Published 8 Oct 2026 · Updated 9 Oct 2026
Thailand is most Indians’ first trip abroad for good reason: it’s a four-hour flight, the food is easy to love, and you can be on a white-sand beach under a limestone cliff by day three. This plan splits a short week between Bangkok (temples, markets, the river) and the Krabi coast (Railay’s cliffs and a day on the Phi Phi Islands), with one domestic flight between them.
Visa and entry rules for Indians
You don’t need a visa for a holiday of up to 30 days. Thailand cut visa-free stays for Indian passports from 60 to 30 days for arrivals on or after 15 September 2026. For a 6-day trip, nothing changes in practice. Here’s what you do need:
- A passport valid for at least six months from the day you land, with a blank page.
- A Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) for every traveller. It is free, filed online at tdac.immigration.go.th, and opens three days before you arrive. You’ll give your flight, where you’re staying, and your trip details; save the confirmation it emails you.
- Proof that you’ll leave and can pay your way. Officers can ask for your return ticket, hotel bookings and funds. Keep them on your phone, plus a printout of the return ticket.
The rules changed several times in 2026. Check the Royal Thai Embassy, New Delhi before you book, and again a week before you fly.
Watch out for look-alike “TDAC” sites that charge a fee: the official form is free and ends in .go.th.
What it costs in rupees
Per person, sharing a twin room, mid-range, in the dry season:
| Item | Approx. cost |
|---|---|
| Return flight, Delhi or Mumbai to Bangkok | ₹18,000 – ₹28,000 |
| Bangkok to Krabi flight (one way) | ₹3,500 – ₹6,500 |
| Hotels, 5 nights (half a twin room) | ₹10,000 – ₹20,000 |
| Phi Phi & Maya Bay boat tour | ₹2,500 – ₹4,500 |
| Food, about ₹1,500 – ₹2,500 a day | ₹9,000 – ₹15,000 |
| Local transport, temples, park fees | ₹4,000 – ₹6,000 |
| Travel insurance and a local SIM | ₹1,500 – ₹2,500 |
| Total | ₹55,000 – ₹85,000 |
Change rupees to baht in India before you go or use a forex card; airport exchange counters in Bangkok give the worst rate in the city.
Day-by-day itinerary
Days 1–2: Bangkok
Land at Suvarnabhumi in the morning (most overnight flights from India arrive around 6 am), drop your bags and take the Airport Rail Link into town. Spend the afternoon at the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, then cross the river by the 5-baht ferry to Wat Arun for sunset.
Day 2 is for markets and food. Do Chatuchak if it’s a weekend, take a long-tail boat through the Thonburi canals, and finish in Yaowarat (Chinatown) for street food. Vegetarians: ask for jay food (look for yellow flags) and say mai sai nam pla (no fish sauce).
Days 3–4: Krabi and Railay
Take an early flight to Krabi (1 h 20 m), then a taxi to Ao Nang and a long-tail boat to Railay. Railay has no roads, only cliffs, beaches and rock climbers. Walk to Phra Nang beach for the famous cave and karsts, and climb the short, muddy trail to the viewpoint if you have proper shoes.
On day 4, kayak the mangroves at Ao Thalane or take the four-islands tour (Poda, Chicken Island, Tup and Phra Nang) by long-tail boat.
Day 5: Phi Phi Islands
A full-day speedboat tour from Ao Nang covers Phi Phi Don, Maya Bay (no swimming; the bay is protected and you view it from a boardwalk), Pileh Lagoon and a snorkelling stop. Book a tour that leaves before 8 am to beat the crowds.
Tip: carry a dry bag and reef-safe sunscreen. The marine-park entry fee is often collected in cash on the boat.
Day 6: back to Bangkok and home
Fly Krabi to Bangkok, then on to India the same evening. If your flight home is late, spend the gap at Iconsiam on the river or get a Thai massage near the airport.
Best time to visit
November to March is the sweet spot: dry, about 30 °C, and calm on the Andaman Sea. April is very hot. May to October is monsoon on the Krabi coast. Hotels are cheaper, but rough seas cancel island tours, so swap Krabi for the Gulf side (Koh Samui) if you must go then.
Getting there from India
Direct flights to Bangkok leave from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and more, run by IndiGo, Air India, Thai Airways and Thai AirAsia. Several metros also have direct flights to Phuket, about three hours by road from Krabi. Flying into Phuket and out of Bangkok saves you a domestic flight.
Travelling with children? Our Singapore with kids guide is a compact five-day alternative. Prefer rice terraces to limestone islands? Try our Bali first-timer plan.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Thailand?
Not for a holiday of up to 30 days. Indian passport holders entering on or after 15 September 2026 get 30 days visa-free (it was 60 days before that). You still need a passport valid for six months and a Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC).
What is the TDAC and when do I fill it?
The Thailand Digital Arrival Card replaced the paper arrival form. It is free, filed online at tdac.immigration.go.th, and opens three days before you land. Each traveller needs their own card, including children.
How much does a 6-day Thailand trip cost from India?
About ₹55,000 to ₹85,000 per person for a mid-range trip, including return flights from Delhi or Mumbai, a domestic flight to Krabi, twin-share hotels, a Phi Phi boat tour and food. Shoulder-season flights booked six weeks ahead keep you near the lower end.
Can I extend the 30-day visa-free stay?
Usually once, by up to 30 days, at a Thai immigration office, for a fee. Approval is at the officer's discretion, so don't plan a trip that depends on it.
What is the best time to visit Krabi and Phi Phi?
November to March: dry, calm seas and the best visibility for snorkelling. From May to October the Andaman coast gets the south-west monsoon and some boat trips are cancelled.
