BANGKOK, CHIANG MAI, CHIANG RAI, GOLDEN TRIANGLE & PHUKET ISLAND
On this Amazing Thailand and Phuket Island tour with airfare included, we immerse you in multifaceted cultures and bring you to some of the most beautiful places this country has to offer. Travel through bustling Bangkok, a city brimming with impressive temples and Thai architecture. In Northern Thailand, discover the Golden Circle, an intersection of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. Then, visit Chiang Rai and it’s famous night market and explore temples of Chiang Mai. Here you’ll also enjoy an elephant experience and Thai cooking class! Lastly, head to Phuket for a leisurely and scenic stay on Phuket Island—relax at the beaches, go shopping, or visit Phang Nha Bay and the famous “James Bond Island”.
Did you know you can make this tour private? Find out about pricing and options
for groups of 15 or more travelers.
Itinerary at
a Glance
Tour Itinerary:
- 4 nights in Bangkok
- 1 night in Phitsanulok
- 1 night in Lampang
- 2 nights in Chiang Rai
- 3 nights in Chiang Mai
- 3 nights in Phuket Island
Tour Highlights
- Buddhist Temples (Bangkok)
- Floating Market (Bangkok)
- Patom Organic Village (Bangkok)
- Wat Mongkol Borpith Statue (Ayutthaya)
- Elephant Nature Park (Chiang Mai)
- Wat Doi Suthep (Chiang Mai)
- Beautiful Phuket Island
- “James Bond Island”
Your Tour Includes
- Optional round-trip airfare from Los Angeles (LAX) including taxes, fees & fuel surcharges
- Intra-Thailand flights and ground transportation
- Accommodations at Superior First Class hotels
- 17 meals: 14 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
- Sightseeing tours as per itinerary and all transfers
- Professional English speaking Tour Director in Thailand from day 2 through 13
- English speaking tour host in Phuket
Max Group Size: 30 travelers
Activity Level: Recreational
Expect most included touring to require walking and standing periods up to 3 hours at a time (up to 2 times per day) on easy terrain with some light stairs. Learn More
Pacing Level: Balanced
Expect either half-day or full-day tours most days with a free day or free half-day to explore independently in most cities. There may be a few early mornings or long travel days by bus (don’t worry—there are always comfort stops!), and you may expect to stay in most accommodations for 3+ nights. Learn More
No Additional Entry Requirements for U.S. Passport Holders
A valid passport is required for international tours. Currently, there are no additional entry requirements for U.S. passport holders, but this can change at any time. Before travel, both U.S. and non-U.S. passport holders should visit our Passports & Visas page to reconfirm entry requirements.
The Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai and the Hilltribe visit in Chiang Rai are intermediate-level but can be modified by the Tour Director if necessary. There are a few early mornings on the days of the visit to the Floating Markets and the travel days. Most cities include 2-4 night stays, but there are two one-nighters en route north.
For more detailed information about this tour and destination, visit
our Before You Depart section.
Click the Day by Day itinerary above (or swipe on mobile devices) to see the experiences that await on each day of your tour.
Passengers who purchase flights will depart 1 day before the tour starts and return 1 day after the tour ends.
For flight details, see Before You Depart.
Land in Thailand’s capital, the “city of angels,” in the evening. Your Tour Director will be waiting at the airport to meet you and escort you to our home base for the next four nights.
Accommodations: Menam Riverside Hotel or similar
After a special orientation breakfast, we’ll tour some of Bangkok’s most impressive Buddhist temples. We'll see the White Marble Temple, one of the finest examples of Thai architecture. Marvel at the five-ton solid gold statue of Buddha at Wat Trimitr and the colossal 150-foot-long reclining Buddha at Wat Po. Spend the afternoon at your leisure or hop aboard an optional canal boat ride across the river for a glimpse of daily Thai life. Your first full day in Thailand ends with a welcome dinner.
Note: Depending on your arrival time in Bangkok on Day 2, you may enjoy your welcome dinner on Day 2 instead of Day 3.
Accommodations: Menam Riverside Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
After breakfast, explore one of Bangkok's floating markets! It’s great fun watching merchants selling food, produce, baskets, and other wares from their boats. Photo ops abound! Later, we'll travel to Nakhon Pathom province on the outskirts of Bangkok. Here we'll visit Patom Organic Village, a family-run eco-cultural project on the banks of the idyllic Tachine River. Immerse yourself in this organic living concept and participate in a wide range of engaging hands-on workshops where we can learn about soil, seedling, planting, compost, and fertilizer. Afterward, we'll visit the traditional kitchen where farm-to-cooking workshops are hosted. We'll see how they turn raw organic ingredients into traditional Thai foods and then enjoy lunch. We'll stop by the organic coffee shop before we return to Bangkok with the afternoon at leisure to discover Thailand's vibrant capital independently.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
With a day at leisure to discover the vibrant, exotic city of Bangkok, what will you choose to do? Your Tour Director is full of ideas for independent exploration to match your pace and interests. You can also take advantage of an optional tour of the Grand Palace specially priced for smarTours travelers. See Optional Tours for specific details.
