Itinerary for foodies: Eat your way around Thailand

Wherever you travel in Thailand, you can find fabulous food. Each region has its speciality dishes, and this variety is one of the many reasons that make travelling in Thailand such a delight. 

Our Itinerary Ideas series is aimed at repeat visitors to Thailand. In this edition, we’ve put together a travel itinerary that not only includes some of our favourite food locations but also gives you a chance to visit some destinations that are less well-known to most overseas visitors. 

To showcase the variety in food and culture, we’ve included four different regions of Thailand: Central, North, Northeast, and Southern. We’ve also tried to make it logistically practical with direct flight connections cutting down on travel times between the various destinations.  For this taste-bud-tantalising itinerary, we suggest spending three weeks in this order:

• Bangkok: 4 days 
• Khon Kaen: 2 or 3 days
• Chiang Mai: 4 days
• Hat Yai: 2 days
• Songkhla: 2 days
• Beach time or food and culture: 4 or 5 days relaxing on the beaches or islands in Satun province (e.g. Ko Lipe), or you could continue with more food and cultural experiences by visiting Phatthalung and Trang.
• Bangkok: 1 or 2 days to round off your trip

This itinerary covers a lot of destinations over a three-week period, which isn’t something we’d normally suggest. However, as with all of our itineraries, you can cherry-pick parts of the routes and adapt to suit your preferences. 

Bangkok

4 days in Bangkok at the start of your trip, plus another 1 or 2 days at the end

Renowned as one of the best food destinations in Asia, Bangkok is a great place to begin this itinerary. There are countless locations to enjoy street food across the Thai capital. We have a soft spot for Chinatown, which not only offers up some atmospheric street food spots but is also home to classy cocktail joints and music venues.

Taking a food tour with local experts is one of the best ways to get to know any destination in Thailand. In Bangkok, check out Bangkok Food Tours and Expique. There’s also an option to enjoy fine dining aboard a luxury bus while taking in the sights of Bangkok.

For insider tips on where to eat, follow British YouTuber and Bangkok resident, Gary Butler. Known as ‘The Roaming Cook’, Gary has also travelled to many areas of Thailand, and his entertaining videos are an excellent introduction to Thai food culture.

• 17 of the best food experiences in Thailand

Khon Kaen

2 or 3 days in Khon Kaen

From Bangkok, you take the train or fly to Khon Kaen in the northeast of Thailand for a tasty introduction to Isaan cuisine. Stay in comfort at Ad Lib Khon Kaen (runner-up in the 2024 Responsible Thailand Awards in the Responsible Community Tourism category).  Through their ‘Explore Khon Kaen’ program, the hotel offers guests authentic experiences while supporting the local economy and culture. This includes working with local guides to offer community-centric tours and gastronomic adventures. 

• Spice up your travels with a visit to Isaan
• Itinerary Ideas: Isaan adventures
• Itinerary Ideas: Khon Kaen, Chiang Dao, Ko Jum

It can be intimidating when you arrive in a new city and are trying to find the best places to eat. The general rule of following your nose and seeing where the locals are eating holds true for Khon Kaen. You can also use the Thailand Michelin Guide to find a range of restaurants, ranging from simple street food to sophisticated dining.  Wherever you decide to eat, Isaan is famous for its spicy food, so while you’re in Khon Kaen be sure to try local favourites like som tam and moo nam tok.

Chiang Mai

4 or 5 days in Chiang Mai

After a few days of enjoying the best of Isaan food, fly directly from Khon Kaen to Chiang Mai with Thai Air Asia. Despite being a large city, the centre of Chiang Mai is easy to navigate, and with so many dining options, foodies here are spoilt for choice. There’s also plenty to see and do in and around Chiang Mai.

For evening street food, you won’t go far wrong at the cluster of food stalls near Chang Phueak Gate, opposite the moat on the north side of the Old City. On the south side of town, Chiang Mai Gate market is another convenient spot. If you’re in town at the weekend, the Saturday Walking Street Market (along Wualai Road) and the Sunday Walking Street Market along Rachadamnoen Road in the Old City are both fabulous choices for street food.

Taking a Chiang Mai food tour is a good introduction to the delights of northern food like gaeng hinlay, sai oua and the much-loved khao soi. Among the various options are A Chef’s Tour and Just Love Experience. 

