Honeymoon
Thailand honeymoon: a two-week route and the six hotels we recommend
A Thailand honeymoon gives you temples and street food in Bangkok, the hills of the north and a long finale on the islands. Pick the right coast for your month, and the country works almost all year.
Picolo Editorial
Picolo's honeymoon guides contain no affiliate links. Our picks are made independently by our editors.
Thailand suits couples who want more than a beach, at a price well below the Maldives. This guide sets out a route for two weeks, the six hotels we recommend for couples, which coast to choose in which month, and how to get there from London and Oslo.
In short: Thailand honeymoon
The route: two nights in Bangkok, three in Chiang Mai, then a week or more on the beach.
Which coast: the Andaman side (Krabi, Phuket, Koh Lanta) is best from December to March, and the Gulf islands (Koh Samui) from February to August.
Where to stay: Rayavadee on Railay, Trisara on Phuket and Four Seasons on Koh Samui for the beach. Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok and 137 Pillars House in Chiang Mai for the cities.
Adults only: Layana Resort on Koh Lanta.
Getting there: direct flights from London and Oslo to Bangkok, then a domestic flight of about an hour to the islands.
Our first choice: Rayavadee on the Railay peninsula in Krabi, where the limestone cliffs fall into the sea and the beaches are almost empty once the day boats leave. See our guide to Krabi and Phi Phi.
This guide is part of our best honeymoon destinations series. For the full country, see our Thailand travel guide.
How to plan a Thailand honeymoon
Start in Bangkok for two nights of temples, river boats and food, and rest after the long flight. Fly north to Chiang Mai for three nights of old temples, night markets and the hills, then fly south to the sea for the rest of the trip.
For a calmer trip, skip the north and split the beach time between two places, such as Railay and Koh Lanta. Our guide to Thailand island hopping shows how the boats link the islands on the Andaman coast.
Where to stay: six hotels for a Thailand honeymoon
Rayavadee, Railay
Rayavadee sits on the Railay peninsula between Phra Nang beach and the cliffs, and can only be reached by boat. In the evening, once the day boats have left, it turns quiet, and dinner is served in a cave on the beach. The pavilions stand in a garden of coconut palms.
Best for: couples who want dramatic scenery and a quiet beach in the evening.
Trisara, Phuket
Trisara has villas with private pools on a hillside above a quiet bay on the north-west coast of Phuket, a short drive from the airport. It is one of Phuket's best-known luxury hotels, and the bay feels far from the busy beaches further south.
Best for: couples who want a private pool and an easy journey.
A beach sala at Trisara, above a quiet bay on the north-west coast of Phuket. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui
The villas are spread across a steep, palm-covered hillside on the north-west coast of Koh Samui, each with its own pool and a view over the bay. In the evening the sun sets right in front of you, far from the parties in Chaweng.
Best for: couples travelling between February and August, when the Gulf is at its best.
Pool villas on the hillside at Four Seasons Koh Samui, with the sunset straight ahead. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Layana Resort and Spa, Koh Lanta
Layana is an adults-only resort on the long west coast of Koh Lanta, with a pool leading down to the beach and sunsets over the Andaman Sea. Koh Lanta is calmer than Phi Phi, and Layana is a good place to end the trip with a few days without plans.
Best for: couples who want adults-only calm at the end of the trip.
Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
The legendary hotel on the Chao Phraya River is one of the best-known hotels in the world, with river boats outside the door and the Bamboo Bar for jazz in the evening. Two nights here is a soft landing after the long flight.
Best for: the first or last nights of the trip.
137 Pillars House, Chiang Mai
The hotel is built around an old teak house standing on 137 pillars, in a quiet area east of the old city. The veranda, garden and pool make it a place to spend an afternoon, and the Night Bazaar and the river are within walking distance.
Best for: couples who want the north with charm and calm.
Getting to Thailand from London and Oslo
The flying time to Bangkok is about 12 hours from London and about 11 hours from Oslo, both on direct flights. You land at Suvarnabhumi Airport east of the city.
To the beaches: domestic flights of about an hour go from Bangkok to Krabi, Phuket and Koh Samui.
To Railay: the peninsula has no roads, so the last stretch from Krabi is by boat.
To Chiang Mai: about an hour by air from Bangkok, or an overnight train.
When to go
The Andaman coast is at its best from December to March, with calm, clear water around Krabi, Phuket and Koh Lanta. The Gulf islands, with Koh Samui, are driest from February to August. Chiang Mai and the north are best from November to January. Our Thailand travel guide covers the regions in more detail.
Plan the rest of your Thailand honeymoon
Choose the month: see honeymoon destinations in December, January, February and March.
Compare with the neighbours: our Bali honeymoon and Sri Lanka honeymoon guides cover two other great choices in Asia.
Check the budget: how much a honeymoon costs shows real hotel prices for 2027.
Plan the trip: plan your honeymoon covers budget, length and booking step by step.
Our pick for a Thailand honeymoon
Rayavadee: cliffs, caves and three beaches on Railay
Rayavadee lies on the Railay peninsula in Krabi, between Phra Nang beach and the limestone cliffs, and you arrive by boat. Once the day visitors leave, the beaches are quiet, and dinner is served in a cave by the sea. Guests give it 9.6 out of 10, and it is the most dramatic setting for a honeymoon in Thailand.
Our verdict
What Picolo chooses: Rayavadee for the cliffs and quiet evenings on Railay, Four Seasons Koh Samui for a summer honeymoon on the Gulf, and Mandarin Oriental for the nights in Bangkok.
Why: Thailand gives you city, culture and beach in one trip, with direct flights from London and Oslo, and prices well below the islands of the Indian Ocean.
The trade-off: the popular beaches are crowded in the middle of the day. Choose hotels where the beach is quiet in the evening, and avoid the Andaman coast in the rainy months.
Frequently asked questions
Is Thailand good for a honeymoon?
Yes, Thailand is one of the best honeymoon destinations in Asia. In two weeks you can combine temples and food in Bangkok, the hills around Chiang Mai and a long stay on the beach. The hotels are excellent for the price, and direct flights from London and Oslo make the journey easier than to most of Asia.
Where should we stay in Thailand on honeymoon?
Stay in Railay or on Koh Lanta for the Andaman coast from December to March, and on Koh Samui from February to August. Rayavadee, Layana and Four Seasons Koh Samui are our picks for couples. Spend two nights in Bangkok at the start or end, and add Chiang Mai if you want culture and cooler air.
What is the best month for a Thailand honeymoon?
January and February are the best months for most routes, with dry weather in Bangkok, the north and on the Andaman coast. For a summer honeymoon, choose Koh Samui and the Gulf islands, which are driest from February to August. Avoid the Andaman coast from May to October, when the sea is rough.
How long should a Thailand honeymoon be?
Two weeks is a good length for a Thailand honeymoon. That gives you two nights in Bangkok, three in Chiang Mai and a week or more on the beach. With ten nights, skip the north and split the time between Bangkok and one or two islands, so you spend more time on the sand than in transit.
Sources
This guide builds on Picolo's Thailand guides, our hotel guides for Krabi, Phuket and Koh Samui, and the hotels' own information. Guest scores were checked on Hotels.com. The flying times are Picolo's estimates based on distance and the direct routes from London and Oslo. Check the times with the airlines before you book. Last checked: 4 November 2026.
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Picolo Editorial