Thailand Adventure - 14 Days

Highlights

• Visit the temples and travel the canals of Bangkok
• Tour waterfalls, caves, and forests at national parks
• Walk in the footsteps of World War II history near the River Khwae
• Explore temple ruins in the ancient city of Ayutthaya
• Laze on the beaches and go snorkeling at Hua Hin

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Bangkok, Self-Guided Tour

Sa-wat dee! Welcome to Thailand! You could spend a lifetime traveling the length and breadth of this country and still barely scratch the surface. To that end, this trip focuses on the region in and around Bangkok. Thailand's dynamic capital is not only one of the world's great cities but also an ancient one. It began as a humble fishing village on the Chao Phraya River in the 15th century and has been ruled by subsequent dynasties and monarchs ever since. You can bet that there's no shortage of awe-inspiring historical landmarks to visit in this city.

A driver will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Then, you can head out and explore on your own time. You'll definitely want to indulge in Bangkok's famous street food. One of the best places to delight in these quick eats is in the Chinatown neighborhood, which is the largest Chinatown in the world (outside of China, of course).

You can also visit Siam Paragon, one of Thailand's largest shopping malls, or watch a Muay Thai kickboxing match (Thailand's national sport) at a stadium like Rajadamnern. Younger travelers may want to have a beer on Khao San Road amid the backpacker atmosphere. Another option is to watch a shadow puppet show at a local theater. These captivating performances recount historical events, tales of love, and mythology via traditional handcrafted puppets.

Day 2: Bangkok Temples & Canals Tour

In the morning, meet your guide for a full-day tour of Bangkok. First, head to a nearby pier and board a long-tail boat for a scenic ride down the Chao Phraya River. After cruising the main waterway and enjoying dazzling views of Bangkok's skyline, you'll turn off into the maze of klongs—narrow canals running through residential neighborhoods. Witness candid scenes of local life as you pass wooden stilt houses strewn with clotheslines; wave to friendly locals relaxing on their porches as traditional music emanates from indoors. Also, watch for waterbirds like herons, pelicans, and egrets.

The first stop on this tour is at the waterfront temple Wat Khun Chan. You can't miss the giant, colorful statues of Buddha, deities, and animals. Then visit Wat Paknam, a royal temple dating to the 17th century. You'll tour the museum here, which showcases artifacts from throughout the history of Bangkok and Thailand. This temple complex is also famous for its 226-foot (69 m) statue of a seated golden Buddha—the largest such statue in the city. From here, travel back to the Chao Phraya River and return to the pier, where you'll disembark and have lunch nearby.

In the afternoon, you'll visit two of Bangkok's most famous landmarks: the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The former has been the royal residence since the days of the Siam Kingdom in 1782, and even today, it's used for official ceremonies. The latter is perhaps the most iconic Buddhist temple in the country, but the real treasure is inside a 26-inch (66 cm) jade statue of a meditating Buddha. At the end of the day, you'll return to your hotel.

Day 3: Day Trip to Khaoyai National Park

Rise early and meet your driver for the private transfer three hours northeast of Bangkok to the Khao Yai National Park. Set in 1,242 square miles (2,000 sq km) of lush rainforest with over 31 miles (50 km) of hiking and biking trails and plenty of wildlife, this is Thailand's oldest and most famous nature reserve.

Once here, you'll meet a local ranger/guide and embark on excursions around the park. A real treat here is that the park is home to wild elephants, and you can often spot them on hikes—or even on the side of the road. Other animals you can see here include macaque monkeys, endangered white-handed gibbons, deer, and occasionally an Asian black bear or two.

Around mid-day, you'll break for lunch. The day trip culminates with a hike to the immense 492-foot (150 m) Haew Narok waterfall. After returning to the trailhead, you'll hop back in the vehicle and transfer back to Bangkok.

Day 4: Floating Market Tour, Transfer to Kanchanaburi

Leave in the morning on a half-day tour to one of Bangkok's cultural highlights: its floating markets. A driver/guide will pick you up at your hotel for the 1.5-hour transfer west of the city to Ratchaburi province. As the city gives way to the country, you'll pass remote coconut plantations, stopping at one for a tour to see how they process coconut sugar.

