- Bangkok – Ayutthaya – Chiangmai – Koh Samui
12-Day Highlights in Thailand
Start your 12-day/11-night Thai adventure by arriving in Bangkok. Here, you’ll enjoy a culinary tour of Chinatown and visit significant landmarks like the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and Wat Pho. Enjoy a relaxing foot massage, then experience a sunset at Wat Arun with a monk’s blessing. Venture to the Mae Klong Railway Market and Kha Floating Market for a taste of local life before heading to Ayutthaya to explore ancient temples and learn to make roti. After returning to Bangkok, fly to Chiang Mai, where you’ll visit the revered Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and explore the Araksa Tea Plantation. Explore the majestic Doi Inthanon National Park, immersing yourself in its natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. Conclude in Koh Samui with an organic cooking class and a snorkeling trip around Ko Tao and Koh Nang Yuan. Enjoy a final day of relaxation before your departure, filled with memories of Thailand’s vibrant culture and landscapes.
Highlight
- Bangkok: Culinary and Historical Hub – “Taste and tour the heart of Thailand.”
- Ayutthaya: Ancient Majesty – “Step back into the golden age of Siam.”
- Chiang Mai: Northern Spirit – “Explore serene landscapes and rich traditions.”
- Koh Samui: Island Bliss – “Relax in tropical tranquility.””
Itinerary
Arrive at Bangkok International Airport. Meet your guide at the meeting point and private transfer to the hotel. Arrive at the hotel, check in, and have free time at leisure.
Evening, meet your guide in the hotel lobby, and let the food exploration begin! Take a culinary journey through Bangkok’s Chinatown, renowned as one of the world’s best food destinations. Kickstart your culinary journey with a refreshing platter of tropical fruits, including juicy mango, exotic mangosteen, vibrant rambutan, and crisp guava. Next, enjoy some satay pork, a dish originally from Indonesia that has now become a well-loved dish across Southeast Asia.
Then walk to enjoy a welcome drink at a nice bar in the Yaowarat area before returning to the hotel.
Today, begin your exploration of the complex with a visit to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew). Regarded as Thailand’s most sacred icon, the Emerald Buddha is 66cm in height and sits in a state of meditation. Continuing, you will explore the 240-year-old Grand Palace, an opulent and historic landmark.
As your exploration continues, venture to Wat Pho. Delve into the captivating history of King Rama I, who revitalized the temple, leaving behind a legacy embodied by the illustrious Reclining Buddha. Stretching an impressive 46 meters in length, this reclining position symbolizes Buddha’s entry into Nirvana. Beyond the iconic Reclining Buddha, discover a labyrinth of chedis, a scripture hall, and a library, guarded by the imposing Wat Pho Giants. Then enjoy the 30-minute foot massage at a traditional massage school near Wat Pho.
After lunch at a local restaurant, you will walk to the renowned Pak Klong Talat Flower Market, a bustling hub of colors and activity open 24 hours a day. Experience a hands-on flower-arranging workshop with a local vendor amidst the fragrant blooms.
Then ride on a public boat to Wat Arun, one of Bangkok’s most iconic sights. Known as the “Temple of Dawn,” bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun. Climb its iconic Khmer-style prang, adorned with intricate porcelain shards, and let breathtaking panoramas of the city unfold beneath your feet. During your visit, you will meet a local monk and experience the monk’s blessing before returning to the hotel.
Start your morning tour by meeting your guide at your hotel lobby and preparing to Mae Klong Railway Market. When you step into Mae Klong’s embrace, you’ll feel the rhythm of the rails beneath your feet. Stalls overflowing with exotic fruits and handcrafted souvenirs line the tracks, their aromas mingling with the sizzling symphony of street food. The train rumbles by, leaving behind a trail of thrilling memories as vendors twirl awnings and shift displays, their laughter reverberating through the air.
Next, drive to discover the Kha Floating Market. This hidden gem is renowned for its authentic and traditional atmosphere that offers a unique experience that showcases the traditional Thai way of life. The gentle canal will guide you through a kaleidoscope of colors as you take a ride on a traditional wooden boat.
Finally, you will return to Bangkok, enjoy free time at leisure to unpack your treasures, reflect on your day’s adventures, and let the spirit of Thailand linger in your soul.
Meet your guide at the hotel lobby and embark on a journey to Ayutthaya.
Begin your exploration of Ayutthaya, the cultural heart of ancient Siam, founded in 1350. Explore the captivating history from the 14th to the 18th century, marked by prosperity and cosmopolitanism.
Arrive at Ayutthaya, visit the venerable Wat Yai Chaimongkol, an active Buddhist temple dating back to the 14th century. Climb the main chedi for panoramic views.
