Map of Thailand: Regions, Islands, and Actual Travel Times

Thailand stretches about 1, 650 kilometers from north to south and has a land area close to that of metropolitan France. This is the first thing you learn from a map, and it’s what most affects your travel plans: you can’t visit the mountainous north and the southern islands on the same trip without flying. The country is dividedinto five major regions: the North, Isan in the northeast, the Central Region (which includes Bangkok), and the South, which is divided into two coastal areas—the Andaman Sea to the west and the Gulf of Thailand to the east.

The map below is clickable: each area links to its corresponding region. You’ll then find what each one contains, the islands by sea, and—most importantly—the real-time travel time between them. This is what’s missing from most maps, and yet it’s what determines your itinerary.

Thailand at a Glance

The Five Regions, and What You'll Find There

The North: Mountains, Temples, and Fresh Air

The highest region in the country, around Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, with mountains rising to over 2,000 meters. Temperatures there are much more bearable than elsewhere, especially from November through February, and the nights are cool. This is the Thailand of mountain temples, morning markets, and villages—rather than the Thailand of beach chairs.

It’s also the region where Europeans tend to settle for the longest periods: Chiang Mai and Pai, a three-hour drive to the north, are home to an established community of remote workers. More details can be found on the Northern Thailand page.

Isan, the Northeast: the region that tourist maps overlook

The vast northeastern plateau, bordered by the Mekong River, which forms the border with Laos. It is the country’s most populous region and, by far, the least visited: almost no French-language guidebooks cover it. The language spoken there is similar to Lao, the cuisine is different and spicier, and it is the home of most of the great Muay Thai champions.

Details are on the Isan page.

The Central Region: Bangkok and the Chao Phraya Plain

The rice-growing plain that shaped the country, crossed by theChao Phraya River. It is home to Bangkok—where almost every journey begins—and the ancient capitals, foremost among them Ayutthaya, which is an hour and a half north by train and can be visited on a day trip.

It's the best-connected region in the country: two international airports in Bangkok, trains going in every direction, and overnight buses to just about everywhere.

The South, West Coast: the Andaman Sea

The coastline of limestone peaks rising vertically out of the water—the kind of scenery that makes you want to go there. It is home to Phuket, the country’s largest and most accessible island; Krabi and its province, including Ao Nang and Railay; and the Phi Phi Islands.

The South, East Coast: the Gulf of Thailand

The other coast—the one comprising the trio of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan,and Koh Tao. The scenery is less spectacular than on the Andaman coast, but life on these islands is more laid-back and the pace is slower. Koh Samui has an airport; the other two are accessible by boat.

The Islands, Sea by Sea

Thailand has more than a thousand islands, and the first question isn’t which one to choose but which side to go to. The two seas are different and have different seasons.

It's the difference between these two seasons that makes a trip worthwhile. A trip in November coincides with the rainy season in the Gulf and the dry season in the Andaman Sea. Details can be found on the Thailand weather and islands pages.

Actual distances, in hours rather than kilometers

That's what a map doesn't show, and that's what makes up a route. The travel times listed below are rough estimates, not exact schedules: they vary depending on the carrier, the season, and road conditions.

The number that changes everything: a domestic flight generally costs between €30 and €60 when bookedin advance. At that price, it’s not a matter of choosing between comfort and budget, but between saving a day of travel or losing it. That’s why almost every serious itinerary in Thailand includes at least one domestic flight.

How to Read This Map Based on the Length of Your Stay

Two weeks: just half the country. Either the north and the center, or the center and a sea. Trying to see both means spending the entire trip on public transportation.

Three weeks: the north and the sea become possible, with a domestic flight in between. That’s how long it takes for the map to stop being a constraint.

One month or more: Isan or a neighboring country. The northeast takes time to explore, and the borders with Laos and Cambodia are nearby. Details are on the “Upcoming Itineraries” page.

What the Map Doesn't Show

The country does not speak with one voice. Buddhism is the predominant religion, but the south, near the border with Malaysia, is home to a large Muslim community, and the border regions are populated by people from Burma, India, Laos, and Indonesia. This isn’t just a detail on a map—it’s what shapes the cuisine, festivals, and way of life from one region to the next.

Short distances aren't always the fastest. The 130-kilometer mountain drive between Chiang Mai and Pai takes just as long as an 800-kilometer flight. On this map, the scale is...

And that it takes longer to drive through Bangkok than it does to fly over it. Traffic jams there are severe, and the elevated train is cheaper and faster than a taxi. You can find this information on the Bangkok page.

In summary

Thailand can be divided into five regions: the mountainous North; Isan in the northeast, which almost no one visits; the Central region, which includes Bangkok; and two coastlines in the south that differ in both landscape and climate—the Andaman Sea to the west and the Gulf of Thailand to the east. The country stretches 1,650 kilometers from north to south, making it impossible to see everything in two weeks, but a domestic flight costs €30 to €60 and saves a full day of driving. Choosing which coast to visit based on the month—rather than on a photo—is still the decision that saves the most trouble on any trip.