Short answer
For most backpackers the best Thailand tour is a 9 to 15 day group trip from Bangkok, with a group leader, hostels or simple stays and the transport between stops included. The Thailand Adventure, 9 Days from $1,399 runs Bangkok to Koh Phangan with a night in floating bungalows at Khao Sok. For the Andaman islands, the Thailand Highlights (8 Days) from $1,699 flies Bangkok to Phuket for Phi Phi and Hong Island. For the most islands in one trip, the Thailand Island Hopper (15 Days) from $1,939 ends on Koh Tao. For the north as well, the Thailand Adventure, 18 Days from $3,089 finishes in Chiang Mai.
Prices are per person in AUD and update from our live listings.
The shortlist
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01Our top pick
Thailand Adventure, 9 Days9 days, 8 nights
from $1,399
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02
Thailand Highlights (8 Days)8 days, 7 nights
from $1,699
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03
Thailand Adventure, 12 Days12 days, 11 nights
from $1,899
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04
Thailand Islands & Bangkok Group Tour, 12 Days12 days, 11 nights
from $2,399
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05
Thailand Island Hopper (15 Days)15 days
from $1,939
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06
Thailand Adventure, 18 Days18 days, 17 nights
from $3,089
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07
Thailand & Vietnam Adventure, 29 Days29 days, 28 nights
from $5,499
Compare them side by side
| # | Trip | Length | Route | Where you sleep | Group | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thailand Adventure, 9 Days | 9 days, 8 nights | Bangkok, Khao Sok, Koh Phangan | hotel, floating bungalows, island resort | group leader, mostly solo travellers aged 18 to 40 | $1,399 |
| 2 | Thailand Highlights (8 Days) | 8 days, 7 nights | Bangkok, Phuket, Phi Phi, Krabi, Hong Island | multi-share hostels | group leader | $1,699 |
| 3 | Thailand Adventure, 12 Days | 12 days, 11 nights | Bangkok, Khao Sok, Koh Phangan, Koh Phi Phi | hotels, floating bungalows, island resorts | group leader, mostly solo travellers aged 18 to 40 | $1,899 |
| 4 | Thailand Islands & Bangkok Group Tour, 12 Days | 12 days, 11 nights | Bangkok, Phi Phi, Krabi, Khao Sok, Koh Samui | multi-share hostels (8 to 10 bed dorms), floating bungalow | group leader, ages 18 to 35 | $2,399 |
| 5 | Thailand Island Hopper (15 Days) | 15 days | Bangkok, Phuket, Phi Phi, Krabi, Khao Sok, Koh Samui, Koh Tao | shared dorms, floating bungalow | group leader, ages 18 to 35 | $1,939 |
| 6 | Thailand Adventure, 18 Days | 18 days, 17 nights | Bangkok to Chiang Mai via the islands | hotels, floating bungalows, island resorts, hill tribe homestay | group leader, mostly solo travellers aged 18 to 40 | $3,089 |
| 7 | Thailand & Vietnam Adventure, 29 Days | 29 days, 28 nights | Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City | stays on the route | group leader, ages 18 to 40s | $5,499 |
How the formats differ: every trip on this list is a set group itinerary with a leader. The transport between stops is included (ferries, buses, trains or flights as listed). The main differences are the route (Gulf islands, Andaman islands or both), the accommodation style and how many meals and activities are in the price.
Thailand Adventure, 9 Days Bangkok to Koh Phangan, from $1,399. A Bangkok canal cruise, temples and tuk tuks, a Thai cooking class, then an overnight bus south to Khao Sok for a night in floating bungalows with kayaking and jungle tubing. Then the ferry to Koh Phangan for a traditional massage, an island boat trip with snorkelling and a beach dinner, and a final morning of Muay Thai or yoga.
Included: 8 nights of accommodation (hotel, floating bungalows, island resort), 7 meals, all transport between stops, a group leader from airport pickup, and all itinerary activities with no pay-on-arrival extras. Flights, visas and personal spending are not included, and the operator requires travel insurance.
Who it suits First-timers and solo travellers. The operator says the majority of every group is solo travellers aged 18 to 40. It is rated 4.9 on Trustpilot across 575 reviews.
Thailand Adventure, 12 Days Bangkok to Koh Phi Phi, from $1,899, is the 9-day trip plus three days on Koh Phi Phi with an exclusive islands boat trip, Andaman snorkelling and the viewpoint hike. It includes 11 nights and 9 meals.
Thailand Adventure, 18 Days Bangkok to Chiang Mai, from $3,089, adds a Phuket night and a flight north to Chiang Mai for the Sticky Waterfalls, an overnight hill tribe stay, bamboo rafting and an ethical elephant sanctuary (observation, feeding and learning, no riding). It includes 17 nights and 19 meals.
Who they suit The 12-day for beaches and islands; the 18-day if you want the north as well. The north includes an overnight hill tribe trek, so moderate fitness helps. The operator is rated 4.9 on Trustpilot across 575 reviews.
