Classic Thailand

You’ll be met in the arrivals hall of Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport by a private guide, who will then lead you to a private vehicle in which you’ll be transferred to your downtown hotel. In typical traffic, this will be a transfer of around 45 minutes.

Thailand’s bouncing capital is one of the world’s great cities. Sitting at the mouth of a tropical river delta, facing the Gulf of Thailand, the ‘Venice of the East’ is bisected by the languorous Chaophraya river and riddled with natural and manmade canals. You’ll find the city caught between the past and present with modern shopping malls, galleries, and spas, sitting alongside atmospheric temples, glittering palaces, and ancient canal-side neighborhoods. Bangkok is a cacophony of sights and sounds, and the fun here is just diving into the nonstop action, while sampling some of the world’s best cheap eats along the way.

Today’s full-day tour of Bangkok will see you discover the city like a local, taking advantage of the city’s varied public transportation network to cover all the main sites while also getting a closer look at the traditions and lifestyles of the Thai people. Your guide will meet you at your hotel and take you down to the nearby launch on the Chao Phraya. Here you’ll board a public ferry, travel up along the river and watch the city skyline slip by. Disembark at the iconic Wat Pho and Grand Palace, Bangkok’s cultural icons, and spend the remainder of the morning exploring these two remarkable sites, learning about the country’s regal history and of the deep-rooted spiritual traditions of its people.

Hop aboard a tuk-tuk, the ubiquitous Thai three-wheeled moto-taxis, used by locals across the country. Zip through quieter city streets to Soi Ban Batra, where you’ll visit a family-run workshop that produces monks’ alms bowls. Witness the artisans at work and learn about the daily lives of the Buddhist monks who wake early to collect alms offerings from the city’s residents.

The final leg of the tour is on a ‘bus boat’ through the canals which cut right through the heart of the city. Rarely used by tourists, this mode of transport provides an up-close look at the ways of life of the local people who live right up against the edge of the canals. Disembark and take a short walk up to the Jim Thompson House. Take an insightful tour of the compound’s tranquil gardens and traditional buildings, which showcases the history of the mysterious American silk merchant. Afterwards, stroll to the nearby modern shopping malls on Rami I Road for some retail therapy, then return to the hotel via Skytrain, Bangkok’s modern elevated railway which whistles through the city up above its busy traffic-clogged streets.

Make an early start this morning, driving 80km southwest from Bangkok to the suburban province of Samut Songkhram in the Mae Klong River Delta. You’ll be dropped at a small, unassuming local train station, where you’ll jump on a slow-stopping local service. A ride of around 30-40 minutes brings you into the terminus town Mae Klong, famed for its busy market which is held around and right on top of the train tracks. After time to explore the market, you’ll step back and watch the train begin its return journey, inching its way slowly back out through the market stalls on the way out of Mae Klong.

Continue by road to the famous Damnoen Saduak floating market. Although now rather touristy, the market remains the best example of how a floating market may have looked decades ago. Transfer to a gentle paddleboat into the quieter nearby waterways to visit a family that makes coconut sugar syrup at their teak house, stopping to observe the cottage industry in process and tasting a glass of the sweet produce. Also nearby are some beautiful local temples, a beautiful 400-year-old banyan tree, and a park dedicated to King Rama II, which houses a small local museum.

Later in the evening your guide will meet you at the hotel in the early evening, and you’ll then set off together on a voyage of culinary discovery. Traveling by tuk-tuk, you’ll whizz through the buzzing city streets and sample the best street food the city has to offer, including an authentic Isan (northern Thai) restaurant, a Michelin-listed chicken noodle stall, and a vendor who claims to serve up the best pad thai in the city.

In between bites, you’ll enjoy an intriguing nighttime visit to Wat Pho, and a walk through the colorful flower market nearby. The evening finishes with a drink at a secret bar down on the river bank, facing the glittering Temple of Dawn. Your guide will drop you back at your hotel – unless of course, you prefer to stay out and keep the night rolling!

This morning your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel and then drop you back at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport, where you’ll board a short domestic flight up to Thailand’s northern capital, Chiang Mai.

In the evening your guide will take you for a nighttime discovery tour of Thailand’s northern capital. Travel by tuk tuk to a local temple arriving to see the evening prayers as the sun sets and the temple is illuminated like a glistening diamond. Observe the monks chanting their evening prayers and join local worshipers in lighting incense and candles, and giving offerings of good luck and health. Continue to the Three King’s Monument, where you’ll learn more about Chiang Mai’s history as the capital of the Lanna kingdom, a separate country independent of Thailand. You’ll then dive into Warorot Market: even at this late hour it is a hive of activity, with stalls selling fresh flowers, clothes, and mouthwatering street food.

