Fantastic Thailand — 9-Day Self-Launched Version
9 days · Thailand
Bravo Indochina Tours charges £760
No-markup version: ~£480 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched take on Bravo Indochina Tours' "Fantastic Thailand - 9 Days": Bangkok's royal temples, the railway market at Maeklong and the floating market at Damnoen Saduak, then north to Chiang Mai for Doi Suthep, a Chiang Rai temple-and-art day and a responsible elephant sanctuary visit, before flying south to Phuket for a Phi Phi Islands boat trip. You book everything yourself — public boats, trains, VIP buses, domestic budget flights and GetYourGuide/Klook day tours — staying in good-quality hostels and guesthouses rather than tour hotels. Costs are approximate per-person estimates in GBP and exclude international flights; they assume a mix of dorm beds/private budget rooms, local eateries and shared day tours.
Day-by-day
Arrive Bangkok — settle into Banglamphu
Bangkok
Land at Suvarnabhumi (BKK) or Don Mueang (DMK) and take the Airport Rail Link into town (~£1.20 to Phaya Thai) then a metered taxi or the Chao Phraya Express Boat to Banglamphu/Khao San area. Check into a hostel or guesthouse near Khao San Road or Phra Athit pier — this puts you walking distance from the Grand Palace complex tomorrow. Spend the evening on Rambuttri Alley or Soi Phra Athit for street food (pad thai, mango sticky rice, ~£5-8). Pick up a Thai SIM at the airport or a 7-Eleven (~£8-12 for 15-30 days of data).
🚌Airport Rail Link + taxi/express boat ~£3-4 total; use metered taxis or Grab app, never flat-fare touts
🛏Hostel dorm or private budget room, Banglamphu/Khao San area (~£10-16)
- →Arrive and check in
- →Evening street food walk on Rambuttri/Phra Athit
- →Buy Thai SIM card
Bangkok royal temples and canal boat
Bangkok
Do the Rattanakosin temple circuit on foot and by boat. Start early (8:30am) at Wat Phra Kaew and the Grand Palace (combined ticket ~£12.50; cover shoulders and knees, no leggings). Walk south to Wat Pho for the Reclining Buddha (~£5.50) and a cheap Thai massage at the temple's massage school. Cross the river by the public Tha Tien pier ferry (~£0.10) to Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn, ~£2.50) — climb the prang for river views. Finish with a chao phraya longtail boat canal loop from Tha Tien or Tha Chang (~£10-12 for a shared/private longtail; negotiate — the operator's version is via Tha Thien and Thonburi). Wander the amulet market near Wat Mahathat and the Tha Thien market stalls. Lunch at a local shophouse near the temples (~£3).
🚌Walking + public cross-river ferry (~£0.10 each way) + longtail boat ~£11
🛏Same Banglamphu hostel/guesthouse (~£10-16)
- →Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew
- →Wat Pho Reclining Buddha + temple massage
- →Wat Arun by public ferry
- →Chao Phraya/Thonburi canal longtail boat
- →Amulet market & Tha Thien market
Maeklong railway market and Damnoen Saduak floating market
Bangkok / Samut Songkhram / Ratchaburi
Book a small-group day tour via Klook or GetYourGuide (~£28-35 including hotel pickup, boat ride and guide) — this is the cheapest reliable way to combine both markets. Alternatively DIY: take the BTS to Bang Wa then a minivan/train combo to Maeklong, but timings around train arrivals are fiddly. Arrive at Maeklong (Rom Hub) market around 11:00-11:30 to watch the train pull through while stallholders retract awnings. Continue to Damnoen Saduak for a Thai-style rowing boat through the floating market (~£6-8 if booked separately). Back in Bangkok by late afternoon — free time for a rooftop sunset, Chatuchak (weekends) or a Chinatown food crawl on Yaowarat (~£8-10). Pack tonight for the morning flight.
🚌Shared small-group minivan tour (included in tour price) or BTS + minivan/train DIY route ~£10
🛏Same Banglamphu hostel/guesthouse (~£10-16)
- →Maeklong Railway Market
- →Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
- →Rowing boat ride
- →Evening Yaowarat street food crawl
Fly north to Chiang Mai — Doi Suthep and khantoke dinner
Chiang Mai
Book a morning AirAsia/Nok Air/Thai Lion flight BKK (Don Mueang) to Chiang Mai CNX — ~£25-40 one way if booked 2-6 weeks ahead (the operator charges USD179-279 separately for domestic flights). From CNX airport take a red songthaew to the old city (~£2) and check into a guesthouse inside or just outside the moat. In the afternoon, share a red songthaew or Grab to Doi Suthep (Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, ~£1-2) — 306 steps up the naga staircase for city views and the golden chedi. Evening: book a khantoke dinner with northern hill-tribe dance performance direct or via Klook (~£15-18) at a venue such as Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center — the same style of welcome dinner the tour includes.
