out on the local culture !)
Take river boats.
Visit night markets.
Get a massage after wandering all day.
GO INTO CUTE COFFEE STORES!
Go shoppinggg and enjoy second-hand stores
❥Bangkok isn’t meant to be conquered
it’s meant to be experienced.
After a few chaotic and beautiful days, head east. Koh Chang
Koh Chang feels wild and adventurous. ( AND TO BE HONEST MOST PEOPLE SKIP IT!)
Spend a few days:
- Watching sunsets at Lonely Beach
- Riding scooters through the jungle
- Swimming beneath waterfalls
- Snorkeling in crystal-clear water
- Eating seafood by the ocean
It has the perfect balance between adventure and relaxation.
Then continue onward to:
Koh Kood
If paradise exists, it might look like Koh Kood.
Think:
✨ Empty beaches.
✨ Palm trees everywhere.
✨ Tiny fishing villages.
✨ Waterfalls hidden in the jungle.
✨ Water so clear it almost doesn’t look real.
– Stay at least three days &
And enjoy every second of it.
Before heading to the Gulf Islands,
take a one-day stop in Hua Hin.
COMPLETE OPPOSITE TO BANGKOK
A DAY TRIP IS ALREADY ENOUGH
- Cicada Market
- The beach promenade
- Small cafés
- Sunset viewpoints
Then continue south.
Because the real magic is waiting.
⸻
The Gulf Islands 🏝️
Koh Samui
Koh Samui offers everything:
- Great restaurants
- Beautiful beaches
- Waterfalls
- Night markets
- Temples
- Amazing viewpoints
Spend two or three days exploring before moving on.
❤️ Koh Tao: The Island That Became Home
I didn’t just visit Koh Tao – I lived there for five unforgettable months.
My biggest tip? Stay longer. But do not stay stuck haha.
My favorites:
Koh Tao taught me how to need less and be more happy in life and it’ll always have a piece of my heart. ❤️
Eventually, you’ll need to leave island life behind.
Take the ferry to Surat Thani.
From there, head straight toward
Khao Sok National Park.
And don’t make the mistake of doing only a day trip… STAY!.
At least two extra days.
Trust me.
⸻
Khao Sok National Park
This was one of the highlights of my journey.
Things you absolutely need to do:
- Overnight tours on Cheow Lan Lake
- Sleeping surrounded by limestone mountains
- Jungle trekking
- Wildlife spotting
- Canoeing adventures
- Exploring caves
- Staying in the local village
The mornings here feel magical.
Mist rising from the jungle.
Birds everywhere.
Silence.
Pure peace.
After Khao Sok, you can either:
✈️ Fly from Surat Thani Airport.
Or:
🚌 Return to Bangkok before continuing north.
⸻
EXPLORE THE NORTH OF THAILAND
🏔️
Take the overnight train if you can.
or FLY.
Chiang Mai deserves at least three or four days.
Things You Shouldn’t Miss:
Doi Suthep Temple
One of Thailand’s most beautiful viewpoints.
Go early.
Avoid the crowds.
Watch the city wake up beneath you.
Ethical Elephant Sanctuaries
Choose ethical experiences only!
Seeing elephants in natural environments is something you’ll remember forever.
Thai Cooking Classes
One of the best souvenirs you can bring home isn’t something you buy.
It’s learning how to recreate Thailand in your own kitchen.
Sticky Waterfalls
Yes.
You can actually climb these waterfalls.
And yes -IT IS as fun as everyone says.
Night Markets
Eat everything.
Buy things you don’t need.
Walk slowly.
Enjoy the atmosphere.
YOU WILL LOVE CHIANG MAI TRUST ME
And then my second great love
Pai.
If your itinerary says two days, ignore it.
Stay longer.
Pai isn’t a place to rush.
It’s where you truly relax..
Sunsets at Pai Canyon, hot springs, waterfalls, scooter rides, riverside cafés,
mountain viewpoints, and the night market – it’s all part of the magic.
One place you can’t miss: the tiny banh mi shop.
No name.
If someone points you toward it, just go.
AND IN GENERAL DO
NOT FORGET THE NIGHT MARKETS !
FINAL THOUGHTS
THAILAND IS MAGICAL.
❥ Support local businesses.
❥Try new food.
❥Talk to LOCALS.
❥ Leave room for the unexpected.
The best memories are rarely the ones you plan.
❥For me, Thailand was never about ticking places off a list – it was about finding places that felt like home.
❥ And nowhere felt more like home than Koh Tao.
I planned to stay a few days.
I stayed five unforgettable months. 🌴💙
yours Nina / IG: 
