Adventure & Relaxation in Thailand - 13 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Bangkok, Explore

Day 2: Guided Tour of Bangkok

Today, take a guided tour of Bangkok's many famous sites. Start at Pak Klong Talad, a 24-hour flower market. Then, see Wat Traimit's Golden Buddha statue and the 150-foot-long (46 m) Reclining Buddha in Wat Pho. The tour continues with the Emerald Buddha in the Grand Palace and a visit to the Royal Coronation Hall and Royal Funeral Home. After lunch, hop on a long-tail boat for a ride to Wat Arun, a Buddhist temple named after the Hindu god Aruna, personified as the glow of the sun at dawn.

Day 3: Tuk-Tuk Tour of Ayutthaya

This morning, visit the Bang Pa-In Royal Palace, the former royal summer palace, before taking a long-tail boat to the old capital of the Siam Kingdom, Ayutthaya. After lunch, a tuk-tuk driver will take you across Ayutthaya Historical Park. You'll visit temples like Wat Phanan Choeng and its 57-foot (17 m) tall seated Buddha statue, Wat Lokaya Sutha, home of a giant reclining Buddha, and Wat Chaiwatthanaram, which once served as a royal temple. Stop at the Elephant Camp before returning to Bangkok.

Day 4: Meet & Feed Elephants at ElephantsWorld

Spend the day with Thailand's national animal, the Asian elephant, at ElephantsWorld, an elephant sanctuary near Kanchanaburi, a town northwest of Bangkok. Meet the elephants and mahouts (elephant handlers), and spend time feeding them fruit, vegetables, and sticky rice balls you can make for them. After a break for a buffet lunch, watch the elephants take a mud bath and later bring them to the river to wash them off. At the end of the day, you'll return to Bangkok.

Day 5: Fly to Phuket & Explore, Optional Activities

After one last morning in Bangkok, a private driver will take you to the airport for your flight to Phuket, Thailand's largest island. A private transfer will bring you to your new accommodations, and you'll have the rest of the day to explore at your leisure.

Set on the Andaman Coast, Phuket is known for its powdery beaches, neon nightlife, and luxury resorts. Hit the beach to sunbathe, sit back with a cold drink, and then wade into the warm water for a swim or some snorkeling. Off the beach, visit the aquarium in Cape Panwa, or, if you're feeling adventurous, visit Hanuman World Phuket to soar through the jungle on a series of adrenaline-pumping ziplines. In the evening, feast on seafood, browse the night market and have a drink on lively Bangla Road.

Day 6: Half-Day Tour of Phuket, Free Afternoon

Go beyond the beaches of Phuket on a guided half-day tour today. To begin, take a scenic drive along the coast and stop at Promthep Cape, famous for its sunsets. Next, visit Wat Chalong, the largest of Phuket's 29 temples, built in the 19th century to honor two monks for their aid against a Chinese rebellion and for healing the sick with herbal medicine. Lastly, visit the Phuket Cashew Nut Factory, where cashews are processed into delicious snacks, before returning to your hotel for a free afternoon.

Day 7: Day Trip to Phang Nga Bay

This morning, head north on a cruise of Phang Nga Bay. A luxury boat will ferry you past karst islets to two canoe destinations, Panak Island and Hong Island. A local guide will show you hidden caves and lagoons among the mangroves. After a buffet lunch on the boat, visit Khao Phing Kan, an island known for Ko Ta Pu, a limestone islet better known as "James Bond Island" since it was featured in "The Man with the Golden Gun." Spend time on the beach before returning to the boat for the ride back to Phuket.

Day 8: Transfer to Railay, Explore

Today, a private transfer brings you to your next destination, Railay, a peninsula in Krabi Province, famous among rock climbers for its towering limestone faces. Once you arrive, check into your hotel, catch some rest, and spend the rest of the day exploring on your own.

There's plenty to do on Railay Beach. Consider a refreshing swim, or walk along the shore, camera in hand, for some amazing photo ops. For more action, rent a kayak and explore the karst formations from the sea, or hike to the top of one of the cliffs for spectacular views. After dark, revisit the beach to catch the glowing display of bioluminescent plankton in the water.

Day 9: Island-Hopping Tour in the Krabi District

Get familiar with a few of the Krabi District's gorgeous islands on an island-hopping tour. A boat will first take you to Tup Island at low tide, so you can walk across its sandbar. Continue to adjacent Ko Kai ("Chicken Island"), a rocky isle shaped like a chicken head, before enjoying a picnic lunch on Poda Island, another star islet with turquoise waters, white sands, and towering limestone rock formations. The tour wraps up in the early afternoon with a stop at Phranang Beach, famous for its sea caves.

Day 10: Railay Beach Day

Day 11: Ferry to the Phi Phi Islands & Relax on the Beach

Today, catch a ferry to the Phi Phi Islands, an archipelago south of Railay. Your destination today is Ko Phi Phi Don, the largest island in the group. Check into your hotel and head to the beach!

Consider heading over to Loh Dalum Beach, a 0.6-mile (1 km) stretch of sandy beach nestled in a protected bay on the island's west coast. With its warm, shallow water, powdery white sand, and ample water activities, this beach is a hit with tourists. Wear water shoes if you plan to go in the water since coral piles up on the sea floor. The rocky cliffs on either side of the beach offer stunning views and protection from the sun, making it a perfect spot to spend the day!

Day 12: Tour the Phi Phi Islands via Long-Tail Boat

Today, tour some of the other islands that make up the Ko Phi Phi archipelago via long-tail boat. Start at beautiful Ko Mai Phi ("Bamboo Island"), and then visit the Viking Cave on Ko Phi Phi Lee, a fascinating spot home to cave paintings and edible bird nests. Circle the island to visit Loh Samah Bay and Pi Leh Bay for swimming and snorkeling. Next up is Monkey Beach on Ko Phi Phi Don, which, naturally, is popular with monkeys. Have lunch at a beachside restaurant before closing the tour.

Day 13: Transfer to Phuket, Depart

Enjoy one last breakfast on the bittersweet final day of your Thailand adventure. Once you've checked out of your hotel, take the ferry back to Phuket for a private transfer to the airport. Safe travels!

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