Holiday highlights

• Exploring Bangkok using various modes of local transport: sky train, canal boat, tuk tuk, long tail boat and more.
• Discover amazing street food during a night tuk tuk tour
• Visit Doi Suthep Mountain Temple
• Elephant sanctuary experience
• Learning to cook with a host family in Chiang Mai
• Chiang Mai famous night markets
• Island hopping tour of Phi Phi Islands
• Sea kayaking around the stunning Phang Na Bay

Brief itinerary

Day 1: Arrive Bangkok

Day 2: City tour

Day 3: Free at leisure – night street food tour by tuk tuk

Day 4: Fly to Chiang Mai – Doi Suthep Temple

Day 5: Elephant Sanctuary trip – hiking – bamboo river rafting

Day 6: Free at leisure – dinner & cooking class with a local Lanna host family

Day 7: Choose your adventure: national park jungle trekking tour, zip line-atv-white water rafting tour, or countryside bike tour

Day 8: Fly to Krabi

Day 9: Krabi

Day 10: Phi Phi Island day trip

Day 11: Transfer to Phuket

Day 12: Phuket

Day 13: Sea kayaking in Phang Na Bay

Day 14: Departure

Recommended for

Couples, solo travelers, families, can be tailored for a honeymoon.

DAY 1/ BANGKOK ARRIVAL

Upon arrival in Bangkok, meet your driver and transfer to your hotel by private car. The rest of the day is free at leisure. If you like, in the evening we can arrange a Bangkok night tour by tuk tuk. During this tour you will visit some of Bangkok’s temples for a different experience at night and taste the famous city street food.

Meals this day: none

DAY 2 / BANGKOK MULTI TRANSPORT ADVENTURE

Bangkok is famous for all of its’ various modes of transport. Today you will have a chance to explore the city with our guide — using different types of transport to get around. Highlights of the tour include visits to the Wat Phra Kaew Emerald Buddha Temple, Wat Pho Temple of the reclining Buddha, Wat Arun Temple of the Dawn and a long tail boat tour of Bangkok canals. You will travel around by sky train, canal boat, tuk tuk, long tail boat and river taxi boat. In the afternoon, return to your hotel and evening is free at leisure — we can make reservations for you at one of the famous Bangkok rooftop restaurants.  For those who love sports, we can book ring side tickets at a historic Muay Thai Boxing stadium.

Meals this day: breakfast, lunch

DAY 3 / BANGKOK – EVENING LOCAL STREET FOOD TOUR BY TUK TUK

Today is free at leisure to explore on your own or relax, perhaps trying with a Thai massage.  If you prefer, we’d be happy to arrange a half day excursion like a trip to the famous floating market, half day bike ride in non touristy part of Bangkok, cooking class or many other options.

Bangkok is known as the city that never stop eating. Bangkokians usually find themselves enjoy eating even at midnight. So, what would be more fun than exploring this city of angels via a fun Tuk Tuk ride and visiting best local eateries after the sunset?  This private tour goes beyond tourist zones for the most amazing midnight eating adventure. After the moon comes up, cruise along Bangkok streets via this city’s iconic 3-wheel, Tuk Tuk, to visit Bangkokian’s favorite places to eat. Taste a variety of savory menus, including the local favorite Northeastern Thai Food (Esan Food), the town’s Best Pad Thai, and the popular home-style Thai snack. Between the bites, visit old-town landmarks and temples for a different perspective compared to the busy day time scene. Discover the side of Bangkok wholly unknown to visitors. After the tour you’ll be dropped off back at your hotel.

Meals this day: breakfast, dinner

DAY 4 / BANGKOK – CHIANG MAI – DOI SUTHEP MOUNTAIN

After breakfast, your private driver will transfer you to the airport for a short (1hr) flight to Chiang Mai.  Upon arrival you’ll be met by your local guide and proceed to Doi Suthep mountain from where the ancient temple Wat Phra That is located. This temple was built in 1383 and is still a working monastery today. From the mountain you can enjoy panoramic views of Chiang Mai. Return to Chiang Mai for a lunch of famous Northern Thailand dish – Khao Soi – a curry broth with noodles and meat.  Check into your hotel and rest of the day is free at leisure.

Meals this day: breakfast, lunch Khao Soi

DAY 5 / ELEPHANT DREAM VALLEY – HIKING AND BAMBOO RIVER RAFTING

Early in the morning you will be picked up at your hotel by your guide and driven to Elephant Dream Valley. This is an ethical elephant sanctuary where the elephants are allowed to roam around freely – no baskets, hooks or chains are used at this camp. You will arrive early, before the rest of the group, and have 30-45 mins of 1 to 1 time with these gentle giants.  Then after the rest of the day’s group arrive, join in the daily activities: going for a walk with them in the jungle, feeding them and after lunch, bathing them in the river and in mud!

