Known as the ‘Land of Smiles’, Thailand is Asia’s top tourist destination, renowned for its luxury resorts, stunning landscapes, sacred temples, warm-hearted locals, and mouthwatering cuisine. It’s easy to see how the country earned its affectionate nickname. Among the country’s most popular spots are the two largest islands, Phuket and Koh Samui, which draw visitors from all over the world. Planning a holiday can sometimes be overwhelming, especially when it’s halfway across the globe. To simplify your trip, we’ve crafted a two-week Thailand itinerary featuring our top recommendations for activities, dining, and family-friendly experiences. So, without further delay, here’s our ultimate Thailand itinerary for Phuket and Koh Samui!
2-Week Thailand Itinerary
Phuket: The culture capital
Traditional wooden longtail boats in Phuket
Phuket, Thailand’s sun-kissed second-largest island, beckons with its irresistible mix of golden beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lively personality. From the buzz of Patong’s nightlife to the serene beauty of hidden coves, this island is a playground for adventurers. We recommend dedicating four to seven days of your Thailand itinerary to Phuket.
Things to see and do
⭐ Celebrate Chinese New Year: Visit at the end of January to experience Phuket’s Chinese New Year traditions. Celebrated especially in Old Phuket Town, the streets are filled with vibrant parades, dragon dances, and religious ceremonies. The island’s Chinese community gathers to honour their traditions with offerings, prayers, and family reunions. Local temples, such as Jui Tui and Wat Chalong, are bustling with worshippers seeking blessings for prosperity and good fortune.
⭐ Muay Thai boxing is the martial art of Thailand. It started several hundred years ago, and it’s a form of close combat that utilises the whole body as a weapon. You can see Thai boxing first-hand in the Patong Stadium.
⭐ If you’re looking for a welcome respite from the busy resorts, head to Phuket’s Old Town. The streets of Patong are lined with colourful colonial-style mansions, perfect for photographing.
⭐ Sitting atop the Nakkerd Hills in Chalong is Big Buddha, a 45-meter-tall white marble statue honouring the Buddhist figure. From the top, you’ll find gorgeous panoramic views across Phuket. Top tip: Big Buddha is in an active place of prayer, so your visit should be as silent as possible.
⭐ Rum isn’t just produced in the Caribbean! The Chalong Bay Rum Company offers tours around its rum distillery in Phuket.
⭐ If you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Phuket, charter a boat out to the Phi Phi Islands. This series of picturesque archipelagos is a 45-minute boat trip from Phuket. You can explore more of the islands by snorkelling or on a kayak.
⭐ Phang Nga Bay is known for its distinctive limestone karsts that jut vertically out of the emerald-green waters of the Andaman Sea. Highlights include James Bond Island, Koh Panyee – a Muslim fishing village built on stilts – and the Samet Nangshe viewpoint, one of the best panoramas in Phang Nga. To explore the bay by boat, book a long-tail or speedboat day trip, join a cruise or kayaking tour, or charter a yacht.
⭐ Visit Wat Chalong, one of 29 Buddhist temples in Phuket. Inside these immaculate grounds and gardens are many smaller temples and the stunning Grand Pagoda, which houses a splinter from Buddha’s bone.
Food and drink
🍹 Recently voted one of the World’s Best Rooftop Bars by Condé Nast Traveler, Baba Nest is a stylish and luxurious bar floating in the centre of a mountaintop infinity pool with some seriously stunning views.
🍹 If you’re missing the taste of home, then Siam Supper Club is a great option. Serving a mix of Western food and traditional Phuket cuisine, it’s great for large groups with varying food preferences or families with fussy eaters.
🍹 Mom Tri’s Kitchen is an award-winning restaurant facing the unspoilt Kata Noi Beach. The restaurant is located on multi-level terraces, surrounded by a lush tropical garden, and serves a selection of Thai and International cuisine.
🍹 Phuket Walking Street, or Sunday Lardyai (Big Market), takes place in Phuket’s Old Town. Performers, artists, and stalls selling antiques, toys, and food line Thalang Road every Sunday evening.
🍹 Known locally as Naka Market, Phuket’s night market runs every weekend from 4pm – 9pm. It boasts a vibrant and fascinating mix of foods, second-hand goods, and live animals.
🍹 For an insight into local Thai life, visit the Banzaan Fresh Market. Here you will find some of the cheapest and best local food in Phuket.
