Essential Thailand Tour 17 days

Sawad-dee! (Hello!)

When you get to Bangkok, your private guide and driver will be there to meet you. They will then take you to your hotel.

As soon as you step foot in this vibrant metropolis, you will feel the stifling heat and hectic pace of Thailand's bustling capital. After you have checked into our hotel, you are free to do some independent sightseeing, relax your muscles with a therapeutic massage, or just lie by the pool and take in the first rays of that delicious Thai sunlight.

Overnight in Bangkok

Your tour guide will come to the hotel to get you up. Visit one of Rattanakosin Island's most well-known and historically significant community markets—the amulet market—along the way.

Learn about the Emerald Buddha Temple, or Wat Phra Kaew, also known as Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram, the temple's official name. It's the holiest Buddhist temple in all of Thailand.

Go on a tour of the Grand Palace, the royal palace of Thailand. Certainly among Thailand's most impressive palaces. After King Rama, I relocated the capital from Thonburi to Bangkok in 1782, and construction on the Grand Palace began that same year. It was the royal palace of the Chakri dynasty in Thailand from the 18th century onward.

Our tour of Bangkok's temples continues as we make our way across the city to Wat Po, where we'll see the massive reclining Buddha and the Chedis (stupas containing the ashes of the Kings). Find out how King Rama I made this previous temple his main temple and how some of his remains are interred here. UNESCO has included it in its "Memory of the World" project. Moreover, it is the original site of Thai massage, which is now taught and practiced in the temple as it has been for centuries.

Visit Wat Arun (the Temple of Daw); it is one of Bangkok's most recognizable sights. The temple is located on the banks of the Chao Phraya River and is most famous for its 70-meter tower covered with tiny bits of colorful glass and surrounded by Chinese porcelain.

Our afternoon ends in Bangkok's Chinatown, which is one of the city's oldest areas. It is possible to buy almost anything you can think of in this chaotic labyrinth of narrow streets and busy sois (alleys), which are overrun with restaurants, stores, street markets, and food booths. You will also make a pit stop to try some of the most delicious food the city has to offer, such as odd snacks in a market, some of the best noodles in the city, or dessert. There is no need to bother eating in advance because you won't feel hungry at any point during the event. Throughout the course of the tour, vegetarian meal alternatives will be provided.

Note

• The chapel is a national shrine and you will be required to wear proper attire: no bare shoulders and knees, or strapless-heel shoes.
• Shoes must be removed before entering the temple buildings as a matter of respect.
• Photography is permitted in the Royal Palace Grounds and in the compounds of the Emerald Buddha Temple, but not inside the buildings.

Overnight in Bangkok

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch

Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam during its golden age, and its temple ruins are a sight to behold.

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up for the drive to Wat Lokayasutha, which is the first stop in Ayutthaya, after traveling there in a luxurious and air-conditioned vehicle from Bangkok. This temple is famous for its enormous picture of a Buddha that is reclining because it is one of the few constructions that has been preserved here.

Your next stop will be at Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, which is located within the complex of the royal palace and was used by the royal family for religious ceremonies. It is widely acknowledged as Ayutthaya's most significant religious structure.

After that, you should go to Wat Mahathat Ayutthaya. It is said that the sacred relic of the Buddha was formerly kept within this temple, making it one of the oldest and most important in Ayutthaya's history. Take a moment to appreciate the iconic Buddha head that has been sculpted into the roots of a Bodhi tree.

After that, you will have a delicious lunch at a local Thai restaurant, where your guide will be available to provide recommendations on the regional delicacies served there.

Your journey should come to a close at the magnificent Wat Chaiwattanaram, which is located along the river. As you make your way through the gigantic grounds, don't forget to keep your eyes peeled for the captivating architectural style that was inspired by the Angkor Wat complex in Cambodia.

Overnight in Ayutthaya

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and check out.

Head to Lopburi to see the monkeys at Phra Prang Sam Yod, where you can spend some time exploring the area. We have lunch at a local restaurant.

Get back on the road to Sukhothai after lunch. Visit Sukhothai Historical Park to see around 200 chedis in incredible states of ruin before checking in at your hotel.

Overnight in Sukhothai

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch

Have breakfast at the hotel, then you'll head out to a nearby organic farm, where you can get your hands dirty by helping with the transplanting of rice seedlings, harvesting, or milling of rice, and even plowing the paddies with water buffalo.

