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What to book before you travel to Thailand?

Most visits can be booked on the spot. A few sell out days ahead. Here they are, stop by stop, with what you can do without booking underneath. Keep the rest of your time free.

Trip length
One weekTen daysTwo weeks

7 activities to book · about €280 per person

Bangkok

Days 1-2
Days 1-2Temples and the Grand Palace, guidedHalf dayThe royal compound and Wat Pho in one morning, with the dress code explained before you reach the gate rather than at it.€35Book on GetYourGuide →
Days 1-2Dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya2h30Two and a half hours on the river, past Wat Arun lit from below, with dinner served on board.€45Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: Wat Arun, from the far bank · Chatuchak weekend market · Khao San Road · Chinatown

All activities in Bangkok on GetYourGuide

Ayutthaya

Day 3
Day 3The temple circuit by bicycle, guidedHalf dayThe ruins are spread across a flat river island. A bicycle covers in a morning what walking would not.€25Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: Wat Mahathat and its Buddha head in the roots · The historical park · The floating market

All activities in Ayutthaya on GetYourGuide

Chiang Mai

Days 4-6
Days 4-6An ethical elephant sanctuaryFull dayA day at a camp where elephants are fed and washed but never ridden. Check that riding is absent before you book anything.€70Book on GetYourGuide →
Days 4-6Thai cooking classHalf dayThe market first, then four dishes and the curry paste under them, pounded by hand in a stone mortar.€30Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: Doi Suthep, from outside · The old town and its temples · The night market · Walking out through the rice terraces

All activities in Chiang Mai on GetYourGuide

Krabi & Railay

Days 7-10
Days 7-10Four islands by long-tail boatFull dayPoda, Chicken Island, Tup and Phra Nang, with a sandbar linking two of them when the tide drops.€35Book on GetYourGuide →
Days 7-10Beginner climbing at RailayHalf dayBolted limestone straight above the sand, with a guide, gear and half a day. No experience needed.€40Book on GetYourGuide →

No booking needed: Railay beach · Tonsai and its cliffs · Sunset at Ao Nang

All activities in Krabi on GetYourGuide

Indicative prices per person, checked when written. The button opens the GetYourGuide search for the activity and the town, on the days of the stop once your dates are known. Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

Frequently asked questions

How much do the activities to book in Thailand cost?

€280 per person if you do them all, across 7 bookings. The most expensive is "An ethical elephant sanctuary" at €70, the cheapest "The temple circuit by bicycle, guided" at €25. Prices checked when written: confirm them when you book.

What can you do in Thailand without booking anything?

14 visits on this itinerary need no ticket or time slot, starting with Wat Arun, from the far bank, Chatuchak weekend market, Khao San Road, Chinatown. They make up most of your days: booking ahead only concerns a handful of sites with limited places.

At which stop should you book earliest?

Bangkok, with 2 activities to book, against 1 at the quietest stop. That is where slots go first.

How long do these activities take?

From 2h30 for the shortest to Full day for the longest. Fit them into your days before filling the rest: a guided visit often takes half a day.

The rest of the trip

📒 The free printable Thailand guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→ 🗓️ Best time to visit Thailand, month by month→ 🎟️ What to book: all our destinations→