The Best of Thailand

This itinerary will takes in the treasures of Thailand in less than three weeks. It is an incredibly comprehensive and hugely rewarding trip. The larger distances are covered by internal flight, enabling you to visit Central, North and South Thailand within a short timeframe. At the end of the trip, you'll even wile away a couple of days on a tropical island before heading home.

After a couple of days in eye-opening Bangkok, you'll travel to the legendary River Kwai. You'll make a quick stop at the ancient Khmer temples in royal Ayutthaya, before taking the overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai, the cultural capital of the North. You'll spend a little time getting know this relaxed city, before beginning three day hike through the evergreen jungle. During the trek, you'll stay overnight with the local hill tribes. After all this activity, you'll down fly to the vast beaches of Phuket. You'll then journey on to Ko Raya, where you can collapse on the ivory beach with a cocktail and a good book, or snorkel amongst the coral gardens.

Duration	16 days / 15 nights Start from from Bangkok on any Tuesday or Saturday	Accommodation	12 nights in a double room in hotels full of character, 2 nights on an air conditioned sleeper train, 2 nights in very simple accommodation during the hill tribe trek, and 2 nights on the international flights (see accommodation)
Price	£805 per person - based on 2 people
		Includes	Transport, accommodation with breakfast, meals as described in the daily programme and English-speaking guide during trek
Transport	Train, bus, boat, elephant, raft and 2 internal flights	Excludes	International flights, drinks and extra meals, entrance fees and excursions not listed in the daily itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Bangkok

Upon your arrival into Bangkok, you'll be collected from the airport and taken to your hotel in a quiet street, tucked away from other tourists. You'll stay amongst the Thai locals in a charming spot with a plush garden and shady outside seating. Your room will be brightly coloured with air conditioning and a private bathroom. Those wishing to dig straight into Bangkok culture can take a riverboat express to the most important sightseeing locations. The pier, down on the River Chao Praya, is a scenic 10min walk from the hotel. On the way, you'll pass the local flowermarket, thick with heady fragrances and bursting with vivid colours.

Just arrived in Thailand!

Day 2: Bangkok - Cycle trip

Today, your morning is free to explore Bangkok - the City of Angels, with its temples, pagodas and street stalls. Don't miss the Royal Palace, and the awe-inspiring temple of Wat Phra Kaew. These can both be reached easily and quickly by express boat. Remember to dress modestly - knees and shoulders must covered in both the temple and the palace. You can reach Chinatown via the incredible marble Buddha at Wat Benjaabopit, and stop off for a quick bowl of tasty noodles.

You cycle trip begins in Chinatown at 1pm. You'll cycle along winding, narrow lanes past simple, traditional houses in the suburbs. You'll also take a walk through a pungent food market, where locals do their everyday shopping. This community is typical of Thailand- no air conditioning, no shopping centres and no traffic jams. After this, you'll cross the Chao Phraya River in a longtail boat.

Soon, you'll find yourself in a green oasis that seems a world away from the bright lights of the city. The most important thoroughfares here are the small paths above the khlongs (canals). Your guide will point out the tropical fruit trees and make a stop for refreshments and nibbles. You'll return from the trip around 6pm, surprised at the huge contrast between the centre and the outskirts. For dinner, you’ll be taken by taxi to one of Bangkok’s most colourful and quirky restaurants- Cabbages and Condoms.

Day 3: Bangkok - River Kwai

You'll make an early start this morning. After a bite of breakfast, you’ll be collected by air-conditioned minibus and head for the River Kwai with your English-speaking guide. On the way, you'll stop for an hour at the famous floating market to watch the rowdy traders in action. After this, you'll travel to the famous ‘Bridge over the River Kwai’. Here, you'll start your train journey over the remaining stretch of the infamous Burma Death Railway.

On arrival at the small station, a tasty lunch will be served and you'll step into a longtail boat. This boat will drift along the River Kwai, deep into the thick evergreen jungle. Just 40mins later, you'll arrive at your floating bamboo bungalows on the river. You'll have your own room with a swimming ladder and hammock. The river is safe for swimming, just be a little careful of the current. There is no electricity in these bungalows, and you'll eat an ambient dinner by the light of flickering oil lamps. Seated at long tables, you'll share the meal with your fellow travellers and discuss your experiences so far, as the jungle around you breathes with life.

Day 4: River Kwai - Kanchanaburi

After a night in the midst of the jungle, you'll climb back into the boat. You'll then travel back along the river, reaching the fairytale Erawan Waterfalls an hour later (£6 entrance, paid locally). The waterfall cascades over seven different levels, with a staggering total height of 1500m. You'll reach the top of the falls, depending upon your walking speed, in about 1½ hours. Your efforts will be instantly rewarded, as you take in your enchanting location. You'll see sparkling waterpools in light blue basins against a backdrop of limestone rocks, in which the water has carved out a sort of cave. You'll have a few hours of free time by the waterfall, to wander around wide-eyed or take a plunge in the shimmering pool.

