A 7-day Thailand plan for Iraqi travelers: Bangkok's temples, river and markets, then Phuket's beaches and Phang Nga and Phi Phi boat trips, via RideFly.
🔍 Book your Thailand tripSeven days is a good length for a first trip to Thailand that mixes city and sea: three days in Bangkok for temples, the river and markets, then four in Phuket for beaches and boat trips. This day-by-day plan is grouped by area to cut travel time, with practical tips for families, halal food, and booking flights and hotels via RideFly.
Spend the first three days in Bangkok: arrival and a first ride on the BTS Skytrain to Siam, then the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun along the Chao Phraya river, then Chatuchak Weekend Market and shopping in Siam and Pratunam. On day four, fly to Phuket (about 1.5 hours), spend days five and six on boat trips to Phang Nga Bay and the Phi Phi Islands, and day seven in Old Phuket Town and on a quieter beach before you leave. Book flights and hotels together on RideFly.
Most international flights land at Suvarnabhumi Airport, east of Bangkok. The Airport Rail Link runs to Phaya Thai station, where you change to the BTS Skytrain; alternatively, take a taxi from the official rank or a pre-booked transfer. After checking in and resting from the long journey, ride the Skytrain to Siam, where the Sukhumvit and Silom lines meet, and stroll around Siam Square and the air-conditioned malls nearby. Keep it a light day to get used to the heat, the humidity and the train network you will rely on for the rest of your stay. If you take a regular taxi, ask for the meter, or use a ride-hailing app.
Take the Skytrain to Saphan Taksin, then a Chao Phraya boat from the neighbouring Sathorn pier up the river to Tha Chang pier by the Grand Palace; the river ride is a sightseeing trip in itself (the MRT to Sanam Chai station, near Wat Pho, is another option). Start with the Grand Palace complex and Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, inside it, then walk south to Wat Pho, famous for its giant Reclining Buddha. From nearby Tha Tien pier, a small ferry crosses the river in a few minutes to Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, on the west bank; it looks its best at sunset from the opposite shore. The palace and temples require clothing that covers shoulders and knees, shoes come off before you enter temple halls, and ignore anyone on the street who says the palace is closed today and offers another tour instead.
Chatuchak is one of the largest markets in the world and, as its name says, a weekend market, so arrange your plan so this day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, or swap it with another day. Go in the morning, before the worst of the heat, by Skytrain to Mo Chit or by MRT to Kamphaeng Phet station, right next to the market. In the afternoon, ride the same Sukhumvit line back to Siam for its big malls, then walk from Chit Lom station to Pratunam, known for its clothing markets selling both wholesale and retail. The market is huge and maze-like, so agree on a fixed meeting point in case your group gets separated.
The domestic flight from Bangkok to Phuket takes about 1.5 hours and leaves from either Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang, which many low-cost airlines use, so check your departure airport and baggage allowance. Phuket's airport is in the north of the island; reach your hotel by taxi or a pre-booked transfer. Once settled, head to Patong Beach on the west coast, the island's liveliest, with restaurants and shops along its beachfront road, and watch the sunset over the sea. If you prefer calm, stay in Kata or Karon, south of Patong, or Kamala to the north, and visit Patong just for an evening.
Phang Nga Bay, north-east of Phuket, is famous for towering limestone islands that rise straight out of calm water, including the area known as James Bond Island. Day trips leave by boat from piers on Phuket's east coast, and many include kayaking into sea caves and hidden lagoons and a stop at Koh Panyee, a Muslim fishing village built on stilts over the water, with its own mosque, where many trips stop for lunch. Many tour organisers offer hotel pick-up and drop-off, so book at least a day ahead and ask exactly what the trip includes. Bring sunscreen, a hat and a waterproof bag for your phone.
The Phi Phi Islands lie south-east of Phuket in the Andaman Sea, and day trips reach them by speedboat from Phuket's piers. Phi Phi Don, the larger island, is inhabited, with a village and beaches, while Phi Phi Le is uninhabited and home to the famous Maya Bay and lagoons between limestone cliffs; trips usually include snorkelling stops over coral reefs. Some bays have visitor rules to protect the environment and can close temporarily, so check with your organiser what the trip can actually visit. The open-sea crossing by speedboat can be bumpy, so if you are prone to seasickness, sit towards the back of the boat.
Start with a morning swim at a quieter beach such as Kata or Karon, then head to Old Phuket Town on the east side of the island, with its colourful Sino-Portuguese shophouses on Thalang Road and Soi Romanee, small shops and Chinese shrines. The old town is a good place for souvenirs and photos. Leave plenty of time for the road to the airport in the north of the island, as traffic is common. If your flight is early, move the old town to an earlier evening, and ask your hotel whether it can hold your bags after check-out.
Bangkok is hot and humid most of the year, so visit the palace and temples in the morning, save the air-conditioned malls for midday, and carry water and sunscreen. The Skytrain and MRT beat taxis in Bangkok's traffic, but not every station exit has a lift or escalator, so a light stroller works best. In Phuket, Kata and Karon are calmer for families than Patong; watch for red flags on the beach, which mean no swimming because of currents. Phang Nga Bay's sheltered water is usually gentler for children than the open-sea crossing to Phi Phi, and check that the boat has life jackets in children's sizes. Halal food is easy to find in Bangkok, especially around Sukhumvit near Nana station, an area well known among Arab visitors, and in Phuket, which has a sizeable Muslim community; look for the halal sign on restaurants and packaged food. Flight and hotel prices change with seasons and holidays, so check live prices on RideFly before fixing your dates.
Flights from Baghdad, Basra and Najaf to Bangkok usually involve a connection, so compare routes, layover times and live prices on RideFly, and book your hotel in the same place. For the return, you can fly home from Phuket with a connection or fly back to Bangkok first for your international flight; compare both before booking. Where to stay in Bangkok: Siam and Ratchaprasong for shopping and the Skytrain interchange; Sukhumvit (Nana and Asok) for halal restaurants and easy transport; the Chao Phraya riverside for views and boat access to the old town. In Phuket: Patong for energy and restaurants, Kata and Karon for calm and families. Before booking, check the current entry conditions on the Thailand visa page and the latest official travel advisories.
Roughly November to February, when Bangkok and Phuket are drier and less hot. March and April are the hottest months, and roughly May to October is the rainy season, when Phuket's sea is rougher and some boat trips may be cancelled, though it is also less crowded.
Yes for a first visit combining Bangkok and Phuket without rushing. Add two days for Krabi or the floating markets outside Bangkok, or stick to one city if you are travelling with small children.
In Bangkok, Siam and Ratchaprasong for shopping or Sukhumvit for halal food and transport; most important is being near a Skytrain or MRT station. In Phuket, Patong for a lively base or Kata and Karon for quiet.
From Suvarnabhumi, take the Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai and change to the Skytrain, or a taxi from the official rank. Between the two cities it is a domestic flight of about 1.5 hours; Phuket has no metro, so use taxis, ride-hailing apps and transfers arranged by hotels and tour organisers. The Bangkok airport guide has more details.
