With the vibrant Bangkok, historical Kanchanaburi, and northern cultural Chiang Mai plus the fabulous island of Phuket, this tour leads you to the top four destinations you can't miss for your first-time trip in Thailand.
From the celebrated palace and amazing temples in Bangkok to the famous Bridge over the River Kwai and historical railway, and from a close encounter with elephants and a local home cooking experience in Chiang Mai to the fantastic beach, you will have an opportunity to discover the charm of Thai culture and history as well as to enjoy the country's beautiful natural scenery.
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Top Notch Services
Kaya at Asia Highlights helped make our honeymoon in Thailand the perfect trip. It was truly the best balance between structured and unstructured time abroad. They cater their services to exactly what you're looking for. Also, their responsiveness is uncanny. Kaya at Asia Highlights in particular deserves special mention. She out our trip together for us, put up with us, and was always available for any hiccups during the trip. We plan to use their excellent services again for our next trip to Asia. Highly recommended, and ask for Kaya! More
, Apr 2024
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Very great experience our driver D was…
Very great experience our driver D was never late and always had waters and a cold towel for us and our tour guide Som was very informative and had amazing English I recommend them both highly for anyone else traveling More
Rylan Coache, Feb 2024
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Excellent guide in Siem Reap
Our recent time spent in Siem Reap was made even more memorable by our expert guide, Som Piseth. Som was knowledgeable, attentive, flexible and super helpful - we learnt so much about Siem Reap and Cambodia in our 3 days with him. His English was excellent and his knowledge of, and pride in, his country was outstanding. We would highly recommend Som for anyone wanting an excellent guide in Siem Reap! More
Sharon Townshend, Feb 2024
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Highlights
- Walk into the magnificent Grand Palace and photogenic Wat Arun.
- Take a historical train ride across the famous Bridge over the River Kwai.
- Have a close encounter with elephants in the jungle of Chiang Mai.
- Take a Thai home cooking experience and sample northern dishes.
- Enjoy a panoramic view of Chiang Mai at the famous Doi Suthep.
- Relax by the beautiful beach in Phuket.
Journey Route
Itinerary in Detail
Your private guide will be waiting for you in the airport arrivals area. A comfortable vehicle (non-smoking) with an experienced driver will transfer you directly to your hotel. Your guide will help you to check in.
The rest of this day is free for you to spend at your leisure.
A Palace and Temples, Ancient Canal Cruising
Experience the morning chanting ritual at Wat Pho, which is one of the oldest temples in Bangkok. Take a tuk tuk ride via Pak Khlong Talat flower market to the Grand Palace. Continue with a long-tail boat ride along the ancient canals of Thonburi to get a flavor of the local life. Stop at the iconic Wat Arun, which was once the grand royal temple of King Rama II. After lunch at a local restaurant, you will cross the Chao Phraya River and be driven to Chinatown for a glance at Old Bangkok.
Visit Bridge over the River Kwai and Take a Historical Train Ride
Located in downtown Kanchanaburi, Bridge over the River Kwai was built by prisoners of war during World War II, overseen by the Japanese. Board the train and take an hour's ride along the Death Railway over the River Kwai, traveling over the original wooden viaduct (Bridge over the River Kwai) that was constructed by the Allied POWs. Pass through magnificent scenery and spend a moment reflecting on those who were forced to give their lives in the process of bending this environment to man's will.
Get up late, have a leisurely breakfast, then take a private transfer to the airport and fly to Chiang Mai. Upon your arrival, your private tour guide and driver will welcome you in the airport and then transfer you to your selected hotel in Chiang Mai. Enjoy a free afternoon ' you may like to consider going to a spa or visiting the local market.
A Day Program at Elephant Jungle Sanctuary
About one-hour drive away from Chiang Mai, located beside a Karen village in a densely forested mountainous region, Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is surrounded by a spectacular forest landscape. During a day program at Elephant Jungle Sanctuary, you will get to know each of the remarkable elephants and gain a special understanding of their daily lives and behaviors. Learn how to make herbal medicine balls, feed the elephants, and then walk with the elephants to the river. Bathe and brush the elephants.
Amazing Temples in Chiang Mai
In the morning, head out of Chiang Mai city for about 20 minutes to the famous Doi Suthep. Despite the stunning natural beauty, the main reason many visitors go to Doi Suthep Mountain is to visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Built in 1382, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is one of the most holy Buddhist sites in Thailand. Many Thai people go on a pilgrimage there, especially during the Buddhist holidays. Later, return to downtown Chiang Mai and visit Wat Chedi Luang. It is one of the six most important temples in Chiang Mai. It attracts a lot of Thai people who worship there each year as it was once the home of the Emerald Buddha.
Learn How to Make Thai Dishes from a Local Family
In the afternoon, visit a local family' the host will welcome you and walk you through her organic vegetable garden to collect the different kinds of herbs and vegetables that will be used in the variety of Thai food that you will be preparing. You will learn how to make some of the best home-cooked dishes that you can easily cook for your family when you return home. During the class, in addition to cooking, you will also sample dishes from the north, northeast, and central regions of Thailand.
After a leisurely breakfast, take a private transfer to the airport and fly to Phuket. Upon your arrival at Phuket International Airport, take a private transfer to your beautiful hotel.
These two days are free for you to spend at leisure by the beach. You may consider taking a speedboat trip to the many nearby tropical paradises, including the famous Phi Phi Islands, or enjoy a serene cruise around the mystical Phang Nga Bay. All of these tours can be easily booked at your hotel.
After breakfast, transfer to Phuket International Airport, take a morning flight back to Bangkok, and connect with your international departure flight.
Hand-picked Hotels
We have selected hotels with different styles and for different budgets. Let us know your preferences and we will help you find the right one.
Our Service Includes:
- Private transfers and English-speaking tour guide
- All guided sightseeing as detailed in the itinerary
- Hotel accommodation mentioned in the itinerary
- Flights between cities mentioned in the itinerary
- Breakfasts at hotels and lunches for every guided day
- Governmental taxes
Tour code: ah-57
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