Over the 15 years that have passed since my first trip to Thailand, I’ve spent close to four of them (cumulatively) in the Kingdom, both living and traveling. I say this not to brag, but to give a sense of the perspective I bring.
As a general rule, to be sure, I think that you should spend as long in Thailand as possible. Of course, I understand that not everyone can just up and move there—most people can’t even travel a month or longer.
For these reasons and others, I’ve come around to belief that perhaps 3 weeks in Thailand is the ideal trip to take. If it’s your first time, it allows you to get a great overview of the Kingdom’s top destinations and experiences. If you’re coming back, it invites you to dig deeper, though I warn you: It may simply make you want to settle down!
Is Three Weeks in Thailand Enough?
As I assembled this Thailand 3 week itinerary, I remember so often feeling that it struck all the right notes. Not just in terms of places to visit and things to do, but in terms of balance. And both for first-time visitors and for travelers returning for the second—or sixth!—time. Three weeks is really a sweet spot: Long enough to tick many things off your bucket list; but not so long that you end up feeling listless by the end of it.
Of course, you could always spend a month in Thailand if you have the stamina for it (and, ideally, a killer itinerary). There’s enough to see in the Kingdom that even though I’ve been coming here for almost two decades (and have spent several years of that time, in sum, exploring and discovering), I haven’t done it all! However, if three weeks is all you can afford to spend, you won’t leave Thailand disappointed at the end of it.
How to Organize Your 3 Week Thailand Trip
Start (and end) in Bangkok
Even when travelers are on a short trip to Thailand, I advise them against their impulse to avoid Bangkok—and not just because the capital is my former home. With three weeks, you can spend a couple of nights in the city at both the beginning and end of your trip, seeing not only must-visit attractions like Lumphini Park and the Grand Palace, but going off the beaten path on the Thonburi side of the river.
Head north next
A three week Thailand itinerary, like most trips, invites you to head north after you finish in Bangkok. And obviously, if you’ve never been there, I recommend that you visit Chiang Mai. With three weeks, you can explore outside of core attractions within the Old City Walls, whether that’s an excursion to Doi Inthanon (Thailand’s highest mountain) or a day trip to Elephant Nature Park.
(But not just to Chiang Mai)
Chiang Mai, of course, is only the beginning of northern Thailand. Many travelers head from here to Chiang Rai, which has a similar name but a different feel entirely; some also continue from Chiang Rai to its outlying (and aptly-named) Golden Triangle. I also happen to be a big fan of sleepy Lampang; depending on your transport situation, you could also head down to the ancient Thai capital of Sukhotahi.
(Or maybe northeast instead)
If your three weeks in Thailand constitute a return trip to Thailand, rather than your first time, you could go legitimately off the beaten path. The northeaster Isaan region is one of Thailand’s most authentic, from major cities like Udon Thani and Ubon Ratchathani, to secondary ones like Roi Et and That Phanom, to natural attractions like the Red Lotus Tree and Sam Phan Bok, aka the “Grand Canyon of Thailand.”
End on an island—or island hopping
Many travelers to Thailand want to engage in island hopping, but simply don’t have time in their trips to do it. With three weeks in Thailand, I’d probably recommend the “long route” from Phuket or Krabi down to Koh Lipe, which stops en route on Koh Lanta and in the Trang archipelago. Alternatively, camp out on Koh Chang or Koh Samui, and travel from there to outlying islands.
The Best Time of Year for Spending 3 Weeks in Thailand
Unless you explicitly want to visit Thailand during the rainy season, the ideal time to be in the Kingdom is between late November and late February. This is both the cool and dry season in Thailand; the earlier part of this window is ideal, in many ways. That’s because the sky is still clear from the rainy season, and hasn’t been re-polluted by farmers burning their crops, which heralds a “smog season” lasting from March to May.
I always love a blue sky, but for me good weather is especially essential when you’re seeing Thailand in 3 weeks. If you’re trying to cover a lot of ground, unexpected rain can simply make moving around more difficult and time-consuming. Psychologically, dealing with too many cloudy days over a three-week period can be a huge bummer. Coming during the cool and dry season is the best way to avoid both of these outcomes.
Other FAQ About Spending 3 Weeks in Thailand
How much money for 3 weeks in Thailand?
These days, I usually like to recommend that travelers budget at least 75 USD per person, per day in Thailand for a mid-range experience. This equates to 375 USD per week, or 1,125 USD for the three-week period which, importantly, does not include the cost of flights to and from Thailand. Including flights, I’d say you should expect to pay no less than 2,000 USD per person for a three-week Thailand trip.
Is 4 weeks in Thailand too long?
Four weeks is not too long to spend in Thailand if you plan an itinerary that works for you. For some travelers, this will mean a jam-packed trip that ticks everything off your bucket list; other travelers will want to move at a slower pace and leaving breathing room. However, if you travel at an improper pace, or bite off more or less than you wish to true, 4 weeks in Thailand could end up feeling like an eternity in hell.
How many weeks do you need in Thailand?
I generally say that you should spend as long in Thailand as you can. However, you should think about what I mean when I say this—not all travelers should spend months on end in Thailand. Consider not only how much money and annual leave you have, but how long you can bear to be away. The reality is that some travelers don’t like to explore a country for weeks and weeks, even if (as is certainly the case in Thailand), there’s plenty to do over a period like this.
The Bottom Line
For the majority of travelers, 3 weeks in Thailand is the ideal trip you can take to the Kingdom. If it’s your first time, it allows you to split time between the North (plus maybe the Northeast) and the islands, after touching down in Bangkok and not rushing your way through the capital. If you’re coming back, meanwhile, a three-week trip can allow you to dig deep into or or two regions, or to discover a cornucopia of secondary and tertiary destinations, from Lampang up north to Hat Yai in the south. Need personalized help putting together your three-week Thailand trip? Commission a custom Thailand itinerary today!
