Thailand Budget Itinerary: 14 Days in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Koh Chang
The difference between a travel agent and me is that a travel agent will try to sell you the most expensive trip. I give you the cheapest Thailand itinerary I could think of: two weeks, three places, north, south, cities, islands, temples, culture, beaches, boats, and trains. Almost everything you want for around $325. It’s good for young people, broke people, or guys who don’t want to spend a lot of money on two Thailand holidays so they have more money for the following Pattaya excess, for example.
Bangkok Chiang Mai and Koh Chang Itinerary
This itinerary is the best of Thailand. You get Bangkok, the best place on earth in my opinion. Then we go to Chiang Mai up north and down to Koh Chang.
You really need to time it right. Of course, it’s so cheap because of the low season, when everything is cheaper. But you have to be careful with Chiang Mai because Chiang Mai in April, March, and February is horrible. Skip it in the high season, and the low season can be very hot in these places.
My suggestion would be to book early for November or December, or wait for another year and go somewhere around May and June if you don’t care about rain too much.
The cheapest itinerary is Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Koh Chang over 14 days. It’s ultra-frugal and ideal for budget backpackers, students, and long-term travelers.
Thailand Budget Itinerary Highlights
The highlights of the trip are definitely street food, third-class trains, free temples, local markets, and travelling for almost free. It’s very relaxed, and I would suggest you do it when you want an authentic Thailand experience without a tourist markup.
It’s not the naughty nightlife itinerary. It’s really good for first-timers to see something, explore, and have a good first impression of the north, the centre, and an island.
For $325 total, you will be in Chinatown. You will see the Grand Palace from the outside, to be honest,. You will ride a Chao Phraya Express boat and visit Lumpini Park with its free aerobics class.
You will take the overnight third-class train to Chiang Mai, see the Monk’s Trail, visit Doi Suthep Temple, and see an umbrella festival if the timing is right. You will visit markets and Koh Chang beaches, see a waterfall, and visit a wonderful floating fishing village on stilts.
You will have 7-Eleven, Thai baht water-refill machines, and local night markets with student prices.
Route Overview for a 14 Day Thailand Trip
The route overview is basically the first four days in Bangkok, days five to nine in Chiang Mai, then back to Bangkok and directly to Koh Chang for days 10 to 14.
In Bangkok, there are a lot of free cultural sites in the old town. It’s just a giant cultural site. It’s beautiful to walk around, with a lot of scammers, so be careful, but it’s absolutely breathtaking and you are at the river.
The third-class train to Chiang Mai saves you a night’s accommodation. If you stay where the Thai students stay, everything is cheaper.
Koh Chang is very popular and famous now, but it is still budget-friendly and accessible by a cheap government bus and ferry combination. That’s why I chose it.
Thailand Budget Travel Cheat Codes
The low season would be even better, but the other months that are worth it are November, December, May, and June.
The cheat codes are cheap water and 7-Eleven. You can’t spend the nights in go-go bars and crazy clubs if you only want to spend $325. It’s obvious. You have to live on street food, 7-Eleven, and markets, and sit at a beach outside to eat.
Beer and alcohol are not included in an itinerary based on one-baht water refills, but as always in Thailand, it doesn’t get any cheaper than 7-Eleven. There are also a lot of public spaces where you don’t look like a homeless guy with a beer. When you have a beer, you can always sit at a street-food place. That’s never an issue.
Cheap Accommodation in Bangkok Chiang Mai and Koh Chang
The biggest factor in saving money is accommodation.
Bangkok Old Town and Chinatown have amazing hostels. Ploy Hostel has to be my favourite. Crit, Born Free, and Tiny Terrace Noi all cost between $4 and $10.
In Chiang Mai, stay in Santitham, north of the old city. Students and local workers mean lower prices. It is not Nimman, the trendy student area; it is the local student area.
Koh Chang has the old dream of having a hut at the beach with no one else there. Those days are mostly over, but you can still have wonderful accommodation on an island like Koh Chang.
Third Class Train to Chiang Mai
The third-class train is cost-effective and wonderful. You meet locals, and a guy comes in and sells food. This is authentic travelling.
An overnight train saves one night’s accommodation. You can also use a bus. They come with a free snack and water, so choose what you like.
Even flights are not so expensive. Last time I flew from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and back, it was $50 total. It doesn’t have to be $325; I tried to make it as cheap as possible as my challenge.
Local Transport in Bangkok Chiang Mai and Koh Chang
In Bangkok, the boats, buses, BTS, and MRT are all cheaper than a tuk-tuk or taxi. Please use public transport. It’s wonderful.
The boat costs 16 baht, and the buses cost 8 to 15 baht. Even if you don’t understand it, exit at the next pier and try again. Sixteen baht is nothing.
In Chiang Mai, you don’t need to rent anything. Red songthaews, or pickup trucks, usually cost 30 baht. It is a little more difficult than in Pattaya and less intuitive because they can go almost everywhere, so ask where they go before getting in.
Free Things To Do in Bangkok
You don’t need to book expensive tours, and you don’t need a tour guide. Just walk through the Old Town, see the Grand Palace and the temples, and visit the flower market, Pak Khlong Talat. The amulet market, the river, and the night-market atmosphere are all free.
The accommodation options in Bangkok Old Town and Chinatown cost $15 to $20 per night. Ploy Hostel was $4 per night when I checked, so book early.