Thailand Highlights (8 Days), from $1,699. A temple and canal tour of Bangkok (Wat Arun and Wat Pho, then a tuk-tuk), a flight to Phuket, Koh Phi Phi for two nights, a full day of snorkelling around Phi Phi and its lagoons, then Ao Nang in Krabi and a speedboat to Hong Island.
Included: airport pickup, 7 nights in multi-share hostels, all ferries and transfers, the Bangkok to Phuket domestic flight, a group leader, a welcome dinner and 7 meals (2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners). The tour ends in Krabi on day 8.
Who it suits Travellers with just over a week who want islands rather than jungle.
Thailand Islands & Bangkok Group Tour, 12 Days, from $2,399, for ages 18 to 35. Bangkok, a flight to Phuket, Phi Phi, Krabi and Hong Island, a floating bungalow night on Khao Sok Lake with a dawn lake safari, then the Gulf: Koh Samui and a full day at Ang Thong Marine Park (kayaking, snorkelling and viewpoints). It includes 11 nights in multi-share hostels (8 to 10 bed dorms) and 9 meals.
Thailand Island Hopper, Bangkok to Koh Tao (15 Days), from $1,939, for ages 18 to 35. The same route plus three more days: Koh Samui to Koh Tao by high-speed catamaran, a full-day Koh Tao and Nang Yuan snorkelling trip with lunch, and a free day on Koh Tao. It includes all ferries, boats, buses and transfers, 24/7 in-country support and 10 meals. Onward transport from Koh Tao is not included.
Who they suit 18 to 35s who want both the Andaman and Gulf coasts in one trip.
Thailand & Vietnam Adventure, 29 Days, from $5,499. Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City: a sleeper train south, Khao Sok floating bungalows, four nights at a beach resort on Koh Phangan, Phi Phi boat trips, a Chiang Mai hill tribe trek and elephant sanctuary, then Ha Long Bay on an overnight boat, Ninh Binh, a Hoi An cooking class and the Mekong. It includes 28 nights, 36 meals and every transport leg including trains, boats and flights. The operator is rated 4.9 on Trustpilot across 575 reviews.
Gulf or Andaman, north or south
- Gulf islands (Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, Koh Tao): the 9-day trip ends on Koh Phangan, and the 15-day Island Hopper ends on Koh Tao.
- Andaman islands (Phuket, Phi Phi, Krabi, Hong Island): the 8-day Highlights is Andaman only, and the 12-day Thailand Adventure ends on Phi Phi.
- Khao Sok: the 9, 12 (both versions), 15, 18 and 29 day trips all include a night in a floating bungalow on the lake.
- Chiang Mai and the north: only the 18-day and the 29-day trips.
For how Thailand compares with Bali, see Bali vs Thailand group tour. Every Asia trip we sell, sorted by price, is on Asia tour prices.
How we ranked them
We sell every tour on this page, and we ranked them on four things:
- Live price from our listings.
- What is included, from each tour’s own inclusions list: stays, meals, transport and activities.
- Group style: group leader, age range and accommodation type.
- Operator ratings, only where we hold a verified figure for that operator. They are the operator’s own Trustpilot rating, not Wanderlust reviews.
Which one is right for you
- First time in Asia, 8 to 9 daysThailand Adventure, 9 Days.
- Islands only, about a weekThailand Highlights (8 Days).
- Two weeks, ages 18 to 35, Gulf and AndamanThe Island Hopper (15 Days).
- North and south in one tripThailand Adventure, 18 Days.
- A month through Southeast AsiaThailand & Vietnam Adventure, 29 Days.
FAQs
What is the best Thailand tour for backpackers?
A group trip from Bangkok with a leader and the transport included. The Thailand Adventure, 9 Days is from $1,399 and the Thailand Island Hopper (15 Days), for ages 18 to 35, is from $1,939.
How much does a Thailand group tour cost?
From $1,399 for 9 days and $1,699 for the 8-day Highlights, up to $3,089 for 18 days. Flights, insurance, visas and personal spending are not included.
Is travel insurance required?
On the Thailand Adventure trips, yes: the operator requires it and you show proof to your group leader on arrival. Insurance is also not included in the price of any of these tours.
Are visas included?
No. Visas are your own responsibility on every tour here. Check the entry rules for your passport with the Thai government before you fly.
Is it okay to travel solo?
Yes. The operator says the majority of every Thailand Adventure group is solo travellers aged 18 to 40, and a group leader meets you at the airport. The Island Hopper and Islands & Bangkok trips are for ages 18 to 35.
Is the elephant experience ethical?
The 18-day Thailand Adventure visits an ethical elephant sanctuary. The operator says there is no riding: observation, feeding and learning only.
Which Thailand tour has the most islands?
The 15-day Thailand Island Hopper: Phuket, Phi Phi, Krabi and Hong Island, Koh Samui and Ang Thong Marine Park, and Koh Tao with Nang Yuan.
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