Bangkok → Chiang Mai.

1. 01

   Day 1 · Arrive in Bangkok

   Land, river boat, street food

   Skytrain or Airport Rail Link into town (much faster than a taxi at rush hour). Drop bags in Sukhumvit or near the river, then a Chao Phraya river boat at sunset.

   • ⛵

     Chao Phraya river boat

     Get on the orange-flag local boat ($1) and ride from Sathorn to Pak Khlong, sunset, temples, breeze.

     ✓ Verified by Tun · 9d ago
   • 🍜

     Soi 38 Night Food Street

     A row of food stalls, pad see ew, boat noodles, mango sticky rice. Eat your way down.

2. 02

   Day 2 · Temples + Old City

   Wat Pho, Grand Palace, Wat Arun at sunset

   A full temple day. Dress code matters, knees and shoulders covered. Bring water; it gets hot.

   • 🏯

     Grand Palace + Wat Phra Kaew

     The most ornate temple complex in Thailand. Get there at opening (8:30am) to beat the bus tours.

     ✓ Verified by Tun · 9d ago
   • 🛕

     Wat Pho

     The 46-meter reclining Buddha. Skip the famous Thai massage school here unless you want to wait an hour.

   • 🌅

     Wat Arun at sunset

     Cross the river by ferry ($0.10), climb the temple for the view, then walk back as it lights up at dusk.

3. 03

   Day 3 · Markets + rooftop

   Chatuchak weekend market, rooftop sunset

   Day 3 is for shopping and indulgence, the biggest weekend market in Southeast Asia by day, a famous rooftop by night.

   • 🛍

     Chatuchak Weekend Market

     15,000 stalls, clothes, plants, food, vintage furniture. Go Saturday or Sunday only. Allow 4 hours.

     ✓ Verified by Tun · 9d ago
   • 🍸

     Sky Bar at Lebua

     The Hangover 2 rooftop. Dressed up, expensive, worth it once for the view. Dress code is real, no shorts.

4. 04

   Day 4 · Fly to Chiang Mai

   Old City temples, night bazaar

   Morning flight to Chiang Mai (CNX), a different world from Bangkok. Smaller, slower, more temples per square mile than anywhere else in Thailand.

   • 🛕

     Old City temple loop

     Walk between Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phra Singh, and Wat Chiang Man, all within a few blocks inside the old moat.

     ✓ Verified by Tun · 9d ago
   • 🌃

     Chiang Mai Night Bazaar

     Less polished than Bangkok's markets but with real local crafts. Bargain politely; aim for 60% of the opening price.

   ✈ BKK → CNX · 75 min · ~$40
5. 05

   Day 5 · Doi Suthep + fly home

   Mountain temple morning, evening flight

   Morning: the most-photographed temple in northern Thailand. Afternoon: a Thai massage, a final bowl of khao soi, and the evening flight home.

   • ⛰

     Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

     Mountain temple overlooking Chiang Mai. Songthaew (red truck) from the Old City, $5 round trip. Sunrise visit if you can manage the 5am wake-up.

     ✓ Verified by Tun · 9d ago
   • 🍲

     Khao Soi Khun Yai

     Northern-style coconut-curry noodles. Two locations; the original is north of the Old City. Closes at 2pm, go for lunch.

   🛫 CNX evening flight home

Frequently asked

• ▸Is 5 days enough for Thailand?

  It's enough for one or two cities done well. This itinerary covers Bangkok + Chiang Mai. If you want islands too (Phuket / Koh Samui / Krabi), add at least 3 more days, flying south then back adds a full travel day.
• ▸Do Indian passport holders need a visa for Thailand?

  No, Thailand is visa-free for 60 days for Indian passport holders (and many others) since mid-2024. Just bring a valid passport (6-month rule) and a return ticket. See our Thailand visa page for the latest details.
• ▸What's the best time to do this 5-day Thailand trip?

  November through February, cool, dry, low humidity. March-April is hot but still manageable. Avoid June-October (monsoon) unless you don't mind afternoon rain.
• ▸How much does this 5-day Thailand trip cost?

  Around $520 from Delhi if booked 4 weeks ahead. Flights ($280), hotels ($120 mid-tier × 4 nights), domestic flight ($40), daily food + local transport ($80). See our budget-led destination discovery for live comparisons.