A calmer Thailand
Diving at the Similans, Muay Thai in Phuket, beaches in Krabi and Koh Lanta. Fewer stops than the usual two-week loop, and more time at each one.
30 Oct - 22 Nov 2026/2, one Italian citizen and one Spanish citizen
When
30 Oct - 22 Nov
24 days, 22 nights
Route
Andaman coast
Not the Gulf islands, see why below
Flight
Zurich nonstop
~900-1000 CHF round trip
Budget
€2,400-3,600
Per person, all-in estimate
Andaman coast, not the Gulf islands
The reference tour (huakai.es, 12-25 Sept) runs Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Khao Sok, Koh Samui, Koh Tao: a new place every 1-2 nights, built for September. This trip runs 24 days instead of 14, for two people instead of a group, and trades the Gulf islands for the Andaman coast. Bangkok gets two nights on arrival for the city itself, then stays out of the way.
- Bangkokcity
- Khao Lakdiving
- Khao Sokjungle
- Krabibeach
- Koh Lantabeach
- Phuketmuay thai
- Bangkoktransit
The coasts have opposite rainy seasons
In November the Gulf coast (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao) is still in its wetter monsoon period. The Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta, Khao Lak) is entering its dry high season instead: improving seas, less rain.
Similan Islands reopen right on time
The best beginner-diving area on this coast is closed 15 May to 15 Oct every year and reopens roughly mid-October, with visibility improving through late November, right through this trip.
Khao Sok fits on the way, not out of the way
Inserted between Khao Lak and Krabi: jungle and limestone lake instead of more beach, and the Khao Sok to Krabi road (2.5-3h) is shorter than the Khao Lak to Krabi one it replaces (4-5h). A detour that shortens the trip, not one that costs a day.
3-4 nights per stop is the "not rushed" baseline across independent Thailand itinerary guides. This plan runs 1-5 nights per stop depending on how much there is to do there, not a flat number everywhere.
Skipped: the overnight train
Skipped on purpose: the overnight sleeper train the reference tour uses (Bangkok-Chiang Mai) is a real highlight of that route, but on this one it only reaches Surat Thani, the Gulf-side gateway we're skipping for November weather. Reaching Khao Lak or Phuket from there adds 10+ hours over the flight, with no direct rail to either. A great idea for a future northern Thailand trip, not a fit for this one.
Changed: diving plan
A friend recommended the full PADI Open Water certification instead of just a taster, and it fits: with the PADI eLearning theory done online before departure, the in-water course compresses to 3 days, which slots straight into the existing Khao Lak nights without adding any extra time. Complete the eLearning before 30 Oct: see the Diving card below.
Seven stops, twenty-two nights
Built to double as the on-the-ground guide: a map for each stop, a picture of what each day actually is, and a booking link where one is needed.
BangkokOpen in Maps ↗
31 Oct - 2 Nov · 2 nightsTemples, markets, one Muay Thai show
Staying here, two options
Sat 31 Oct
Arrive Bangkok. Check in, rest. Evening: night market, street food, a massage.
Sun 1 Nov
Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Wat Pho. Evening: Muay Thai stadium show at Rajadamnern.
Sun 1 Nov, alt
Swap option for the same day: an early Damnoen Saduak floating market run (leaves around 6am, back by lunch).
Khao LakOpen in Maps ↗
2 - 6 Nov · 4 nightsPADI Open Water certification
Staying here, two options
Mon 2 Nov
Fly Bangkok to Phuket, transfer to Khao Lak (~1-1.5h road).
Tue 3 Nov
PADI Open Water, day 1: theory review and confined-water (pool) training. eLearning must be finished before this.
Wed 4 Nov
PADI Open Water, day 2: open water dives 1 and 2, Khao Na Yak Reef.
Thu 5 Nov
PADI Open Water, day 3: open water dives 3 and 4, Similan Islands or the local wreck. Certified.
