Highlights
- Discover Bangkok's temples, palaces, and floating markets on private tours
- Enjoy a traditional Khantoke dinner and cycling tour in ancient Chiang Mai
- Meet elephants at a jungle sanctuary and visit authentic hill tribe villages
- Relax on Khao Lak's white sands and kayak through mangroves
- Island hop around the far-flung Surin Islands by private speedboat
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Bangkok, Explore | Bangkok |
| Day 2 | Bangkok Markets, Temples & Palaces Tour | Bangkok |
| Day 3 | Visit Railway Market & Floating Market | Bangkok |
| Day 4 | Fly to Chiang Mai, Cycling Tour & Traditional Khantoke Dinner | Chiang Mai |
| Day 5 | Golden Triangle Day Trip | Chiang Mai |
| Day 6 | Elephant Jungle Expedition | Chiang Mai |
| Day 7 | Fly to Khao Lak & Relax | Khao Lak |
| Day 8 | Surin Island Private Tour | Khao Lak |
| Day 9 | Mangrove Kayaking Tour | Khao Lak |
| Day 10 | Transfer to Phuket, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Bangkok, Explore
Welcome to Thailand! Touch down in the buzzing capital Bangkok, which is beloved for its chaotic energy, tasty street food, nightlife, and Buddhist sights. A driver will whisk you straight to Lancaster House, a peaceful 5-star sanctuary amid the bustle of city life. Check into your lavish room or suite, with floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing skyline views, a marble bathroom, a plush king-size bed, and a leather sofa.
Spend the afternoon relaxing at your resort or explore Bangkok independently. Soak up some Buddhist culture with a trip to Wat Saket, a hilltop temple that offers supreme sunset city views, or look for huge water monitor lizards at leafy Lumphini Park. Afterward, satisfy your taste buds at the Michelin-starred street food stall, Jay Fai, where you can enjoy their famous crab omelet. End your day in the lively Khao San Road, or head to Chinatown to browse the traditional food stalls and markets.
Day 2: Bangkok Markets, Temples & Palaces Tour
This morning you'll take a tour of Bangkok with a private guide, starting with a trip to Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn, since it's named after the Indian dawn god, Aruna. Then travel by ferry across the Chao Phraya River to Wat Pho, a temple founded during the 16th century that houses a 150-foot-long (46 m) reclining Buddha statue whose feet are inlaid with mother-of-pearl.
Next up is the Grand Palace, a complex of intricate temples and palaces built in 1782, which 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 Emerald Buddha statue.
Finish the day with a tuk-tuk journey to the colossal Chatuchak Market and the nearby flower market, which is Bangkok's largest and open 24 hours a day. You'll continue to Chinatown to sample the area's street food. Take an optional food tour to try 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). Top off your feast with some Thai desserts and Chinese herbal drinks.
Day 3: Visit Railway Market & Floating Market
Today you'll discover some of Bangkok's sprawling markets on an exclusive private tour. Drive through the high-rise urban landscape to Samut Songkharm on the rural outskirts of the capital. Here you'll visit the Mae Klong Railway Market, which sits 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.
Continue to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in Ratchaburi, 62 miles (100 km) southwest of the capital. Paddle through the maze of canals past vendors selling fruit and handicrafts from their boats. Hail down the food vendors for a spot of delicious Thai food and witness traders selling food and handicrafts on their boats. Return to your hotel afterward for a final evening at your luxurious Bangkok hotel.
Day 4: Fly to Chiang Mai, Cycling Tour & Traditional Khantoke Dinner
Say goodbye to Bangkok today and fly north to the sacred city of Chiang Mai. Set in the cooler, mountainous north of Thailand, Chiang Mai was once the capital of the Lanna Kingdom and still retains its moat-encircled Old City. The city is a key cultural hub, home to historical architecture and over 300 temples where orange-robed monks live and worship.
A driver will be waiting to take you to your pool suite or luxe room at the Inside House, which lies in the heart of Chiang Mai. This boutique property is set in a beautiful 1920s Lanna-style building surrounded by exotic gardens and waterfalls. Settle into your stunning accommodation, which features glass-walled pools, outdoor Victorian bathtubs, and local art.
This afternoon, get to know Chiang Mai on a private cycling tour. You'll peddle alongside the tranquil Ping River, stopping to admire the forested brick stupas and mosaicked temples of Wat Ko Klang. Next, cross a bridge onto a small river island, where you'll visit McKean, a former leper colony that's now a rehabilitation center partly funded by royal donations. Other stops on the tour include an organic, locally-run vegetable garden and a collection of archaeological sites and ancient temples.
