Thailand itinerary 10 days – how to plan your dream Thailand vacation

Steeped in the traditions of Buddhism, it’s rare to see or hear any open hostility towards same-sex couples. Having decriminalised homosexuality in 1956 – a decade before the UK or Germany – Bangkok has since been named one of the best LGBT+ destinations in the world. However, Thailand has one of the highest HIV/AIDS infection rates in the world, largely due to the limited practice of safe sex, so should you be tempted by some no-strings fun while on vacation in Thailand, be sure to be safe!

Lying within tropical climes, Thailand’s weather is warm and humid throughout the year. The rainy season lasts roughly between June and October, peaking in August and September. However, while heavy, downpours tend to be short, leaving plenty of time to do everything you’ve planned for 10 days in Thailand, even at this time of year.

Any Thailand trip plan should include time in Bangkok, home to the main international airport. Not just the Thai capital, but also Asia’s unofficial gay capital, this thriving megacity is an extraordinary demonstration of how the traditional and the contemporary can co-exist. Our best advice? Jump in headfirst and go with the flow!

To begin your itinerary in Thailand head straight to Wat Saket Buddhist temple on the Golden Mount at the heart of the city, whose 300 gently spiralling steps lead to uninterrupted panoramic views, including towards the stunning pointed golden roofs of Wat Pho, the ‘temple of the reclining Buddha’ and the birthplace of Thai massage. You can experience this age-old practice for yourself at Chakran Spa, a dedicated (and in no way sordid) gay sauna with a rooftop lounge that’s a great place to watch the tropical sun sink below the horizon.

Before you leave Bangkok be sure to visit Chinatown, just north of the Chao Phraya River and a city within a city, complete with its own monumental gateway. Centred around Yaowarat Road, you’ll find everything from parks to croc-inhabited temples. Then check out the food stalls of Ratchada (“Train”) Night Market, that have been serving up authentic freshly-prepared dishes for decades.

Be sure to read our full Bangkok City Guide for more info about what to do and see in the city, where to eat and what nightlife to explore.

Not to be confused with Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai boasts easily-walkable central avenues and a picturesque location near thick rainforest. It’s easy enough to lose a day amid the delights of the Old City, interspersed with ancient temples attended by shaven-headed monks, and a riverside that harks back to a time when even Bangkok was just a sleepy backwater. As afternoon becomes evening, be sure to check out its famous Night Bazaar, awash with a film of atmospheric lighting and just about everything you could ever need.

The following day make the hour-long journey to Elephant Nature Park, a rescue centre for abused elephants, buffalo, and other native species. The ethos is very much on rehabilitation, so you’ll find no elephant rides on offer here, though you can help out at feeding time before tucking into an excellent vegetarian buffet yourself, and then take as much delight from bath time as the elephants seem too.

See any image of the coast of Krabi Province, on the long neck of land that stretches towards Malaysia to the south, and we can pretty much guarantee you’ll want to drop everything and head there straight away.

This is the Thailand of Leonardo Di Caprio’s The Beach and the secret lairs of many a Bond villain. The crystal-clear waters serve as a wonderful backdrop to lazy days on the picture-postcard sands such as Railay Beach. Should you find the energy to do more than top-up the sunscreen, jump on a boat and head out to explore the something-for-everyone islands of Koh Phi Phi – the peaceful Phi Phi Leh, or Phi Phi Don, where the beaches are as happening as the nightclubs.