Amazing Thailand & Phuket Island

Note: Flights may not be available on all departures.

You can find more details on the Before You Depart page.

Welcome to Thailand, the “Land of Smiles”. Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive program will be met and transferred to our upscale hotel on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. This evening our tour director hosts a welcome dinner.

After breakfast our tour director hosts an orientation meeting and then we'll embark on a tour to some of Bangkok's most outstanding Buddhist temples. Buddhism is practiced by more than 94% of the country and is central to understanding Thai culture. We'll see the White Marble Temple, one of the finest example of Thai architecture; and Wat Po with its colossal 150-foot long "Reclining Buddha." Next, we'll visit the former residence of the Kings, the Grand Palace. The mile-square palace grounds feature some of the most beautiful examples of ancient Siamese architecture including the Temple of the "Emerald Buddha". The rest of our day is free to rest and relax, or consider joining an optional tour!

Early this morning we'll leave for the Mae Klong Railway Market. As the name suggests, this market sits on a railway and whenever a train approaches, we can expect to see a flurry of activity as baskets of wares are moved and awnings come down so the train can travel right through the heart of the market. Next, we'll drive to the colorful floating market of Damneon Saduak where we'll watch merchants sell food, produce, baskets and more from their boats. Before we return to Bangkok, we'll stop at a sugar palm farm where we can sample the local area's delights. We'll stop for lunch at a local restaurant as we make our way back to Bangkok. This evening, consider a optional Pearl Dinner Cruise.

Today we'll explore the ancient temple ruins and crumbling pagodas of Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Thailand. We'll see some of the city's former glory in the giant bronze statue of Wat Mongkol Borpith and the three ancient pagodas of Wat Phra Sri. Next, is Wat Mahathat, "the Temple of the Great Relic" which was once one of the kingdom's most important temples. Here we'll see the sandstone Buddha that has become entwined in the roots of a Bodhi tree. After our visit, our journey continues past beautiful rice paddies as we drive to Phitsanulok, the gateway to northern Thailand. After check in, we are free to relax for the rest of the day or might consider joining an optional tour to a local market.

Before leaving Phitsanulok this morning, we'll stop at the famous Buddha Foundry where bronze Buddha images are cast in the increasingly rare traditional way with wax molds and molten bronze. The highlight of our day awaits us in Sukhothai. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was the capital of the first Kingdom of Siam in the 13th and 14th centuries. Next, we'll visit its sister city, Sri Satchanalai where we'll stop at a privately-owned textile Museum. The private collection featured here includes antique and handwoven textiles including a gold sarong (or pha-sin) from the royal court of Keng Tung. Afterward, we'll continue to our Lampang hotel.

This morning, we'll visit the Saa Paper Community Project. We'll have the chance to create our own souvenirs and our visit supports this local project dedicated to preserving traditional methods used make mulberry bark paper that have been passed down from generation to generation. Our next visit takes us to Dhanabaadee Ceramic Museum, where we'll discover the evolution of ceramic-making and watch local artisans craft the traditional "chicken bowl." We'll continue to Chiang Mai where the rest of the day is free to relax or explore. We might consider joining an optional Khantoke dinner this evening.

Today we'll meet Thailand's beloved national animal, the elephant, with a full-day visit to the Elephant Nature Park. This sanctuary isn't just for elephants—it's home to buffalo, dogs, cats, birds, and many other rescued animals. We'll hear the personal stories of the rescued elephants, learn how they've come together to create a new herd free from abuse, often for the first time in their lives, and enjoy the sight of the free roaming elephants and other rescued animals in the natural surroundings of this sanctuary. Our visit supports elephant conservation in the region and allows us to slow down and learn from these majestic creatures.

Today takes us to the revered mountainside temple of Doi Suthep. Each year, Buddhist pilgrims journey to the temple on foot which can take six to eight hours! We'll skip the challenging trek and drive up the winding road instead. From our drop off point, we can choose to scale the 300 steps of the beautifully carved Naga Serpent Staircase, or ride the cable car to the summit. We'll explore the temple's beautiful architecture, statues, murals, and shrines—all of which are nothing short of breathtaking. Tonight, we'll enjoy a cooking class and delicious dinner experience together. After our cooking experience, we'll enjoy an authentic meal together followed by a traditional herb drink!

After breakfast at our hotel, we'll drive north to the Mae Rim area. On the way, we'll stop to explore the lush Araksa Tea Garden where we'll learn about the age-old traditions and tea growing processes. We'll enjoy a home-style lunch made from locally sourced and organic produce before we continue to the Hmong Hilltribe Lodge. This resort offers us a unique opportunity to experience Hmong culture in the scenic valley of the Suthep-Pui mountain range. This afternoon, we might consider an optional hike to visit villages further afield with experienced guides.

This morning we'll drive north to Chiang Rai via the Wiang Pa Pao. En route, we'll stop at Mae Krachan Hotspring where we can relax and soak our feet in one of the steamy pools and boil an egg in the natural springs! Our drive continues to Wat Rongkun, or the White Temple, one of Thailand's most recognizable temples, and then to Wat Huay Plakang. We'll have an unforgettable visit with the Karen Hilltribe at Baan Ruam Mid. Here, this minority group maintains their distinct culture, religion, and language by passing them down from generation to generation. After out visit, we'll board a longtail boat for a ride up the Mae Kok River to Chiang Rai where we'll check into our hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Note: If temperatures are too warm to visit the hotspring, the group will visit a café at Wiang Pa Pao.

Today we'll drive through the narrow and scenic roads to Doi Tung Mountain, home to many local hilltribe communities. We'll visit the Doi Tung Royal Project which continues to transform this area which was once used to cultivate opium. Today, the communities here cultivate a number of products including coffee! In fact, Doi Tung coffee is one of Thailand's most famous coffee brands. Next, we'll visit the Doi Tung Palace, Mae Fah Luang Garden, and then the Hall of Opium which is dedicated to portraying every angle of the opium story from its origin, the wars, the drug smugglers, the battle against growing, and the rehabilitation of the people in this former worldwide drug trading zone. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before returning to Chiang Rai.

Today we'll board our flight to Phuket Island where our English-speaking host will welcome us. At the hotel we'll have a short briefing with our host as we check into our hotel. The rest of the day is ours to enjoy.

Today is free to rest and relax at our hotel. We can enjoy the hotel's amenities or consider an optional walking tour of Phuket Town exploring the city's Portuguese and Chinese influences.

We have another day to rest and relax at our hotel. We can enjoy the beach and the hotel's amenities or join a tour of Phuket with some delicious culinary treats.

Our tour comes to an end after breakfast this morning. Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive package will transfer to the airport for our return flight to the U.S.