If you want to get away from it all, the Baan Na Thon Chan Community in Si Satchanalai District is a great option. Our guests will have the unique opportunity to visit a part of Thailand that is not featured in any typical travel guides or brochures, and they will get a taste of what life is like for the average Thai citizen.

Try some Sukhothai-style noodle soup at a local cook shop for a simple yet satisfying meal.

After lunch, tourists can go fruit picking in an orchard, witness how fermented cloth is made, and learn about the local silk weaving tradition.

There is no mistaking the community's advanced approach to sustainable living, which is well ahead of that of those in more developed places. The residents' willingness to welcome visitors into their homes and show them around are a major highlight of this tour. The next step is to head up to Lampang.

Overnight in Lam Pang

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch

After a hearty morning meal at the hotel, check out and make their way to Lampang's most famous attraction, the Buddhist monastery Wat Phra That Lampang Luang. You will ride in one of Lampang's classic horse-drawn taxis, a service that is still in use today. Walk down Talad Kao Road and take in the historic Thai, Chinese, British, and Burmese merchant mansions, or relax in a cozy cafe and check out the local emerging art scene. Drive on to Nan, stopping in the historic Lanna village of Phrae on the way. Phrae is one of Thailand's oldest cities. Beautiful teak houses, colorful wats, and calm alleyways abound in Phrae, as do several big teak mansions from the colonial era. Vongburi House, a grand two-story teak palace built in 1897 for a family that controlled a big teak concession in the area, is well worth your time.

Lunch at a nearby eatery.

Next, head to Nan, which has been pushing its notion of Low Carbon Tourism as a Designated Area for Sustainable Tourism as of late. An hour's drive north of Nan town, in the Tha Wang Pha District, is Baan Nhong Bua, home to the flamboyant Tai Lue foundation that inspired the designs of the "Pha Lai Nam Lai" flowing water fabrics. This cloth is woven in the community from locally grown, organically dyed cotton to the beat of the river that runs through it.

After seeing Wat Phumin, the most fascinating temple in town, you can head up to Wat Phra That Khao Noi. From this vantage point, you can see all of Nan town, and the Buddha appears to be blessing it by facing it.

Overnight in Nan

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch

Have breakfast at the hotel, and then continue your exploration of the city after breakfast. Visit the Noble Mansion or Hong Chao Fongkham, a teak mansion with a lofty basement that was originally owned by Chao Fongkham. Chao Fongkham was a descendant of Chao Anataworarithidej, the 62nd Lord of Nan. The mansion has been converted into a museum where visitors may view artifacts from the prosperous era of Muang Nan, such as silverware, lace, water-line fabrics, and ornaments. Please pay a visit to the first Nan missionaries in the Ransri Kasem Building or Nan Christian School on your next trip to Nan. Exhibits and historical artifacts from Nan's past fill this structure.

The next stop is Tung Workshop in Wat Baan Phra Kerd.

Have lunch at a local restaurant.

After spending the morning in Nan, you will depart in the afternoon to make the approximately four-hour trip to Chiang Rai. When you get to Chiang Rai in the late afternoon.

Overnight in Chiang Rai

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch

Take a drive up Mae Salong Hill after breakfast to learn about the local tribe's traditional way of life. Visit "Hloyo Village" a small community of the Akha hill tribe, to get a taste of the Akha people's traditional culture and the beauty of the area. The Lo Yo community still stands as a real Akha village in the Doi Mae Salong mountain area in Chiang Rai. It is over 2,000 m above sea level. The "Lo Mia Akha" people named their village "Lo Yo" after the current leader. Most importantly, the way people live, what they believe, and how they do things are all connected to nature in some way. This has helped the town grow, and it is now surrounded by a lush forest, green fields, and clean, pollution-free air, which is just what people from big cities need to feel better.

Hloyo Village's headman and villagers will greet you warmly upon your arrival, and your local host will tell you a narrative about the Akha and their beliefs, religions, traditions, and ways of life. Travel to the mud-house-style Akha Museum. After that, you and a local guide will set out to learn about the neighborhood and its residents' way of life. Learn how the locals in the Akha culture use their ingenuity and bamboo to construct their homes. After that, spend time making tribal arts and crafts with local kids. Take part in a culinary session to learn how to make traditional Akha cuisine later. Participate and lend a hand in the kitchen. Share a meal and some tales over a home-cooked meal with a local host.

