Day 1
Bangkok
Welcome to Thailand! Settle into a Bangkok hotel and get to know your tour group at the welcome dinner.
Dinner included.
Day 2
Bangkok
Spend the morning relaxing before the long-tail boat trip. Discover Bangkok’s network of khlongs, canals, stopping at an artist village where you will meet a traditional Thai water puppet maker and watch a fascinating Thai puppet show. The boat trip continues on the Chao Phraya River, which is lined with some of the city’s most spectacular buildings, including the Grand Palace.
Visit the Temple of the Dawn, Wat Arun, which has spires stretching 70 metres into the sky, covered in sparkling glass and porcelain. You can climb the towers for aerial views of the city. For dinner, take a street food tour by tuk tuk to sample some authentic Thai dishes and end the day by visiting Wat Arun, which will be beautifully illuminated after dark.
Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 3
Bangkok- Nong Khao– Kanchanaburi
Head out of the city to the beautiful Thai countryside, stopping at Nong Khao Village. Explore the area by bicycle or truck, taking in views of the lush rice paddies and mountainous landscape. Eat a traditional lunch with a Thai farming family and learn about their lives. Relax at the hotel this afternoon before a delicious Thai dinner.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 4
Kanchanaburi – River Kwai
Today you’ll get to know the riverside town Kanchanaburi, which is most famous for its WWII history and Bridge over the River Kwai. During the war, 240,000 Asian labourers and allied prisoners died constructing a railway line stretching from Thailand to Burma, which is now referred to as the Death Railway.
Learn about this tragic history at the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre and pay your respects at the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. You’ll also have a chance to visit the Bridge on the River Kwai. This afternoon, there will be plenty of time to reflect on the day’s activities before dinner.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 5
Kanchanaburi – Uthai Thani
Drive to neighbouring Uthai Thani province, stopping to see the enormous dragon shaped City Pillar Shrine of Suphan Buri. Enjoy a stop at the Sam Chuk Old Market, an authentic 100 year old market site that is lined with traditional wooden shops selling herbal medicines, local sweet and old fashioned coffee. Take to the water on a scenic dinner cruise along the Sakae Krang River which tasting some delicious Thai cuisine.
Breakfast and dinner included.
Day 6
Uthai Thani – Sukhothai – Tak
Visit Sukhothai National Park, one of Thailand’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Tour the ruins of this crumbling site, which was the capital of the Sukhothai Kingdom in the 13th and 14th centuries. Discover the ancient temple ruins topped with conical spires, the park has an ethereal charm that must be experienced to be believed. After lunch, we’ll continue on to Tak province in the north, where you’ll watch the sun set over the river whilst tucking into a meal prepared by a local family.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 7
Tak – Mae Sot – Wat Phra That Doi Din Kiu - Tak
Today you’ll explore Mae Sot, a district that sits right on the border with Myanmar, where you’ll wander markets and visit rustic temples. After lunch, climb the 400 steps of Wat Phra That Doi Din Kiu, a hillside temple set in the forest. From the top, take in sweeping views stretching into the jungles of Myanmar and the surrounding jungle. This evening dine together at a family run hotel deep in the tropical countryside.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 8
Tak – Doi Inthanon
Discover one of Thailand’s most popular national parks, Doi Inthanon, which lies in Chiang Mai province. During the drive, we’ll stop at rural isolated villages that have barely changed for decades. Doi Inthanon boasts the country’s highest mountain, which peaks at 2,565 metres, as well as waterfalls, hiking trails, stupas and rare wildlife.
Breakfast and lunch included.
Day 9
Doi - Inthanon to Rural Chiang Mai
This morning you’ll travel to the top of Dio Inthanon, which is the highest mountain in Thailand. Take in the magnificent panoramic views of the valleys below, take a closer look at the twin pagodas of Phra Mahathat Naphamethanidon and Phra Mahathat Naphapholphumisiri, which were built by the Royal Thai Air Force to commemorate the 60th birthdays of the Thai king and queen. After lunch your next destination is the beautiful Chiang Mai countryside.
Breakfast and lunch included.
Day 10
Rural Chiang Mai
This morning you will head off the beaten track to a traditional Assam tea plantation to discover the secrets behind the tea growing process, learn how to pluck tea leave and enjoy a brew. Next you will travel to another rural gem, a nearby hilltop village to spend some time with the local tribe.
Breakfast and lunch included
Day 11
Rural Chiang Mai
The tour continues to Chiang Mai, which is known as northern Thailand’s cultural hub. The old walled town is surrounded by a moat and dotted with over 300 temples. The main stop of the day is at the gleaming Wat Phra That Dio Suthep, a sacred temple complex that is famous for its golden padoga and the seven-headed serpent statues that line 306 steps. Enjoy lunch and board a mini coach to travel to your hotel. Spend the afternoon at leisure getting to know Chiang Mai, learning the history of the artsy city, which was once the capital of the Lanna Thai kingdom.
Breakfast and lunch included.
Day 12
Chiang Mai – Patara Elephant Farm – Chiang Mai
Get up close to Thailand’s most iconic animal, the Asian elephant, with an ethical half-day trip to the Patara Elephant Farm, a conservation centre dedicated to the breeding and everyday care of these magical endangered species. Here you’ll learn about the elephants and conservation, as well as get to feed, bathe and exercise some of the mothers and babies. Return to Chiang Mai for an afternoon at leisure, followed by a tasty Khantoke dinner to end the day.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Day 13
Chiang Mai – Bangkok
The final morning is yours to spend as you please before flying back to Bangkok, where the tour ends.
Breakfast included.
