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Best of Thailand | 2027/2028 route map

Arrive in Bangkok and check into the hotel. There is time to explore independently, get a massage or relax by the pool before a group meeting. The evening is free to enjoy Pad Thai and Khao San Road nightlife.

Explore Bangkok’s Royal Palace with a Local Guide, then travel to Kanchanaburi. Visit the WWII Cemetery and Bridge on the River Kwai before taking a boat along the river to the overnight accommodation. Enjoy an included dinner of local specialities.

Meals: Breakfast,Dinner

Visit Erawan Falls, where you can swim in the pools or hike the trails. Stop in the UNESCO-listed city of Ayutthaya and cycle past temples, spires and ancient palaces. Board the overnight train to Chiang Mai.

Meals: Breakfast,Lunch

Arrive in Chiang Mai early and continue to Pai. Spend the rest of the day exploring the mountain town on foot or by bike, and visit its night markets.

Enjoy a full day in Pai, with time to visit a local café. An optional afternoon Muay Thai skills class is available before the final evening in town.

Meals: Breakfast

Travel from Pai to Chiang Mai, stopping at the Elephant Nature Park rescue and rehabilitation centre. In the evening, there is an optional Vespa outing through Chiang Mai’s streets and alleyways, with street art, monuments, food stops at family restaurants and street vendors, and live music in the market district.

Meals: Breakfast,Lunch

Spend a free day in Chiang Mai. Options include exploring the old town on foot or getting a traditional Thai massage. An optional Thai cooking experience is available in the evening.

Meals: Breakfast

Fly from Chiang Mai to Bangkok and check into accommodation in Chinatown. The evening is free for a massage or local street food.

Meals: Breakfast

Meet new group members and spend a free day in Bangkok. Browse markets, visit cafés or take a longtail boat ride on the canals; an optional food crawl is also available. Board the overnight train south to Surat Thani.

Meals: Breakfast

Arrive by train in Surat Thani and travel to Khao Sok. After settling into jungle accommodation, explore Khao Sok National Park, with options to swim, take a canoe tour or relax. The Khao Sok visit may begin at Cheow Larn Lake instead of the township, with activities in a different order.

Meals: Lunch,Dinner

Take a longtail boat across Cheow Larn Lake to see its limestone cliffs and surrounding wilderness. After lunch, travel by bamboo raft to views of Pakarang Caves. Later, choose to kayak, hike or swim before a group dinner.

Meals: Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner

Travel from Khao Sok to Krabi, arriving by early afternoon. Spend free time at the markets or in the ocean. An optional Krabi Sunset Cruise includes island hopping, snorkelling, dinner onboard and a bioluminescent plankton swim after dark.

Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy a free day in Krabi, with time to relax by the hotel pool, visit the beach or explore local markets.

Meals: Breakfast

The trip ends in Krabi.

Meals: Breakfast

What’s included

Guided visit to Bangkok’s Royal Palace plus Kanchanaburi’s WWII Cemetery and the Bridge on the River Kwai
Erawan Falls visit and a cycling tour among Ayutthaya’s UNESCO-listed temples and palaces
Visit to Elephant Nature Park, an ethical elephant rescue and rehabilitation centre near Chiang Mai
Khao Sok National Park experiences including a longtail boat ride on Cheow Larn Lake and a bamboo raft to Pakarang Caves
Expert Trip Manager and local guides, plus 24/7 support throughout the trip
Hotel/hostel accommodations plus special stays: the candle-lit River Kwai Jungle Rafts and a floating raft house overlooking Cheow Larn Lake
Daily breakfasts plus selected lunches and dinners as per the itinerary, including a candle-lit group dinner at River Kwai Jungle Rafts and lunch and dinner on the Cheow Larn Lake day
All local transportation during the trip, including overnight sleeper trains (Chiang Mai route and Surat Thani route), a domestic flight from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, and boat transfers within Khao Sok (longtail boat and bamboo raft)

What’s not included

Meals and drinks not specified in the daily itinerary are at your own expense.
International flights to/from the start and end of the tour are not included.
Visas for Thailand (if required) are not included and must be arranged by the traveller.
Travel insurance is not included and should be purchased separately.
Optional Free Time Add-Ons are at extra cost (e.g., Muay Thai class in Pai, Vespa night food tour in Chiang Mai, Thai cooking class, Krabi Sunset Cruise, Bangkok food crawl)

Additional information

Cycle the UNESCO-listed ruins of Ayutthaya, Thailand’s former royal capital. Pedal past ornate temples and towering prang spires, red-brick chedis and moated palace remains, as river breezes and monastery bells set the mood .

Once the hub of a global trading kingdom, Ayutthaya blends Khmer-inspired towers with classic Ayutthayan lines. The gentle ride links key sites and quiet lanes, revealing a richly layered chapter of Siamese history .

Visit a renowned elephant rescue and rehabilitation centre in the Chiang Mai area. Learn about ethical care and conservation while observing these gentle giants in a natural valley setting, away from riding or performances .

Guides explain the sanctuary’s mission and the elephants’ individual backstories, offering a grounded understanding of Thailand’s relationship with its most emblematic animal. The focus is on respectful, up-close observation and thoughtful storytelling .

Cruise Cheow Lan Lake by longtail boat, where limestone karsts rise like sentinels above emerald water in Khao Sok National Park. The stillness, jungle reflections and occasional hornbill call create an otherworldly scene .

