Thailand City, Beach & Countryside Tour: Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Chiang Mai & Phuket - 10 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Bangkok, Explore

Welcome to Thailand! Touch down in Bangkok, where your driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel in the city's heart. Thailand's capital is beloved for its chaotic energy, delicious street food, nightlife, and sacred Buddhist sights. You'll discover its charms independently today, perhaps starting with Chinatown's fragrant 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 biggest outdoor markets and sells everything from clothes and flowers to food and antiques. For sports lovers, seek a muay Thai (Thai boxing) match, Thailand's signature sport. See a puppet show for some traditional culture or visit Warehouse 30 for modern art exhibitions. Famous Michelin street food restaurant, Jay Fai, is a top dinner spot famed for its crab omelet. 

As an optional evening activity, join a cooking class at a Thai house that's over 100 years old. The chef will teach you the various vegetables, herbs, and spices needed to make four classic dishes, then take you through the cooking process step-by-step. Finish by feasting on your creations, taking away a recipe book so you can recreate the dishes at home. 

Day 2: Bangkok City Tour

This morning you'll take a guided tour of Bangkok, starting with a trip to Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn since it's named after the Indian dawn god, Aruna. Take a ferry across the Chao Phraya River to Wat Pho, which houses a giant reclining Buddha statue. 

Next 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.

Travel by tuk-tuk to Chatuchak Market and the nearby flower market, which is Bangkok's largest and open 24 hours a day. You'll continue to Chinatown (Yao-Wa-Rat) to explore 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 Mae Klong & Damnoen Saduak Markets, Transfer to Kanchanaburi

Today starts with a three-hour trip from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi. This town lies on the confluence of the Khwae Noi and Khwae Yai Rivers, surrounded by mountains and forests. Kanchanaburi is known for its turbulent World War II history when the Japanese built the Thai-Burma railway line. This 258-mile (415 km) railway was built between 1942 and 1943 by the Japanese using Asian laborers and European prisoners of war; over 102,000 men died in the process.

On the way, you'll visit the Mae Klong Railway Market, which runs along the railway line and is known for its excellent seafood. Continue to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market to catch a glimpse of local life, watching shoppers barter with vendors for fresh produce and goods. Peruse the range of handicrafts and enjoy a typical Thai lunch, with time to shop and soak up the vibrant atmosphere. Afterward, you'll drive the final two hours to Kanchanaburi. 

Day 4: Day Trip to Erawan National Park, Raft the River Khwae

Today you'll visit one of Thailand's most beautiful national parks: Erawan. This lush oasis is home to a seven-tiered waterfall set among forests filled with monkeys and butterflies. You can follow a marked, one-and-a-half-mile (two-and-a-half km) trail to the different sections of the waterfall, stopping to cool off in the clear topaz pools. The waters are particularly high after the rainy season, between September and December. 

Take your time hiking the trail, stopping to take in the views. The second falls, Wang Mat Cha, is a popular place to picnic, with seating areas overlooking the falls. The sixth and seventh levels of the falls are accessible via a steeper section of the pathway but are well worth the more challenging ascent. After descending, you'll be transferred back to Kanchanaburi for a relaxing evening in town. 

This afternoon, you'll also get to take a 50-minute ride down the River Khwae on a bamboo raft. Traditionally made by the Mon people, these rafts have been used for generations to get around central Thailand. Sit back and watch the peaceful scenery as your guide paddles you down the waterway.  

Day 5: Fly to Chiang Mai, Explore

This morning, say goodbye to Kanchanaburi and drive back to Bangkok for your flight to the northern Thai 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. 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 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 enjoy a fiery sunset, then make your way to the Night Bazaar to shop for everything from clothing to paintings and handicrafts. 

Day 6: Eco-Elephant Care Tour, Optional Evening Bike Tour

Rise early for today's tour of an eco-elephant project that aims to raise awareness about elephant conservation and provide a sanctuary for these gentle giants. The project was started by a family in Meung Kud Village, who have dedicated their lives to caring for elephants and rescuing them from the entertainment industry. 

The project lies 90 minutes north of Chiang Mai, and once you arrive, you'll change into traditional mahout (elephant carer) clothing. A guide will explain the history of elephants in Thailand and teach you about their behavior; then, you'll help prepare their food which includes sugar cane and bananas. You'll get to feed the elephants and walk with them to the river to bathe. Have lunch at the project and head back to Chiang Mai in the late afternoon. 

This evening you'll have the chance to take an optional tour of Chiang Mai by bike. Start with a welcome drink and street snacks, then hop aboard a Vespa with your driver. They'll take you to Chiang Mai's various neighborhoods and show you the city's nightlife. Browse night markets and street food stalls, learning to make som tum (papaya salad). Ride over an old iron bridge and have dinner at a popular restaurant, then wrap up the evening with drinks at a live music bar. 

Day 7: Golden Triangle Tour

This morning you'll journey to 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 iconic White Temple, Wat Rong Khun. 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 with a trip to a Padong Karen village. In this agricultural community, 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. 

Next, 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, return to Chiang Mai for a final evening in the city.

Day 8: Fly to Phuket, Guided City Tour

Say goodbye to Chiang Mai this morning. Your private driver will escort you to the airport for your flight south to Phuket, where paradisiacal beaches await. Spend a free day exploring Thailand's largest island. Set on the Andaman Coast, Phuket is known for its powdery beaches, neon nightlife, and luxury resorts. The island is also home to diverse landscapes ranging from tropical rainforest to palm-fringed beaches and craggy limestone cliffs.

Take a half-day city tour of Phuket's old town when you arrive, discovering Sino-Portuguese architecture, Thai temples, colorful Chinese shrines, museums, and stately mansions. Spend the rest of the day as you please; hit the beach to sunbathe, sit back with a cold drink, and then wade into the warm water for a swim or some snorkeling. Be sure to visit Thalang Road, where you'll find a thriving market. 

Day 9: Phi Phi Island Boat Trip

Explore the Phi Phi Islands today, an archipelago 25 miles (40 km) east of Phuket, known for its film-worthy beaches and top snorkeling spots. The trip starts with an early-morning speed boat ride to Phi Phi Ley, where you'll see Maya Bay, the setting for the Leonardo DiCaprio movie, "The Beach." You'll also moor at Pileh Lagoon and Viking Cave for swimming and snorkeling.

Sail on to Phi Phi Don, stopping at Monkey Beach along the way, known for its cheeky macaques. Before lunch, you'll have time to snorkel in the clear waters, spotting multicolored marine life. Spend the afternoon on idyllic Bamboo Island, laying back on white sands or enjoying more swimming and snorkeling. The trip ends with a transfer back to Phuket. This evening, take in an optional performance at the popular Simon Cabaret Show. Settle in for a night of comedy, dance, and fun; the show attracts thousands of visitors and is renowned for its fabulous stage, lighting, and sound design.

Day 10: Depart Phuket

Today your Thailand adventure ends, and you'll be transferred to the airport in Phuket for your onward flight. Safe travels!

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