Today I want to share my travel itinerary for 8 days in Thailand with you. This country in Southeast Asia is famous for its bustling capital, northern temples, and island beaches. From Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Pai to Koh Samui, it’s full of beauty, culture, and paradise. Read on for my Thailand itinerary.
8 Days in Thailand Itinerary
This itinerary for 8 days in Thailand is packed with beautiful temples and rejuvenating massages. It comes complete with yoga sessions, cooking classes, and time to relax and soak up the sun.
The trip includes time in cities, hot springs, and islands, so it also gives a good overview of what Thailand has to offer.
Better yet, it’s a small-group tour of a maximum of 15 people, so it’s an ideal size for both socializing and having solo time.
Day 1: Bangkok
The itinerary for 8 days in Thailand starts in Bangkok. I arrive in the evening with a few other members of my group, and we’re whisked off to our hotel, the Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Bangkok Menam Riverside.
After checking into our rooms, we meet Moh. She’s our guide for the trip, and she gives us an overview of what we’ll do while we’re in Thailand.
Asiatique
After the orientation, it’s time to walk to dinner at a restaurant called Fire and Dine. We get a great introduction to Thai food as the table fills with Panang curry, papaya salad, fried morning glory, and other traditional dishes.
Afterwards we walk around the Asiatique area with its street food market and shops before taking a night walk along the Chaophaya River.
Day 2: Bangkok and Chiang Mai
The following morning our itinerary for 8 days in Thailand takes us on a long-tailed boat ride. It’s a fun way to see Bangkok, and along the way we spot historic temples and colorful houses.
Wat Arun
The boat takes us to Wat Arun, one of the most famous Buddhist temples in Bangkok.
Moh gives us some background before letting us loose to take in the sounds of monks chanting and the sights of intricate stone carvings and gold glittering in the sun.
Thai Massage
From Wat Arun, we walk to the Chetawan Traditional Massage School. We’re here to learn how to give Thai massages, and to get one at the end.
We spend an hour stretching and kneading each other’s legs, arms, and backs, then lie down for a massage with the professionals. It works out all the tension from the long flight the day before, and I feel amazing afterwards.
Chiang Mai
Speaking of flights, after the massage we fly north to continue our 8 days in Thailand with a stint in Chiang Mai.
We arrive in the afternoon and check into the Away Chiang Mai Thapae Resort. It has a refreshing swimming pool and vegetarian restaurant, both of which fit with our wellness theme.
In the evening, we head to the street food market. We tuck into traditional khao soi curry for dinner, and we can’t resist a plate of mango sticky rice and a delicious roti for dessert.
We also walk along the market taking in the fresh fruit, big bowls of curry, whole fish on the grill, and skewers stacked with all kinds of meat and tofu.
Day 3: Chiang Mai
The next day our itinerary for 8 days in Thailand starts with yoga. We walk to a local yoga studio, where we have an hour of stretching and flow.
It’s a great way to get our bodies and minds into the wellness mentality, and a good workout besides.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
After yoga we head up into the hills to visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a golden Buddhist temple with relics and shrines all around.
Moh takes us on a tour, explaining the story of the Buddha and bringing us to an area where we can set our intentions for the trip.
Chiang Mai Home Host
From the temple we head to Chiang Mai Home Host by Raunkaew-Yanon Family. This unique experience involves touring a traditional Thai house and garden with multiple generations of a local family.
They take us around their historic teak home, introducing us to local foods and customs as we go. Outside, we walk through the grounds and learn about traditional herbs and their uses in medicine and cooking.
Once the tour is finished, we sit down to make herbal compress balls for massages. We pile everything from kaffir lime peel to turmeric into cloths, then tie them up and steam them.
When they’re hot, we take turns massaging each other’s backs with them. The relaxation is as pleasant as the scent of the herbs.
Our day finishes with dinner at the family’s home. We sit on the ground and enjoy a feast of small bowls full of prawn crackers, fried banana flowers, vegetable curries, and other local dishes.
Day 4: Chiang Mai and Pai
The following day our itinerary for 8 days in Thailand takes us to Pai. This place is known for its hot springs, and we can’t wait to take a dip.
