The classic 14-day loop
Bangkok 2 → Ayutthaya 1 → Sukhothai 1 → Chiang Mai 3 → Chiang Rai 2 → Krabi 4 → Bangkok. It covers both historic capitals, the hill country and the Andaman.
The Chiang Rai leg is worth it for the White Temple and the Mekong, but skip it if you would rather have a fourth beach night.
The nature version
Bangkok 2 → Kanchanaburi 2 → Khao Sok 2 → Krabi 4 → Phuket 3. Waterfalls, a rainforest lake and then islands. Better for families and anyone who has already seen the temples.
Khao Sok's raft houses are basic; the two nights are the trade-off for the most dramatic landscape in southern Thailand.
Where to slow down
Pick one place for four nights and do nothing. On a two-week trip this is the difference between coming home rested and coming home needing a holiday.
We usually build the free days at the beach end, where the weather is most reliable and the hotel is best.
