Thailand is one of the world's most diverse fishing destinations, and no trip proves it better than a properly structured two-week grand tour. In fourteen days you will cast surface lures at arapaima in Bangkok, sit out a Gillham's bite so strong you barely need to change rigs, and feel an Andaman GT rip 80 metres of braid off a reel before you have time to think. This itinerary does all of it without the pace becoming punishing.
Book Gillham's and the liveaboard at least three months in advance. Both frequently sell out during peak season (December–March), and last-minute availability is rare for the better operators.
Why This Route Works
The logic is simple: start gentle, build toward the main events, finish at altitude. Bangkok's pay-lakes give you a calibration session — you dial in your rigs, relearn the feel of Thai fish, and shake off travel fatigue without any pressure. Gillham's Fishing Resort in Krabi is the centrepiece, a world-class freshwater facility that holds a staggering collection of exotic species. The Andaman liveaboard closes the trip in style, delivering saltwater fishing that rivals anything in the Indo-Pacific.
The southern-only routing (Bangkok → Krabi → Khao Lak → Phuket) keeps logistics manageable. You move progressively north along the peninsula's west coast, finishing at an international airport for easy departure.
Days 1–3: Bangkok Pay-Lake Circuit
Bangkok's pay-lake scene is unlike anything in the Western angling world. These are purpose-built fishing lakes stocked with trophy fish and managed to a high standard, positioned around the city's eastern and southern suburbs. They are not wild fishing — and they make no claim to be. What they offer is guaranteed encounters with species that would take years of effort to find in their native range.
Bungsamran is the name every angler hears first. It deserves the reputation.
Day 1 eases you in with an afternoon session at a Bang Na lake — manageable fish, straightforward rigs, friendly guides who are accustomed to international visitors. Day 2 is the main event at Bungsamran Lake, arguably Southeast Asia's most famous pay-lake. The arapaima here are genuine giants; 80 kg fish are routine and anything above 120 kg is possible on a good morning. The Mekong giant catfish population is similarly impressive — bottom-rig anglers regularly encounter fish in the 50–100 kg range on the afternoon session.
Day 3 targets specialist exotics — alligator gar, red-tail catfish, and giant snakehead — at one of Bangkok's smaller themed lakes. Giant snakehead on surface lures is one of freshwater fishing's great visual experiences: the strike is explosive, the fight stubborn, and the fish itself looks like something designed by a film studio.
For a deeper dive into Bangkok's pay-lake options, see our Bangkok Pay-Lakes vs Wild Fishing comparison and the full 5-Day Bangkok Pay-Lake Circuit itinerary.
Day 4: The Southern Transit
The Krabi flight takes 80 minutes and removes you from the city entirely. Book the earliest available departure — you want the afternoon at leisure in Ao Nang rather than arriving in the dark. Krabi Town has a good night market worth visiting, and the limestone towers visible from the main road give you the first visual hint of what the Andaman side of Thailand looks like.
Use the evening to confirm tomorrow's Gillham's schedule. If you booked directly with the resort, they offer a shuttle from Krabi Town.
Days 5–7: Gillham's Fishing Resort
Three full days at Gillham's is the right amount of time to work through the species list without rushing. The resort holds over 50 species including arapaima, giant freshwater stingray, Siamese giant carp, Mekong giant catfish, tambaqu, alligator gar, pacu, Julian's golden carp, and more. Each species requires a different approach, and guides cycle you through presentations based on what is feeding.
Day 5 is an orientation day. You learn the lake's layout, the guides' preferred methods, and the rhythm of the sessions. Arapaima on surface lures are the morning priority — these ancient fish are most active in the cooler hours, and the explosion when one takes a floating popper is a spectacle you will not forget.
Giant freshwater stingrays at Gillham's are handled by specialist guides. Do not attempt to unhook one yourself — the barb is a serious medical hazard. Always wait for guide assistance.
Day 6 concentrates on giant freshwater stingray on heavy bottom rigs. These fish are one of Thailand's most underrated targets — they fight completely differently from anything else in the lake, using their disc-shaped body as a parachute against the current. A 100 kg stingray on 50 lb braid is a 45-minute fight minimum. Day 6 afternoon pivots to light-tackle fishing on tambaqu and golden carp for a change of pace.
Day 7's morning session is guide's choice based on conditions — trust the recommendation. Gillham's guides have watched these fish for years and know when the big arapaima are active versus when to target carp. By the third morning your technique will have improved noticeably.
