Why this order
Thailand rewards a route that moves from city to culture to coast, so that the demanding sightseeing happens while you still have energy and the beach comes when you want to stop planning. Ending at the coast also makes the flight home considerably easier to face.
Reversing it — Phuket first, Bangkok last — works just as well and is often cheaper depending on how the long-haul routing falls.
Getting there and getting around
From Nigeria the practical routings are through the Gulf, and arrival into Bangkok or Phuket is usually in the evening. Inside the country, the domestic network is cheap and frequent: use it for Bangkok to Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai to Krabi rather than losing a day to the road or an overnight bus.
Boats, not cars, connect the Andaman islands, and sea conditions set the schedule. Keep one flexible day on the coast in case a crossing is cancelled.
- Book domestic flights once your visa is granted
- Use metered taxis or ride-hailing in Bangkok, not street negotiation
- Allow a buffer day for island crossings in variable weather
Where to stay
Bangkok divides into riverside, Sukhumvit and the old town; riverside is calmer and better for a first visit. In Chiang Mai, staying inside or just outside the old city walls puts the temples on foot. In Krabi, Ao Nang is convenient for boats while Railay is quieter and car-free.
Thailand's accommodation range is unusually wide — hostels, family guesthouses and some of Asia's better resorts sit in the same towns — so the budget can flex without leaving the itinerary intact.
Visas and timing
Nigerian passport holders now apply through Thailand's official electronic visa channel rather than at the embassy counter. Apply well ahead, and keep flights changeable until the decision arrives.
The dry, cooler months are the comfortable window; April is hot, and the Andaman coast has a distinct wet season. Songkran in April is a spectacle, but it is not a restful week.
Suggested flow
A balanced itinerary
Days 1–2
Bangkok
Land at Suvarnabhumi and decompress. The next full day takes in the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, the river, and a night market in the evening.
Day 3
Ayutthaya
The old capital as a day trip or an overnight stay — ruined temples, brick stupas and a far slower pace than Bangkok.
Day 4
North to Chiang Rai
Fly to Chiang Rai and see the White Temple and Blue Temple on arrival.
Day 5
Into the Chiang Mai mountains
A morning in Chiang Rai, then an afternoon road transfer into the hills outside Chiang Mai for a night among the rivers and forest.
Days 6–7
Chiang Mai
The old city temples, a cooking class or craft workshop, an ethical elephant sanctuary, and the night bazaar.
Day 8
South to Krabi
Fly to Krabi and move straight to the coast.
Days 9–10
Krabi and the islands
Island hopping around the Phi Phi and Hong groups, the Railay cliffs, and long-tail boat time between beaches.
Days 11–13
Phuket
Transfer across and settle for three nights — Old Town, Phang Nga Bay, and a day that involves nothing but the sea.
Day 14
Departure
Fly home from Phuket, or extend with a final night in Bangkok if your routing suits it.
Make this guide your own
We can adapt the route to your departure city, passport, dates, pace and budget.
