EKTA
Gold
2k$36.48 AUD
Thailand highlights on a budget
Doing Thailand on a budget means the cheapest third of what is worth doing: Gaggan, Chatuchak Weekend Market. Activities in this plan start from about $13.
Your 5-day highlights plan for Thailand
Where you stayBangkok 3 nightsPhra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province 2 nightsabout 65 km between them
5 days · packed · 8 of 19 bookable now · activities from about $198
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Day 1 Bangkok
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morning
Gaggan
Restaurant in Thailand. Dates from 2010.
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afternoon
Chatuchak Weekend Market
Flea market near Bangkok.
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evening
One More Thai Massage & Spa at Chit Lom in Bangkok
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evening
Pela Thai Massage at Siam Square 6 in Bangkok
Where to eat
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Breakfast
Wat Nimmanoradee Floating Market
Wat Nimmanoradee Floating Market was built in Bangkok, Thailand in the Rattanakosin Era 120 or AD 1902.
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Lunch
Sühring
Holds a Michelin star.
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Dinner
Mezzaluna
Holds a Michelin star.
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Day 2 Bangkok
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morning
Jay Fai
Street-side restaurant in Bangkok. Dates from 1980.
Just turn up -
afternoon
Pak Khlong Talat
Flower market in Bangkok, Thailand.
Just turn up -
evening
Meridian Dinner Cruise in Bangkok
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evening
Health Land Spa at Asoke in Bangkok
Where to eat
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Lunch
Le Normandie
Holds a Michelin star.
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Dinner
Jay Fai
Received one star in the inaugural Bangkok 2018 Michelin Guide.
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Day 3 Bangkok
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morning
Pratunam Market
Market hall near Bangkok.
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afternoon
Wat Benchamabophit
Buddhist temple in Bangkok, Thailand. Dates from 1911. registered Thai historic site.
Just turn up -
evening
Grand Palace
Archaeological site. Dates from 1782. Thai historic site, registration declined.
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evening
Chao Phraya White Orchid Cruise in Bangkok
Where to eat
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Lunch
R-Haan
Holds a Michelin star.
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Dinner
Bo.lan
Holds a Michelin star.
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Day 4 Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province
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Travel day
Bangkok to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province
Journey time is an estimate rather than a timetable - check the operator before you book anything tight on either side of it.
Book direct -
afternoon
Krudam Gym by TopKing (Muay Thai Class) in Ayutthaya
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evening
Muay Thai Class in Ayutthaya by Sit Palan Muay Thai Gym
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evening
Muay Thai Boxing Introduction Class for Beginners in Ayutthaya
Where to eat
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Breakfast
Ayothaya Floating Market
A cultural and shopping destination in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, central Thailand.
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Dinner
Na Wang Night Market
Stalls selling Thai.
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Day 5 Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province
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morning
Wat Chaiwatthanaram
Buddhist temple in Ayutthaya Historical Park, Thailand. Dates from 1630. registered Thai historic site.
Just turn up -
afternoon
Ayutthaya Historical Park
Historical park of Thailand. A UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Just turn up -
evening
Wat Phra Sri Sanphet
Ruins. Dates from 1350.
Just turn up -
evening
Wat Mahathat
Wat near Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province.
Just turn up
Where to eat
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Dinner
Ayutthaya Night Market
An evening market, open 5pm to 10pm.
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Prices are indicative and in Australian dollars. Flights and accommodation are not included. Distances between stops are straight-line, so a walking or driving route will be longer, and they are shown only where both stops have a known location. Items marked also worth doing sit outside the highlights theme and are there because they are among the best things to do in Thailand.
Before you fly to Thailand
The part an itinerary app leaves out. These are Thailand's rules for Australian passport holders, re-read from the official source and dated below.
Entry
No - Australian passport holders can enter Thailand without a visa for up to 60 days.
Passport
Thailand wants 6 months of validity beyond the day you arrive. A fare is non-refundable long before a passport renewal is.
Your checklist
22 things to sort for Thailand, built from these same rules, 4 of them essential.
- Passport valid - at least 6 months from your date of arrival
- Complete the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)
- Take out travel insurance
- Get an International Driving Permit
Last reviewed 2026-10-24. Entry requirements change without notice. Always confirm with the official sources below before you book or fly.
Sort these before you go
The two things worth having arranged before a highlights trip to Thailand, compared on price.
Thailand travel insurance
Klook
Travel insurance
Set at quote
Fast Cover Best value
Standard Saver
9k$19 AUD
Compare only
Thailand eSIM plans
Airalo
1GB · 7 days
32k$5 AUD
Saily Cheapest 10GB
10GB · 15 days
6k$8.50 AUD
Airalo Recommended
10GB · 15 days
32k$10 AUD
Prices are indicative, shown in AUD and refreshed from provider APIs where available. Always confirm the final price on the provider's site - it is the price that applies. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes what you pay. Partners are listed before providers who pay us nothing, as our terms set out; sorting by price ignores all of that and orders on the number alone. How we make money.
Budget highlights questions
What counts as budget here?
The lowest-priced third of everything worth doing in that country, measured against that country's own prices rather than a fixed dollar figure. A budget day in Norway and a budget day in Vietnam are not the same number, and pretending otherwise would just describe the exchange rate.
Does a cheaper plan mean a worse one?
No, and the ordering is the same either way: everything is ranked on its review score first, so a budget plan is the best-reviewed cheap things rather than the cheapest things. Flights and accommodation are not included in any of these figures.
What goes into a highlights plan?
It rotates between wellness, sightseeing and food items rather than clustering them, so no single day is three museums or three meals. If you would rather lean one way, switch the theme at the top of the page and the plan rebuilds.
Can I change the plan once it is built?
Yes. Pace and length are controls on the page, and changing either rebuilds the plan instantly. The itinerary is deterministic, so the same choices always produce the same plan - you can send someone the link and they will see what you see.
Other ways to do Thailand
Thailand wellness itinerary
Hot springs and spa days, but also gyms, yoga, hiking and open water. Rest and movement, not one or the other.
Thailand sightseeing itinerary
Coastlines, lookouts, day trips and the landmarks that are actually worth the queue.
Thailand food itinerary
Markets, cooking classes, wine regions and the places worth planning a day around.
Highlights trips in other countries
Still deciding where to go? These are built the same way - real activities, in an order that works, with the entry rules for Australians attached.
🇯🇵 Japan highlights itinerary
Visa-free, cash-friendly, and worth over-preparing for.
🇮🇩 Indonesia highlights itinerary
Visa on arrival, plus two fees most Australians don't budget for.
🇻🇳 Vietnam highlights itinerary
E-visa required - and Australians legally can't drive here.
🇵🇭 Philippines highlights itinerary
Visa-free for 30 days, with a compulsory eTravel registration.