Continue to Wat Mahathat, one of the city’s oldest temples, and witness the iconic Buddha head entwined in tree roots. After that, you will learn how to make this type of roti from scratch. They might learn about the ingredients, the traditional techniques for preparing and stretching the dough, and the cooking process.
Enjoy lunch on a river cruise around the Ayutthaya island.
Afternoon, visit Wat Phra Si Sanphet, the ‘Temple of the Holy,’ admired for its three traditional bell-shaped chedis. Then visit Wat Chai Wattanaram, a 17th-century temple along the Chao Phraya River, designed in classic Khmer style. Admire its towering spire and Buddha statues. As the day concludes, return to Bangkok, leaving you with free time at leisure.
After breakfast at the hotel, private transfer with a guide to Bangkok Airport and fly to Chiang Mai. Arrive at Chiang Mai, welcome by a local guide and private transfer to your hotel.
End of the day, travel west of Chiang Mai to the venerable Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, perched on Mount Doi Suthep. The temple’s origins, shrouded in legend, are believed to be traced back to 1383. As a place of pilgrimage, it has expanded over time, captivating Thai devotees.
Witness Buddhist monks chanting in meditation, enhancing the temple’s sacred atmosphere. Amidst religious architecture and relics, savor breathtaking views of Chiang Mai City during a captivating Thai sunset.
Today, start your day with tea culture. Nestled in the picturesque Mae Tang region of Chiang Mai, Thailand, Araksa Tea Plantation stands as a tranquil and scenic estate renowned for its verdant landscapes and tea fields. This destination offers a unique opportunity to delve into the intricacies of tea cultivation and production.
Afternoon, drive to visit the Chiang Mai Women’s Correctional Institute, a center where inmates are taught skills in massage, hospitality, and customer service, to help rehabilitate them once they leave prison. There is also an opportunity to communicate with some of the inmates to learn about their lives and work at the institute.
Return to the hotel and free time at leisure.
Meet your guide at the hotel and embark on a journey to Doi Inthanon National Park. Nestled in Chiang Mai, Doi Inthanon National Park is a captivating natural sanctuary. It takes its name from Doi Inthanon, the highest peak in the country, towering at an elevation of 2,565 meters (8,415 feet) above sea level. The park is celebrated for its enchanting natural landscapes, diverse flora and fauna, and rich cultural significance. Revel in the awe-inspiring scenery, encompassing verdant forests, cascading waterfalls, and a summit that offers panoramic vistas of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
Throughout the excursion, you’ll have the opportunity to visit Wachirathan Waterfall, explore the charming Mae Klang Luang village, and discover pagodas and shrines dedicated to the Thai king and queen, strategically positioned near the summit. These historical sites not only provide insights into Thai royal history but also offer serene spaces for contemplation.
As the day concludes, return to Chiang Mai town, where you can enjoy free time at your leisure.
Time to say goodbye to Chiang Mai and fly to Koh Samui. Arrive at Koh Samui, meet a local guide, and private transfer to your hotel. Arrive at the hotel, check in, and have free time at leisure.
Today, take part in an organic cooking class experience in Koh Samui at the Island Organic Thai Cooking Class. Begin your visit with a tour of the micro-farm where many of the ingredients you will use in your cooking class are grown. The owners use aquaponics, the use of fish fertilizer, to fertilize their farm and grow delicious and organic local produce. Take a tour of the farm and assist your expert chef guide in picking produce that you will use later in your cooking class.
Enjoy an exciting day trip out to the beautiful islands of Ko Tao and Koh Nang Yuan, located in the stunning Gulf of Thailand. Begin your tour today by traveling over an hour to Ko Tao, an island that is known for its clear waters, abundant sea life, and is a favorite for scuba divers and snorkelers alike! Here, you will enjoy a 45-minute snorkeling experience, which will allow you to appreciate the beautiful marine life that lives here. We will then visit a second location on Ko Tao to enjoy further snorkeling. Depending on where you are on the island, you will have the opportunity to see different marine life and different undersea environments.
Next, on Koh Tao, we will enjoy a delicious Thai buffet lunch on the beach. Your lunch will include delicious items such as fried chicken, Thai Green Curry, and prawn fried rice (please note we can also cater to vegetarian and allergy restrictions).
Next, return to your speedboat and head to Koh Nang Yuan, known for its splendid coral reefs, clear waters, and stunning viewpoints. Here, you will have the option to enjoy swimming, relax on the beach, or hike to the viewpoint where you can enjoy panoramic views across the Gulf of Thailand.
Return by speedboat to Koh Samui.
Free day at leisure.
Meet your guide at the hotel lobby and private transfer to Koh Samui Airport. Fly to your next destination.
ROUTE
Bangkok – Ayutthaya – Chiangmai – Koh Samui
12Ds/11Ns
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