Khao SokOpen in Maps ↗
6 - 7 Nov · 1 nightsOne night on the lake, in a floating bungalow
Staying here, two options
Fri 6 Nov
Picked up in Khao Lak, driven to Cheow Lan Lake (~1.5-2h), longtail boat to a floating bungalow, sunset boat safari, dinner on the water. Book an operator that picks up in Khao Lak and drops in Krabi the next day.
KrabiOpen in Maps ↗
7 - 12 Nov · 5 nightsAo Nang: snorkel boat trips, beach, climbing
Staying here, two options
Sat 7 Nov
Lake morning: kayaking at sunrise, jungle walk, then the minivan drops you in Ao Nang (~2.5-3h). Confirm the Krabi drop-off when booking, otherwise the tour returns to Khao Lak.
Sun 8 Nov
Railay Beach day: beach, optional rock climbing.
Mon 9 Nov
Phi Phi Islands or Hong Islands snorkel boat trip. Local alternative: negotiate a private longtail on Ao Nang beach (~20 min to Phi Phi).
Tue 10 Nov
The Monkey Trail from Ao Nang over to Pai Plong Beach (where the monkeys are), then lunch at one of the beachfront restaurants.
Wed 11 Nov
4 Islands tour, or gym and rest day.
Koh LantaOpen in Maps ↗
12 - 16 Nov · 4 nightsQuiet beach island, snorkeling
Staying here, two options
Fri 13 Nov
Beach day, snorkeling near shore.
Sun 15 Nov
Beach, gym, relax.
PhuketOpen in Maps ↗
16 - 21 Nov · 5 nightsMuay Thai taster, gym, Racha Islands day trip
Staying here, two options
Wed 18 Nov
Racha Islands: first fun dive as newly certified divers, or gym.
Thu 19 Nov
Old Phuket Town: shophouses, cafés, street art, and an easy gym day.
Fri 20 Nov
Spare day: beach, a second dive, or nothing at all.
First-timers, all of it
No prior experience assumed anywhere. Diving is the one exception that goes deeper: a full PADI certification instead of a single taster dive.
Diving
PADI Open Water Diver, Khao Lak
The world's most popular entry-level scuba certification, for both of you. Complete the PADI eLearning (theory) online before departure, then 3 days on location: pool training, 2 open water dives at a local reef, 2 more at the Similan Islands or the local wreck.
PADI Open Water Diver, Khao Lak
Book directly via PADI Travel (official). Do the eLearning before 30 Oct so the on-location course stays at 3 days, not 4. Ao Nang (Krabi) also has dive schools if that base ever appeals more.
Muay Thai
Taster session, Phuket
One session, not a program: a group class with real pad-holding supervision. Any reputable gym works; watching a stadium show in Bangkok covers the spectacle side.
Muay Thai Training, Group Session at Sumalee Gym
Booked via GetYourGuide, verified reviews. Open-air gym, experienced trainers, 1.5h session.
Snorkeling
Phi Phi / Hong Islands, from Ao Nang
Full-day boat trip: Maya Bay, Monkey Bay, coral gardens, buffet lunch, free hotel pickup around Ao Nang. Locals also arrange this informally: a private longtail from Ao Nang beach for around 50/day gets there in about 20 minutes if that's preferred over a group tour.
Phi Phi Islands Day Tour by Boat with Lunch
Booked via GetYourGuide, daily departures 9am-5pm.
Snorkeling
Koh Rok / Koh Ha, from Koh Lanta
Full-day speedboat trip to two of the best reef sites near Koh Lanta, with a beach buffet lunch. Runs 15 Oct-15 May, so it is in season for these dates.
Koh Rok & Koh Haa Snorkel Tour with Lunch Buffet
Booked via GetYourGuide, 7.5-8.5h, free hotel pickup on Koh Lanta.