After the tour, continue on to Damnoen Saduak, a paradise for food lovers and the most popular floating market in the country. Plying its maze of canals are vendors in traditional wooden boats selling fresh produce, snacks, and other delicacies. Here, you'll board a long-tail boat and travel around the market with your guide. Learn the art of haggling as you browse fresh fruits and handicrafts. 

Upon returning to Bangkok, your driver will pick you up for the two-hour drive from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi. Located near the border with Myanmar, this town sits at the junction of the Khwae Noi and Khwae Yai Rivers, forming the Mae Klong River. It's home to the River Khwae Bridge, which was built by Allied prisoners during the Japanese occupation of Thailand during World War II and made famous in the 1957 movie "Bridge on the River Kwai." When you arrive, you'll check into your hotel and will have the rest of the day free.

Day 5: Day Trip to Erawan Waterfalls & Hellfire Pass Tour

After breakfast at the hotel, a driver will pick you up for the trip about an hour north to Erawan National Park. One of Thailand's natural wonders, this protected area spans 194 square miles (500 sq km) of wilderness, including lush forests and romantic waterfalls. It's the perfect place for a nature hike—which is exactly what you'll do upon arrival.

When you arrive, lace up your boots and hit the trail on a two-hour hike. As you trek through the evergreen forest—whose trees are supposedly protected by a female spirit—you'll spot monkeys and plenty of colorful birds, like hornbills, sunbirds, and kingfishers.

After returning to the trailhead, you'll break for lunch at a local restaurant, then continue to the scenic River Khwae Valley and Hellfire Pass Memorial. This combined museum/gallery was built to commemorate the thousands of Allied POWs and Asian conscripts who died while constructing the Thai-Burma Railway, known as the Death Railway. The route is scenic, as you'll discover on an easy 2.5-mile (4 km) hike along the tracks, passing through bamboo forests. After the hike, you'll return to your hotel.

Day 6: Forest Trekking Day Tour

At 8 am, you'll venture back into the forest for another trekking adventure in the wilds of western Thailand. Today's destination is Tham Than Lot National Park, known for its karst mountains and eponymous cave. This is one of the largest and most spectacular caves in the country, boasting vast chambers and passages covered in intricate stalactites and stalagmites.

You'll arrive at the trailhead around 9 am and follow an off-the-beaten-path trail for about 1 mile (2 km) along a stream. As you go, you'll pass through palm and bamboo forests toward the cave's upper chamber. There will be a break at the halfway point for a refreshing dip in a waterfall lagoon.

Eventually, you'll reach the cave's gaping archway and spend some time exploring the chamber. This is a sacred place to the ethnic Karen tribe who reside in the region, as it's the site of an annual ceremony to honor their ancestors and the spirits that guard the forest. After a picnic lunch, hike back to the trailhead and return to Kanchanaburi.

Day 7: Country Bike Ride to Thai Village

You've seen the region of Kanchanaburi on foot; now it's time to explore on two wheels. In the morning, you'll meet your guide, hop on a bicycle, and leave town on a half-day tour to visit local villages. The route will take you across verdant rice paddies and palm groves to an authentic village little touched by modernity. Here, people still farm the land as their ancestors have since antiquity. 

In the village, you'll chat with locals with help from your guide, you'll chat with locals. One highlight is visiting a family's home whose trade is cloth weaving. You'll get to try making rice crisps and sample some traditional sweets. Afterward, you'll ride back to Kanchanaburi.

Day 8: Transfer to Ayutthaya, Guided Tour

Rise early and meet your driver for the 2.5-hour drive from Kanchanaburi to Ayutthaya. This ancient city (and UNESCO World Heritage Site) in central Thailand is renowned for its historical and cultural significance as the former capital of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, which was one of the most influential and prosperous kingdoms in Southeast Asia during its peak from the 14th to the 18th centuries.