🚌Domestic flight ~£25-40 + songthaew/Grab ~£4-6
🛏Old City guesthouse or hostel private room (~£12-18)
- →Domestic flight BKK-CNX
- →Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep
- →Khantoke dinner with hill-tribe dancing
Chiang Rai temples — White, Blue and Black
Chiang Mai / Chiang Rai
Join a small-group Chiang Rai day tour booked on Klook or GetYourGuide (~£30-40 incl. transport, guide, hotel pickup) covering the natural hot springs at Mae Kachan, Wat Rong Khun (the White Temple, ~£2.50 entry), the vivid Wat Rong Suea Ten (Blue Temple, free) and Baan Dam Museum (Black House, ~£2). It's a long day (~13 hours) with three hours of driving each way — bring snacks and a set-menu lunch stop (~£7). Alternatively, DIY by public bus to Chiang Rai and overnight there, but the day tour is cheaper for one traveller. Back in Chiang Mai around 8-9pm; grab khao soi for dinner (~£3).
🚌Shared minivan day tour (included)
🛏Old City guesthouse or hostel private room (~£12-18)
- →Mae Kachan Hot Spring
- →White Temple (Wat Rong Khun)
- →Blue Temple (Wat Rong Suea Ten)
- →Black House (Baan Dam Museum)
Elephant Jungle Sanctuary — ethical half-day
Chiang Mai
Book Elephant Jungle Sanctuary direct through their own website or via Klook (~£55-75 for a full-day, ~£45-55 for a half-day, including pickup, lunch and mahout-guided interaction). No riding — you feed, walk with and mud-bath rescued elephants, and hear their individual rescue histories, exactly the experience the operator includes. Book the morning slot if you want the afternoon free; then explore the old city temples (Wat Chedi Luang ~£2.50, Wat Phra Singh ~£2.50) or take a Thai cooking class (~£22-28) in the evening. Sunday Walking Street if your day lands on a Sunday.
🚌Sanctuary pickup included; songthaews around the old city ~£2-3
🛏Old City guesthouse or hostel private room (~£12-18)
- →Elephant Jungle Sanctuary full or half day
- →Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh
- →Optional evening Thai cooking class
Fly to Phuket — beach arrival day
Chiang Mai / Phuket
Fly Chiang Mai CNX to Phuket HKT (~£40-65 one way with AirAsia/Thai Lion/Nok; the operator also excludes this flight). From Phuket airport take the Airport Bus to Phuket Town (~£1.50) or a shared minivan to Patong/Kata/Karon (~£5-7) — Grab works too. Check into a beach guesthouse or hostel (Kata or Karon are quieter and cheaper than Patong). Spend the afternoon on the beach, then eat at a local seafood shophouse or night market in Phuket Town (~£8). Confirm tomorrow's Phi Phi boat tour pickup time.
🚌Domestic flight ~£40-65 + airport bus/shared minivan ~£5-7
🛏Kata/Karon beach guesthouse or hostel private room (~£15-22)
- →Domestic flight CNX-HKT
- →Beach afternoon
- →Phuket Town night market dinner
Phi Phi Islands speedboat day trip
Phuket / Phi Phi Islands
Book a Phi Phi speedboat day trip on Klook or GetYourGuide (~£40-55 incl. hotel pickup, national park fees ~£9, lunch on Phi Phi Don, snorkel gear and guide) — the DIY ferry alternative (~£10 each way) gets you to Phi Phi Don but not the Maya Bay/Pi Leh lagoon circuit. Expect an early start (~7:30-8am). Highlights: Maya Bay (reopened, no swimming in the bay itself — you view from the beach), Pi Leh Lagoon swim, Viking Cave viewpoint, Khai Island snorkelling and beach time. Very busy in high season; a small-group or early-departure boat makes a real difference. Back in Phuket around 5pm — sunset beers at Kata or Promthep Cape viewpoint (~£6).
🚌Speedboat tour with hotel pickup (included)
🛏Kata/Karon beach guesthouse or hostel private room (~£15-22)
- →Speedboat to Phi Phi Islands
- →Maya Bay and Phi Phi Ley
- →Pi Leh Lagoon snorkelling
- →Viking Cave
- →Khai Island beach time
Free morning and departure
Phuket
No scheduled activities — swim, have a slow breakfast, or squeeze in a Big Buddha or Old Phuket Town walk if your flight is later. Take the Airport Bus from Phuket Town or a shared minivan/Grab to HKT (~£1.50-7) for your onward flight. If you're flying back to Bangkok, any afternoon or evening departure works. If you want a final night in Bangkok, budget ~£12-16 for a Banglamphu guesthouse.
🚌Airport bus or shared minivan to HKT ~£1.50-7
🛏None (or optional final-night guesthouse ~£12-16)
- →Optional Big Buddha or Phuket Old Town
- →Transfer to Phuket airport
Self-launched vs. Bravo Indochina Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Bravo Indochina Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£480 | £760 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £280 per person (37%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Bravo Indochina Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£480
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Fantastic Thailand — 9-Day Self-Launched Version cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £480 per person for 9 days in Thailand. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Bravo Indochina Tours?+
Yes — Bravo Indochina Tours charges around £760 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £480 — a saving of roughly £280 (37%) per person.
How long is the Thailand trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Thailand.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, adventure, beaches trip through Thailand, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.