Gorgeous Thailand in 13 Days – Private Tour

Your Thailand trip begins with your arrival in Bangkok. Your private driver will meet you at the airport, holding a signboard with your name. He will escort you to your accommodation right in the heart of the city. You can easily explore the city at your own pace or relax at the hotel after the flight.

Overnight in Bangkok.

An early start will get you to Wat Pho in time to experience the early morning monks’ chanting ritual (which starts at 09:00 am). After this uplifting and often private experience, visit the temple grounds and the famous 45-meter reclining Buddha. Then continue to the Grand Palace, the most remarkable landmark of Thailand, where you will be awed by the grandeur and majesty of the building and its throne halls. Then marvel at the mysterious Emerald Buddha, the most revered Buddha image in the country. 

Get on the long tail boat to have delicious lunch at the delightful Never Ending Summer, situated deep inside the local plantation. (Note: Lunch at Never Ending Summer is one choice of main dishes with drinking water). After lunch, get back on the long tail boat again sailing up to Klong that takes us away from the normal tourist trail. Inside the network of Khlongs guest will stop at  Wat Khun Chan which is an coffee can be enjoyed before entering Wat Paknam or the white stupa with a hidden museum. Back in the boat and continue on a beautiful part of the Klong with mix of old wooden houses and new modern mansions until reaching an orchid and fruit farm where guest will have time to walk around and see the many types of orchids on display (the fruit and orchid farm are depend on season and subject to change)

Note: Grand Palace is one of the most popular destinations and has many visitors. To get the best out of your visit and avoid crowds on spot we will allow your guide flexibility to visit the temple either early morning or late afternoon if possible in your itinerary. If you by any means decide that there are too many people for your liking, the guide can bring you to an alternative temple in the area such as Wat Saket or Wat Suthat, this decision needs to be made before entering the Grand Palace.

Overnight in Bangkok.

After breakfast at the hotel, take just a short drive from the bustling streets of Bangkok, and the high-rise urban landscape dissolves into a lush green rural idyll. This full-day trip to Samut Songkhram Province, only an hour outside the capital, allows you to experience the traditional charms of the Thai countryside.

Your day will start with a trip to a local railway station where a bustling country market has sprouted up along the tracks. When a train pulls in or out of the station, the vendors quickly clear their stalls, only to set them up again moments later when the train has passed! From here, the journey continues to the famous Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Although quite touristy today, the market remains the best example to showcase how a floating market originally was like decades ago.

A relaxing paddle boat ride through the labyrinth of canals offers the chance to see the old part of the floating market and the local lifestyle along the canal side.

Get off the boat, it is time to enjoy strolling around the colorful floating marketplace bustling with boats and vendors selling tropical fruits and other delights. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. 

The tour continues by a long-tail boat to a local Buddhist temple and the King Rama II Memorial Park, with its ornate collection of Thai-style pavilions. 

Note: For visits falling on a Saturday or Sunday, the tour offers the option of choosing between visiting Damnoen Saduak or the smaller and less touristy floating market Tha Kha where a short paddle boat tour in the backwaters offers a visit to an old coconut palm sugar workshop.

Overnight in Bangkok.

The day begins with approximately one hour and a half drive from Bangkok to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed city of Ayutthaya, passing through verdant countryside and lush paddy fields. Upon arrival in Ayutthaya, which dates back to the 14th Century, spend the morning exploring the breathtaking temple-studded landscape visiting the highlighted temples of the city from Wat Yai Chaimongkol, Wat Mahathat (where the Buddha face is naturally emerged out of the tree), and strolling through a local market to get to Wat Phra Srisanphet. Proceed on a trip to the town’s Muslim Quarter which offers the opportunity to sample an unusual local delicacy such as candy floss roti.

After lunch at a local restaurant, the tour continues with a leisurely one hour long-tail boat ride down the Chao Phraya River. This boat trip commences at Wat Niwet Thammaprawat, one of the area’s most distinctive Buddhist temples, featuring remarkable Gothic-style architecture and stained glass windows. Then take the cable car across the river and go by golf car to visit Bang Pa-In Summer Palace, the majestic mansions of Thailand’s Royal family. When visit is done at Bang Pa-In, you return to Bangkok by van, approximately one hour drive.

Overnight in Bangkok.

Have breakfast at the hotel and enjoy your free time until our driver will meet you at the hotel lobby and transfer you to the airport for your flight to Chiang Mai. Upon arrival in Chiang Mai, our driver will meet you at the airport and take you to the hotel in the heart of the city. 

In the afternoon, meet your guide at the hotel, and travel thirty minutes by vehicle north of Chiang Mai city to a long-tail boat dock, where you will take a leisurely stroll around the grounds with an herbal garden. Then board a long-tail boat and enjoy a 30-minute cruise along the rural Mae Ping River. Along the river banks, you will see traditional wooden houses and modern residences. Arrive at a boat landing and walk for about 10 minutes from the landing to Waroros fresh food market for a visit, experiencing the Northern Thai way of life. 

After the tour, transfer back to your hotel.

Overnight in Chiang Mai

Get up early in the morning and leave the hotel around 6:30-7:00 am. Take a drive approximately 1.5 hours South of Chiang Mai through rolling hills, forest, and local farming areas. 

Upon arrival at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, you will change into Karen traditional clothing and learn about the elephants and how to make medicine for them. Then you will meet the elephants and have the opportunity to feed them and interact with them. Don’t forget to take amazing pictures! You will also learn about elephants’ behaviour and history. 