Meals: Breakfast
Our travels through amazing Thailand continue as we venture into regions rich with culture, history, and stunning landscapes. First: the ancient capital of Ayutthaya, which was one of the world’s largest cities in 1700. We’ll see some of its former glory in the giant bronze statue of Wat Mongkol Borpith and the three ancient pagodas at Wat Phra Sri. Our Thai adventure continues to Wat Mahathat, "the Temple of the Great Relic" which was once the kingdom's most important temple. Our drive winds past rice paddies to Phitsanulok, the gateway to Northern Thailand, where Buddha images are made in an authentic way.
Accommodations: Topland Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast
Before leaving Phitsanulok, we'll stop at the famous Buddha Foundry where Buddha images are made in an authentic way. Afterward, we'll continue to two UNESCO World Heritage sites featuring imposing temples and monument ruins. First: Sukhothai, the capital of the first kingdom of Siam in the 13th and 14th centuries. Next, we head to its sister city, Sri Satchanalai where we'll view a unique private textiles museum before traveling to our final stop of the day: Lampang.
Accommodations: Tree Tara Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast
This morning we'll visit Thalor Village where we'll stop at the Apple Saa Paper shop, famous for making paper from mulberry bark. We'll have the chance to create our own original Sa Paper canvas (delivered to the hotel in Chiang Rai). This afternoon, journey to Phayao, a quaint lakeside town, and Chiang Saen, which borders Laos. Continue to Chiang Rai where we'll check in to the hotel.
Accommodations: Phowadol Resort & Spa or similar
Meals: Breakfast
An unforgettable and exciting awaits as you board a longtail boat for a ride up the Mae Kok River. En route visit a temple located in a beautiful cave. Proceed to the Karen Hilltribe village at Baan Ruam Mid for an unforgettable visit. The hill-tribe members maintain their own distinct culture, religion, and language. You’ll see the unique way of life passed down from generation to generation within this minority group. Continue to visit Wat Huay Prakan and then Wat Rong Suea Ten or the “Blue Temple,” renowned for its magnificent blue interior, colorful murals, and immense white Buddha image.
Meals: Breakfast
This morning, we'll visit the White Temple, one of the most recognizable temples of Thailand. Afterward, we'll drive on to Chiang Mai, the “Rose of the North.” Your hotel is centrally located and only a short walk to the renowned night market. You’ll have a free afternoon to explore or relax. In the evening, you can take advantage of the proximity to the night market or partake in an optional Khantoke Dinner and performance. See Optional Tours for details.
Accommodations: Empress Premier Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast
Today we meet Thailand’s beloved national animal, the stately elephant at a world-famous Elephant Nature Park. This top-rated Elephant Reserve has rescued elephants all over the country and serves as a sanctuary not just for elephants, but for hundreds of cats and dogs as well.
Meals: Breakfast
Chiang Mai has no shortage of temples; in fact, there are over 300! Take an optional morning city tour to see some of the city’s most interesting ones, including the regal Wat Phra That Doi Suthep which sits on a mountaintop overlooking Chiang Mai, where you'll have the opportunity to take part in morning offerings and prayers with the local monks. (See Optional Tours.) In the evening, we explore the balanced flavors of Thai cuisine with a cooking class. Whether you participate or watch, you’ll enjoy the delicious results of our labors at our farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Today fly to Phuket where the balance of the day is at leisure. Your hotel is ideally located at Patong Beach, overlooking the ocean.
Accommodations: Dewa Phuket Resort and Villas or similar
Meals: Breakfast
Two full days at leisure to relax, shop or tour this scenic island. Perhaps head to Phi Phi Islands offering breathtaking scenery or go by boat and bus to Phang Nha Bay and the famous "James Bond Island."
Meals: Breakfast
Continue your leisurely stay on your magnificent Phuket island!
Meals: Breakfast
Final day at leisure for shopping or independent pursuits. Late today, fly back to Bangkok. Our tour comes to an end as we land in Bangkok today.
Meals: Breakfast
Book by Jun. 2, 2023 to get the best price.
Prices listed as “with flights” below include
round-trip airfare from one or more airports
in the USA.
Travelers may choose to purchase the tour only,
and arrange their own arrival in destination.
Please note this may change your tour start date.
