Thailand in 10 Days — Bangkok, Chiang Mai & the Andaman

Don't pack the first day too tight — you'll be tired from the journey. Drop your bags at the hotel and start at the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, home of the Emerald Buddha, then walk on to Wat Pho to see the enormous reclining Buddha. In the evening, find a riverside spot for dinner with a breeze. Dress modestly — shoulders and knees covered — for the temples.

Catch a Chao Phraya express boat (orange flag) in the morning to see the city from the water, then cross over to Wat Arun and climb the steep prang for river views. In the afternoon, stop by Wat Traimit for the solid-gold Buddha. In the evening, choose between a rooftop bar for the skyline or a stroll through ICONSIAM, the riverside mall with an indoor market.

Spend the morning at Chatuchak Weekend Market (Saturdays and Sundays) browsing the stalls; on a weekday, swap it for a floating market or the Jim Thompson House museum. Shop the Siam district in the afternoon, then give the evening to Yaowarat (Chinatown) for the famous street food — noodles, oyster omelettes, durian, and sweets all down one strip.

Fly from Bangkok up to Chiang Mai in the morning (~1 hr 20 min) and drop your bags at the hotel. Spend the afternoon walking the old city inside its square moat — start at Tha Phae Gate, take in the huge ancient stupa at Wat Chedi Luang, and the gilded Wat Phra Singh. If it's a Saturday or Sunday, the evening walking street market is the place for northern snacks.

In the morning, head up the mountain to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the sacred temple that watches over the city. Climb the naga staircase or take the funicular; the golden chedi at the top looks out over the whole of Chiang Mai. In the afternoon, stop at a mountain-view café or a nearby Hmong village, then come back down for khao soi and other northern dishes in town.

Give today to the countryside outside town with a visit to an ethical elephant sanctuary — the kind that doesn't offer rides, where you feed, bathe, and walk alongside the elephants in the forest. Choose a place with a genuine welfare record. In the afternoon, fold in a waterfall or a garden up on Doi Inthanon, depending on the tour package, which usually includes transport from town.

Fly from Chiang Mai down to Phuket in the morning (direct, about 2 hours) and check into your beachside hotel. Spend the afternoon in the water at Patong Beach, or a quieter stretch like Kata or Karon, and stop by the hilltop Big Buddha for views across the island. Have a fresh seafood dinner, and if you're up for nightlife, walk Bangla Road in Patong.

Take a morning speedboat tour out from Phuket to the Phi Phi islands (~45–50 min). The highlight is Maya Bay, a beach cradled by cliffs that you may know from the film, with a stop at Pileh Lagoon and snorkelling spots full of coral and fish. Tours include lunch and snorkel gear; you're back on Phuket by evening.

Your last full day at sea, and it's your call. The active option is Phang Nga Bay to see James Bond Island (Khao Phing Kan) and kayak through the limestone caves; the easy option is a closer island like Coral Island or Maiton for a swim off a quiet beach. If you're worn out, there's no shame in saving your legs by the hotel pool before the flight home.

The last day depends on your flight home. If you can fly out of Phuket directly, that's the quickest. If you have to connect through Bangkok, allow for the Phuket–Bangkok flight of about 1 hr 30 min before your international leg. Before you go, pick up some southern souvenirs — cashew nuts, shrimp-paste chilli dip, batik cloth.