We drive from Chiang Mai and arrive in time for lunch at Om Garden. Colorful salads and rustic wooden tables make the place feel like a wellness retreat, and I love every bite of my mezze platter.
After lunch we head to our hotel, Pai Hotsprings Spa Resort. The rooms aren’t quite as nice as the others on the trip, but the hotel has its own hot spring pools, so it’s worth it to stay here.
Yoga in Pai
We spend the afternoon soaking before heading to a yoga class at Pai Yoga Shala.
It’s a beautiful open-air studio, and our enthusiastic instructor makes the class fun. At the end we go out to a platform in the middle of a field and do yoga under the setting sun.
Day 5: Pai
The next morning our itinerary for 8 days in Thailand starts with a market tour. We head to the Pai fresh market with Lek, who will later give us a Thai cooking class.
Pai Fresh Market
Lek has us sample everything from palm fruit cake to sticky rice with custard and fried dough with condensed milk before taking us through the produce market.
There we learn about the local vegetables and herbs that go into Thai cooking. From kaffir lime leaves to lemongrass and galangal, it all looks and smells delicious.
Thai Cooking Class
After the market tour, we drive over to VV Cafe for the cooking class. It’s a beautiful space with outdoor tables and a pond. There are even people doing yoga on a deck across the water. It all feels idyllic.
When the class starts, we learn to make summer rolls, pad thai, Massaman curry, and mango sticky rice. I’m not much of a cook, but everything is made easy enough that even I can feel like I’m mastering it.
Pai Dinner and Market
In the evening we enjoy more Thai food at Baan Pai restaurant. Heaping plates of beef, chicken, and vegetables fill the table. My favorite dish is a seafood curry served in a coconut.
After dinner we have time to walk around the night market in Pai. Stalls fill the streets and shops lure us in with all kinds of bright fabrics and gifts.
Day 6: Pai and Koh Samui
The following day our itinerary for 8 days in Thailand takes us to the islands. We drive from Pai to Chiang Mai airport, then hop on a quick flight to Koh Samui.
Once on the island, we’re driven to Peace Resort. It’s right on the beach and our rooms are individual bungalows.
Beach Yoga in Koh Samui
After checking in, we head to the waterfront for a sunset yoga session. It’s usually done at a yoga studio called Vikasa, but they’ve had an instructor come to us so we can overlook the beach.
The session is my favorite of the trip, partly because of the beautiful setting and partly because of the instructor’s encouraging words and helpful adjustments.
Night in Koh Samui
After yoga we walk down the beach for dinner at Greenlight before exploring the buzzing night market in Koh Samui.
Day 7: Koh Samui
The next morning our itinerary for 8 days in Thailand starts with sunrise yoga by the beach at our hotel.
Acroyoga in Koh Samui
It’s not just any yoga, either. It’s acroyoga, a mix of yoga and acrobatics. Flying through the air balanced on the instructor’s legs is an exhilarating way to start the morning.
Massage in Koh Samui
Later we’re booked in for 2-hour massages at the Peace Resort spa. After a busy week, I slide straight into relaxation. The therapist blends Thai techniques with an oil massage, and the result is the release of a lot of tension in my muscles.
SUP and Dinner in Koh Samui
In the afternoon we go stand-up paddle boarding before heading to dinner at a restaurant called Galanga. We sit outside to take in the scene and tuck into everything from green curry to fresh noodles.
Afterwards we head to a beach bar and watch one of Thailand’s famous fire shows as the night sets in around us.
Day 8: Koh Samui
The following day our itinerary for 8 days in Thailand comes to an end. We have a free morning, so I walk on the beach before we leave for the airport, London, and reality.
Taking Wellness Home
But I want to take the wellness home. I feel great, and I like the idea of bringing the physical, spiritual, and mental health benefits I’ve gained in Thailand back home with me.
My 8 days in Thailand have been the perfect way to reset, and I’m looking forward to carrying on with everything I’ve enjoyed on the tour.
If you want to do the same, I hope you can follow in my footsteps. Happy travels!
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