For comparisons with other premium freshwater venues, see Gillham's vs Jurassic Mountain and Bungsamran vs Gillham's.
Day 8: The Drive North
The van transfer from Krabi to Khao Lak takes roughly two and a half hours on Route 4. The road runs through rubber plantation country and skirts the edge of the hills before dropping to the coast near Phang Nga town. It is a pleasant drive, not a difficult one.
Tap Lamu is Thailand's main liveaboard departure point and sits about 30 minutes south of central Khao Lak. Most operators prefer an evening departure to maximise fishing time — you steam overnight toward the Similans and arrive at dawn when fish are active. If your vessel departs in the morning, an overnight in Khao Lak is simple to arrange.
Days 9–12: Andaman Liveaboard
Four nights on the Andaman gives you access to fishing that is impossible from shore or day charter. The Similan Islands are a national marine park whose underwater topography — seamounts, pinnacles, and canyon systems — concentrates pelagic fish in numbers that surprise even experienced offshore anglers.
Day 9 opens on the Similan reefs. GT popping at first light from the bow of a live-aboard is one of Thailand's most dramatic fishing experiences. The fish are aggressive, the takes are violent, and the limestone backdrop makes every photograph look like a magazine cover. Shallow reef jigging fills the afternoon.
The Andaman's dogtooth tuna are a different class of fish. They live in the deep canyons and they fight without negotiation.
Day 10 targets the Andaman Deep Canyon systems for dogtooth tuna and wahoo on vertical jigs. This is demanding fishing — heavy metal jigs, fast retrieve, and fish that strip 100 metres of line on a single run. It is also the most thrilling jigging available in Thai waters.
Day 11 moves to the Surin Archipelago, 60 km north of the Similans. Surin's water is even clearer, the coral is healthier, and the GT populations are substantial. Surface popping on the outer bommies produces multiple hook-ups on most mornings between November and April.
Day 12 transitions inshore to Phang Nga Bay's limestone walls — a completely different aesthetic. Giant snakehead lurk in the mangrove edges; GT cruise the vertical rock faces. This is where the freshwater and saltwater worlds overlap, and it is one of Thailand's most unique angling environments.
See our full Liveaboard vs Day Charter Thailand comparison if you are weighing up the options, and the GT Popping Andaman guide for tackle specifics.
Day 13: Phuket Day Charter
After four nights on a liveaboard, a day charter from Chalong feels leisurely by comparison. Phuket's charter operators run half-day and full-day trips targeting sailfish, wahoo, and various bottom species on the reef systems west and south of the island.
Sailfish are the headline act. During peak season (November–April) it is possible to raise double figures in a morning on trolled rigged baits and skirted lures. The fish run large — 40–70 kg is typical — and even experienced anglers find the first sailfish bill-wrap on a lure a startling sight.
The second half of a full-day charter gives you time on bottom structure for grouper and snapper, or light jigging for amberjack on the way home. By the time you tie up at Chalong Pier, two weeks of fishing are in the log. A celebration dinner is not optional.
For operator recommendations, see our Phuket Charter Operators Overview.
Day 14: Departure
Phuket International has good connections to Bangkok for onward international flights, plus direct routes to several European, Middle Eastern, and Asian hubs. Allow three hours at the airport — it can be busy during peak season.
Pack your reels and rods in hard cases or PVC rod tubes. Checked luggage rod tubes up to 150 cm clear most airline systems without oversized fees; anything longer requires advance airline approval.
Practical Notes
Tackle: Gillham's provides house rods rated for all species. The liveaboard operator supplies GT popping outfits and jigging rods. Bringing your own surface lure rod for the arapaima work at the pay-lakes is worthwhile if you have the luggage space. See our Arapaima Tackle Guide and GT Popping Tackle Guide for specifics.
Budget: Full-trip costs start around USD $4,500 per person excluding international flights, assuming mid-range accommodation in Bangkok and Krabi, pay-lake day fees averaging $200/day, Gillham's at approximately $250/day all-in, and a four-day liveaboard from $1,400 per person. See our How Much Does Fishing in Thailand Cost guide for a full breakdown.
Best time: November through April. The Andaman liveaboard is the most time-sensitive element — do not attempt this trip during the May–October monsoon season.
Guides: Every venue on this tour provides guides as standard. You do not need to source your own for any segment of this itinerary.
This is Thailand fishing at its most comprehensive. Two weeks, two coasts, a dozen species, and the kind of memories that make you rebook before you have even landed home.
