Backpack Route Thailand 1 Month
Thailand was one of the first destinations we visited in Asia. While Bangkok is the first stop for many travelers, this wasn’t the case for us. Starting in Phuket, we first explored southern Thailand before traveling back to Bangkok via Chiang Mai. Along the way, the overnight train was an amazing and unique experience that should be on everyone’s bucket list. On this page, you’ll find our complete 1-month backpack route through Thailand + Google Maps travel guide Thailand.
We traveled from Malaysia to Thailand, making our Thailand backpacking route perfect to combine with Malaysia. In our article, we assume a 30-day trip through Thailand, excluding flights. Be sure to plan an extra two days for flights, as you need to account for the time difference. During this Thailand backpack route, you’ll visit various cities and islands. Also, check out our Google Maps travel guide Thailand to see all the stops in one overview!
Day 1-3: Phuket
Activities: Phuket (1), Karon Beach, Blue Tree Phuket
Accommodation: Karon Sea Sands Resort-SHA PLUS
The first days of your Thailand backpack route are all about exploring Phuket. We also visited a fun water park suitable for all ages: Blue Tree Phuket.
TIP: From the airport, a blue minivan (Phuket Smart Bus) departs regularly toward Phuket city center. The journey takes over an hour! Check Google Maps for the schedule and route.
Day 4: Phuket – Phi Phi Islands
Traveling from Phuket to the Phi Phi Islands doesn’t take a full day. However, you’ll likely have little energy left for activities once you arrive. From Phuket, there are excellent bus and boat connections available. We booked ours in advance through 12goasia.com, but you can also arrange this on the spot.
Day 5-7: Phi Phi Islands
Activities (top 3): Phi Phi islands (2), Long Beach, Koh Phi Phi Lee, Phi Phi Viewpoint
Accommodation: HIP Seaview Resort @ Phi Phi
We were truly amazed by the Phi Phi Islands! The water is crystal clear and has a stunning color. Be sure to take your time here to relax on the beaches or go on a beautiful hike across the island. There are also several viewpoints that, in our opinion, are absolute must-sees. Check out our separate article for the full Phi Phi Islands travel tips!
Day 8: Phi Phi Islands – Khao Sok National Park
After four amazing days, it’s time to leave the Phi Phi Islands. Once again, you can book your ticket in advance or on the spot. We made a stopover in Krabi and continued our journey to Khao Sok the next day. If you depart earlier in the day, however, a stopover may not be necessary.
Day 9-10: Khao Sok National Park
Activities: Khao Sok National Park (3), own hike in the park, daytour to the lake
Accommodation: Khao Sok Las Orquideas Resort
In our opinion, two days in Khao Sok is enough, especially if you’ve already visited the rainforests in Malaysia. However, if you want to do a multi-day tour, two days won’t be sufficient. In that case, make sure to plan more time during your Thailand backpack route.
Day 11: Khao Sok – Koh Samui
From the rainforest back to an island: off to Koh Samui! A minivan will pick you up and drop you off at the pier, where you’ll then take a boat to the island.
Day 12-14: Koh Samui
Activities: Koh Samui (4), Big Buddha Temple, Wat Plai Laem,
Accommodation: Queen Boutique Hotel
We mainly used our time on Koh Samui to relax, so we didn’t do many activities. Most of what we did was in the area around the airport, such as visiting the famous Big Buddha.
Day 15: Koh Samui – Chiang Mai
On to the northern part of Thailand! It’s just a short flight from Koh Samui to Chiang Mai. By the way, we found Koh Samui’s airport to be one of the most unique we’ve ever seen! Everything is open-air, and you still get that island vibe.
Day 16-19: Chiang Mai
Activities: Chiang Mai centre (6), Doi Inthanon National Park (5), cooking class
Accommodation: Pakping Hostel
The second-largest city in Thailand is a must-visit on your Thailand backpack route. We actually found Chiang Mai more beautiful than Bangkok, thanks to the (relative) peace and quiet here. Chiang Mai feels smaller but has just as much culture and stunning temples. The cooking class we took was one of the highlights of our time here. On the last evening, you’ll take the overnight train to Bangkok, arriving in the morning. This is quite the experience!
TIP: The overnight train departs from Chiang Mai station around 6:00 PM. A few hours later, the beds are made up. We found it handy to have some sleep essentials easily accessible, as there isn’t much room to rummage through your backpack once the beds are folded down. You’ll also be woken up early when they make you get out of bed! Earplugs are definitely a must-have as well!
Day 20: Bangkok – Koh Samet
After what was quite a sleepless night, you’ll arrive early in Bangkok. We again booked our minibus and boat tickets to Koh Samet in advance through 12goasia.com.
Day 21-25: Koh Samet
Activities (top 3): Koh Samet (7), Sai Kaew Beach, Wong Duean Beach, Sunset view point
Accommodation: Baan Minnie
Koh Samet is yet another beautiful Thai island where you can relax and also enjoy scenic hikes. Check out our full article about Koh Samet for the best tips!
Day 26: Koh Samet – Bangkok
Back to Bangkok via the same route as a few days ago. However, our journey took much longer this time, as there was traffic in Bangkok and delays along the way. So, it was definitely time to relax and recharge in Bangkok!
Day 27-30: Bangkok
Activities: Bangkok
Accommodation: Pillow & Bread
The final stop of the Thailand backpack route of 1 month: Bangkok. For most travelers, this is where the journey through Thailand truly begins. And we can understand why it feels like a real culture shock! Everything in Bangkok is pure Asia, something we gradually got more accustomed to as our trip went on, making it a bit easier to handle for us.