The guide will then leave you at your hotel in Kanchanburi, which has a swimming pool in case you fancy a dip. You'll have enough time to visit the JEATH War Museum and the moving memorial dedicated to the victims of the infamous Burma Death Railway.

Day 5: Kanchanaburi - Ayutthaya

Today, you'll take a minibus transfer to atmospheric Ayutthaya. This will take approximately three hours. Your friendly driver will drop you at Uncle Pan’s Bungalows, where you’ll stay for the night. The afternoon is free, allowing you to explore the historical city at your own pace.

Ayutthaya is a fascinatingly beautiful World Heritage Site. In the 12th century, this was one of the most important kingdoms in Southeast Asia- a huge network of palaces, temples, spectacular junks and royal elephants eating from gold bowls. Eventually, the city lost its power and the temples were ransacked during the war with Burma. Today, you can visit some of the mystical Khmer temple complexes. Wat Phra Si Samphet, Wat Mahatat and Wat Mongkol Bophit are the best known ruins. These are draped in history and heavy with mystery.

Day 6: Ayutthaya - Chiang Mai

Today, you can wile away a few hours amongst the mystical Khmer temples strewn around Ayutthaya, wandering wistfully amongst the old statues and pagodas. You will often find yourself completely alone, to daydream and absorb your surroundings.

At about 5pm, you'll collect your luggage from the hotel and make your way to the railway station. You'll spend the night in a couchette on the overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai. The couchette is comfortable and there is a good restaurant car onboard for your evening meal. You'll be gently rocked to sleep by the motion of the train, as it weaves its way through the hills towards Chiang Mai.

Day 7: Arrival in Chiang Mai

This morning you arrive in Chiang Mai, the cultural capital of the North. You'll stay in a hotel with a swimming close to the city gates. It's not difficult to find something to do in Chiang Mai- there are plenty of options available. We can highly recommend a trip to Doi Suthep, a striking Buddhist temple 15km outside the city. It sits on the top of a 1600m mountain, towering over the landscape below. From here, you'll have a fantastic panorama of Chiang Mai and the surrounding mountains. The old temple is a sacred pilgrimage site and radiates with peaceful spirituality.

In the evening, you can take a walk to the lively night bazaar. The atmosphere is usually electric, and there is a huge amount of trading going on. You’ll also find massage salons, restaurants, and even karaoke bars- a little something for everyone.

Day 8: Chiang Mai - Jungle trek

At 8am this morning, you'll leave your hotel and travel to the starting point of your trek. This will take just over 3hrs. All of your meals meals are included for the duration of the hike, as is your English-speaking guide. As you'll be reeturning to the hotel in Chiang Mai, you can leave most of your baggage behind, taking only your essentials into the jungle. On the way, you'll stop at a local market for some last minute supplies. The drive will then take you to a shimmering waterfall for a quick refreshing dip. This is not the last dip of the day. After lunch, you'll visit some naturally hot springs where you can take an impromptu steam bath. You'll then continue into the mountains by road, until you reach the starting point of the hike. The first walk takes you steeply uphill, through overgrown jungle paths for roughly two hours. You'll stay overnight in a hut in a Karen village, far away from modernity as we know it. Your guide will cook you a tasty, well-earned dinner and sleep will come easily after your active day.

Day 9: Elephants trek and hill tribe stay

Today, you'll be woken by the cocks crowing and the sound of pigs foraging around the huts. After breakfast, you'll set off on the longest and hardest hike from the village to the elephant camp (roughly 4 hours). Initially, there is a gentle uphill walk, past termite hills and onto flat paddy fields surrounded by tropical vegetation. There are wild mushrooms and herbs in this area, but be sure not to try any without the guide's approval. Once you reach the bamboo and teak trees, you'll start the first stiff uphill climb. After a while, the jungle trail flattens out, finally descending into the elephant village. After your lunch, prepared by your guide, it's time to take it easy and let the elephants do the work! You'll be amazed by the way that these enormous beasts tackle the most difficult of paths. After 1½ hours of swaying about, you arrive at a mixed Lahu/Akha village on the riverbank, where you can cool off with a splash around. Your evening meal is prepared for you, and you'll spend the night in another simple village hut.

Day 10: Bamboo raft - Chiang Mai

After breakfast this morning, you'll travel downstream for about 2 hours on a bamboo raft. The river meanders through overgrown mountainsides and bare rocks cliffs, and on the way you'll see hundreds of wild banana trees. Your rafting trip finishes in a Shan village (ethnic Thai people from the Burmese state of Shan) where you can refresh yourself and stroll around the village. After lunch you’ll be taken back to Chiang Mai by minibus, which will take about two hours. At the hotel, you'll be reunited with your luggage, and the rest of the day is free for you to wander around the cultural city or belt out a few ballads at karaoke.

