Romantic Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Ko Samui - 14 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Bangkok

Welcome to Thailand! Touch down in Bangkok, where your driver will be waiting to take you and your partner to your hotel in the heart of the city. Thailand's capital is beloved for its chaotic energy, tasty street food, nightlife, and Buddhist sights. You'll discover its charms independently today, perhaps starting with Chinatown's street food. If you like shopping, spend time at Siam Paragon, one of Bangkok's biggest and most luxurious malls.

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. For sports lovers, seek out a muay Thai (Thai boxing) match, Thailand's signature sport. Alternatively, see a puppet show for some traditional culture or visit Warehouse 30 for modern art exhibitions.

This evening, explore Bangkok's food scene for your first night on your honeymoon on an optional food tour by tuk-tuk. You'll stop at the city's top eateries and food stalls to sample typical Thai dishes, from pad thai (a stir-fried rice noodle dish) to papaya salad and khao soi (coconut-based soup with crispy noodles). End at a rooftop bar, where you'll admire views of Bangkok after dark.

Day 2: Palace & Temples Tour, Couples' Spa Visit & Luxury River Cruise with Dinner

Discover some of Bangkok's most famous landmarks today on a guided tour. Start by visiting 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 sacred Emerald Buddha statue.

It's time to relax this afternoon with a romantic spa session at the renowned Dahra Beauty and Spa. Choose from treatments, including Thai couples' massages, facials, and body scrubs. 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, viewing Bangkok's twinkling night skyline while you enjoy fine Thai dining.

Day 3: Railway Market & Floating Market Tour

This morning is yours to spend as you please. Have a lie-in followed by a meal and some temple-hopping. In the early afternoon, you'll embark upon a guided tour of two Thai markets on the city's outskirts. Start at 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 Amphawa Floating Market, where vendors trade from hundreds of wooden row boats, selling Thai snacks and souvenirs. When night falls, sail along the canal to glimpse river life–look out for fireflies along the banks. Amphawa is open Friday to Sunday, so if your trip falls on any other day of the week, you'll visit Damnoen Saduak Floating Market instead.

Day 4: Fly to Chiang Mai, Explore 

Say goodbye to Bangkok this morning and fly north to 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. Chiang Mai is a cultural mecca, home to historical architecture and over 300 temples where orange-robed monks live and worship.

Settle in and then hand-in-hand, head out to wander the streets of the Old City. Highlights include Chiang Mai's largest central market, Warorot, where locals sell fresh fruit, flowers, and vegetables. For an introduction to the city's ornate temples, visit Chiang Mai's oldest, Wat Chiang Man, and Wat Chedi Luang, built in Lanna style with a towering golden stupa. Wat Phra Singh is the place to watch a fiery sunset, then make your way to the Night Bazaar to shop for everything from clothing to paintings and handicrafts.

Day 5: Local Cooking Experience & Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep Tour

Today you'll experience traditional Lanna culture in a Thai neighborhood on the outskirts of Chiang Mai. Visit a local family in their teakwood house; your hosts will show you around their garden full of spices, herbs, and fruit, then teach you how to prepare a delicious home-cooked northern Thai meal for lunch.

Afterward, head to one of Chiang Mai's most iconic temples, Doi Suthep. The temple complex offers panoramic views over Chiang Mai from the top of Suthep Mountain. Climb the naga staircase to the golden pagoda, which enshrines the Buddha's shoulder bone. To show respect, circle the pagoda three times in an anticlockwise direction. Return to your hotel for a relaxing evening in the city recounting your favorite experiences of the day.

Day 6: Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Experience

Rise early for today's tour, driving south of Chiang Mai through rolling hills, forests, and farmland. Next, take a 15-minute walk through the village to Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, where you'll change into Karen clothing. You'll get an introduction to the history of elephants in Thailand and learn about these gentle giants' behavior, anatomy, and care.

You'll then meet the elephants and bond over feeding and interacting with them; as you'll learn, each elephant has their own personality and moving backstory. Around noon, take a break for Thai food and fresh fruit before heading to the river to bathe the elephants. Join them in a therapeutic mud spa and take one last river swim before changing for the journey back to Chiang Mai.

Day 7: Doi Inthanon National Park Trekking with Tribal Market Visit

Escape the city today as the both of you venture on an excursion to Doi Inthanon National Park, named for Thailand's highest mountain, Inthanon, which towers over 8,400 feet (2,565 m) above sea level. Spiral up mountain roads into the park, stopping at a busy Hmong tribal market, where you'll witness locals trading homegrown produce and flowers.