This evening, enjoy an exclusive Khantoke (northern Thai) dinner. The menu usually consists of gaeng hang lay (pork curry cooked with garlic, sliced ginger, peanuts, and red chili paste), nam prik ong (minced pork cooked with chopped garlic, onion, and red chili paste), cab moo (crispy pork rind), and fresh vegetables with sticky rice. While you dine, you'll be entertained with a Thai dance and music performance.
Day 5: Golden Triangle Day Trip
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Today you'll take a private tour into the Golden Triangle, where the Laos, Myanmar, and Thai borders meet. You'll wind through scenic hills, valleys, and rural villages, stopping for a break at Mae Kachan Hot Springs. Continue to the Wat Rong Khun (White Temple). Built by the prominent Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, the temple is a glittering white and silver mosaicked art structure with murals and surprising sculptures.
Delve into some of northern Thailand's unique hill community culture next with a trip to a Padong Karen Village, an agricultural community where the people make a living growing rice, tea, and tobacco. The Padong people are well known for their jewelry; women wear brass rings around their necks from an early age, which creates an elongated neck.
After a typical northern-Thai lunch, drive on to the famous Golden Triangle. The area was once a hub for opium production until King Rama IX introduced schemes encouraging farmers to grow coffee and tea instead. After lunch, take a boat trip along the Mekong River toward Laos, for which you'll need a passport. Afterward, head back to Chiang Mai for a final evening in the city.
Day 6: Elephant Jungle Expedition
Rise early for today's private elephant jungle expedition, heading an hour out of the city to the Chai Lai Orchid Ecolodge, which lies along the Mae Wang River. The lodge is home to a herd of rescued elephants who live in this protected jungle sanctuary. Your visit helps support the elephants' care and contributes to Daughters Rising, a program that empowers marginalized women.
Meet the elephants and their dedicated carers, helping to feed and prepare medicine for these gentle giants. You'll learn how to communicate with the animals and walk with them through the jungle to bathe and play in the river together. At lunchtime, enjoy a Thai-style picnic by a crashing waterfall followed by a hike through the forest and sun-dappled rice fields, your guide pointing out native plants along the way. End with a refreshing swim in the enchanting waterfall, surrounded by the jungle.
Day 7: Fly to Khao Lak & Relax
Say goodbye to Chiang Mai this morning and fly three hours south to the tropical island of Phuket. Meet your driver for the hourlong drive to stunning Khao Lak, where you'll settle into the 5-star Sarojin. The beach resort offers elegant suites set among 10 acres (4 ha) of lush gardens that lead down to a long stretch of sherbet-white sand lapped by the Andaman Sea. The Edge restaurant offers fine Thai dining with sea views, while Fictus sits beneath a giant fictus tree and serves Mediterranean cuisine.
Take the rest of the day to relax on the sunbaked beach and swim in the azure waters or the resort's aquamarine pool. Later, if you're feeling active, visit the nearby Takua Pa Old Town. This former mining town is filled with Sino-Portuguese architecture and has a main walking street where you can shop and snack on street food. Alternatively, rent a kayak to paddle through the coast's rich mangrove forests.
Day 8: Surin Island Private Tour
Set sail for an island-hopping tour to the far-flung Surin Islands. This archipelago of five granite islets is protected by the Surin Islands Marine National Park, resulting in unspoiled coral reefs teeming with underwater creatures. Travel to the rainforest-covered islands by private speedboat, then board a traditional wooden long-tail boat to explore.
Stop at villages belonging to the Moken people, sometimes referred to as "Sea Gypsies," who hail from Malaysia. Their thatched, stilt houses dot the white-sand beaches, and their colorful fishing boats bob on the waves. Continue to hidden coves and moor up at superb snorkeling spots where you can dive into the mirror-clear waters to discover an underwater wonderland. In the late afternoon, return to Khao Lak for a restful evening at your resort.
Day 9: Mangrove Kayaking Tour
Today you'll embark upon a private kayaking tour through Khao Lak's dense mangroves. Travel by long-tail boat to the floating base camp, where you'll hop aboard a kayak and follow your guide through a tangle of snaking mangrove forests inhabited by monkeys, otters, and rainbow-colored birds.
Paddle through this floating forest, stopping for refreshments at the base camp. Afterward, continue your journey to a secret lagoon where you can take a cooling swim among nature before returning to the pier. Return to Khao Lak for a final evening by the sea; organize a private dinner on the beach or in the jungle surrounded by candles beneath a star-filled sky.
Day 10: Transfer to Phuket, Depart
Today your luxury Thailand adventure ends, and you'll be transferred to the airport in Phuket for your onward flight. Safe travels!
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