Thailand itinerary
One Week from Bangkok: Kanchanaburi and Hua Hin
Bangkok, a river town with history and waterfalls, and a quiet stretch of the Gulf coast. Seven days, no flights, all of it on trains and minivans.
If you only have a week, or a long stopover, you don't need to fly anywhere. This route loops west and south of Bangkok by train and minivan: three nights in the city, two in Kanchanaburi for the Death Railway and the Erawan waterfalls, and two on the coast at Hua Hin before the bus back to the airport. I'd pick Kanchanaburi over Khao Yai for a short trip because you don't need a car to do it properly. It works most of the year; September and October are the wettest months to avoid.
The route
- 1Bangkok3 nights
- 2Kanchanaburi2 nights
- 3Hua Hin2 nights
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Day by day
Days 1–3
Bangkok
The arrival hub: temples, markets, and rooftop food, walkable in the cool season.
- Grand Palace and Wat Pho at 8:30 am opening, then a long lunch somewhere with air conditioning
- The one-day route: Silom Soi 5 morning market, the commuter boat to Talad Noi, and Wat Arun before it closes
- Day trip to Ayutthaya by train, with Wat Chaiwatthanaram at sunset before heading back
- Srinakarin Train Night Market if you are in town Thursday to Sunday
Tip · Stay within walking distance of a BTS or MRT station. On a short trip, an hour lost in traffic every day adds up fast.
Hotels in Bangkok · Agoda↗Days 4–5
Kanchanaburi
River Kwai history, the Death Railway, and the seven-tier Erawan waterfall, a few hours northwest of Bangkok.
- Kanchanaburi War Cemetery and the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre next door, the museum to prioritise
- Erawan's seven tiers from the 8 am opening, going straight to the top before the lower pools fill (300 baht entry, cash only)
- The train from Kanchanaburi over the Wang Pho viaduct to Nam Tok, on the actual Death Railway
- A night in a raft room on Maenam Kwai Road, with river prawns for dinner
Tip · The train from Thonburi station takes about three hours and runs twice a day; buses from the Southern Terminal are a little quicker. You don't need to go back to Bangkok afterwards: direct minivans run from Kanchanaburi to Hua Hin, about four hours.
Hotels in Kanchanaburi · Agoda↗Days 6–7
Hua Hin
Thailand's original beach resort, about three hours from Bangkok by road, with good markets and far less rain than the islands.
- Phraya Nakhon Cave in Sam Roi Yot, timed for the shaft of light on the royal pavilion around 10 to 11 am
- Maruekhathaiyawan, the teak palace on stilts between Hua Hin and Cha-Am (closed on Wednesdays)
- Breakfast at Chatchai Market and dinner at the night market on Dechanuchit Road
- Or swap the cave for a day in Phetchaburi, an hour north, for the cave of Buddhas and the palm-sugar desserts
Tip · Roong Reuang Coach runs direct buses from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport, about four hours, so you can go straight to your flight. Hua Hin fills up with Bangkok weekenders, so arrive midweek if you can.
Hotels in Hua Hin · Agoda↗Load into planner
Plan this trip with your own dates.
Enter your arrival date and we will pre-fill all 7 days. Adjust any stop in the planner.
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