Next, you'll take a two-hour hike along the stunning Pha Dok Siew Nature Trail. The trek takes you through lush rice fields and forests filled with native flowers and crystal waterfalls. During your walk, visit a Karen village to learn how they farm organically and taste a cup of locally-grown coffee. Have lunch before continuing your trek to Wachirathan Waterfall, one of northern Thailand's biggest and most beautiful. Snap some photos and freshen up in the spray before driving back to Chiang Mai, where you can enjoy a final evening in the Old Town.

Day 8: Fly to Ko Samui & Candlelight Dinner on the Beach

Fly south this morning to the paradisiacal island of Ko Samui. Situated in the balmy Gulf of Thailand, the island is loved for its beaches lined with coconut groves. You'll find acres of mountainous rainforest in the island's interior, dotted with crashing waterfalls and exotic wildlife—the perfect setting for your romantic getaway. Ko Samui is also known for its wellness culture, which ranges from vegan eateries to yoga retreats and world-class spas.

Spend the day settling into your luxury hotel. Lounge by the swimming pool or head to the beach to wade into the azure waters. This evening you'll have a romantic dinner in a private cabana on the soft, white sands of Choengmon Beach at the opulent SALA Samui Resort. Dine to the rumble of waves on a menu of Thai classics: green chicken curry, shrimp, and coconut pudding accompanied by fine wines.

Day 9: Ko Samui Free Day

Today is yours to enjoy the wonders of Ko Samui. Chill by the pool or beach-hop your way around the island. Some of the best stretches of powdery sand include Chaweng and Lamai, where you can lie in a hammock under the shade of a palm tree, sipping on cocktails or coconuts. More secluded beaches like Laem Yai and Mae Nam offer extra tranquillity.

If you're feeling more active, visit the Bophut Fisherman's Village for shopping and seafood dining, then head to Wat Plai Laem for some temple culture. To discover Ko Samui's impressive waterfalls, take a car to Namtok Hin Lat and Namtok Na Mueang waterfalls, where you can trek through thick forests and cool off in clear pools.

Day 10: Ko Samui Island Exploration Tour

Take a full-day tour of Ko Samui, starting with a visit to Ladd Ko, a panoramic island viewpoint. Continue to the peculiar rock formations of Hin Ta and Hin Ya (Grandma and Grandpa rocks), steeped in local legend. Your next stop is Wat Kunaram, a temple that houses the mummified body of Buddhist monk Luang Pho Daeng, who passed away while in a meditative state.

Take some time to relax at Na Muang 1 Waterfall, a dense jungle home to monkeys and colorful birds. Feel the mist from the falls and enjoy a refreshing dip in the glassy pool together. The final stop is Ko Samui's capital, Nathon, where you can wander through streets lined with Chinese buildings, shop for souvenirs, and feast on street food before returning to your hotel.

Day 11: Angthong Marine Park Speed Boat Tour

Experience the natural beauty of Angthong Marine Park today on a boat tour. This far-flung archipelago of 42 islands lies just a short speedboat ride from Ko Samui and offers everything from blue lagoons to hidden caves and kayaking. Zip across the topaz sea to Ko Wao or Ko Tai Plow to begin another part of your honeymoon adventure; each has superb snorkeling with vibrant reefs that teem with marine life.

Continue cruising the marine park, stopping at one of its most famous attractions: Emerald Lake, also known as Blue Lagoon. Located on Ko Mae Ko, forested karst walls surround this turquoise lake; hike a steep staircase for dramatic views. Back on the boat, you'll enjoy a buffet lunch and dock on a remote beach for free time to swim, snorkel, or sunbathe. You can climb to an island viewpoint before cruising back to Ko Samui for the evening.

Day 12: Ko Samui Free Day

Enjoy a final day in Ko Samui. Soak up the sun at your hotel pool or favorite beach, pamper yourself with a spa session, and stroll by the sea. If you're keen to explore more of the island, head out early to hike the Nathon Mountain Ridge Trail or visit the island's Big Buddha, a 40-foot-tall (12 m) golden statue that locals worship at Wat Phra Yai.

Other Ko Samui activities include cooking classes where you can learn to make traditional Thai dishes, yoga workshops, and all kinds of watersports, from jet skiing to kayaking. Finish the day with a romantic sunset cruise or browse one of the island's thriving night markets.

Day 13: Free Morning in Ko Samui, Fly to Bangkok

Relish your last romantic getaway morning on sun-drenched Ko Samui. Depending on your flight time, you can take a dip in the pool or a trip to the beach before checking out of your hotel. Your driver will be waiting to transfer you to the airport for your flight to Bangkok. This evening is yours to dine and sightsee in the capital or savor a spa session and massage before you depart Thailand.

Day 14: Depart Bangkok

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