🍹 If you’re looking for a romantic spot, On the Rock is the place to go. This restaurant is nestled on some rocks overlooking Karon Beach and is the perfect place for a golden hour cocktail with that special someone.
🍹 Bangla Road: It might not be to everyone’s tastes, but this vibrant street is brimming with bars, clubs, and pubs. Top tip: This road probably isn’t suitable for young children at night.
Family fun
Fireworks at the Fantasea Show in Phuket
✨Parents and little ones will be impressed by the Fantasea Show in Phuket. It describes itself as the ultimate cultural theme park and is the kind of show that wouldn’t look out of place in Vegas. Inspired by Thailand’s rich heritage, the performance showcases the charm and beauty of Thailand whilst enriching ancient Thai traditions. The show features acrobatics, illusions, pyrotechnics, stunts, aerial performances, and animals!
✨ One of Phuket’s more unique tourist attractions is The Upside Down House; pose for some interesting photos to trick your family and friends at home! The garden is just as quirky and features a maze.
✨ If your children are animal enthusiasts, visit The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project. It’s a fantastic place for your children to learn about gibbons, and you’ll also contribute towards the sanctuary’s conservation efforts.
Best Beaches
👣 One of the best beaches in Phuket is also the hardest to get to. Freedom Beach‘s 300m stretch of white sand is largely untouched, and the water is spellbindingly blue. Although it’s difficult to get to and will cost you a small fee to enter, it’s worth the effort when you finally make it to the beach.
👣 Kamala Beach is a great option for families. Despite being a mere 15 minutes from the party beach Patong, there is a much more relaxed vibe here, partly due to the area’s past as a fishing village. There are two glorious kilometres of white sand, so there is plenty of room to spread out, and the shallow waters are great for splashing around in.
👣 Surin has been dubbed “Millionaire’s Row” due to the high number of luxury resorts and celebrity haunts that line the beach. However, Surin Beach feels more like a fishing village than a resort – the perfect setting for a relaxing beach day.
👣 At 6km in length, Bang Tao Beach is one of Phuket’s longest beaches. The most northerly point of the beach is where you will find more space, as this is away from the resorts.
Koh Samui: A tropical paradise
Silver Beach on Koh Samui
Sixty years ago, Koh Samui was just an island where locals would fish and live a quiet life. Nowadays, it’s the most visited island in the area, welcoming 1.5 million visitors to its shores every year. Due to the island’s charm and slower pace of living, you can really relax on a holiday in Koh Samui. We recommend spending about five days here as part of your Thailand itinerary. Read on for some ideas to add to your Thailand itinerary in Koh Samui.
Things to see and do
⭐ Celebrate Chinese New Year: visiting Thailand at the end of January promises wonderful weather and celebrations galore for Chinese New Year. In Koh Samui, it’s marked by colourful parades, traditional lion and dragon dances, and lively temple ceremonies. Festivities include delicious Chinese food, fireworks, and the popular tradition of giving red envelopes (lai see) filled with money for good luck. The festive atmosphere uniquely blends local Thai culture and Chinese customs, making it a memorable time for locals and visitors.
⭐ Thailand has some of the best diving sites in the world, so take advantage of the clear, abundant Thai waters by booking a scuba diving immersion! Expect to see jackfish, fusiliers, barracuda, curious batfish, colourful butterflies, and parrotfish. If you are very lucky, you might see whale sharks, particularly around the deeper open ocean sites. Top tip: Be wary of unsafe diving centres; check the PADI website for centre recommendations.
⭐ If scuba diving seems a little overwhelming, there’s always snorkelling! With Thailand’s clear and calm waters, home to stunning reefs and many different species, there’s no better place to head beneath the waves!
⭐ Ang Thong National Marine Park was established as a marine national park in 1980. 42 islands comprise this National Park, covering 102 km² of the Surat Thai Province shoreline in the Gulf of Thailand. Expect to see stunning landscapes of bright greens, blues, and turquoise, as well as a myriad of wildlife both above and below the water – so don’t forget your snorkel!
⭐ After a long and busy day exploring Koh Samui, why don’t you treat yourself to a Thai massage? After all…you’re on holiday.
⭐ Temples. Thailand has loads of them, and there are many on Koh Samui, all of which are incredible. Don’t forget to visit Koh Samui’s Big Buddha, a 12-metre gilded statue inside Wat Phra Yai’s temple grounds. The Wat Sila Ngu and Wat Plai Laem temples are also worth visiting; the latter features an 18-metre statue of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy and Compassion.