Afterwards, our guide will lead you on a short hike to a waterfall where you can have a refreshing swim and then to visit a local Karen hill tribe village.  End the day with a leisurely bamboo river raft ride before returning to Chiang Mai.

Meals this day: breakfast, lunch

DAY 6 / FREE AT LEISURE – HOST DINNER & COOKING CLASS WITH A LANNA FAMILY

Free at leisure to explore the city on your own (Chiang Mai is very easy to get around by walking (or by renting bicycles) Activities can later be added if you like, or this would be a good time to enjoy a relaxing treatment at one of Chiang Mai’s many spas!  If you prefer, we’d be happy to suggest

Around 3.30pm you will be picked up from your hotel and we head south out of Chiangmai to Bandoo in Hangdong district. The home you will be visiting belongs to the Raunkaew-Yanon family, who arrived in the area possibly by elephant back almost 150 years ago. The family is a Lanna family, continuing the traditions of many generations in building their homes of teak wood and maintaining the natural surroundings in manner now rarely seen in Chiangmai. You will experience the simple Lanna way of life including the family orchard with many types of fruit such as banana, mango, coconut, whilst the organic garden is filled with herbs for cooking. You will then have the opportunity to join the cooking of your meal, guided by the local family. Your evening meal will be served on the second floor terrace of the home of Raunkaew- yanon family from where you will enjoy the panoramic view of this Lanna village. This tour is very different from typical cooking classes and is designed to give you a real experience and understanding of Lanna life, the traditions and buildings, the relationship between their religions and ancestors and the way this all works together with nature.

Meals this day: breakfast, dinner

DAY 7 / CHIANG MAI – CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

Based on your interests and preferences you can choose one of these adventures

• Private day tour to Doi Inthanon National Park which is the highest peak in Thailand.  This can be a leisure tour going mostly by car with some light hiking, or if you prefer, more difficult hiking routes are available.
• Private bike tour around Chiang Mai’s countryside
• Single or combo adventure tour: zip lines, ATVs, white water rafting

Meals this day: breakfast, lunch

DAY 8 / CHIANG MAI – KRABI

Free at leisure until a private transfer to airport for a flight to Krabi (2hrs) where your driver awaits to transfer you to your resort.  Rest of the day is free at leisure.  Krabi is one of the most beautiful areas in Thailand, famous for incredible limestone cliffs and crystal clear waters.

Meals this day: breakfast

DAY  9 / LEISURE

Free at leisure to enjoy the beach and resort facilities.

Meals this day: breakfast

DAY 10 / PHI PHI ISLAND SMALL GROUP TOUR

This Tour focuses  on the islands of Koh Phi Phi, a natural paradise that is considered by many the most beautiful beaches in Thailand.

You’ll be picked up at your hotel and start to sail towards this real treasure, consisting mainly of two large islands Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh. One of the stops will be made in the Phi Phi Leh Lagoon, an incredible natural lagoon with crystal clear waters, surrounded by limestone cliffs. Undoubtedly, one of the most magical places in Thailand.

On this tour you will visit Maya Bay , an impressive natural setting where the film “The Beach” by Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed.

*Please note that Maya Bay (the Beach) is closed indefinitely. If the sea conditions allow us we will stop the boat for a few minutes in front of the bay for sightseeing and pictures . Maya Bay is just one more stop within our regular itinerary, so we will have more time to visit other beaches at least as beautiful as this one and less crowded!

We will then go to some of the best snorkeling spots in the area to enjoy the underwater nature.

Rather than a ‘standard’ tour, the tour operator we work try their best to avoid routes and times used by mass tourism operators in the area, so that you experience the area in a unique way. The routes vary according to the occupation level on each place, giving you a chance discover impressive snorkeling spots, where you can find the best marine life. Some of these places are Bida Nok, Bida Noi and Palong located 1.5 km south of Phi Phi Leh and west of this island respectively.

Note: this tour can be arranged as a private charter for utmost comfort and flexibility, particularly if traveling with a bigger group

Meals this day: breakfast, lunch

DAY 11 / KRABI – PHUKET

Free at leisure until your private car transfer to Phuket, approximately 2.5hrs away.  Check into your hotel and rest of the day is free at leisure.

Meals this day: breakfast

DAY  12 / LEISURE

Free at leisure to enjoy the beach and resort facilities.

