Highlights
- Have a memorable Thai dinner with spectacular views in Phuket
- Take a speedboat tour of the Phi Phi Islands and snorkel at Phang Nga Bay
- Feed and bathe rescued elephants at Ao Nang Elephant Sanctuary
- Discover a hot spring waterfall on a jungle trek in Krabi
- Visit Buddhist temples and witness local life on the canals in Bangkok
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Phuket | Phuket |
| Day 2 | Speedboat Day Trip to the Phi Phi Islands | Phuket |
| Day 3 | Canoe & Snorkel at Phang Nga Bay | Phuket |
| Day 4 | Transfer to Railay | Railay |
| Day 5 | Full-Day Island Hopping Tour | Railay |
| Day 6 | Enjoy a Beach Day in Railay | Railay |
| Day 7 | Transfer to Krabi, Ao Nang Elephant Sanctuary Half-Day Tour | Krabi |
| Day 8 | Emerald Pool & Hot Springs Jungle Tour, Visit Tiger Cave Temple | Krabi |
| Day 9 | Transfer to Bangkok | Bangkok |
| Day 10 | Full-Day Temple City, Grand Palace & Klong Tour | Bangkok |
| Day 11 | Depart Bangkok |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Phuket
Welcome to Thailand! Upon arrival, you'll take a private transfer from the airport to your hotel in Phuket. The largest island in Thailand, Phuket is located off the country's west coast on the Andaman Sea and is renowned for its diverse landscapes, from famous sandy beaches to forested hills, mountains, limestone cliffs, low plains, lagoons, and lush tropical forests.
This evening your driver will pick you up to take you to dinner at Baan Rim Pa in Kalim, a multi-award-winning restaurant well-known in Thailand and worldwide. The restaurant boasts a panoramic cliffside location directly over the Andaman Sea. Every table has impressive views of the blue waters across to the beach at Patong, where you can watch the dramatic sunset.
Day 2: Speedboat Day Trip to the Phi Phi Islands
After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to Boat Lagoon Pier to go by speedboat to the Phi Phi Islands. Start your adventure with a visit to Maya Bay, where you will get a pristine view of the famous beach from the 2000 film "The Beach" and have the opportunity to take plenty of photos of the island. Then, head to beautiful Loh Samah Bay on Phi Phi Lei to stop at Pileh Lagoon for swimming and time to explore the Viking Cave.
Continue your boat trip to Monkey Beach, which gets its name for being home to many long-tailed macaques. Get your swimming and snorkeling gear ready as you head to Phi Phi Don. Enjoy snorkeling or relax at the beach before lunch is served at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the stunning beaches of Bamboo Island or Rang Yai Island for more swimming and relaxation. From here, you will return to Phuket.
Day 3: Canoe & Snorkel at Phang Nga Bay
Have breakfast at the hotel, then get transferred to Ao Por Pier, where you'll enjoy some complimentary tea and coffee before boarding a luxury boat. Your first stop will be Panak Island to canoe through Bat Cave or Mangrove Cave. Then on to Hong Island, where your guide will paddle you around to explore hidden caverns and lagoons. Once you've worked up an appetite, return to the boat for a satisfying buffet lunch.
In the afternoon, visit two islands in Ao Phang Nga National Park with a special Hollywood connection. Arrive at Ko Tapu (James Bond Island) to discover the famous movie location where "The Man with the Golden Gun" was filmed in 1974. This island is a narrow, 65-foot (20 m) limestone tower that juts improbably out of the water. Then head to Khao Phing Kan island to stop at an idyllic spot for swimming and relaxing before returning to the boat to head back to Phuket.
Day 4: Transfer to Railay
Day 5: Full-Day Island Hopping Tour
Today you'll be picked up from your hotel to go to Nopparatthara Beach and from there to Tab Island, composed of two smaller islands, Ko Tub and Ko Mor, joined together with sand bars that only emerge in low tide. Continue to Kai Island (or "Chicken Island"), an amazing rock formation reminiscent of a large chicken or ostrich head. Stop here for a great snorkeling opportunity with shoals of small colorful fish.
Have a picnic lunch on a white sandy beach at Poda Island, where clear waters allow excellent views of the abundant sea life. It is another perfect place to do some more snorkeling or swimming. In the afternoon, visit Phranang Cave, where visitors come to leave various spiritual offerings, including many unmissable symbols of fertility you'll notice at the entrance. At Phranang Beach, swim or relax on the sand before returning to your hotel this afternoon.
Day 6: Enjoy a Beach Day in Railay
Spend today relaxing, swimming, and exploring the beautiful beaches of the Railay peninsula. Phra Nang offers fine white sand on the southern tip, once voted one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world. It has jaw-dropping scenery and is excellent for swimming and climbing from the beach. You can also enjoy a relaxing massage and eat a fresh barbecue and salad lunch. Those who love extreme sports can cliff jump off the rocks into the water.
Rai Leh East is the mangrove side of the peninsula, a great spot for a walk and joining in the nightlife at local bars after dark. From here, you also can walk to the Diamond Cave to discover natural rock formations and resident bats. Rai Leh West is especially beautiful after sunset when the cliffs' silhouettes lend the beach a supernatural air. Spot the massive Sleeping Indian Cliffs, named for the shape of their silhouette at night. They lie just beyond Ton Sai, a cove popular with rock climbers.
Day 7: Transfer to Krabi, Ao Nang Elephant Sanctuary Half-Day Tour
Head inland this morning as you transfer to Krabi, where you'll have some free time to get settled into your hotel and relax. Then it's time for one of the highlight experiences of our trip as you spend the afternoon interacting with Thai elephants at the Ao Nang Elephant Sanctuary. Learn about the individual stories of the elephants at the sanctuary, most of which have been rescued from logging and tourist riding. Feed the elephants some bananas, take some photos, and feel their leathery trunks. Watch them enjoying a mud spa as they apply mud to their skin as a form of sunscreen and moisturizer.
Take a walk with the elephants and follow them into the water to bathe them, getting the opportunity to cool off yourself. You'll brush the elephants while they frolic and play in the water, and watch just how much they enjoy being pampered by their visitors. Once the elephants are clean, take the opportunity to snap some final photos of this special experience before changing into dry clothes and having some fresh seasonal fruit and coconut water before heading back to your hotel.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 8: Emerald Pool & Hot Springs Jungle Tour, Visit Tiger Cave Temple
Day 9: Transfer to Bangkok
Today you'll take a domestic flight to Bangkok, the capital of Thailand. Check in to your hotel and spend the rest of the day unwinding or exploring Bangkok at your own pace. For an authentic local meal and Thai goods, visit the Pattaya Floating Market, the world's largest man-made market. Here you'll find restaurants, shops, and fun events like live boxing, dance, and music.
In the evening, catch the popular Alcazar Cabaret Show featuring Thailand's kathoey (transgender) performers presenting traditional songs and dances from Thailand and around the world. For something more sedate, stay in and soothe tired muscles after a day of sightseeing with a traditional Thai massage.
Day 10: Full-Day Temple City, Grand Palace & Klong Tour
After lunch at a local restaurant to try some more Thai specialties, continue by long-tail boat along the canal to see typical Thai houses and experience the pace of rural life. Visit Wat Arun ("Temple of Dawn"), a Buddhist temple with colorfully decorated spires, named after the Hindu god Aruna, who is often personified as radiations of the rising sun. After the tour, enjoy some free time to unwind or continue exploring Bangkok on your own.
Day 11: Depart Bangkok
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