Itinerary
- Day 1
Phuket to Khao Lak
You'll pick up your rental car at Phuket Airport and then drive north to Khao Lak for your first night. The drive takes about 90 minutes depending on traffic, so you'll have plenty of daylight left to settle into your accommodation. This is a good time to grab dinner somewhere nearby, walk around the beach town, or simply relax at your hotel after traveling.
- Day 2
Khao Lak to Kuraburi
Today you're driving through Khao Sok National Park, which covers about 86 km on your route to Kuraburi. Along the way you'll have chances to spot wildlife including elephants, bears, and over 175 bird species if you're lucky with timing. The park has some pullouts and viewpoints worth stopping at. From there you'll continue on to Kuraburi, a smaller coastal town that doesn't get as much tourist traffic as some other spots in the region.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive through Khao Sok National Park
Optional Activities
- Stop to observe wildlife in Khao Sok National Park (elephants, bears, birds)
Landmarks/POIs Khao Sok National Park - Day 3
Khao Sok National Park to Chumphon
The drive to Chumphon covers approximately 262 km, so you're looking at a longer day on the road. Chumphon calls itself the Gateway to the South, and you'll understand why once you see the beaches here with their palm trees and nice sandy stretches. While you're in the area, there's a worthwhile detour to Thailand's narrowest point where you can see into Myanmar across the water. It's an interesting geographical spot and not something you see every day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit the narrowest point in Thailand with views of Myanmar
Landmarks/POIs Chumphon - Day 4
Chumphon to Surat Thani
You'll head south along the east coast toward Surat Thani, traveling about 193 km. Once there, check out Phra Borom That Chaiya, an old pagoda that's over 1200 years old and was historically important to the Srivachaya empire. Right next to it there's a local museum with artifacts from the area that give you some context about the region's history. Spend some time wandering around this part of town before heading to your accommodation.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit Phra Borom That Chaiya ancient pagoda
- Explore the local museum with artifacts from the area
Landmarks/POIs Phra Borom That Chaiya - Day 5
Surat Thani to Krabi
The drive to Krabi is approximately 211 km and your last major driving day. Once you arrive, you've got options for exploring. Phang Nga Bay is nearby with those dramatic limestone cliffs and the famous rock formation from the James Bond film. If you're interested in temples, Wat Tham Sua (Tiger Cave Temple) is worth a visit, though it's worth knowing the last tiger in the area was spotted back in the mid-1970s. Spend your evening getting to know Krabi town itself.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Excursion to Phang Nga Bay to view limestone cliffs and the 'James Bond' rock
- Visit Wat Tham Sua (Tiger Cave Temple)
Landmarks/POIs Phang Nga Bay Wat Tham Sua - Day 6
Krabi
Today you can just slow down and take stock of the places you've driven through over the past few days. Spend time at the beach, relax by the pool at your hotel, or walk around Krabi without any real schedule. This kind of downtime helps before you need to return your rental car, and you can think through which spots you'd like to revisit or which areas surprised you most.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Day 7
Krabi
Your last day in Krabi is completely open. You can explore the region on your own terms or head to Noppharat Beach if you want to spend time on the sand one more time before leaving. Later in the day, you'll need to return your rental car at Krabi Airport for your departure. Make sure you account for time to get to the airport depending on where you're staying.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore the Krabi region independently
- Visit Noppharat Beach
Landmarks/POIs Noppharat Beach