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From
$3,999
$3,499
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Book with Flights |
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From
$3,709
$3,209
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Book with Flights Only 1 spot left |
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Flights not available
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Sold Out Join Waitlist |
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From
$3,574
$3,074
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Book with Flights |
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From
$3,699
$3,199
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Book with Flights |
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From
$3,899
$3,399
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Book with Flights |
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From
$2,799
$2,299
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Book Tour Only |
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From
$2,709
$2,209
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Book Tour Only Only 1 spot left |
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From
$2,699
$2,199
|
Sold Out Join Waitlist |
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From
$2,574
$2,074
|
Book Tour Only |
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From
$2,699
$2,199
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Book Tour Only |
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From
$2,699
$2,199
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Book Tour Only |
* Departures designated as "Guaranteed" may be canceled or rescheduled only
under Extraordinary Circumstances, for example in situations deemed to be unsafe
or nonviable due to local conditions. See Terms
& Conditions for full details.
Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
Single supplement applies when not sharing a room. Select a
date above to see the rates for that specific departure.
For more information on this tour, please
contact us here
or call us during business hours (Monday-Friday from 9:00 am - 7:00 pm Eastern)
at 1.800.337.7773.
Reservations and Payments
Reservations can be made online or by phone
(1.800.337.7773)
and will be confirmed upon receipt of your non-refundable,
non-transferable deposit, which must be received at the
time of reservation.
Deposits are $300 per person.
Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure.
Space and prices subject to availability.
Please see the
smarTours Terms and Conditions for complete
booking information.
Optional Tours
Customize your trip with these optional tours.
Enhance your trip with our recommended optional tours.
Indicated optional tours are available to pre-book
when you reserve your trip and can be added to your
reservation up to final payment. This is the best option
to guarantee your spot on your preferred optional tour!
Optional tours require a minimum number of participants.
Optional tours are non-refundable unless they do not operate.
Some optional tours can be purchased in-destination and
may cost extra. The payment methods and currency
information to purchase tours in-destination will be
provided on final documentation.
Discover why Bangkok has been nicknamed the “Venice of the East!” Depart your hotel to Thornburi, situated on the right bank of the river, where you’ll board a private motorboat and ride along the canals to get a firsthand impression of the scenic life along the city’s waterways. A stop will also be made at the Royal Barge Museum.
Note: This optional activity is available as an afternoon tour on Day 2.
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
This not-to-be-missed morning guided tour takes you to the Imperial Grand Palace, one of the most beautiful examples of ancient Siamese architecture. Former residence of the Kings, the mile-square palace grounds contain the greatest concentration of Thai arts and architecture in the country, including the Temple of the “Emerald Buddha.”
Note: This optional activity is available as a morning tour on Day 4. A dress code is strictly enforced at the Grand Palace. Men must wear long pants, and women must cover their legs to just above the knee. Avoid wearing tight-fitting stretch pants or “revealing” clothing, and refrain from wearing sleeveless shirts or showing your shoulders.
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
Enjoy a dinner featuring local specialties, followed by a breathtaking performance of songs and dance by members of local hilltribes dressed in traditional garb.
Note: This optional activity is available as an evening tour on Day 9.
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
After meeting our tour guide at the Three Kings Monument, we'll set off on three wheels to Waroros Market, the biggest local market in Chiang Mai where locals can find everything under one roof. During Thai festivals like Songkran and Loy Kratong, people from surrounding districts and provinces come to Waroros Market to buy decorations and new clothes. This market is brimming with local food, desserts, and fruit to be savored. We'll continue by rickshaw to Wat Puak Tam, the center of brass ornament making. We'll learn about the history of the community and how to make a brass ornament. Next, we'll visit Wat Srisuphan, also known as the Silver Temple thanks to its impressive handcrafted silver decorations. The temple was built around 1500 and was meant to serve as the main temple for a silversmith village. Since 2008, the temple has become completely covered in silver including the walls and roof, and displays detailed silver carvings. DUe to old Buddhist customs, women are not allowed to enter the inside of the temple and must remain outside. The surrounding Wat Sri Suphan features many small silver studios where we can see local artisans at work. We'll return to the Three Kings Monument by rickshaw where our optional tour concludes.
Note: This optional activity is available as a morning tour on Day 11.
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
Featured Accommodations
Set on the Chao Phraya River, Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Bangkok Menam Riverside features luxury rooms, free shuttle boat, spa and pool.
2074 Charoenkrung Road, Bangkorlaem, Bangkok, 10120, Thailand
Website
Conveniently located with spa and outdoor pool.