Hike around the woods after lunch to take in the stunning scenery and geological wonders of unspoiled nature. Talk to the people and check out the farms in the area. Gain an understanding of the interdependence of humans, animals, and the forest by learning to make use of its resources. It's time to say goodbye to your host family, your new neighborhood, and your new friends. Leave Hloyo Village and get back to the hotel.

Overnight in Chiang Rai

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch

Have breakfast and say your goodbyes to the hotel before getting in the car and driving to Chiang Mai. Make a detour to visit the White Temple, commonly known as Wat Rong Khun. Take a break with a cup of coffee at Chivit Thamma Da, a charming coffee restaurant that is located next to the Mae Ping River and is surrounded by an English garden. Additionally, before arriving in Chiang Mai, make a stop at the Mae Khachan Hot Springs.

When you get to Chiang Mai, go to the Monsoon Tea House Restaurant for a delicious bowl of Khao Soy. The most famous food in Chiang Mai is Khao Soy, which is made of crispy noodles and a rich coconut curry sauce. The taste of Khao Soy is a treat for the senses. After lunch, talk to the restaurant's founder about sustainable and organic Monsoon tea. After lunch, learn more about organic and sustainable Monsoon tea at the restaurant.

Let's do anything you like with the rest of the day

Overnight in Chiang Mai

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch

This morning, rise at dawn with a quick breakfast (Note: A takeaway breakfast box from the hotel will be provided) and drive towards Doi Suthep Temple to witness dozens of monks streaming down the mountain to the city of Chiang Mai to receive alms from the locals – a visually striking daily ritual.

Keep going up the mountain until you reach the picturesque Wat Doi Suthep set amidst the beautiful forested mountains. With old stone buildings, intricate carvings and statues, and plenty of breathtaking places to meditate, it’s clear why people claim Wat Pha Lat is a hidden gem in Chiang Mai.

After a visit to Doi Suthep, continue to discover one of the best-kept secret temples of Chiang Mai, Wat Pha Lat, known as the Temple below the Temple. This temple is a significant element of the Chiang Mai area’s history with its temple grounds aged beyond 650 years old.

Move forward to Wat Umong, a moss, and tiny plant-covered temple from the 14th century. Arrive at the temple's Viharn (sermon hall) after exploring its intriguing tunnel system to take part in a personal blessing ceremony. Go on to the temple of Wat Suan Dok, renowned for its white Lanna stupas.

Put an end to this delightful morning with lunch. A bowl of khao soi, it will do you good. This well-known cuisine from Northern Thailand is a blend of coconut cream, crispy noodles, and a generous amount of spicy seasoning that is guaranteed to please the tastes.

Continue your exploration of the Three Kings Monument in the afternoon, and then head to the Chiang Mai City Arts and Culture Center, which is housed in an old structure with a sophisticated architectural style and was constructed in 1927. The structure, which is situated on the site of a historic royal hall, was initially utilized as the chief administrative officer of the Phayap administrative unit of Siam. Subsequently, it was repurposed as the Provincial Hall of Chiang Mai. (Please be aware that the Chiang Mai City Arts and Culture Center is not open on Mondays or during the Songkran celebration. (Hours of operation are from 8:30 am to 17:00 pm, Tuesdays through Sundays.)

After a full day of sightseeing, let's come back to the hotel for your time.

Evening, you can walk around a nocturnal market that offers a wide variety of refreshments as well as great deals. In the event that it is the weekend, the renowned Weekend Walking Street is an experience not to be missed.

Overnight in Chiang Mai

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch

After breakfast at the hotel, make your way to the Elephant Discovery Camp. Along the way, you will travel the most scenic route in Chiang Mai, which features wonderful local roads and panoramic views.

Upon arrival, you will have the opportunity to speak with an elephant mahout, meet the elephants, and get knowledge regarding their history and way of life.  Spend time with the elephants and develop a bond with them as they interact with you and the mahouts. Take pleasure in a stroll with them as you observe them at play in the mud puddle. Master the art of talking to them and feeding them nutritious treats made from all sorts of components found in nature. Indulge in the fun of washing the elephants in a large pool.

Have lunch at Camp before going back to the hotel.