The park consists of over 300 historical sites. Highlights you'll see on a guided tour include Wat Phra Si Sanphet, a 15th-century temple complex with three impressive bell-shaped pagodas; Wat Yai Chaimongkol, a 16th-century monastery that's one of the largest in the city, and Wat Mahathat, which is famed for its colossal banyan tree entwined with a statue of a Buddha.

Day 9: Transfer to Hua Hin, Optional Activities

It's another early start as you say goodbye to Ayutthaya and transfer five hours down the coast to Hua Hin. Located south of Bangkok on the Gulf of Thailand, this popular seaside resort town gained prominence in the early 1920s when King Rama VII built his summer palace, Klai Kangwon, in the area. Since then, it's been a favored destination for the Thai royal family.

Upon arrival, you'll check into your hotel and can spend the rest of the day relaxing. There's no better place to do so than Hua Hin's long, sandy beaches. For convenience, you can head to the main urban beach, or if you're searching for more solitude, nearby Khao Takiap is quieter and less developed.

Day 10: Day Trip to Sam Roi Yod National Park

Leave in the morning on an hour's transfer south from Hua Hin to Sam Roi Yod National Park. This stunning coastal park is known for its unspoiled beaches, diverse ecosystems, and the most famous landmark of all: Phraya Nakhon Cave. During the scenic drive to the park, you'll pass lovely coastal scenery and pineapple plantations, where you can stop to sample some fresh fruit.

Upon entering the park, you'll head to a tranquil fishing village. Then, leave the vehicle and board a boat for a ride up the coast to Laem Sa La Beach. From there, it's a 30-minute hike up to Phraya Nakhon Cave. Once here, you'll see why this cavern is so famous. Located at its entrance sits the dazzling Phraya Nakhon Pavilion, a royal structure positioned strategically underneath an opening that bathes the pavilion in sunlight, creating one of the most surreal sights in Thailand. After a picnic lunch on the Bach, you'll transfer back to Hua Hin.

Day 11: Snorkeling at Talu Island

At 7 am, you'll leave the hotel and transfer to the pier in Hua Hin, There, you'll board a speedboat for a fun two-hour ride zipping across the water to the eastern gulf and Talu Island. This postcard islet is renowned for its soft white-sand beaches and crystalline waters. Moreover, it features abundant coral reefs, making it an ideal snorkeling destination.

You'll spend a couple of hours snorkeling the reefs around Talu, and the scenery won't disappoint. These corals are home to various tropical fish, like puffers, lionfish, parrotfish, groupers, clownfish, and more. You'll also likely spot other exotic marine life, like sea turtles, moray eels, octopuses, and manta rays. Lunch will be served on the island, after which you'll return to Hua Hin.

Day 12: Day Trip to Wildlife Friends Foundation

After a delicious breakfast, meet your guide and transfer to the Wildlife Friends Foundation. This wildlife refuge is a special place, home to over 600 rescued animals that were rehabilitated here at the center. On a guided tour, you'll learn about the various animals, which include monkeys, elephants, and even bears. You'll also get up close with some of these animals.

After lunch at the center, spend the latter half of the tour shadowing the volunteers in their daily tasks. You'll walk around the whole site, watch the feedings, and spend more time with the animals. At the end of the tour, return to Hua Hin.

Today's fun isn't over yet. When the sun goes down, head out for a guided walk around town. Hua Hin is particularly famous for its vibrant night markets, such as the Cicada Market and Hua Hin Night Market. At these bustling commerce centers, you can shop for local handicrafts, enjoy street food, and experience live entertainment.

Day 13: Hua Hin Beach Day

Today is yours to enjoy Hua Hin however you please. Make it a relaxing day on the sand at one of the area's fine beaches. Some of the stars include Hua Hin Beach, Khao Takiab Beach, and Suan Son Pradiphat Beach. Hua Hin is also renowned for its incredible seafood, and you can find great restaurants on the waterfront and at the night markets serving a wide range of fresh seafood dishes. 

Day 14: Transfer to Bangkok, Depart

You've seen some of the best of central Thailand; now it's time to bid the country a fond farewell. In the morning, you'll meet your driver and transfer to the airport in Bangkok, where you'll catch your flight home. Until next time!

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