Later change into your swimming clothes and walk down to the river to join the mud spa with elephants. 

Wrap up your day with a traditional Thai lunch before saying goodbye to elephants and heading back to your hotel.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Depart your hotel at 06.00 am (Note: Take away breakfast from the hotel) and arrive at the foot hill of Doi Suthep mountain, in time to buy offerings and join the locals during the daily alms giving ceremony. This is a serene Buddhist procession where dozens of monks walk barefoot through the street collecting food and everyday items.

Continue up the mountain to Wat Doi Suthep and climb the 309 steps of the Golden Naga staircase to reach its golden pagodas. After a visit to Doi Suthep, continue to discover one of the best-kept secret temples of Chiang Mai, Wat Palad, 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.

Next, proceed to Wat Umong, built in the 14th century, a heavily forested temple covered by moss and small plants offering a unique yet charming sense of natural decay. After a walk through its mysterious tunnels you reach the Viharn of the temple to experience your own private blessing ceremony.

After that, enjoy this lovely day with a delicious bowl of Khao Soy. This famous Northern Thai dish is a combination of coconut cream, crispy noodles and plenty of spice that is sure to delight!

In the afternoon, continue to visit the Three Kings Monument, followed by Chiang Mai City Arts and Culture Center, located in an old building of elegant architectural design built in 1927. Standing on the location of a former royal hall, the building was used as the central administrative office of Phayap administrative unit of Siam, and later as the Provincial Hall of Chiang Mai.

Note: Chiang Mai City Arts and Culture Center is closed on Mondays and during Songkran festival. Open from Tuesdays – Sundays: 08:30 – 17:00

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Depart for Mae Kampong village in the Mae On district and drive through the picturesque countryside of Chiang Mai. En route a stop is made at a local market to select ingredients for your lunch. Continue to Mae Kampong village where you are met upon arrival by villagers before beginning a stroll through the community forest, passing tea and coffee fields. Return to the village in time to watch lunch being prepared by your host family to see how Thai food is prepared in the countryside.

After lunch, relax with Thai traditional massage and take a walk around the village to see the processing of fermented tea leaves, and various products which are handmade in the village. In the late afternoon, drive back through the mountains to Chiang Mai.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Relish the remaining moment in Chiang Mai before your private driver escorts you to the airport to take the flight to Phuket, where the beautiful beaches are awaiting you.

Overnight in Phuket

H/D visit The Gibbon Rehabilitation Project (0930am-1330pm) 

Pick up and transfer to the Khao Prataew National Park, nestled in the last remaining rainforest of Phuket where is the Gibbon Rehabilitation Project there.

During your visit, we will introduce you to our mission, research works, and the gibbons in our care. You will have the opportunity to learn and enjoy making gibbon nutrition balls wrapped in banana leaves, which will be put into our long-distance feeding system to feed the gibbons.

We will also teach you how to observe and collect valuable research data from the gibbons, as well as how to differentiate and understand each voice they make and the hidden meaning of their movement behaviors. We will share unforgettable stories while following this species in the deep jungle. This is a unique opportunity to become a gibbon research assistant and make a positive impact on their lives.

Additionally, if you are lucky, you may also have the chance to see other beautiful wildlife, such as the Oriental Pied Hornbill, Flying Lemurs, Flying Dragon, Golden Orb-weaver Spider, and many more. Our experience ends at 12 pm, but we recommend that you spend an additional hour trekking and appreciating the beautiful waterfall in the last remaining rainforest of Phuket.

Free afternoon at leisure to relax on the beach.

Overnight in Phuket

Phuket is known for its outstanding beaches offering a wide variety of scenery, atmospheres, facilities, and even textures of sand. Spend your day relaxing at one of the island’s beaches, you have many options to choose from:

For example, Kata Beach is always a reliable option with soft white sand, shady palm trees, water sports, and a laid-back atmosphere. You can easily spend the day here with a handful of food and drink vendors.

Another idea is Nai Harn Beach located at the end of Phuket, which has grown in popularity over the years. However, thanks to the relatively small size of the bay and its large lake on the other side, the beach hasn’t been developed like others nearby. That being said, nice hotels, shops, and restaurants are located nearby for food and drink. 

If you are seeking a more isolated atmosphere, head to Freedom Beach with possibly the best white sand in Phuket. Though it’s more challenging to get to (you can either hike a steep path or take a longtail boat to arrive), you’ll escape the motorized water sports and beach vendors for truly peaceful environs.

Overnight in Phuket

Free at your leisure to discover Phuket by yourself. The largest island in Thailand, Phuket is a beautiful destination for sightseeing and adventures. The island itself is rife with diverse landscapes, from its famous sandy beaches to forested hills, mountains, limestone cliffs, low plains, lagoons and lush tropical forests.

Today you can just have a relaxing time at the beach, go swimming or snorkelling. You also could visit the Aquarium in Cape Panwa to see the diversity of the sea life on this island. If you are into adventures, challenge yourself with the zipline at Flying Hanuman. In the evening don’t miss the night markets and visit the busy Bangla Road for a drink.

Overnight in Phuket

Relish a healthy breakfast on the final day of your trip. Complete the hotel check-out formalities after which you can visit the local markets and buy souvenirs for your loved ones. Later, proceed for departure and board your flight back home. 

Goodbye and safe travel!