Highlights & Hidden Gems of Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pai, Khanom & Ko Samui - 14 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Bangkok

Welcome to Thailand! When you arrive in Bangkok, you'll be met by your guide, who will pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel in the heart of this remarkable city. Once you've checked in, you have the rest of the day free to explore or relax as much as you like. Take to the streets and explore the temples, markets, and quaint cafés of Thailand's fascinating capital, shop, or hop on the river taxis to catch a glimpse of the city from the water.

Day 2: Bangkok City & Boat Tour, Midnight Tuk-Tuk Food Tour

This morning, meet your guide and begin your discovery tour of Bangkok. Your first stop is the Grand Palace, the most impressive and important palace in Thailand. Within the royal complex, several palaces are used for different occasions, such as the Funeral Palace, the Reception Palace, the Throne Hall, the opulent Coronation Hall, and the Royal Guest House, as well as the sparkling Emerald Buddha, the most revered Buddha statue in Thailand.

From there, hop into a private long-tail boat and cruise through the peaceful canals, stopping by shops, local temples, and vendors along a waterway that was once a major trading route. On the way, your guide will point out local landmarks and tell you about life in the area. Round off your morning tour with a visit to Wat Arun, (Temple of Dawn), before heading back to your hotel. Spend the afternoon relaxing or going out exploring yourself before meeting your guide in the evening to begin your midnight food tour.

Known as "the city that never stops eating," Bangkok is famous for its street food that you can get at all hours of the day (and night!). This tour will take you to some of the city's street food hotspots by tuk-tuk, arguably the most fun way to travel around the city—especially after dark. Taste a variety of different food from across Thailand, including northeastern Thai food, the town's best pad thai, and popular home-style Thai snacks. Between meals, stop off to visit landmarks and temples for a different perspective.

Day 3: Fly to Chiang Mai, Sunset at Doi Suthep

Today you'll say goodbye to Bangkok and make your way to Chiang Mai, the cultural capital of the north.  The flight should take around 1.5 hours, giving you plenty of time to explore this laid-back and spiritual city later in the afternoon.

Once you arrive at the airport, you'll be picked up by your guide and transferred to your hotel, where you can check in and relax before heading out to visit the mountaintop Doi Suthep temple, which is said to have been founded in 1383. When you arrive at the temple, experience a memorable private blessing and witness the monks in prayer and chanting. At sunset, visit a viewpoint to see the sky burst into life and illuminate the countryside below.  As darkness sets in, make your way back to the city for a late dinner and an early night.

Day 4: Visit an Elephant Jungle Sanctuary

After breakfast, transfer to an elephant jungle sanctuary in a Karen village in the hilly countryside, about a 1.5-hour drive from Chiang Mai. When you arrive, go for a quick walk through the village, where you'll learn about the history of the region's hill tribes. Before meeting the elephants, change into traditional mahout (elephant keeper) clothing and learn about their anatomy, history, and behavior. Feed, interact, and play with the elephants in their natural home before walking with them to the river, where you can bathe and brush these gentle giants. Afterward, join them for a mud spa and take a dip in the river with them to cool off.

In the afternoon, you'll return to Chiang Mai, where you'll be dropped back at your hotel and have the rest of the evening free. If you feel up to it, check out the city's famous Night Market to see local life come alive after dark.

Day 5: Discover Doi Inthanon National Park

Head out into nature today with a trip to Doi Inthanon National Park. About a 1.5-hour transfer from Chiang Mai, Doi Inthanon is one of northern Thailand's most famous national parks and is a sanctuary for wildlife, with over 383 species of birds. When you arrive, meet your local Karen guide and go on a short trek through the lush forest to Pha Dok Siew waterfall, where you can cool off in the refreshing waters before continuing to the hill tribe village of Ban Mae Klang Luang. Learn about how the Karen people live in harmony with nature and take a walk through villages surrounded by coffee plantations and terraced rice paddies.

Afterward, take a quick drive over to the Twin Chedis, built by the Thai Airforce to honor the beloved Thai King Rama IX and Queen Sirikit. Then, visit a Hmong fresh market and have lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the scenic waterfall at Wachiratharn before continuing back to Chiang Mai, where you'll have another evening free to explore the city at your own pace.