On day one, you arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport, go to the lowest floor to exchange your money, and take the Airport Rail Link. Press English, press Makkasan, pay, put in 100 baht, get your change, and take the train.
It is five stops, costs 35 baht, and takes you to the MRT subway. Interchange to the MRT to Old Town. It is nine stops, takes 18 minutes, and costs 37 baht.
Chinatown does not get better or more photogenic, and the food does not get better or more Bangkok-like, than Chinatown. Yaowarat Road is beautiful to walk along. It is a real sensory overload, and the street food is so good.
Eat something for 40 to 50 baht per dish, from seafood and sweet food to pork noodle soup.
Bangkok Old Town Temples and Street Food
On day two, walk around the Old Town. Look at the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, and Wat Pho. Walk through this beautiful and clean area, and beware of scammers.
My rule of thumb is to ignore any man in Thailand. Whenever someone approaches you on the street, say “Mai ao khap.” This means “I don’t want. Thank you.” and go on.
For lunch and dinner, try Nai Soi Beef, a wonderful beef noodle soup
Walk along Phra Athit Road. It is one of the most touristy but beautiful streets in Thailand. It is not as crazy as Khao San Road, and it is a beautiful walking street with lights and lanterns.
Bangkok River Cruise Lumpini Park and Markets
On day three, take a river cruise, but not the high-ticket cruise with other tourists, a buffet, and a long session on the toilet afterwards. Take a public orange-flag boat on the Chao Phraya Express Boat.
Go from Phra Athit Pier all the way down to Sathon Pier, where the Ghost Tower is. One of my favourite temples is Wat Prayurawongsawat.
Another thing you can do in the afternoon, morning, or evening at 6 p.m. is visit Lumpini Park. It has monitor lizards, aerobics classes, runners, an open-air gym, and water. It is a paradise within the city.
In the evening, eat street food near Banglamphu Square. You can eat for 40 to 50 baht.
On the last day in Bangkok, check out at noon. In the afternoon, go to Museum Siam for 100 baht. It has an incredible museum and a cool show called Decoding Thainess.
Overnight Train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
In the evening, take the third-class overnight train to Chiang Mai. A third-class fan ticket from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminus Station costs about $9, leaves at 10:30, and arrives around noon.
Krung Thep Aphiwat is near Don Mueang Airport. Take the MRT’s blue line in that direction. You don’t have to change anywhere. Take the train and have a good night, then wake up in Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai Santitham Market and Doi Suthep
On day five, arrive at noon and check into one of the accommodations in Santitham. Find the nearest one, then locate Siri Watthana Market for 40-baht meals.
Chiang Mai is a little out of the tourist eye, which is usually a good idea. Eat, have fun, talk to locals, watch them, enjoy yourself, arrive, and rest.
The next day, start at Suthep Road and hike to Wat Pha Lat, the forest temple. It is free to enter and has stunning city views. Continue to Doi Suthep and see Chiang Mai from the top of the mountain.
The things you want to see are not in Chiang Mai’s old town or city centre. They are all outside. That’s why I don’t like it too much, but you have to see it once.
After the hike, rest. In the evening, check out the market again or go to Nimman and walk around. The best thing about Chiang Mai is the food. There are options in the north, centre, east, west, and south.
Chiang Mai Temples and Warorot Market
On day seven, continue to hike. You can take a red songthaew for an additional 60 to 100 baht, but the mountain area is the main thing you want to see.
On day eight, check out the old-city temples. Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang are free on the exterior. If you want to go inside the halls, you have to pay about 40 baht, but you don’t need to.
Wat Phra Singh even has monks who can chat with you. Wat Chedi Luang is especially impressive from the outside because it looks like there is a little mountain in the middle of the city, with a temple on top.
You can also visit the Sunday Walking Street if it is a Sunday. It is free to walk around, and food costs 40 to 60 baht.
Day nine is transit. Start the day or afternoon at Warorot Market. There are beautiful little shops, a flower market, and friendly flower sellers.
In the evening, take the same overnight train back to Bangkok.
Bangkok to Koh Chang by Bus and Ferry
To leave for Koh Chang, take the 999 bus from Ekkamai. Take the BTS Skytrain to Ekkamai, go to the Ekkamai bus terminal, and take the bus and ferry combination to Koh Chang.
You may be exhausted and may not have slept very well. It can be a five- or six-hour ride from Bangkok until you finally check in.
On the first night, enjoy the beach, enjoy your accommodation, buy a beer, and enjoy life.
Koh Chang Waterfalls Beaches and Bang Bao Village
On day 11, have an active day with a waterfall. I would not spend money on a rental. I would walk.
Koh Chang means Elephant Island. Everything you need is mostly on the west side, so you don’t have to hike up mountains.
In the evenings, Thailand has street food, food markets, and street vendors. For 40 baht, with another beer for 60 baht, you won’t get poor.
On day 12, have a beach day. Stay at one of your favourite beaches, relax, read, and have a street-food dinner.
In the south is Bang Bao Village, a beautiful fishing village on stilts. It is the starting point for many tours, but it is also a wonderful place to visit.
Finally, have a beach sunset, street food, beer, coconut, and a massage. Then take a morning bus from Koh Chang directly to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport or wherever you want to go. Go to Pattaya, return to Bangkok, or stop on Koh Samet.
Thailand Itinerary Budget Breakdown
The budget breakdown is $180 for accommodation, $80 for food and drinks, $30 to $40 for intercity transit, $10 for local transit, and $15 for activities over two weeks.
The grand total is $325.