Surf / SUP
Opportunistic surf, or SUP any day
The real Andaman surf season runs roughly April/May to October. By November swell is marginal, so surf is left flexible: only if a good day actually shows up. A stand-up paddleboard session works regardless of swell.
Stand Up Paddle Board Rental, Ao Nang Beach
Booked via GetYourGuide, with delivery. Weather-independent, no fixed date.
Two options per stop
One that keeps the cost down, one worth paying more for. A gym on site stopped being a requirement once it was clear you would happily use one outside the hotel. The photo on each card is the destination, not the property: the room photos live behind the Booking.com and Trip.com links, which is also where to compare the current price.
Bangkok
Best value
Alt Hotel Nana by UHG
Sukhumvit
~$35-45/night
Fitness centre and outdoor pool on site
4-star, walking distance to the BTS and the Sukhumvit night markets. The practical, cheap, perfectly fine option.
Most charming
sala rattanakosin
Old City, on the river
Splurge tier, check current rate
No gym, but only 2 nights here
15 rooms on the Chao Phraya, most facing Wat Arun, with a rooftop bar over the river. Three minutes on foot to Wat Pho, five to the Grand Palace: the whole Bangkok plan is outside the door.
Khao Lak
Best value
SENTIDO Khao Lak
Khao Lak beachfront
Mid tier, check current rate
Fitness centre, large pool, spa
8.9/10 on Booking.com (673 reviews), beachfront, tropical-garden rooms. Confirm the transfer time to Thap Lamu Pier: dive-course mornings start early.
Most charming
Casa de La Flora
Bang Niang Beach
Splurge tier, check current rate
Fitness centre, spa, private plunge pools
34 slate-grey cube villas on the sand, a Design Hotels member, 8.7/10. Each villa has its own pool. About 30 minutes by boat from the Similans.
Khao Sok
Best value
Raft house, 2-day 1-night package
Cheow Lan Lake
Lodging included in the package
None: one night off the grid on purpose
The standard way to do Khao Sok: a simple raft house on the water, with meals, boat trips and guides bundled in. Book an operator with daily departures that picks up in Khao Lak and drops in Krabi, rather than one that returns you to Khao Lak.
Most charming
500 Rai Floating Resort
Cheow Lan Lake
Splurge tier, check current rate
None, but there is a floating pool and spa
Luxury floating villas moored under the limestone cliffs, with a pool and restaurant on the water. The same lake, considerably more comfortable.
Krabi
Best value
Red Ginger Chic Resort
Ao Nang
Mid tier, from around THB 1,220
Fitness centre, outdoor pool, free breakfast
4-star, five minutes on foot to Ao Nang beach, ranked #8 of 278 in the area. Right in the middle of the restaurants and the boat touts, which is the point of Ao Nang.
Most charming
The Tubkaak Krabi Boutique Resort
Tubkaak Beach
Splurge tier, from around $145/night
Spa, pool, beachfront, cooking classes
59 Thai-style rooms and pool villas on a quiet beach with the karst islands straight ahead, in the Michelin Guide. 25 minutes from Ao Nang, so quieter but less walkable. Hotel Adam Krabi is still bookable if the orange-brick design grows on you.
Koh Lanta
Best value
Lanta For Rest Boutique
Klong Dao Beach
From around $27/night
Two pools, sauna, fitness centre, spa
Five minutes on foot from Klong Dao Beach and two minutes from Saladan pier, so it is the easy arrival option straight off the ferry.
Most charming
The Houben (Adult Only)
Ba Kantiang Bay
Splurge tier, check current rate
Gym, spa, hot tub, infinity pool
9.3/10 "Excellent" (317 reviews), 15 villa-style rooms on a quiet bay, adults only. The quietest place on the whole route.
Phuket
Best value
Nam Naka Boutique Hotel
Phuket Town / Wichit
~$28/night
No gym; Chalong gyms sell day passes
8.4 on Booking.com, spacious clean rooms, a short ride from both Old Town and the Chalong gyms.
