Bangkok & Northern Thailand Adventure - 8 Days

Highlights

• Explore Bangkok's glittering Grand Palace and lively night markets 
• Visit UNESCO-listed Ayutthaya Historical Park
• Take the sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
• Meet rescued elephants at an elephant sanctuary 
• Travel to the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos meet

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Bangkok

Your Thailand adventure begins in Bangkok: a thrilling mix of grand temples, lively street life, towering skyscrapers, and boat-filled canals. It's easy to get around the city on foot, by taxi, or in a tuk-tuk (Thailand's iconic three-wheeled vehicle), and there's no shortage of diverse things to see and do. Head to Chinatown to try the delicious street food, catch a local kickboxing match, or visit Warehouse 30—a cool community arts space featuring modern art exhibitions.

Then there's the shopping. See the two sides of shopping in Bangkok by combining a trip to the sleek Siam Paragon mall with a visit to the weekend Chatuchak Market—one of the world's largest outdoor markets with over 15,000 stalls. End the day with a traditional Thai massage.

Day 2: Bangkok Temples & Canals Tour

This morning, meet your guide and head to a nearby pier to hop on a scenic long-tail boat ride down the Chao Phraya River. First, you'll soak up the views of the urban city skyline before leaving the skyscrapers behind and traveling through a maze of klongs (canals). The klongs give you a real flavor of local life; you'll pass by traditional wooden stilt houses where clotheslines are strung between the houses to dry the day's washing in the sunshine, hear the sound of Thai music fill the air, and see friendly locals relaxing on their porches. Keep an eye out for waterbirds, including herons, pelicans, and egrets.

Your first jump-off point is the waterfront temple of Wat Khun Chan, where you'll gaze up at brightly colored statues of animals and goddesses. Next, visit the museum at Wat Paknam for a Thai history lesson and to see the biggest sitting Buddha in the city. Then it's time to travel back along the river to the pier for lunch nearby.

Day 3: Explore Bangkok at Night by Tuk-Tuk

Bangkok is a 24/7 destination; this evening, you'll zip around the city in a colorful tuk-tuk! Take a spin around Bangkok's Old Town on Rattanakosin Island, where you'll see the city's first paved road and explore Chinatown. Venture into the heart of the Old Town to the famous Giant Swing, a religious structure that stands at over 69 feet (21 m) tall, and sample the area's delicious street food as you walk through the backstreets. Thai food has a perfect balance of sour, sweet, bitter, and salty flavors, and the Old Town is one of the best spots in the city for authentic local bites.

When you've had your fill of Thai delicacies for the night, head to a viewpoint for some incredible photo opportunities of the Grand Palace lit up in full glory. This is also a great time to head inside Wat Pho temple, which just a few hours ago was jammed with tourists and now lays blissfully quiet. The final stop of the evening is the 24-hour flower market, where you can weave between the sweet-smelling market stalls and down the backstreets to experience the bustle of Bangkok after dark.

Day 4: Day Trip to Bang Pa-In & Ayutthaya Historical Park, Transfer to Chiang Mai

Today you'll explore Bangkok's surrounding attractions. Travel around an hour north of the city by car to Bang Pa-In, the summer palace built by Rama IV, to see the contrasting palace buildings and surrounding temples inspired by European, Chinese, and Thai designs. Visit Wat Niwet Thammaprawat, the Gothic-inspired temple on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, then board the charming Thanatharee rice barge at Wat Kasatra Pier and enjoy a private lunch cruise, soaking up the scenes of Wat Phanan Choeng, the Elephant Kraal Pavilion, and local life as you glide down the river.

Disembark at Wat Kasatra Pier to explore the historic city of Ayutthaya. Once the capital of the Siamese Kingdom, the ruins of the old city now form the Ayutthaya Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of ancient palaces, temples, and statues. There will be time to visit four of the most important temples: Wat Yai Chai Mongkol, Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, Wat Mahathat, and Wat Chai Wattanaram, before the drive back to Bangkok.

This evening, you'll make the most of your holiday time with an overnight sleeper train journey to Chiang Mai, the largest city in mountainous northern Thailand. Settle into your bunk and let the rumble of the train lull you to sleep as you travel over 430 miles (700 km).

Day 5: Free Day in Chiang Mai

Wake aboard the train as it chugs into Chiang Mai! Then enjoy the flexibility to explore this charming and laid-back city at your own pace. Walk along the welcoming streets to San Kamphaeng Road, known as the "Handicraft Highway," and stretches for more than 11 miles (18 km). Here, you'll find lots of local crafts, including pottery and silver. In the evening, the buzzing Night Bazaar on Chang Klan Road is a must for checking out crafts, tasting all sorts of mouth-watering street food, and getting swept up in the merry crowd as people make their way from one stall to another. 

If time permits, visit San Kamphaeng Hot Springs, located about an hour's drive from the city center, to soak in the mineral baths and see the springs that shoot bursts of hot water up to 65 feet (20 m) in the air. Or, for a more adventurous trip, head to Bua Tong National Park (about two hours from Chiang Mai's center) to hike in the jungle and climb up the "sticky waterfalls," where the unique limestone rocks allow you to walk up and down the waterfall barefoot without slipping.

Day 6: Visit Rescued Elephants at Happy Elephant Home

Head outside the city to meet some of Chiang Mai's most charming residents. You'll travel about an hour by car or van to the Happy Elephant Home, a sanctuary for rescued elephants. Enjoy a welcome drink on arrival, change into the provided mahout (elephant caretaker) clothes and let the fun begin as you spend the morning feeding, washing, and making friends with the elephants.

After a delicious Thai lunch, you'll cool off in the on-site swimming pool and soak up the mountain views. Later, join the elephants in a mud bath, then walk with them to the Mae Taeng River, where you can wash, swim, and play with these majestic animals some more. Afterward, return to the camp where the elephants will roam free and enjoy more food. At the end of the day, you'll say goodbye to your new friends and transfer back to Chiang Mai.

Day 7: Transfer to Chiang Rai via the White Temple & Golden Triangle 

A morning drive from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai will take you through northern Thailand's forested mountains and lush valleys. Make a short stop at Mae Kachan Hot Springs to stretch your legs and see how the hot water shoots from underground high into the air, then head to Wat Rong Khun, known as the White Temple. This amazing piece of art is the vision of Thai painter/architect Chalermchai Kositpipat and looks like something straight from a fairy tale.

After lunch at a local restaurant, visit Maesai, the trading border town between Thailand and Myanmar. Then continue to the Golden Triangle area. Stop at the misty mountain village of Sop Ruak, where the Ruak River joins the mighty Mekong and the borders of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos meet, for the rare opportunity to gaze out over multiple countries.

Day 8: Transfer to Chiang Rai Airport, Depart

There's time for some last-minute souvenir shopping at a local market before your private driver transfers you to the airport to catch your departing flight. Safe travels!

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