This was a college friends trip — 4 of us, two of whom were on their first international trip. We covered Pattaya, Bangkok, Phuket, and Phi Phi Island in 10 days. Thailand is one of the most beginner-friendly international destinations for Indians, and this trip confirmed that.
Before You Go — Visa & Essentials
Visa on Arrival for Indians — You get it at the airport itself, but it costs 2,000 Baht (around ₹4,600). Have the cash ready in Baht.
We exchanged our money to Thai Baht in India before flying — this is a good idea since you’ll need Baht right at the airport for the visa fee.
We also pre-booked our SIM cards from Klook — around ₹350 each. Pick them up at the airport. Totally worth it for data and maps throughout the trip.
Day 1 — Delhi to Bangkok
August 11, 2023
Our Thai Airways flight departed Delhi at 23:30. Nothing much to report — we slept through most of it.
Day 2 — Arrival & Pattaya
August 12, 2023
Landed at BKK (Suvarnabhumi Airport) around 5:25 AM Thailand time. Got through immigration, picked up our SIM cards, and cleared the visa on arrival process.
We waited for everyone to regroup and at around 10 AM took a bus to Pattaya — 143 Baht per person. The ride took about 2 hours. From the bus drop-off point, we booked a Grab taxi to our hotel. We’d booked 2 rooms for 2 nights at ₹1,300/night per room.
After freshening up, we went out for lunch — first Thai meal of the trip.
Evening — Big Buddha & Walking Street
In the evening, we took a cab to the Big Buddha in Pattaya — a large golden Buddha statue sitting on a hill. Decent views of the city from up there.
After dinner, we headed to the famous Walking Street. It’s exactly what you’ve heard — loud, neon-lit, packed with bars and clubs. We roamed around, went to a couple of bars, and eventually sat on the beach. A solid first night in Thailand.
Day 3 — Coral Island & Walking Street (Again)
August 13, 2023
Daytime — Coral Island
Took a ferry to Coral Island (Koh Larn) — just 30 Baht one way. Cheap and scenic.
We had brunch on the island itself and then went for the Sea Walk — 400 Baht per person. It’s an underwater walking experience where you wear a helmet and walk on the sea floor. Quite famous here and a unique experience if you haven’t done it before.
We headed back in the evening and watched the sunset from the ferry — one of the nicer moments of the trip.
Night — Walking Street Round 2
After dinner and a short rest at the hotel, we went back to Walking Street. Explored a few more bars we’d missed the previous night. Pattaya nightlife doesn’t disappoint if that’s your thing.
Day 4 — Pattaya to Bangkok
August 14, 2023
Had lunch, checked out of the hotel, and took a traveller (minivan) to Bangkok — around 200 Baht per person.
We’d booked the Mad Monkey Hostel in Bangkok — 2,380 Baht for 4 beds for 2 nights. It’s a well-known backpacker hostel with a great vibe.
Evening — Khao San Road & Nana Plaza
After freshening up, we went for a walk near the hostel area and then headed to Khao San Road at night. It’s one of the most happening streets in Bangkok — full of bars, street food, and backpackers from everywhere.
Later, we went to Nana Plaza. It wasn’t as lively as Pattaya’s Walking Street, but it’s worth a visit once if you’re curious.
Day 5 — Bangkok Sightseeing
August 15, 2023
Woke up late — around 10 AM — since the previous night ran long exploring Bangkok nightlife.
Sea Life Ocean World & Mahanakhon Skywalk
We visited Sea Life Bangkok Ocean World — ₹12,221 for 4 people (~₹3,055 per person). A large aquarium inside Siam Paragon mall. Good experience, especially if you’ve never been to one.
Then we went to the Mahanakhon Skywalk — ₹10,232 for 4 people (~₹2,558 per person). It’s the tallest building in Bangkok with a glass-floor observation deck. The views are incredible, especially if you go around sunset time.
Icon Siam Mall
After the skywalk, we headed to Icon Siam — one of the biggest malls in Bangkok. It’s massive, with pretty much every international brand you can think of. Even if you’re not shopping, it’s worth walking through just for the scale of it.
Night — Soi Cowboy & Khao San Road
For the night we tried Soi Cowboy — another famous nightlife strip. Honestly, it wasn’t that interesting compared to what we’d already seen. So we went back to Khao San Road, hung out there for a while, and called it a night.
Day 6 — Grand Palace & Overnight Bus to Phuket
August 16, 2023
Morning — The Grand Palace
Locked our luggage at the hostel and visited The Grand Palace — the old palace of the Thai king. It’s a stunning complex with intricate architecture and gold detailing everywhere. One of those places you have to see in Bangkok.
Evening — Overnight Bus to Phuket
Our bus was at 18:00, so we went back to the hostel, picked up our luggage, and headed to the bus stop. The overnight bus to Phuket cost around ₹2,000 per person. It was a semi-sleeper — comfortable enough, and they gave us a small snack.
Day 7 — Phuket to Phi Phi Island
August 17, 2023
Reached Phuket around 7 AM. Took a taxi to our Airbnb — booked for ₹9,000 for 2 nights for 4 people. Since it was too early to check in, we left our bags at the Airbnb owner’s shop and headed out.
Ferry to Phi Phi Island
Took a cab to Rassada Pier and booked a round-trip ferry to Phi Phi Island — 1,000 Baht per person.
We stayed at the Ibiza Hotel on Phi Phi — ₹1,250 per person for the night. This place has one of the best views on the island — absolutely worth it.
