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Bangkok, Thailand
POCKET 1 — Day 1–2 (19–20 Sep). Arrive Bangkok, check into a clean mid-range hotel in the Sukhumvit or Silom area (budget ₹2,000–₹2,500/night per person sharing). Day 1: Airport transfer via Airport Rail Link (₹200) + Grab to hotel. Evening: Khao San Road walk, street food dinner (Pad Thai, Som Tum, mango sticky rice — ₹400–₹600/meal). Day 2 full day: Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaew (entry ~₹900), Wat Arun (entry ~₹150), Chao Phraya river ferry hop (₹100). Afternoon: MBK or Chatuchak Weekend Market for shopping (budget ₹2,000–₹4,000). Evening: Asiatique The Riverfront (free entry, optional dinner ₹600). Suggested hotel: ibis Bangkok Sukhumvit 4 or similar (~₹2,200/person/night sharing twin/triple). Travel to Pattaya on Day 3 morning by shared minivan from Ekkamai Bus Terminal (~2.5 hrs, ₹400–₹500 per person).
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Pattaya, Thailand
POCKET 1 — Day 3–4 (21–22 Sep). Check into a mid-range hotel near Jomtien Beach or Central Pattaya (₹1,800–₹2,200/person/night sharing). Day 3: Coral Island (Koh Larn) day trip by speedboat — snorkelling, beach, banana boat optional (tour package ₹1,500–₹2,000 per person). Lunch on island (₹400–₹600). Evening: Walking Street exploration (free), street food dinner. Day 4: Nong Nooch Tropical Garden (entry + show ~₹1,200), Pattaya Viewpoint (free), Big C or Tesco Lotus for snacks and shopping. Evening: fly from U-Tapao Airport (UTP) to Krabi (KBV) — approx ₹3,500–₹5,500 per person one-way (book in advance on AirAsia/Thai Lion Air). Alternatively take a flight from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi; budget ₹4,000–₹6,000. Transfer time Bangkok to Krabi ~1.5 hrs flight. Suggested hotel: Pattaya Loft Hotel or Rabbit Resort Jomtien (~₹2,000/person/night).
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Krabi, Thailand
POCKET 2 — Day 5–6 (23–24 Sep). Arrive Krabi evening of Day 4 or morning of Day 5. Check into a guesthouse or mid-range hotel in Ao Nang or Krabi Town (₹1,600–₹2,000/person/night sharing). Day 5: 4-Island Tour by longtail boat — Koh Poda, Chicken Island, Tup Island, Phra Nang Cave Beach (tour ~₹1,800–₹2,200 per person including lunch). Snorkelling gear included. Evening: Ao Nang Beach walk, seafood dinner at local restaurants (₹600–₹800). Day 6: Tiger Cave Temple hike — 1,237 steps, panoramic view (free entry). Kayaking through mangroves optional (₹800–₹1,200). Afternoon: transfer to Phuket by shared minivan + ferry combo (~3–3.5 hrs, ₹600–₹800 per person). Suggested hotel: The Elements Krabi or Pak-Up Hostel private rooms (~₹1,800/person/night).
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Phuket, Thailand
POCKET 2 — Day 7–8 (25–26 Sep). Arrive Phuket afternoon of Day 6. Check into a mid-range hotel near Patong or Kata Beach (₹2,000–₹2,500/person/night sharing). Day 7: Phi Phi Islands full-day speedboat tour — Maya Bay, Viking Cave, snorkelling (₹2,500–₹3,000 per person). Lunch on board or at Phi Phi island (₹400–₹600). Evening: Bangla Road Phuket stroll (free), street food dinner (₹500–₹700). Day 8: Old Phuket Town sightseeing — Sino-Portuguese architecture, local cafes (free). Big Buddha (free entry, taxi ₹400 round trip). Afternoon: Jungceylon Mall or Patong Beach shopping (budget ₹2,000–₹5,000). Evening: transfer to Phuket International Airport (HKT) for direct flight to Delhi IGI — typically IndiGo/AirAsia/Thai Airways (~₹12,000–₹18,000 per person, book early for best rates). Fly overnight or early morning Day 9 and arrive Delhi on 27 Sep. Suggested hotel: ibis Phuket Patong or Kata Palm Resort (~₹2,200/person/night). NOTE — Koh Samui has been excluded from the itinerary as adding it between Krabi and Phuket would require an extra ferry + island transfer (4–5 hrs) which is not feasible within this 9-day window without cutting sightseeing elsewhere. The current Pocket 2 route (Krabi → Phuket) is the most geographically efficient option. BUDGET BREAKDOWN PER PERSON (estimated averages — actual prices may vary): Delhi–Bangkok return airfare ₹18,000–₹22,000 (book early on IndiGo/Air India/Thai Airways). Phuket–Delhi direct flight already included in return fare if booked as open-jaw ticket; if booked separately add ₹8,000–₹12,000. Internal flight Pattaya/Bangkok to Krabi ₹4,000–₹6,000. Hotels total 7 nights (Bangkok 2 + Pattaya 2 + Krabi 2 + Phuket 1) ₹12,000–₹16,000. Food 9 days at ₹700–₹1,000/day = ₹6,300–₹9,000. Activities and tours (Grand Palace, Coral Island, 4-Island Krabi, Phi Phi Islands) ₹8,000–₹10,000. Local transport (Grab, tuk-tuk, ferry, minivan, rail link) ₹3,000–₹4,000. Shopping allowance ₹5,000–₹8,000. Miscellaneous and buffer ₹2,000–₹3,000. ESTIMATED TOTAL PER PERSON ₹78,000–₹90,000. For group of 5: ₹3,90,000–₹4,50,000. For group of 6: ₹4,68,000–₹5,40,000. Tips to stay within budget: Book flights 6–8 weeks in advance. Travel in groups of 3 sharing a triple room to reduce hotel cost. Eat at local Thai restaurants and street stalls. Use Grab instead of metered taxis. Book island tours through local guesthouses rather than travel agencies.