Next up – dinner. Cross the Ping River on foot using the ‘Indian Bridge’ and arrive at a picturesque riverfront dining spot, where you’ll enjoy a sumptuous meal of Northern Thai delights accompanied by live music. Round off the evening with a cocktail at a rooftop bar nearby, after which you can be dropped off back at your hotel or continue the night’s adventures independently.

This morning you’ll travel out in the countryside, around an hour north of Chiang Mai, where you’ll visit our carefully selected pick of Chiang Mai’s many elephant centers. This park has excellent conservation credentials, rescuing former working elephants and providing a beautiful natural environment for their rehabilitation. The park runs a ‘hand’s off’ visitor program, during which you can walk with these beautiful creatures and observe them up close, but there is no direct interaction – such as feeding, bathing, and riding. The day will also involve a tour of the verdant park grounds and the opportunity to meet other rescued species under the park’s care, such as buffalo, dogs, cats, horses, and tropical birds.

You’ll be out and about with the elephants for much of the day and likely to join them in their daily dip, so please make sure to bring sunscreen, mosquito repellent, a hat, and a change of clothes! Lunch is included during your visit.

Today you’ll explore the scenically and culturally rich Doi Inthanon National Park, situated around 90 minutes to the west of Chiang Mai but – with its cool climate and fresh mountain air – feels an entire world away from the buzz of the ancient city. The park is home to Thailand’s highest peak – Doi Inthanon, at 2565m above sea level – with a rugged mountainous terrain spilling down to lush tropical forests and dotted with mighty rivers and majestic waterfalls. The park’s protected status makes it a sanctuary for a wide range of animal species with more than 383 species of birds being reported.

You’ll be driven right up to the summit of the mountain, enjoying the epic views and hoping to catch sight of Long Tailed Green Sunbirds which are endemic to the park. You’ll then set off on a short nature walk along the Ang Ka Trail, passing through a lush valley carpeted with mossy trees, orchids, and tiny streams. At the end of the trail you’ll get back in your car and travel to a twin-monument dedicated to former King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit.

Later, take a short walk around a traditional market of the Hmong minority, then stop in a local restaurant to sample a delicious northern Thai lunch. Finish the day with a scenic stop at Wachiratharn Waterfall, known as one of the most scenic waterfalls in all of Chiang Mai. You’ll then return to your hotel in the city late afternoon.

After a leisurely breakfast, you’ll be transferred back to Chiang Mai Airport, where you’ll board your 90-minute flight down to Phuket.

Thailand’s largest and most famous island is home to some of the country’s most enticing beach resorts. There are around 30 noted beaches, all featuring powdery white sands and cerulean seas, with visitors able to choose from busier or quieter locales dependent on their interest. Interior Phuket offers a huge array of amenities and activities, with opportunities to indulge in legendary Thai massage, dine on fresh-caught seafood, hike in the interior, arrange water sports, or enjoy lots of great shopping.

Today you’ll embark on an enthralling day tour around the spectacular islands of Phang Nga Bay. The day begins with an early morning pick-up from your hotel before boarding a typically Thai longtail boat and setting off into the Bay. You’ll visit a series of remarkable limestone outcrops, taking in Talu Cave, the fishing village of Tak Dad, the 150-year-old Muslim village of Koh Panyi, and the natural beauty of Panak Island. A further highlight will be a visit to Tapu Island, now known better as James Bond island following its starring role in ‘The Man With Golden Gun’.

In between these stops you’ll pause at a totally isolated cove for a picnic lunch on the beach. There will also be ample time to sunbathe and to swim and snorkel amongst incredibly clear waters and pristine coral.

Today is totally free to relax and enjoy Phuket. There are many excellent facilities on offer at your hotel, plus of course the magnificent beach, but should you wish to stay active we have a few ideas in mind. Another speedboat trip could take you out to the Phi Phi islands, or to dive or snorkel again in Phang Nga Bay. Staying on the island, dramatic hikes are available in the jungly mountainous interior, or you might like to indulge in some cultural immersion with a cooking class or village walk. Alternatively, head to one of the livelier beaches on the island for lots of shopping, dining, and nightlife opportunities. Make sure to ask your expert for their recommendations on how best to spend this day!

Today your adventures in Thailand must come to an end. At the appropriate time, you’ll be transferred privately from your beach resort to Phuket Airport, arriving in good time to check-in for your onward flight. Speak to your consultant for ideas on how to tailor or extend this sample tour.