Day 6: Transfer to Pai, Explore

In the morning, check out from your hotel and start your journey toward the laid-back hilltop town of Pai in Thailand's northern Mae Hong Son province. The three-hour transfer will take you through lush countryside and along winding mountain roads. Stop along the way to visit the Mork Fah waterfall and Pong Dued hot springs, where you can take a quick soak in the mineral waters. After lunch, continue on your journey to Pai, where you'll have the rest of the evening free to relax and enjoy the chilled-out atmosphere and quiet streets of this picturesque town.

Day 7: Pai Countryside Tour: Yuan Lai Viewpoint, Tham Lod Cave & Jabo Village

Day 8: Fly to Surat Thani, Transfer to Khanom 

Settle in for a long travel day today as you transfer from Pai all the way down to the beach town of Khanom in the south. Off the standard tourist trail, this quiet fishing village is the perfect place to stop and recharge after a week of exploring. Start your journey with a transfer to the airport in Chiang Mai, where you'll catch a two-hour flight south to Surat Thani. When you land, a driver will be waiting to take you to your resort in Khanom, about an hour's drive away. Spend the rest of the afternoon chilling out at the resort or head to the beach for some sunset drinks.

Day 9: Boat Trip to Ko Nui Nork, See Pink Dolphins

Take to the waters today as you join a boat trip to see rare pink dolphins in their natural habitat. In the morning, head to the port to meet a local expert who will take you out on their long-tail boat to find some of the dolphins' favorite hangout spots. From there, you'll continue over to the tiny island of Ko Nui Nork and learn about the miracle of the legendary Buddhist monk, Luang Por Tuad, followed by lunch on a deserted beach. In the afternoon, return to the mainland and spend the rest of the day at leisure before heading to the beach for another colorful ocean sunset.

Day 10: Beach Day on Khanom

Enjoy a free day in Khanom to relax or go exploring at your own pace. You can either spend the day lazing around on the sandy beaches and swimming in the ocean or head farther afield and explore. If you feel up to it, you can check out the nearby beaches or head out to caves and waterfalls. You could also hire a taxi for the day and head up to Dat Fa Mountain, where you can enjoy amazing views over the countryside, or out to Sikiet Waterfall National Park. Alternatively, rent a kayak or mountain bike if you fancy something more active.

Day 11: Ferry to Ko Samui

Spend the morning relaxing in Khanom before making your way over to the port, where you'll board a ferry to the tropical island of Ko Samui and continue your Thailand explorations. Located in the Gulf of Thailand, Ko Samui is known for its palm-fringed beaches and rainforest interior. It's the second-largest island in Thailand but can be easily explored by car or motorbike in a few hours or days.

First inhabited by fishermen from the Malay Peninsula and southern China around 1,500 years ago, Ko Samui is found on Chinese maps dating back from the 17th century but was actually pretty isolated from the mainland until the late 20th century. Before they built roads in the 1970s, it took over a day to hike through the mountainous central jungles to get from one side of the island to the other, but luckily these days, it's a different story. When you arrive, check into your hotel and head to the beach to grab a sundowner before spending the evening exploring the neighborhood or just relaxing at your resort.

Day 12: Angthong Marine Park Snorkel & Kayak Tour

This morning, set off early and enjoy a day of adventure exploring Angthong Marine Park. Made up of over 80 islands, this island archipelago is an underwater paradise, with uninhabited islands ringed by white-sand beaches and colorful coral reefs full of tropical fish and sea life.

Start your tour by snorkeling in the clear water of Ko Wao before checking out several of the islands and climbing up to a lookout point where you can see an emerald lake. Stop for lunch before making your way to a deserted island to swim and relax on the beach of Ko Pha Luay. Finish off your day with a short guided kayaking tour through the park, then head back to the mainland.

Day 13: Beach Day on Ko Samui

It's your last full day in Thailand, so spend it however you like. Explore more of Ko Samui, relax and sunbathe, lie in a hammock with a coconut or a cocktail, or head into town to do a spot of souvenir shopping. If you feel like traveling a bit farther afield, the beaches of Laem Yai and Mae Nam are well worth a visit, as is Bophut Beach, which has some great shops and restaurants. You can also take a drive out to the waterfalls of Namtok Hin Lat and Namtok Na Mueang or visit different temples and villages.

Day 14: Fly to Bangkok, Depart

Today, it's time to say goodbye to Ko Samui and Thailand. After breakfast, check out from the hotel and make your way to the airport, where you'll board a domestic flight up to Bangkok and catch your connecting flight. Safe travels!

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