With a plethora of cooking schools, Chiang Mai is one of the best locations in Thailand to try your hand at making Thai food. Among the many to choose from are Grandma’s Home Cooking School and Thai Akha Cooking School.

• 4 days in Chiang Mai: Itinerary for first-time visitors
• 9 must-try Northern Thai dishes
• 12 Michelin-recommended restaurants to try in Chiang Mai

Hat Yai

2 days in Hat Yai

After Chiang Mai, it’s time to head south with a direct two-hour flight from Chiang Mai to Hat Yai with Thai Air Asia. With its proximity to Malaysia, Hat Yai is one of the main transport hubs in the south of Thailand and also has a lively food scene. Don’t leave town without trying the city’s signature dish, gai tod Hat Yai (fried chicken Hat Yai style), which is topped with crispy shallots.

If you’re in Hat Yai over a weekend, the floating market at Khlong Hae is worth a visit. For sightseeing, take the cable car for panoramic views over Hat Yai. There are also two beautiful religious buildings of note:  Songkhla Central Mosque and the gleaming stainless steel Buddhist temple and pagoda, Phra Maha Chedi Tripob Trimongkol.

Songkhla

2 days in Songkhla

Even among Thai people, Songkhla isn’t a well-known destination. This is slowly starting to change thanks to a revival of the historic Songkhla Old Town area. This laid-back town is home to historic architecture, an eclectic art scene, and a long stretch of beach. Most importantly for this itinerary, it also has a thriving food scene.

Songkhla is famous for its southern Thai cuisine, which packs in the spices and heat. Near Songkhla Beach, numerous seafood restaurants serve up freshly caught crab, shrimp, and fish, expertly prepared with fragrant herbs and spices. Around town, be sure to try local specialities like kanom jeen with fish curry and khao yam, a southern-style rice salad.

For the freshest seafood and regional treats, visit Kao Seng Market, where you can also enjoy a refreshing o-liang (Thai iced coffee). If you have a sweet tooth, Songkhla Old Town is a must-visit. The area has become a hotspot for ice cream lovers, with a unique local treat — coconut ice cream topped with fresh egg yolk and a dusting of Ovaltine.

• 9 must-try Southern Thai dishes

Beach time

4 or 5 days

Spending time at the beach is a relaxing way to end a busy itinerary. Although there is a pleasant beach at Songkhla, there are more attractive beaches and islands within comfortable travelling distance on the Andaman Coast.

From Songkhla or Hat Yai, it’s easy to book transport to Pak Bara and onwards to islands like Ko Bulon Leh, Ko Lipe, or Ko Tarutao. Another option would be to stay on the mainland at Pak Bara Beach. 

• Itinerary Ideas: Trang, Ko Lipe, Ko Tarutao and Ko Bulon Leh
• Itinerary Ideas: Krabi and Trang
• Itinerary Ideas: Winter beach holiday on the Trang Islands

Alternative to the beach

2 days in Phatthalung and 2 days in Trang Town

If you’d prefer to skip the beach, travel instead to Phatthalung and/or Trang Town. You could spend a couple of days enjoying the serene environs of Thale Noi and sampling dishes like giant river prawns and fermented catfish at Ban Thale Noi. 

• Itinerary Ideas: Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phatthalung

From Phatthalung, travel to Trang Town to complete this itinerary in one of Thailand’s most amiable provincial capitals. The town of Trang may be small, but it is home to a surprisingly diverse food scene thanks to a mix of Thai, Chinese and Malay influences. 

Trang is well known for its traditional coffee shops, where visitors can enjoy a breakfast of dim sum and pa thong koh (Thai-style doughnuts), paired with rich local coffee or Chinese tea. When it comes to lunch or dinner, don’t miss the region’s signature dish — crispy roast pork, locally known as ‘Trang moo yang’.

Itinerary Ideas
This article is part of our Itinerary Ideas series. These particular itineraries are for anybody, but may appeal more to repeat visitors to Thailand looking to explore different destinations on their next trip or anyone seeking meaningful travel experiences. If you’re a first-time visitor to Thailand or looking for more ideas of where to go and what to do, check out these articles too:
2-week Thailand itinerary
3-week Thailand itinerary
4-week Thailand itinerary

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