Meals this day: breakfast

DAY  13 / JOHN GRAY’S HONG BY STARLIGHT SEA KAYAKING TOUR IN PHANG NA BAY

Enjoy an afternoon of sea cave exploring literally inside Phang Nga Bay’s marine geology, – including the caves and hidden lagoons John Gray found in 1989. Great nature and wildlife surrounds you.

The trip starts mid-day to avoid the crowds, customized transfers included. Don’t eat lunch – we serve you on board of our comfortable support boat. After lunch, briefing and a raptor show, a professional guide paddles you through Phang Nga Bay’s “Tidal Nape Sea Caves” in our custom designed kayaks hand-made in Oregon by SOTAR, the World’s premier white water raft manufacturer. The unique experience is dramatic, but Caveman’s SOTAR custom kayaks are specially designed for your trip. We’ve never capsized, punctured or had an accident.

After a detailed briefing, your professional guide paddles you and your partner through “Tidal Nape” Sea Caves literally inside Phang Nga Bay’s marine limestone karstic islands into “Hongs“(Thai for “Room”)

The hidden cliff-lined lagoons are populated with macaques, water monitors, kingfishers, mudskippers, egrets, Sea Eagles and Brahminy Kites.

We finish after dark by floating your own self-made flower “Kratong” in a spiritual and spectacular Natural light show. Eating our delicious seafood-vegan buffet on the trip back, you return to the pier two hours after sunset.

Guests say our evening Loi Kratong ceremony complete with fireflies and dinoflagellates (bioluminescent plankton) is a “Spiritual Experience”, “Best Trip of our lives-anywhere”, and “Best Thai Food We’ve ever had – and on a boat”.

Meals this day: breakfast, dinner

DAY 14 / DEPARTURE

Free at leisure until your private airport transfers for your departure flight.  Phuket has a big international airport, making it a convenient place to end the trip, often without having to come back through Bangkok.

Meals this day: breakfast

Best time to go

Best time for this trip is November – March. Chances of rain are small, temperatures in North Thailand are cool in the mornings and evenings while temperatures in South Thailand are perfect for beach days.

March and April are also a great months to go.  It gets very hot, especially up North with chances of rain but the benefit is much lower prices relative to the weather.

May – October is the official ‘low season’ in most places in Thailand.  There can be heavy rains at times but don’t let this put you off – it normally rains hard for a few hours in a day and usually in the evenings.  During this time prices drop dramatically and there are much less tourists.  For these reasons are seeing the low season become more and more popular time to visit Thailand.

Thailand visa information

Thailand allows free visa on arrival for most countries.  Please check the list here for information regarding your country.

Extension options

If you have more than 2 weeks, we would be happy to offer you some trip extension ideas.  You can head to Kanchanaburi and spend a few nights in a luxury tents and floating villas on the river.  You may wish to visit Siem Reap, Cambodia for a few days to explore the Ancient Angkor ruins.  If you are more active, you might like to try one of our overnight trekking tours in North Thailand, or make the sea kayaking trip in Phang Ba bay a 2 day / 1 night mini expedition where you’ll camp on a secluded beach!  For beach lovers, we can always add more beach time, perhaps visiting another island.

Tailor – made

All of our suggested itineraries are based on holidays that have been very popular with our clients.  However we strongly believe that each holiday should be unique to the traveler.  Absolutely anything in our itineraries can be tailored to suit your requirements, travel style and budget.  Simply contact us and let us design your custom holiday!

Private

We never mix groups during holidays.  All the holidays are arranged for your group only so you can travel at your own pace.

Independent travel

The most consistent feedback from our clients is how amazing our guides are!  We strongly believe that having a guide can add some much value to your travel experience.  With that said, we totally understand that some travelers prefer to explore independently.  If this is your travel style – we can still help you!  We can arrange your holiday without guides, suggest activities that you will enjoy, advise the best way to get around, how much to pay for things, etc.  We simply help you plan a logical itinerary, book accommodation and necessary transfers along the way.

Planning process

We work together with you until you are 100% satisfied with your itinerary.

• Initial contact by phone or email to ask you some questions to help us fully understand your travel style, requirements, budget etc.
• We send you a detailed itinerary proposal with prices
• You review, and if needed, reply with requested changes.
• We send you updated proposal.
• Continue this process until you are 100% happy with and accept the proposal.

Prices often vary due to travel period, best accommodation rates during that period, number of persons traveling, etc.  Please send us your holiday requirements and and approximate budget (if you have one in mind) and we will get back to you with a detailed quotation right away.

Please provide as much information as possible.  We respond to most requests right away during work hours and always within 12 hours.