This three day hike can be swapped for the shorter, lightweight one described in Culture and Elephants in the North. This is more of a walk than a hike, making it suitable for all levels of fitness. It features one overnight stop in a mountain village, an elephant ride, and bamboo rafting.

Day 11: Chiang Mai

This morning, you’ll have time to recover from the hike. You may well be aching a little, so we recommend that you take it easy today. You could try a quick Thai cookery course for a few hours of fun. In the morning, you'll accompany the cook into the market to buy your ingredients. Then, you'll learn how to whip up a wonderful Thai feast. Just let our local agent know if you would like to do this course before you set off on the trek.

If you are not in the mood to labour over a hot wok, you can just relax by the pool or spend some more time exploring the town. In the afternoon, you'll gather your things together and head for the train station. Your overnight train back to Bangkok leaves at 4.30pm. From Bangkok, you'll take a domestic flight to Phuket, your gateway to southern Thailand.

Note: You can bypass the overnight train journey by spending a further night in Chiang Mai and then flying directly from Chiang Mai to Phuket the following day. This costs an additional £65 per person. Just let us know if you would like to take this option.

Day 12: Chiang Mai - Phuket

The overnight train will arrive in Bangkok in the early morning. On arrival, you'll take a taxi to the airport to catch your flight to Phuket. Alternatively, if you decided to spend an extra night in Chiang Mai, you simply take a taxi to the airport this morning, and fly directly down to Phuket.

You’ll first fly up over emerald mountains that will gradually flatten into countryside and, as the pilot begins his final approach, you’ll see the rocky limestone pillars rising from the sea in turquoise Phang Nga Bay. After your arrival at the modern airport in Phuket, you'll be taken to a comfortable resort at Kata Beach. This is set against a backdrop of lush green hills, only 50m from the beach with a swimming pool with a stunning view of the bay. You can spend the rest of the day soaking up the sun on the beach or by the pool.

Day 13: Phuket - Ko Raya

Today, you will be picked up from your hotel in Phuket by minibus and taken to the pier. The speedboat for Ko Raya leaves at 11am and takes about 45 minutes, weaving its way through enthralling limestone formations. Once you’ve settled into your bungalow, you can begin to relax. Head to the beach for some well-deserved laziness- reading and snoozing in the sun.

The best snorkelling area lies off the beach right outside your door, and renting the gear costs next to nothing. The restaurant within your resort offers a wide range of tasty dishes, so you barely need to move to grab a delicious bite to eat. In the evening, over a cocktail or two, you can discuss your discoveries in the underwater world. If you feel like taking your snorkelling to the next level, walk down to the dive school near the beach and ask about the various courses available. They will be more than happy to help.

Please note: There is ATM on the island, so bring plenty of cash. In this idyllic setting there isn’t any hot water, but temperatures are so high that you're unlikely to miss it.

Day 14: Ko Raya

Your hotel has its own diving school, run by very competent and friendly Finnish staff. For those who don't dive there is snorkel gear for hire, enabling you to discover the underwater world without taking a true plunge. The visibility in the waters around Ko Raya can stretch up to an amazing 25m. The water temperature is about 27°C, so wetsuits are unnecessary. If would like to learn how to dive and obtain your PADI Open Water certificate, you can extend your stay on the island. Just let us know, and we'll put the arrangements in place. There are another two beautiful beaches on Ko Raya with white soft powdery sand and swaying palm trees. If you feel like exploring, you can reach these beaches by walk through the inland coconut groves to the other side of the island.

Day 15: Ko Raya

As you'll be flying back to Bangkok tomorrow, diving is off-limits today. You must have a minimum of 24hrs between your last dive and your flight. Even though diving is off the cards, there's no reason to be landlocked today. You are still completely enjoy the unbelievably beautiful underwater world in the little bay surrounding your resort. There are two other really beautiful beaches with shimmering white sands and azure waters. You can reach these beaches on foot, passing through the coconut groves of the interior to the other side of the island.

Day 16: Ko Raya - Phuket - Bangkok- UK

This morning, you can make the most of your last few hours on Ko Raya. Take one last snorkel in the truly unusual bay and then enjoy a final fruit cocktail at the beach bar. You'll return to Phuket by speedboat before taking a domestic flight back to Bangkok, ready for your international flight home later that day.

If this flight connection is not possible, you'll need to spend one night in Bangkok before flying home to the UK the following day- the perfect excuse for some last minute shopping! We can arrange this for you. Please note that the extra night will be at an additonal cost.

When to go? The best time of year to travel is from December until the end of April, when there is less chance of rain. From May until August the weather is generally fine, but expect regular rainfall. From September to November, there is a greater risk of heavy rain and it is best to swap the Ko Raya section of this trip with an island on the east coast of Thailand- Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan or Ko Tao. These islands are busier resorts, but there are some good snorkelling and diving spots.

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