Thailand Culinary Tour: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Phuket - 10 Days

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

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, buzzing nightlife, and Buddhist sights. Settle in and then uncover the city's charms independently. 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 a Muay Thai (Thai boxing) match, Thailand's signature sport. See a puppet show for some culture, or visit Warehouse 30 for modern art exhibitions.

You'll take a stylish dinner cruise along the Chao Phraya River this evening. Enjoy an international buffet on board the Chao Phraya Princess, accompanied by jazz musicians. Watch the dazzling city landmarks pass as you sail—palaces, temples, and the city skyline lit up.

Day 2: Tour Mae Klong Railway Market & Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Today, you'll discover some of Bangkok's sprawling markets on a guided tour. Drive 1.5 hours 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 nearby Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in Ratchaburi, 62 miles (100 km) southwest of the capital. Paddle through the maze of canals past vendors selling exotic fruit and handicrafts from their boats. Hail down the food vendors for a spot of lunch and witness traders selling food and handicrafts on their boats. Return to Bangkok afterward for a restful evening.

Day 3: Bangkok City Tour & Chinatown Food Tour

Start the day with a trip to the Grand Palace, a complex of intricate palaces and temples built in 1782, which served as the royal family's home for 150 years. 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.

Continue to one of Bangkok's oldest temples, Wat Pho, known for its 150-foot (46 m) reclining Buddha, whose feet are inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and its Thai massage school. Finish the tour with a trip to Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn, since it's named after the Indian dawn god, Aruna. Marvel at the temple's glass and Chinese porcelain architecture. 

The day ends in Yao-Wa-Rat (Chinatown) for an evening food tour with a culinary guide. Explore the area's beloved street food, such as 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 tour with some Thai desserts and Chinese herbal drinks. 

Day 4: Fly to Chiang Mai, Evening Food Tour

Bid farewell to Bangkok this morning and fly just over an hour north to Chiang Mai. Set in the cooler, mountainous north of Thailand, this was once the capital of the Lanna Kingdom and still retains its moat-encircled Old City. Chiang Mai is a cultural mecca, home to historic architecture and over 300 temples where orange-robed monks live and worship.

Settle into your hotel and then head out to wander the streets of the Old City. 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.

This evening, you'll get a taste of the city on a guided food tour. Board a tuk-tuk and journey to Warorot, the city's century-old market. Browse the stalls, stopping to sample seasonal fruit and sai oua (northern Thai sausage), accompanied by iced tea. Next, head to the vibrant Night Bazaar, where you'll try typical dishes such as khao kha moo (stewed pork leg) and bua loi (fresh coconut milk dessert). 

Day 5: Doi Suthep Temple Tour, Chiang Mai Cooking Class 

This morning, you'll visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai's mountaintop temple. Climb the 309 steps of the naga (serpent) staircase to the temple's pagodas and copper-plated chedi, which contain relics of Lord Buddha. To show respect, circle the pagoda three times in an anticlockwise direction. The views of Chiang Mai from the temple, set 3,500 feet (1,066 m) above sea level, are spectacular, accompanied by the chanting of monks. 

This afternoon, learn to make local dishes during a cooking class. Accompanied by a guide, shop for fresh ingredients and herbs in the market and then drive to Baan Hong Nual, a Lanna-style open kitchen where you'll don aprons for your class. An expert chef will teach you step-by-step how to make Thai dishes. Finish by feasting on your creations and receive a recipe book before returning to your hotel. 

Day 6: Explore Chiang Mai, Vespa Nightlife Tour

Enjoy a free day in Chiang Mai, starting with a leisurely breakfast. Wander around the streets of the tree-lined Old City, popping into sparkling temples and pausing to sample the city's renowned coffee scene at a café. For lunch, try a bowl of creamy khao soy, a famous northern Thai dish with crispy noodles, coconut cream, and a spicy kick.

This evening, you'll explore Chiang Mai's eclectic nightlife on an exhilarating Vespa tour. 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: Fly to Phuket, Explore

Say goodbye to Chiang Mai this morning and fly three hours south to Phuket. Set on the Andaman Sea, Thailand's largest island 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.

Your driver will escort you to your lodge, where you can settle in before hitting the beach. Sunbathe, relax with a cold drink, and then wade into the topaz water for a swim or some snorkeling. In the evening, dine on seafood, peruse the night market, and have a drink on lively Bangla Road, where you can also duck into a local spa for a soothing Thai massage. 

Day 8: Phuket City Tour & Free Afternoon 

This morning, meet your guide for a half-day tour of Phuket. You'll beach hop to Patong, Kata, and Karong, stopping at a hilltop viewpoint where you can admire the coastline. Next, you'll visit the island's famous Wat Chalong, which is the biggest temple in Phuket and dates back to the 19th century. 

Make a brief stop at a honey and cashew nut factory, where you'll learn how the nuts are extracted and processed, before heading to Phuket's Old Town. Here, you'll wander the streets, discovering Sino-Portuguese architecture, Thai temples, colorful Chinese shrines, museums, and stately mansions. Finish with a trip to Thalang Road, where you'll find a thriving market perfect for picking up souvenirs. 

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.

Day 9: Phuket Beaches, Sunset Catamaran Dinner Cruise

Today is yours to relax and enjoy island life in Phuket. Explore the island's top beaches for more sun, sea, and sand. Kata Beach is an excellent option with soft white sand, shady palm trees, food vendors, and a laid-back atmosphere. Another option is Nai Harn Beach, located at the southern end of Phuket, which has grown in popularity over the years but remains undeveloped thanks to its small bay and sheltering lake.

In the late afternoon, board a yacht for a sunset dinner cruise with views over the flawless Promthep Cape. Watch the sun paint the sky shades of yellow and pink as you sail past Rawai and Krating Cape, then drop anchor for a barbecue dinner.

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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