Best of Thailand with Phuket

Arrival Note: Sah wah dee khaa! Welcome to Thailand! Whether your flight lands at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport or Don Mueang International Airport, our guide will greet you at the arrival hall on time. We have already arranged for you a comfortable air-conditioned car with a chauffeur who will escort you to the hotel in downtown Bangkok. We can get there in 30 to 40 minutes if there are no traffic jams. On the way, our guide will give you a brief introduction to Thailand and you can get a quick view of this bustling metropolis from the car window.

Activities & Dinner Suggestion:
In order not to strain you after your long flight, we have no sightseeing for the rest of the day. You can have a good rest in the hotel. If you are not tired, you can also walk around the neighborhood by yourself. We have carefully selected the hotel for you, which not only offers first-class facilities and service, but also enjoys a convenient location, from where you can take a half-hour taxi to visit the National Museum Bangkok to get an impression of Thailand art and history, and then walk 10 minutes to the Khaosan Road Night Market, which has a variety of gourmet stalls and restaurants. The Thai rice noodle soup, fried noodles, fried spring rolls, mango rice and grilled skewers are all available here.

Accommodation: Movenpick Bangkok Sukhumvit 15 (4 stars)

Sightseeing Activities: After breakfast, our guide and the driver will pick you up at the hotel lobby and we’ll drive to the first attraction of the day, the Wat Traimit Withayaram Worawihan, which houses a huge golden Buddha statue supposedly crafted from 5.5 tons of pure gold. Next we will turn to the Wat Pho, Bangkok’s oldest temple, where our guide will show you the majestic giant reclining Buddha. Here is also the birthplace of traditional Thai massage. Later, follow our guide to walk 5 minutes north to one of Bangkok’s iconic sights, the Grand Palace. An ancient palace and temple complex built for members of the Thai royal family, it is now open to visitors from all over the world. Over the years, a number of temples have been built here, including the Wat Phra Kaew north of the Grand Palace, which houses a stunning precious emerald Buddha statue carved out of a single piece of jade.

In the afternoon, our guide will take you on a cruise along the Chao Phraya River, known as Bangkok’s ‘River of Kings’. When we leave the bustling streets and temples, board a cruise ship and pass through the crisscrossing canals, we’ll experience a different side of Bangkok - the city has not only excitement and prosperity, but also serene natural scenery. The downtown trip will complete at the magnificent riverside Wat Arun, which is famous for its characteristic 79-meter-high Angkorian-style pagoda. Finally, our guide and the driver will escort you back to the hotel.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Movenpick Bangkok Sukhumvit 15 (4 stars)

Sightseeing Activities: In the morning, we’ll head north from Bangkok to Ayutthaya, once the ancient capital of Siam and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Buddhist temples and carvings here are top notch, but it’s quieter and less crowded than Bangkok. On the way, we will stop at the Bang Pa-in Palace, the former summer retreat of the Siamese royalty, on the bank of the Chao Phraya River. Our guide will take you inside the massive palace complex, which combines Thai, Chinese and Gothic architectural styles. On the island in the middle of the river is the Wat Niwet Thammaprawat, a Gothic style temple. At noon, we will have Thai lunch at a local specialty restaurant. In the afternoon, continue our tour of Ayutthaya by heading north along the Chao Phraya River. After half an hour’s drive, we will arrive at the Wat Mahathat, the famous temple where you will witness the symbol of Ayutthaya - the amazing sight of the Buddha's head wrapped in the Bodhi roots. Time permitting, we’ll proceed to explore more temples and monuments, such as the Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon.

Flight Transfer: By late afternoon, we will be leaving Ayutthaya. The guide and the driver will take you to the Bangkok Don Mueang Airport for your flight to Chiang Rai, a popular tourist city on Thailand's northern border. After a 1.5 hour flight, you will arrive in Chiang Rai, and our local guide and special car will be already waiting for you. A short ride in the comfortable private car will take you to our selected hotel in Chiang Rai. Check in and have a good rest.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: The Legend Chiang Rai (4 stars)

Sightseeing Activities: It’s time to appreciate the peaceful beauty of northern Thailand. In the morning, we’ll first visit Mae Salong, where we could enjoy fascinating tea plantation and breathtaking scenery. Our guide and the driver, with years of local experience and knowledge of the trails, will take you off the beaten path around Mae Salong to feel the fresh mountain air. Later, we’ll head to Mae Sai for a market on the Thai-Myanmar border, where you can see the real life of the locals and buy fresh and cheap fruit. After lunch, continue our exploration of Chiang Rai. The guide will lead you to the mysterious Golden Triangle region where Myanmar, Laos and Thailand meet. We’ll visit Chiang Saen, the remains of an ancient kingdom on the steep banks of the Mekong River. Once a poppy hub, it is now a tourist destination, with old city walls and the ruins of many temples. At the top of the mountain you can look across the Mekong River to Laos. At dusk, we will return to the hotel for another night in Chiang Rai.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: The Legend Chiang Rai (4 stars)

Morning Activities: Enjoy a leisurely breakfast, and then we’ll head through the wooded valley to Chiang Mai. En route, the guide will take you to visit the Wat Rong Khun, the most striking temple in the region. The temple is often referred to as the White Temple due to its unusual architectural use of pure white clay and mirrors. Started in 1998 and privately funded by Thai Buddhist artist Charlermchai Kositpipat, the temple is already magnificent, but parts of it are still under construction and could take years to complete. After the visit, we’ll continue our journey, passing the Mae Kajan Hot Spring, a good spot to have a short rest.