Most charming
The Memory at On On Hotel
Old Phuket Town
Mid tier, check current rate
No gym; Tiger Muay Thai sells day passes
One of the oldest hotels on the island, a restored Sino-Portuguese building on Phang Nga Road, rated 9.8 by couples. The Old Town day starts outside the door.
Getting around
No need to deal with tuk-tuks or haggling. Thailand runs on ride-hailing apps: Uber sold its Southeast Asia business to Grab, so Grab is the default, with two cheaper challengers. Install all three before leaving and pay by card in the app.
The default
Grab
Widest coverage and the most reliable, especially for airport runs. Works across Bangkok and all the main Phuket areas (Patong, Kata, Karon, Old Town). Fixed price up front, card payment, English app.
Usually cheaper
Bolt
Noticeably cheaper than Grab and strong in Bangkok, improving in Phuket, patchy everywhere else. Worth having installed to price-check against Grab before booking.
Name your own price
InDrive
You propose a fare and drivers accept or counter, which usually wins on longer routes. Phuket airport to Patong runs around THB 550-650 on InDrive against THB 750-950 on Grab.
Coverage thins out on the smaller islands and late at night. On Koh Lanta especially, and for the Khao Sok leg, arrange the car through the hotel or the tour operator instead: longer transfers between stops are booked ahead through 12Go, linked on each travel day.
What it costs
Flights, accommodation, and the PADI course are sourced from real listings/prices. Other activities, food, local transport and insurance are unsourced planning estimates pending live booking. Excludes vaccines/travel clinic and shopping.
Per person
€2,450–3,600
Per couple
€4,900–7,200
International flight, Zurich to Bangkok, nonstop
€945–1050
Domestic flights, Bangkok to Phuket, 2 legs
€55–110
Ground transfers, 4 legs
€40–65est.
Accommodation, 20 hotel nights + 2-day Khao Sok package
€506–708
PADI Open Water course, both, plus Muay Thai, snorkel trips
€470–680
Food, 22 days
€330–660est.
Gym day-passes
€30–60est.
Local transport
€65–130est.
Travel insurance, with diving and Muay Thai cover
€40–90est.
Visa
€0
est. marks an unsourced planning estimate, not a search result.
Before you go
Thailand sits at "Exercise Normal Precautions," comparable to a major Western European capital for petty crime, with violent crime against tourists rare.
Visa
30-day visa exemption, 6 days of margin
Thailand cut its EU visa exemption from 60 to 30 days, effective 15 Sept 2026, which applies to this trip. Both Italian and Spanish passports get 30 days visa-free. This trip runs 24 days: it fits, but there is no slack to extend once in-country without a formal application. Passports need 6+ months validity beyond arrival, and the Thailand Digital Arrival Card is mandatory, submitted online within 3 days before arrival.
Events
Loy Krathong falls 2 days after the return flight
Thailand's lantern festival, Loy Krathong, is Tuesday 24 November 2026: floating offerings released on rivers and the sea nationwide after dark, celebrated in both Phuket and Krabi on this route. The current return flight is Sunday 22 Nov, two days early. Extending by 2-3 days (to 24-25 Nov) would still fit inside the 30-day visa window, with no other schedule conflict found. Flagged here as an open decision: say the word and the flight search gets redone for a specific later return date.
Common scams
Taxi/tuk-tuk meter overcharging, the "palace is closed" redirect, jet-ski damage claims on the islands. Agree prices upfront, film a walkaround video before renting a jet ski.
Emergency numbers
Medical/ambulance: 1669. Tourist Police: 1155 (English-speaking, the right first call for scams or feeling unsafe). General police/fire: 191 / 199. 911 also works.
Book verified operators only
PADI or SSI affiliation for diving, visible supervision for Muay Thai beginner classes.
Check the insurance policy
Standard travel insurance commonly excludes Muay Thai and dives not led by a certified dive master. Verify before buying.