Afternoon — Kayaking in the Sea
After checking in and having lunch, we rented a kayaking boat — 100 Baht per hour — and went kayaking in the sea. It was a blast. Takes a lot of energy but completely worth it. The water is clear and the views from the kayak are incredible.
Evening — Beach & Bars
Phi Phi has a great party scene. There was a pool party at our hotel that night — the Ibiza Hotel lives up to its name. After that, we went down to the beach and explored the cafes and bars along the waterfront.
Day 8 — Back to Phuket
August 18, 2023
Took the return ferry back to Phuket and finally checked into our Airbnb. Rested for a bit and had lunch.
Evening — Phuket Walking Street
Explored the nearby market in the afternoon. At night, we went to Phuket’s Walking Street (Bangla Road). It was less happening than Pattaya’s version — fewer bars, smaller crowd. But still worth a stroll.
We ended up at the beach later at night. Also booked a half-day tour of Phuket for the next morning.
Day 9 — Phuket Half-Day Tour & Goodbyes
August 19, 2023
The tour driver showed up at 7 AM.
Big Buddha Phuket
First stop was the Big Buddha in Phuket — a massive white marble Buddha statue on a hilltop. The views of the island from up there are panoramic. Different vibe from the Pattaya one.
Tiger Park
Next was the Tiger Park where you can pet a big tiger. The tiger was sedated though, and in hindsight, this is animal cruelty. I didn’t know this before going. I’d recommend skipping this.
Cashew Factory & Local Stops
The driver took us to a Cashew Factory and a few other local industry spots. The tour wrapped up around 14:00.
Afternoon — Lunch, Shopping & Goodbye
We had lunch and did some souvenir shopping. Two of my friends had flights later that evening, so we went back to the Airbnb and said our goodbyes.
The remaining two of us explored a little more of Phuket at night.
Day 10 — Departure
August 20, 2023
Took a bus to Phuket airport in the morning around 9 AM — buses run every hour and cost around 100 Baht. Much cheaper than a cab.
Our flight was at 13:30 and we landed in Delhi at 16:35 local time.
What It Cost (Per Person)
Accommodation (per person, approximate)
| Stay | Cost |
|---|---|
| Hotel in Pattaya (2 nights, 2 rooms, split 4 ways) | ~₹1,300 |
| Mad Monkey Hostel, Bangkok (2 nights) | |
| Airbnb Phuket (2 nights, split 4 ways) | ~₹2,250 |
| Ibiza Hotel, Phi Phi (1 night) | ~₹1,250 |
Activities & Transport (per person)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Visa on Arrival | 2,200 Baht (~₹5,000) |
| SIM Card (Klook) | ~₹350 |
| Bus: BKK → Pattaya | 143 Baht |
| Ferry to Coral Island | 30 Baht (one way) |
| Sea Walk (Coral Island) | 400 Baht |
| Traveller: Pattaya → Bangkok | 200 Baht |
| Sea Life Ocean World | ~₹3,055 |
| Mahanakhon Skywalk | ~₹2,558 |
| Overnight Bus: Bangkok → Phuket | ~₹2,000 |
| Round-trip Ferry to Phi Phi | 1,000 Baht |
| Kayaking (Phi Phi) | 100 Baht/hour |
| Phuket Half-Day Tour | ~₹3,032 |
| Bus: Phuket → Airport | 100 Baht |
Note: Flight costs, food, cabs (Grab), and miscellaneous expenses not included in this breakdown.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Visa on Arrival costs 2,000 Baht — Have the cash ready in Thai Baht. Exchange money in India before flying.
- Book SIM cards from Klook — ₹350 for a DTAC 4G SIM. Pick it up at the airport. Saves you from hunting for one in the city.
- Grab is your best friend — Thailand’s version of Uber. Use it for all short-distance cabs.
- Pattaya Walking Street > Phuket Walking Street — If nightlife is your thing, Pattaya is where it’s at. Phuket’s Bangla Road is tamer.
- Skip the Tiger Park — The tigers are sedated. It’s animal cruelty dressed up as a tourist attraction.
- Phi Phi Island is worth the ferry — Book a round-trip from Rassada Pier. The Ibiza Hotel has great views. Try the kayaking.
- Overnight bus to Phuket is comfortable enough — Semi-sleeper, they give you a snack. Saves you a night of accommodation.
- Airport bus in Phuket is 100 Baht — Runs every hour. Much cheaper than a cab.
- Khao San Road for Bangkok nightlife — It’s the most happening street. Soi Cowboy and Nana Plaza are skippable.
- Mahanakhon Skywalk is worth it — Glass floor, tallest building in Bangkok. Go around sunset if you can.
- Grand Palace is a must — Even if you’re not into temples and history, the architecture is too good to miss.
Final Thoughts
Thailand is an incredible first international trip — and two of my friends can confirm that. It’s affordable, the food is great, the nightlife is unmatched in Southeast Asia, and there’s a solid mix of beaches, temples, and city life.
Pattaya is pure chaos and nightlife. Bangkok has the culture, the malls, and the skyscrapers. Phuket and Phi Phi bring the beaches and the island vibes. Covering all three in 10 days is doable but tight — if I were doing it again, I’d probably add a day in Phi Phi and skip Soi Cowboy entirely.
If you’re planning your first international trip with friends and want something easy, affordable, and packed with things to do — Thailand is hard to beat.