★ What makes us different: Unlike other travel agencies, our experienced route planners have specially arranged the White Temple in the morning to avoid the afternoon crowds and give you a better experience.

Afternoon Schedule: In the afternoon, head for our destination, Chiang Mai. The guide will take you to a solemn shrine, the Wat Phra Singh, which is one of the oldest and largest temples in Chiang Mai. For the locals, a visit to this temple to pray is a wonderful start of a New Year. In the late afternoon, we will arrive at a selected hotel in Chiang Mai, where you will spend two nights. You can have a good rest, or follow the guide's advice to walk around the neighborhood.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: The Rim (4 stars)

Sightseeing Activities: Today we will focus on the remarkable temples in Chiang Mai. During the drive to the Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, you’ll see many traditional houses and groups of towering modern buildings, contrasting yet blending together. The grandiose Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is located on top of the Doi Suthep Mountain. With a history of more than 600 years, it is the holiest temple in northern Thailand, holding the most sacred stupas in the country. An extraordinary panoramic view over the city can be got from the mountaintop. Next, the guide will lead you to visit the over 500-year-old Wat Jed Yod and the Wat Suan Dok. After lunch, we will return to the hotel in Chiang Mai. On the way we will visit Sankampang outlets for fine handicrafts. It is also a major production place of the Thai silk.

Free Time Suggestions: For the rest of the day, we have considerately set aside free time for you to discover the charm of Chiang Mai according to your own interests. Besides the ancient city and temple ruins, the best thing about Chiang Mai is the night market. The busiest Night Bazaar Shopping Street at Changklan Road is a 10-minute walk east from the Tha Phae Gate of the ancient City. It is open from 18:00 to 23:00. If it happens to be a Sunday, the Sunday Night Market starts at 15:00 and stretches west from the Tha Phae Gate to Singharat Rd through the entire ancient city. It is the best place to experience Chiang Mai’s nightlife with its vast array of stalls that can take hours to complete.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: The Rim (4 stars)

Special Activity: In the morning, our guide will pick you up for an interesting activity – a Thai Food Cooking Class. First, the chef will take you to a local market to know and select some ingredients for the Thai cuisine, and then we will go to the teaching kitchen. You can follow the chef to learn how to turn these ingredients into delicious food step by step. At noon, enjoy these homemade dishes as lunch!

Flight Transfer: In the afternoon, the guide will escort you to the airport for a flight to the fabulous island of Phuket. We will arrange for a local driver to meet you upon your arrival, and transfer you to the hotel in a comfortable air-conditioned car.

About Phuket: Phuket is Thailand’s largest island and a popular holiday destination. It has many beaches and offers a wide variety of water sports and recreational activities to meet different needs and preferences. Based on the feedback from countless customers we have received over the years, the best arrangement is to give you enough FREE time. Therefore, we’ll leave 3 days for you to enjoy your undisturbed vacation. 

Tip: Our carefully selected hotel is located next to the Patong Beach. Walk just a few minutes and you can enjoy the coastal scenery. There are many restaurants with fresh and cheap local seafood. You’ll spend four nights here.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: The Charm Resort (4 stars)

This is the first of your 3 free days in Phuket, and you can explore the island at your own pace.

Activity Suggestions: You probably can’t wait to see the beautiful seascape of Phuket. It is highly recommended that you take a speedboat cruise to the nearby islands on a sunny day. You can join a local day tour to the Ko Phi Phi Don and Bamboo Island, or the James Bond Island and Phang Nga Bay, or the Racha Island and Coral Island. You can take photos and sunbathe on the beach, swim, and try parasailing or kayaking. In the clean waters, you can also snorkel or scuba dive and enjoy the beautiful corals and colorful tropical fish. There are plenty of such day trips, which usually include a shuttle service to your hotel and a convenient lunch on board. If you need, you can contact our travel consultants for additional arrangements.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: The Charm Resort (4 stars)

This is another free day in Phuket for you to plan your own activities.

Activity Suggestions: If you like thrilling entertainment, Phuket is more exciting than you expected. You can have a day to experience the White Water rafting, zipline like Flying Fox, waterfall treks, and ATV ride in the jungle paths. If you are interested, you can also watch the most distinctive local ladyboy show in the evening.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: The Charm Resort (4 stars)

This is the last day in Phuket and you are free to make your own arrangements.

Activity Suggestions: Today you can schedule some relaxing activities. Wake up naturally and have a delectable breakfast at the hotel while watching the morning sun. Later, you can spend half a day visiting the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, or no problem if you just want to relax on the beach. If it’s too hot in the afternoon, you are advised to find a spa and enjoy a traditional Thai massage to relieve the fatigue of travel.

Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: The Charm Resort (4 stars)

Departure Note: After breakfast, our driver will drive you 1 hour to the Phuket Airport for your return flight to Bangkok. After a 1.5-hour flight, you will arrive in Bangkok. It is the end of our service. Hope you enjoyed this trip!

Meals Included: Breakfast

► Please note that Phuket to Bangkok flights will land at either Suvarnabhumi Airport or Don Mueang International Airport. If you need to connect to a later flight home or to your next destination, be sure to confirm which airport your flight is departing from. The drive between the two airports is 40 to 50 minutes. You’d better leave at least one hour for transfer. It is recommended that you book a flight out of Bangkok in the afternoon or evening to allow enough time for connecting flights. If you would like to extend your trip to other countries nearby, such as Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, please feel free to contact our travel consultants to arrange for you.