Continue by bamboo raft to Pakarang Cave for striking vantage points over the lake and surrounding rainforest. It’s a day of varied textures—engine hum, paddle ripples and cave coolness—against one of southern Thailand’s most photogenic backdrops .

Unwind at a lakeside raft house and spend the night overlooking the water. With mirror-calm bays and jungle silhouettes at dusk, the setting invites you to soak in the lakeside atmosphere far from roads and city lights .

At sunrise, the rainforest wakes to birdsong and drifting mist over the karsts. This unique stay distils Khao Sok’s serenity into a slow, restorative experience on the water .

Sail into the Andaman at golden hour, stopping to snorkel at island coves before sharing a casual dinner onboard. After dark, slip into the sea for a bioluminescent plankton swim—tiny sparks of light flickering with every movement .

This experience is an optional Free Time Add-On available at additional cost and bookable on tour with your Trip Manager. It pairs Krabi’s famed limestone silhouettes with a rare, after-hours glow on the water .

Learn the basics of Muay Thai in Pai with an expert coach. Practice stance, guard and simple combinations as you feel the rhythm of Thailand’s national sport—equal parts precision, balance and discipline .

This is an optional Free Time Add-On at additional cost, bookable on tour. The small-group format keeps it supportive and energetic, whether you’re trying combat sports for the first time or sharpening technique in a scenic mountain town .

Zip through Chiang Mai’s alleyways by Vespa, spotting street art and city monuments between food stops. Sample favourites like Tom Kha Gai and smoky BBQ skewers, then soak up live music around the market district .

This is an optional Free Time Add-On at additional cost, bookable on tour. It blends the city’s creative pulse with home-style kitchens and vendors locals love—tasty, fast-paced and full of colour .

Cook classic Thai dishes under the guidance of local chefs, learning wok timing, herb prep and the balance of sweet, sour, salty and spice. Sit down to enjoy your creations and take home tips to recreate them with friends .

This is an optional Free Time Add-On at additional cost, bookable on tour—an engaging way to understand northern flavours and culinary techniques in Thailand’s laid-back cultural capital .

Track down tucked-away eateries and family-run stalls on a guided crawl through Bangkok’s backstreets. Discover places most visitors never get near, sampling bold flavours and late-night specialties in buzzing neighbourhoods .

This is an optional Free Time Add-On at additional cost, bookable on tour. It’s a flavour-first immersion into the city’s food culture—quick bites, lively counters and stories behind the dishes .

Visit Kanchanaburi’s wartime landmarks with time to pause for photos and reflection. Pay respects at the Allied War Cemetery before standing upon the storied Bridge on the River Kwai, surrounded by jungle-clad hills and the slow-moving Kwai River .

Hear the human stories behind the Death Railway and its legacy, set against tranquil riverside scenery that belies the hardship faced here during the Second World War. The experience balances historical context with quiet moments to take it all in .

Glide the River Kwai by longtail boat, passing bamboo groves and floating jetties en route to a secluded riverside hideaway. Arrive at the atmospheric Jungle Raft hotel, where candle-lit rooms and the river’s hush set the tone for an unforgettable night .

Savour an included dinner of local specialities at dusk and feel the current slip past your deck. With lantern light and starry skies, this stay captures Thailand’s river culture and its serene, off-grid rhythms .

Walk forest trails between the seven tiers of Erawan Falls, where cascades spill into jade pools. Cool off with a refreshing swim beneath limestone ledges and pause for snapshots at viewpoints framed by jungle and birdsong .

Formed by mineral-rich streams over travertine rock, these pools catch sunlight in shifting greens and blues. It’s an easy-going nature day with plenty of time to pause for photos and reflection amid idyllic scenery .

Explore the Grand Palace with your group, wandering a 61-acre complex of gilded spires, mural-lined courts and ceremonial halls. This is Thailand’s royal showpiece, where traditional Siamese architecture gleams beside carefully tended courtyards and cloisters .

Gain insight as you join your Local Guide through the palace precincts, uncovering why this remains the royal and spiritual heart of the nation. Expect intricate craftsmanship and a palpable sense of living tradition during your time in Bangkok .

  • 11 Breakfast (B)
  • 3 Dinner (D)
  • 4 Lunch (L)
  • Bangkok: A modular trip means fellow travellers will join and leave at various locations. There’ll be some goodbyes, sure, but there’ll also be plenty of hellos with new like-minded travellers.
  • Bangkok: Nose around the gilded Royal Palace, then travel like a local: floating down the Rivers. 
  • Kanchanaburi: A sombre slice of history. See the Death Railway Museum, WWII Cemetery and the famous Bridge itself. 
  • Kanchanaburi: Candle-lit rooms.In the middle of the jungle. And lots of delicious local food to devour. It’s really a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Oh, and you can even jump in the river directly from your room! IKR.
  • Kanchanaburi: Cool off in emerald pools, shower under a waterfall and get your step count up. All in a day’s work.
  • Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya: Golden temples, a giant reclining Buddha and so many incredible sights to see. Try not to fall off your bike in shock!
  • Chiang Mai: Meet these gentle giants (plus rescued rabbits, cats and water buffalo) at this Elephant Nature Park – a kind-hearted elephant sanctuary. 
  • Khao Sok National Park: Glide past immense rainforest at this little piece of tropical heaven. Home to elephants, gibbons, and more. 
  • Khao Sok National Park: Glide across this emerald lake and take in the serene rainforest and towering limestone cliffs. You could actually be in Jurassic Park… 
  • Khao Sok National Park: Sit back and relax as you spend the night overlooking the water.

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