Food and drink
🍹 If you want fine dining in Koh Samui, visit Supattra Thai Dining. Expect real homemade Thai food made using the best fresh and local ingredients.
🍹 If you want something quick, easy and delicious, Stop @ Sopa in Samui offers a range of Thai food, pizzas, pasta, and soups. This company even delivers to the area, which is perfect if you fancy some delicious local food delivered straight to your villa door!
🍹 The Tree Tops Sky Dining and Bar is a unique experience. Hide away in your personal sala amongst the treetops for an incredibly romantic evening. The menu combines French and Mediterranean cuisine with the island’s finest produce.
🍹 Another fine dining establishment in Koh Samui is the Full Moon restaurant. Located at the western end of Bophut’s fisherman’s village, this place specialises in chargrilled fusion cuisine. Its à la carte international menu offers a great choice of local flavours and ingredients, blending European, Thai, and Japanese influences.
🍹 For authentic Thai street food, the Lamai Fresh Food Market should be top of your list. Many street food-style stands serve up local Thai dishes at amazing prices. Top tip: Unfortunately, no seating is available, so you’ll have to be ok with standing and eating or taking away.
🍹 Restaurant K-Siri is a family-run restaurant serving genuine Thai cuisine. The food is delicious and fresh, and the prices are extremely reasonable. You can’t go wrong here! The restaurant is close to Peace Resort in Bophut.
Family fun
Elephants being bathed at the Samui Elephant Sanctuary
✨ At the top of Pom Mountain is a private sculpture park called the Secret Buddha Garden. This magical place is home to many statues of Buddha and other aspects of Thai Buddhism. There are also some beautiful streams, waterfalls, and thick jungle foliage.
✨ Many conscious tourists will be wary of elephant visits in Thailand. The Samui Elephant Sanctuary is unique as it is a genuine elephant sanctuary where people can behold these majestic creatures from afar. There are strictly no elephant rides or opportunities to bathe with the elephants. However, guests are invited to help feed the elephants and can watch the elephants in their natural habitat.
✨ Paradise Park Farm is a fantastic little farm for children to let loose and admire the many species of exotic birds that live there. There is also an infinity swimming pool with gorgeous views of the countryside and a restaurant serving Thai food.
Best Beaches
👣 A 250m-long tropical beach paradise set in a little bay just north of Lamai Beach, Silver Beach has plenty of room for running around or relaxing. The water here is crystal clear, and the abundance of rocks provides perfect conditions for snorkelling.
👣 Want to enjoy the freshest seafood whilst sitting on a beach with perfect sand? Well, Choeng Mon is the place for you. Situated just next to the Fisherman’s village, this beach has a more relaxed atmosphere than the typical Thai party beaches. The fish comes in fresh every day and is delivered to the restaurants on the beach. It also has some of the best sand in Koh Samui.
👣 The relaxed Taling Ngam beach is perfect for families. There are no big waves, clean sand, and clear, shallow water. This beach is one of the most picturesque parts of the island. The beach itself is lined with swathes of palm trees and jungles. There are also stunning views of the Angthong Marine National Park.
👣 Lamai Beach is simply stunning. Imagine soft, white sand and pristine, turquoise waves gently lapping up on the shore. It’s an absolute dream. Unfortunately, the beach can get quite busy during peak times.
Things you should know before travelling to Thailand
🔹 Be prepared to haggle for items on street stalls and at markets. It is normal and expected, but you should never get angry or raise your voice.
🔹 If you visit a temple or royal residence, you’ll have to remove your shoes and cover up your legs (ladies have to cover up arms.) They usually have things you can borrow to cover up if you need to.
🔹 Do not insult the King or the royal family. This includes anything bearing the King’s image, like a stamp or a coin, so be careful!
🔹 In Thailand, it is the custom to remove your shoes before entering a house. Some shops and offices also follow this practice. If there is a collection of shoes at the entrance, you should probably remove your shoes before entering.
🔹 It is not the custom to walk around Thailand without a shirt. Not wearing a shirt at the beach or pool is acceptable, though. It is also illegal for women to be topless on the beach, even though many tourists ignore this law. Although Thai people tolerate Western behaviour, they do not like it.
🔹 At temples, do not point the soles of the feet at people or images of Buddha, as it is a sign of disrespect.
Inspired by our Thailand itinerary ideas? Check out our holiday villas in Thailand for stellar stays that match the magical activities on offer. And contact our friendly concierge team for help planning your holiday.
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