Beautiful Thailand in a 16-day tour

Welcome to Thailand. Thailand's bustling capital, Bangkok is famous for its tuk tuks, khlong boats and street vendors serving up delicious Thai food. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. Bangkok has so much to offer those with time to explore, so perhaps arrive a day or so early and take a riverboat to Chinatown and explore the crowded streets, uncover the magnificent Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, wander down the tourist mecca of Khao San Road, or indulge in some Thai massage. After the meeting tonight, why not get some of your newfound travel pals together for a street food crawl.

Start the day with a one-hour river cruise down the Chao Phraya River to explore the famous ‘khlongs’, or canals. Life along these canals seems a world away from the chaotic streets of the capital. Pay a visit to Wat Pho, one of the ‘trinity’ of Bangkok temples, with a 46-metre long gold plated Buddha reclining inside. Even the feet of this statue are incredible, three metres long and intricately decorated with mother of pearl. The temple grounds are equally fascinating, filled with beautifully decorated stupas, halls and shrines. Afterwards, transfer to Kanchanaburi (approximately 4 hours). Located where the Khwae Noi and Khwae Yai rivers converge, Kanchanaburi is home to the infamous 'Bridge on the River Kwai'.

This morning you’ll get an insight into the darker side of Kanchanaburi’s history with a visit to the Kanchanaburi War Cemetary (POW Cemetary) which was one of the first museums to attempt to educate the public and keep alive the memory of the Asian and POW workers who died constructing the infamous ‘Death Railway’. Then travel to Erawan National Park (approximately 1.5 hours each way), where you can explore the famous seven-level waterfall, and take a dip, if you’d like! The falls are considered the most beautiful in the whole country, with turquoise blue waters rushing through the forest into bamboo-shaded pools. If you want to make the climb all the way from level one to level seven it’s about a 90-minute hike, with the uppermost level usually quiet and with a stunning view over the jungle below. Be sure to pack your swimming gear, but also appropriate footwear if you’re going to make the walk. Level seven features a triple cascade that gives the falls their name – Erawan is the mythological three-headed white elephant that carries the Hindu god Indra.
 

Be ready for a cruisy day as you’ll spend today and tonight floating down the Mae Glong River in a raft house. The rafthouse is towed by a boat and is an ideal and relaxing way to travel down the river – definitely setting the scene for pure relaxation. Spend the afternoon temple-hopping down the river, stopping off to see the cave temple of Wat Baan Tham, the Chinese Wat Tham Khao Noi, and Wat Tham Suea. There’s also plenty of time for travel games, reading a book, listening to your favourite playlist or just watching the world go by with a view of the lush Thai countryside. Enjoy a Thai meal on board and watch day turn to night as you moor on the riverside and fall asleep with the gentle rock of the boat.

After breakfast, leave the beautiful nature of Kanchanaburi behind and head to historic Sukhothai that translates to ‘dawn of happiness’. The city was founded in the 13th century and became the kingdom’s first capital.
Stop for lunch at a local restaurant along the way.
Check-in at the hotel and get ready for dinner at the hotel followed by an evening of relaxation.
Overnight in Sukhothai.

After breakfast drive north to Sri Satchanalai Historical Park on the bank of the Yom River north of Sukhothai. The ancient town, formerly called Muang Chaliang was named Sri Satchanalai during the reign of Phra Ruang and 134 ruined monuments have been discovered within the park.
Before arriving in Sri Satchanalai, stop at a local farm to have a fruit sample tasting. Then visit the main sites of the historical park including several temples as well as the Celadon Kiln Site Study and Conservation Center at Ban Ko Noi.
Continue the drive to the northern capital, then take some time this evening for a free and easy dinner. 
Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, get a true taste of Thai life. Spend a day far removed from the tourist areas of Chiang Mai and be immersed in local culture.
Firstly, it’s important to dress like a local, so don a pair of ‘fisherman’s pants’, the comfortable cotton trousers worn in rural villages in the north. Then venture out of the city centre to the local district of Hang Dong to meet Mr. Prapat and his family. The hosts will provide a warm welcome into their home.
After meet and greets, explore the property of Mr. Prapat to encounter local architectural styles and uniquely traditional ways of life. There may be an opportunity to witness basket weaving, a handmade process that has remained unchanged for centuries.
Next up is a visit to Mr. Prapat’s gardens to browse his vibrant array of vegetation. Select some fresh ingredients, grab an apron and head inside to begin the interactive cooking experience! The family will share their recipes and demonstrate the traditional techniques needed to prepare delicious northern Thai dishes. Share stories of food and family while cooking today’s lunch. Afterwards sit down with the family and dine on the tasty meal.
Take the afternoon off to explore the neighbourhood. Capture scenes of daily life and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of this local area.
Towards the end of the day, say farewell to Mr. Prapat and his family and return to Chiang Mai.
Overnight in Chiang Mai.

