Luxury Bangkok City Break - 7 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Bangkok, Luxury Chao Phraya Dinner Cruise

Welcome to Thailand! Touch down in the buzzing capital Bangkok, which is beloved for its chaotic energy, tasty street food, nightlife, and Buddhist sights. Your driver will take you to the 5-star Siam Kempinski Hotel in the city's heart, connected by a walkway to the high-end Siam Paragon Mall. Settle into your chic room, which blends traditional Thai design with modern flare, including a balcony overlooking lush gardens and a free-form pool.

The rest of the day is yours to discover Bangkok's charms independently. Wander frenetic Chinatown, tour sparkling temples, or trawl market stalls on Khao San Road. You'll end the day with a dinner cruise along the Chao Phraya River. Board the luxurious Manohra, an antique wooden rice barge, to sail along the water, admiring Bangkok's twinkling night skyline while you enjoy fine Thai dining. Pass illuminated landmarks, from the Grand Palace to Beaux Arts-style mansions.

Day 2: Private Tour of Bangkok's Temples & Canals 

Explore Bangkok's treasures today on a private guided tour. Begin by boarding a long-tail boat for a scenic cruise down the Chao Phraya River, soaking up views of Bangkok's iconic skyline. Turn off into a maze of peaceful klongs, narrow canals that run through residential neighborhoods, where you'll get a glimpse of authentic city life. Drift past wooden stilt houses where locals relax on their porches and spot herons, pelicans, and egrets.

Sail on to the waterfront temple of Wat Khun Chan, where you'll disembark to admire the giant Buddha, deity, and animal statues. Next, visit Wat Paknam, a 17th-century royal temple with a museum displaying artifacts from throughout Thailand's history. Wat Paknam is also famed for its 226-foot (69 m) statue of a seated golden Buddha—the largest of its kind in the city. Sail back to the pier for lunch at a nearby restaurant.

In the afternoon, you'll visit Bangkok's most famous landmark: the Grand Palace. This complex of intricate temples and palaces was built in 1782 and served as the royal family's home for 150 years. Today, the palace is used for royal ceremonies such as weddings, funerals, and state banquets. Highlights include the Reception Hall, Coronation Hall, and Wat Phra Kaew, which houses the sacred Emerald Buddha, a 26-inch (66 cm) jade statue of a meditating Buddha.

Day 3: Private Cooking Class at Blue Elephant Cooking School

Get a taste of Thailand this morning with a private cooking lesson at Blue Elephant Cooking School. Meet the expert chefs who'll teach you to create up to five signature Thai dishes. Start with a trip to the local market, where you'll shop for ingredients, from colorful produce to fragrant herbs and spices.

Return to the school afterward to cook up dishes such as tom yum koong (hot and sour prawn soup), som tum (papaya salad), and paneang kai (red curry with chicken). Afterward, you'll receive a culinary certificate and feast on your creations in the Blue Elephant Restaurant before heading back to your hotel.

Spend the rest of the afternoon as you please. Relax by the hotel pool with a cocktail, or head to the opulent on-site spa to indulge in various decadent treatments. Choose from a menu of massages themed around the European seasons, or try the couple's Royal Siam Signature Experience, which includes a body scrub, Thai herbal bath, massage, facial, and soothing hot oil scalp massage.

Day 4: Professional Muay Thai Lesson & Michelin-Starred Dining

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and tranquil morning at the hotel, or savor some retail therapy at the luxury Siam Paragon Mall. For lunch, sample one of your hotel's three renowned restaurants, which include Korean cuisine at Edward Kwon, Mediterranean food at ALATi, and Thai-inspired fine dining at Michelin-starred Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin.

In the afternoon, you'll take a private transfer to the Thai Boxing School for a professional Muay Thai (Thai boxing) session. This traditional form of martial arts evolved centuries ago in Thailand, and many of its techniques are today used in kickboxing and MMA. Learn from a Muay Thai expert in this exclusive one-on-one training class.

After a well-earned rest at your hotel, head out this evening for a fine dining experience at Nahm. This Michelin-starred eatery has been listed as one of the top 10 restaurants in Asia in the annual San Pellegrino and Acqua Panna lists and is known for its diverse menu of regional Thai dishes. Try favorites such as gang chak som (orange smoked kingfish curry) and tom yum gung (river prawn and mushroom soup).

Day 5: Jim Thompson House & Suan Pakkad Palace Museum

Delve into the history of Bangkok today with a private tour of the city's top museums. Start at the Jim Thompson House, a complex of six teak buildings that showcase Thai architecture, set among tropical gardens. Explore this historic property, once home to American Jim Thompson, who was credited with revitalizing the Thai silk industry. Browse the museum's collection of Southeast Asian art and artifacts from the silk industry.

Continue to the Suan Pakkad Palace, which belongs to the Prince and Princess Chumbhot. Tour eight teak Thai houses filled with fine art and antiques belonging to the royal couple. Highlights include musical instruments and Ban Chiang pottery that dates back over 4,000 years. After your visit, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy Bangkok at your own speed. 

Day 6: Free Day in Bangkok

Spend a final free day in Bangkok. If you're visiting over the weekend, don't miss Chatuchak Market—with more than 15,000 stalls, it's one of the world's largest outdoor markets and sells everything from clothes and flowers to food and antiques. Alternatively, see a puppet show for some ancient culture or visit Warehouse 30 for modern art exhibitions.

For more shopping, travel to the outskirts of the city to Amphawa Floating Market, where vendors trade from hundreds of wooden row boats, selling Thai snacks and souvenirs. The Mae Klong Railway Market is another favorite, located along the tracks; when a train pulls in or out of the station, the vendors quickly clear their stalls, only to set them up again moments later when the train has passed.

Head to vibrant Chinatown in the evening to sample the area's street food. Here, you can gorge on local classics like kai satay (barbecue chicken with sweet and sour peanut sauce), pad thai (stir-fried rice noodles), and ba mee mhoo daeng (crispy noodles with pork). Finish off your feast with some Thai desserts and Chinese herbal drinks.

Day 7: Depart Bangkok

Today your Thailand adventure comes to an end. Say farewell to the Land of Smiles and take a private transfer to the airport in time for your homebound flight. Safe travels!