68/33 Akathodsarod Road, A. Muang, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand
Website
Chomphu, Mueang Lampang District, Lampang 52100, Thailand
Website
This relaxing haven welcomes with an outdoor pool and Bodhi Tree Spa, offering traditional Thai massage and more.
183 Moo 3 Rimkok Subdistrict, Muang, Chiangrai, 57100, Thailand
Website
199/42 Chang Klan Rd., Chiang Mai, 50100, Thailand
Website
Denise B
It was a very delightful experience. Our tour guide and bus driver were very knowledgeable about each city and region. They would stop at side vendors and get us all treats from which ever town we were visiting!
The elephant sanctuary was awesome! I will forever remember that part of our trip. The cooking school and paper making was also fun and informative. It was all in all a great value for the money spent! I throughly enjoy smart tours and the way they cater to their clients.
Bellamin
Its been two years since i took Amazing Thailand and Angkor Wat..it was one of the best trips of my life! Amazing tour guide, i just had to worry about what to do with my free time and enjoy the places we visited. Very organized..cant wait to go on another smartours trip!!
Marsha S
My trip to Thailand and Cambodia from January 13-31st, 2020 was amazing. The places I saw were beautiful and the culture was so welcoming. The trip was especially extraordinary because of our tour guide, Nok. She is a treasure and the best ambassador of Thailand anyone could ask for. She shared so much of the culture, the foods and snacks, the cuisine from "Street Food" to Fine Dining, and the history of the country. I learned a lot about Buddhism and was able to take part in feeding the novices as well as receiving blessings from them. Some of the highlights of Thailand were the reclining Buddah, the Grand Palace, the Railway Market, the Buddah Factory, the Paper Factory, and the Klongs, and the Floating Market. The trip to the market place with the chef who taught the cooking class as well as the cooking class were very special. The visit to the Hilltribe village was unique to see allof the looms and the scarves that were handmade. Visiting the preschool was delightful: the children were singing songs in both Thai and English. The Elephant Nature Park was educational as well as personal where we had the opportunity to pet the elephants, see them eating along side the water buffalo, and also see the rescue areas for cats, dogs, and monkeys. From Bangkok I flew to Siem Reap to see the wonders of Angkor Wat. Soccern was our tour guide in Cambodia and he was able to teach me so much about the history of Cambodia as well as being able to see the Floating Village and the amazing works of art at The Artisan Workshop. The entire trip was both beautiful and educational. I would recommend this trip to anyone who wishes to see some of the beauty and history of both Thailand and Cambodia. This Smart Tour was my first tour with this company and I experienced so much for a very reasonable price. The quality of the guides and the hotels and the excursions were superior.
Dennis J
I have bee on this tour twice. Once to Cambodia and once to Puket. Both were fantastic!!! Love to go back again.
ann
We really enjoyed this tour although mid April in Thailand gets very hot and humid. Our tour guide,Tan, was excellent and we learned a lot. We saw a lot of beautiful temples and the hotels were very good as was the food.
SUSANA G
My first trip with smarTours and I had such a great time. I had read some reviews about certain guides but you never know how you will get. Nok our guide was so good and out of the ordinary, she made the trip so friendly, funny and got the hole group involved we really connected with each other. Nok gave us so much information and always buying local food so we can try and she took us to a local market to try Dancing Shrimp (ceviche like) you eat the fish while still jumping it was delicious. The trip was very well organizes on time no pressure and we saw many places not in the itinerary. Smartours deserves a 5 star review but Nok our guide gets a 12 star rating, taking care of her group with anything we needed, remedies for mosquito bites, headache, colds, coughs, acid stomach she also helped us with reservations for those that wanted to do extra activities and took us to the launder-mat.
Highly recommend Smartour for your next vacation.
Susa
James F
This was a fantastic trip, our guide Mr. Boeing was the reason everything went so well. His knowledge, personality and attention to details was awesome. Our driver and helper kept us on time keeping the tour bus clean and well stocked with supplies. There was plenty of time for our group to explore or relax and enjoy the sites on our own.
While most of the accommodations were very good the hotel in Lampang should be changed. The rest of the accommodations were great.
We recommend this trip to everyone, you have to do this once in your life time.
gene a
What an amazing Trip. Mr Chai and rest of the drivers, helpers were quite excellent in keeping our vacation excellent.This is our first SMART Tour experience and everything is wonderful.....
Emilia G
I had a wonderful time. The tour guide (Sue B & crew) kept an excellent schedule. I hope to redo this tour at another time.
Linda G
We've actually done this trip three (3) times. Why? We just love Thailand, its' people, the food, the tour is amazing, as is the price.
Considering doing it again soon. The Tour Directors have been super amazing.
Thank you, smarTours, for keeping this on your list of available trips!
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