After breakfast, we transfer to visit the most famous temple in Chiang Mai – Wat Pra Maha Doi Sutthep (or just Doi Sutthep for short) – This beautiful temple is situated way up high on the side of a mountain, so the views from the top are just incredible and you get a panoramic view of the whole of Chiang Mai below.
The afternoon is your free time.
Overnight in Chiang Mai.
 

Set off by road and travel from Chiang Mai to Mae Chan, then transfer to Doi Mae Salong. The atmosphere in the charming town of Doi Mae Salong is reminiscent of a small southern Chinese village, as it was settled by former Chinese Nationalist soldiers who fled from (then) Burma in the 1960s. The region is famous for its Chinese tea traders and you can enjoy a cup of tea in a traditional Chinese tea house overlooking the mountains and tea fields. Check out the interesting markets, where you may see produce and crafts made by hilltribe people like the Akha.

Jump in a private vehicle and drive for about 1 hour into the Mae Chan District to reach the Ahsa farm stay. Here, take part in a farm to table cooking experience, where you’ll wander the property in search for organic eggs, fruits and vegetables. Then, continue back to the kitchen and begin whipping up a culinary storm – you’ll learn the secrets of a punchy chilli paste, hot and sour soups, a Thai-style stir fry and a traditional dessert. You’ll learn how to make these dishes from a local chef from the village, and then enjoy the fruits of your labour over a relaxed lunch. After your hunger is tamed, continue to Chiang Rai city, where you’ll arrive at your guesthouse for the evening. Chiang Mai's 'little sister', Chiang Rai boasts a relaxed atmosphere, a great night market, and a variety of good restaurants. This charming city has a small-town feel and is a great place to explore on foot.

Today marks the beginning of your trek through hilltribe villages which, for many travellers is the highlight of their Thai adventure. Visit various villages, each with their own unique language, clothing style and belief system. After breakfast, transfer to Karen village of Baan Yang Khamnu. After a short walk along the road, climb through bamboo forest for just over an hour to the top of a hill. Around 50 minutes later you’ll arrive at a lovely waterfall where you’ll break for lunch. Through more beautiful forest, crossing streams and climbing up a mountainside, you’ll reach the Akha village of Baan Pha Sert Nai mid-afternoon. There are around 46 families in the village, most of whom emigrated from Myanmar around 16 years ago, and you’ll stay with in a home near a stream with a forest view. You can join in with the villagers playing football, volleyball or other local games. Lend a hand to help your guide cook a delicious dinner of local food and enjoy an early evening meal in this memorable location and experience.

After breakfast, chat with local women and see the handicrafts that they sell, perhaps choosing to purchase some – spending your money on community enterprises directly can help support community development. Begin your trek around 9 am, with a distance of around 5-6 kilometres covered today. For the next 1.5 hours you'll walk up a hill though scenic bamboo forest, then descent down to a stream where you can break and splash on some refreshingly cool water. Relax and refuel with your snacks, then continue uphill to the main trail. Here you can see a Buddha image above a well of clean holy spring water that the locals drink from. Nearby is the Lisu village, with a beautiful view across the countryside to the village you’ll stay in. Pass some tea plantations, then an hour later reach Huay Kaew Waterfall. This last section can get quite hot in the dry season, so the waterfall is perfect for cooling off, so why not tackle a quick climb uphill and laze in the refreshing waters. Close by is the Akha village of Baan Khum Akha, where you’ll stay tonight. The village overlooks a majestic valley surrounded by native jungle, tea plantations and lychee farms. You’ll arrive around 2 pm and, after a walk around the village, have time to relax – maybe even with a recuperating massage. Flex your cooking skills as you help the guide with dinner tonight.

Another 9 am trek start takes you uphill though lychee fields, then downhill on a hike that’s easier going than yesterday. Take it easy for the next 1.5 hours or so as you walk through scenery of rice fields and bamboo jungle, stopping in the village of Baan Ja-Jor to take a look around and maybe say hi to the local school kids. Then it’s not too far to the end of the trek at Pha Sert Hot Springs in Mae Kok National Park. You walk for a total of around 3 hours today. Here you’ll have lunch and can relax, swim and reward you muscles in the springs. Transfer back to Chiang Rai (approximately 40 minutes), arriving around 1 pm.

In the morning visit privately owned Wat Rong Khun, more commonly known as the White Temple – a must visit in Chiang Rai. This contemporary temple is constantly being updated, and its strange design features references to Buddhist mythology, human sin and pop culture icons such as Michael Jackson, Harry Potter and Superman. Afterwards, transfer to the airport to take the flight to Bangkok.

Spend your day shopping or sightseeing before meeting up with your group for dinner. This is a great opportunity to visit the weekend market at Chatuchak – one of the biggest and busiest markets you will ever see. Your leader can also give you other ideas of what to do – places like Jim Thompson's House, the Grand Palace and Chinatown are all great to explore. There's a fantastic array of transport options available for getting around this traffic-choked city and although it's most efficient to stick to the canals, river, and Skytrain, a trip in a tuk-tuk is certainly an experience!
 

Breakfast and free day at leisure.
Transfer to the airport to take the departure flight