What this trip is really like
The extra Phuket night goes to Old Town and the quieter beaches — the part of the island most visitors never see — before Phi Phi, the ferry to Krabi, the four islands and two days in Bangkok.
Nothing in our Thailand collection runs longer or broader as a single route than this one. Three Phuket nights kick things off, built around the Fantasea show one evening, a half-day tour of the city with time for shopping, and a full day on Phi Phi Island by big boat. From there, a scenic ferry brings you on to Krabi, where two nights centre on a four-island speedboat outing.
A flight from Krabi to Bangkok covers the final two nights, rounded off by a half-day tour of temples and city sights, taking in the Golden Buddha with a stop at the Gems Gallery. Between the added Phuket night, the ferry link in place of a road journey, and the Bangkok finish, this stands as our complete, all-in-one route for travellers wanting one full Thailand trip instead of joining two shorter ones.
Highlights
- An evening at the Phuket Fantasea show, with dinner
- A half-day Phuket city tour and shopping
- A full-day Phi Phi Island tour by big boat
- A scenic ferry transfer from Phuket to Krabi
- A full-day Krabi 4-Island tour by speedboat
- A flight on to Bangkok, followed by a half-day tour of temples and the city (Golden Buddha, Gems Gallery)
The trip, day by day
Day 1 — Land in Phuket, evening at Fantasea
Checking into the Phuket hotel on arrival leaves a window to ease into things ahead of the evening's highlight: a pick-up heading to Phuket Fantasea, a 140-acre park steeped in Thai myth and heritage, where a carnival village, a sizeable buffet hall and a Las Vegas-style stage show come together — complete with a tiger, dancers, fire performers and elephants.
Day 2 — Old Town, quieter beaches, Wat Chalong
Phuket's best-known coastal viewpoints usually feature on this half-day tour, along with a stop at one of the island's largest temples and a browse through a nearby gem or handicraft outlet — enough to leave you with a broad island overview ahead of the boat trip the next day.
Day 3 — Phi Phi by boat
A big boat carries you island-hopping through the Phi Phi archipelago, covering Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Lay's limestone cliffs, where Maya Bay sits, with swimming and snorkelling time built in before the boat heads back to Phuket.
Day 4 — Ferry across to Krabi
Breakfast is followed by a transfer to the pier, where a scenic ferry ride carries you over to Krabi, with Andaman views along the crossing. Once at Krabi pier, you're met and brought to the pre-booked hotel, leaving the day's remainder open.
Day 5 — Four islands by long-tail
By speedboat, a full day takes in several of Krabi's best-known limestone islands, with chances to swim and snorkel in clear water at every stop, before the return to the hotel as evening sets in.
Day 6 — Fly to Bangkok
Checking out of the Krabi hotel, you fly to Bangkok, where you're met and taken to your hotel, leaving much of the day open before the city tour the next day.
Day 7 — Temples and canals in Bangkok
Bangkok's history and culture come into focus on this half-day tour, which stops at the Golden Buddha Temple to see a Buddha image cast entirely in gold, said to be more than seven centuries old, before continuing to Wat Maha Prattharam. From there, a small toy train carries you to a Gems Gallery, where the process of sourcing, cutting, shaping and polishing precious stones is explained.
Day 8 — Departure
After breakfast and check-out, you’re transferred to Bangkok’s airport for your onward or return flight, bringing the trip to a close.
What's included
- Your rooms, twin or double with breakfast, in the hotel grade you pick with us — family-run guesthouses where they exist, small hotels elsewhere
- Every meal the day-by-day marks as included; we lean towards places locals eat rather than hotel restaurants
- A guide from the region who speaks English and grew up with the places on the route
- Your own air-conditioned car or minivan with driver for every transfer and touring day
- Entrance fees to every site named in the itinerary
- The boats, cruises and activities written into the plan
- Government taxes and service charges — the quote we send is the amount you pay
Not included
- Flights and trains, international or domestic — we quote these separately so you can see the real cost
- Visa fees and visa arrangements
- Travel insurance, which we ask every guest to carry
- Drinks, laundry, phone calls and anything else personal
- Early check-in, late check-out and room upgrades
- Tips for your guide and driver — customary here, at your discretion
- Extra sightseeing or vehicle use beyond the written plan
- Costs caused by weather, road closures or other events outside anyone's control, settled on the spot
- Bank transfer charges
Book this trip
- Days
- 8 days / 7 nights
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