Afternoon

Participating in a Thai cooking lesson at Chiang Mai Cookery Class is something that may be done today. Learn the ins and outs of Thai food, including its nuanced flavors and distinctive presentation styles. Learn another facet of this intricate cuisine with a private cooking class that focuses on the cuisine of the Lanna region of Thailand. Go beyond the standard red, green, and yellow curries as well as pad thai, which are typically associated with Thai food. The cuisine of this region is characterized by a predilection for salty and fiery flavors, and it is built around the use of jungle vegetables and herbs, pork, and sticky rice. Cook your dinner on a traditional charcoal stove using food purchased at the market or grown on the farm, and enjoy your dinner.

Overnight in Chiang Mai

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Check out of the hotel after breakfast, and then drive to Pai in a private minivan through the twisting mountain road for around three hours and thirty minutes. Pai is located in the northern portion of Thailand. Mok Fah Waterfall, a 60-meter beauty in Huay Nam Dang National Park, and Pong Duad Hotspring are well worth a visit. This potent phenomenon emerges at a temperature of 99 degrees from deep inside the earth in a gushing motion. The people of Thailand think that it has natural characteristics that are beneficial to the complexion of the skin! On the drive there, lunch will be provided at a nearby restaurant.

Make a stop at the magnificent Pai Canyon, which is characterized by attractive red sandstone, on the way to the accommodation in Pai. The hike to the lookout above the canyon is only a short distance.

Overnight in Pai

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch 

After breakfast at the hotel, depart for the well-known cave system of Tham Lod, which is around an hour's drive away. Discover the cave system that is 1.5 kilometers long by floating on bamboo rafts while being taken through it on the river that runs through it. When they enter the cave after 4 o'clock in the afternoon, visitors will be able to watch a truly extraordinary spectacle, which consists of thousands of swifts flying into the caves to roost and an equally remarkable number of bats flying out of the caves for the night.

The community of Jabo can be found in close proximity to Tham Lod. inhabited by members of the vibrant Black Lahu Tribe, who are known for their kind hospitality. Instead of the destructive agricultural practices used elsewhere, the community decided to build its own tourist program in order to demonstrate its culture, traditional values, healing methods, and capacity to live in harmony with nature. This was done in place of the farming methods used elsewhere.

Make a brief stop at Kiew Lom Viewpoint on the way back to the hotel. From this vantage point, you will have amazing views of the Himalayan Mountains as they spread through Northern Thailand and into Myanmar.

On the way back to the hotel, we stopped for lunch at a small eatery.

Overnight in Pai

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch

Morning, breakfast at the hotel and check out. After that, we transfer you to the airport for a flight to Surat Thani. (Pai – Chiang Mai (130 km): 2.49 hr)
Upon arrival, transfer to the pier and get on a speed boat to reach Koh Samui – one of the most beautiful islands.

Overnight on Koh Samui

Meals included: Breakfast

The transport will pick you up from your hotel's lobby, and your guide will drive you to the dock. After getting helpful information from your guide, you will next embark on a journey to Ang Thong National Marine Park via speedboat.

You will begin your journey with a stop first at Koh Wao, which is made up of three islands with a shallow, sheltered bay in between. The clear seas and rich marine life make this an ideal place to go snorkeling.

Keep going until you reach Mae Koh Island, and then hike up to the viewpoint that overlooks Emerald Lagoon.

Continue your journey to Phaluai Island, where you may savor a delectable meal prepared at a Thai restaurant. Sea gypsies, who make their living off of fishing. You can take a leisurely journey along the coastline with natural rock formations by sea kayak, or you can unwind and take in the sunshine on the quiet Son Pee Hong Beach.

The journey ends on Koh Hua Talap, the main island, where visitors can swim, snorkel, and relax on white sand beaches surrounded by turquoise water or go to Pha Chan Charat Viewpoint. When the tour is over, you'll head back to the Koh Samui dock and get a ride back to your hotel.

Overnight on Koh Samui

Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch

Today is completely free and at your discretion; you can choose to unwind at your resort or on the picturesque beach. Delectable dishes, including seafood and others, are yours to enjoy.

Overnight on Koh Samui

Meals included: Breakfast

Enjoy your breakfast and check out the hotel, our driver will pick you up and transfer you to the airport for your next flight.

The tour ends. That doesn't mean you have to call a stop to your trip just yet, though! If you would like, you can stay for a couple of extra days and continue to immerse yourself in the culture and cuisine of Thailand. If you would like to start another destination in Asia, we will be pleased to help you get a great itinerary.