Luxury Thailand City, Jungle & Beach Getaway - 14 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Bangkok, Explore the City & Michelin-Starred Dining

Welcome to Thailand! Touch down in the buzzing capital Bangkok, which is famed for its chaotic energy, tasty street food, nightlife, and Buddhist sights. Your driver will be waiting to take you to the 5-star Mandarin Oriental in a Mercedes-Benz S Class. Check into your luxurious room or suite, which features Thai-style decor with a modern touch, including floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies that showcase views of the Chao Phraya River and glittering city skyline.

Spend the afternoon relaxing or exploring Bangkok. Absorb some Buddhist culture with a trip to Wat Saket, a hilltop temple that offers supreme sunset city views, or look for huge water monitor lizards at leafy Lumphini Park. Afterward, dine at one of the Mandarin's renowned restaurants, which includes the 2-Michelin-starred French eatery Le Normandie by Alain Roux. End the day with a treatment at the hotel's award-winning spa, set in a century-old teakwood house.

Day 2: Grand Palace Tour & Luxury Spa Experience

After a lavish hotel breakfast, take a private tour of Bangkok's famous Grand Palace. This complex of intricate temples and palaces was built in 1782 and served as the royal family's home for 150 years. Today, the palace is used for royal ceremonies such as weddings, funerals, and state banquets. Highlights include the Reception Hall, Coronation Hall, and Wat Phra Kaew, which houses the sacred Emerald Buddha, a 26-inch (66 cm) jade statue of a meditating Buddha.

Relax this afternoon with a trip to the opulent Dahra Spa, known for its decadent treatments and experienced therapists. Choose from various rejuvenating treatments based on European and Asian techniques, from aromatherapy massages to green tea body scrubs, seaweed salt Jacuzzis, and facials. The traditional Thai herbal massage is a favorite, using a herbal compress to draw out toxins and promote circulation.

Day 3: Bangkok Markets Tour & Luxury Dinner Cruise

Today you'll discover some of Bangkok's sprawling markets on an exclusive private tour. Drive through the high-rise urban landscape to Samut Songkharm on the rural outskirts of the capital. Here you'll visit the Mae Klong Railway Market, which sits along the tracks; when a train pulls in or out of the station, the vendors quickly clear their stalls, only to set them up again moments later when the train has passed.

Continue to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in Ratchaburi, 62 miles (100 km) southwest of the capital. Paddle through the maze of canals past vendors selling fruit and handicrafts from their boats. Hail down the food vendors for a spot of delicious Thai food and witness traders selling fresh produce and handicrafts on their boats.

You'll end the day with an atmospheric dinner cruise along the Chao Phraya River with your other half. Board the luxurious Manohra, an antique wooden rice barge, to sail along the water, admiring Bangkok's twinkling night skyline while you gorge on fine Thai dining. Pass illuminated landmarks, from the Grand Palace to Beaux Arts-style mansions, before returning to your hotel for a final night in the city.

Day 4: Fly to Chiang Mai, Enjoy a Four Seasons Afternoon Tea

Say goodbye to Bangkok today and fly north to the temple-studded city of Chiang Mai. Set in the cooler, mountainous north of Thailand, Chiang Mai was once the capital of the Lanna Kingdom and still retains its moat-encircled Old City. The city is a key cultural hub, home to historical architecture and over 300 temples where monks live and worship.

A driver will be waiting to take you to 137 Pillars House Chiang Mai, where you'll check into a suite overlooking tropical gardens. This boutique hotel lies in an original teak house that dates back to 1889, which has been carefully restored. Each suite has high ceilings, handcrafted furniture, a Victorian bathtub, and a veranda. In the flower-filled gardens, you'll find a stunning lap pool.

After settling in, you'll head to the Four Seasons Chiang Mai for an indulgent afternoon tea. The resort features views of lime-green rice fields and forested mountains on the city's outskirts. Enjoy the scenery as you feast on a range of bite-sized delicacies, including blue cheese and dried strawberry terrine, vegetable and crab spring rolls, and smoked salmon and sour cream crepe roulade, all accompanied by tea or coffee.

Day 5: Visit Chiang Mai's Markets & Temples

Start the day with a private trishaw ride around Chiang Mai's walled Old City. You'll stop at Warorot, the city's century-old market, where you can browse stalls heaving with everything from colorful produce to fresh flowers and handicrafts. Continue to Wat Umong, an enchanting, forested temple at the foot of Doi Suthep Mountain. After a walk through its mysterious tunnels and gardens filled with Buddha statues, take part in a private blessing ceremony at the viharn (assembly hall).

After lunch, you'll visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a sacred mountaintop temple. Climb the 309 steps of the naga (serpent) staircase to the temple's pagodas and copper-plated chedi, which contain relics of Lord Buddha. To show respect, circle the pagoda three times in an anticlockwise direction. The views of Chiang Mai from the temple, set 3,500 feet (1,066 m) above sea level, are spectacular, and at dusk, you'll experience the mesmerizing chants of orange-robed monks.

Day 6: Free Morning & Afternoon Thai Cooking Class

This morning is yours to enjoy Chiang Mai at your own pace. Have a leisurely breakfast and then relax by your hotel pool and with a massage at the on-site Nitra Serenity Centre. If you're feeling active, wander the tree-lined streets of the Old City, popping into temples such as Chiang Mai's oldest, Wat Chiang Man, and Wat Chedi Luang, built in Lanna style with a towering stupa. Stop at a café to experience Chiang Mai's famed coffee scene along the way.

This afternoon, you'll get a taste of Thai cuisine with a private cooking class at a Chiang Mai home. Accompanied by your host, head to a local market to shop for ingredients that you'll combine with organic herbs from your host's garden. Next, you'll learn how to cook five dishes which may include som tum (spicy green papaya salad) and creamy khao soy, a famous northern Thai dish with crispy noodles, coconut cream, and a spicy kick. Finish by dining on your creations.

Day 7: Fly to Khao Lak & Explore

This morning, take a first-class, two-hour flight south to Khao Lak, where you'll settle into the 5-star Sarojin. The beach resort offers elegant suites set among 10 acres (4 ha) of lush gardens that lead down to a long stretch of sand lapped by the Andaman Sea. The resort's Edge restaurant offers fine Thai dining with sea views, while Fictus sits beneath a giant ficus tree and serves Mediterranean cuisine.

Take the rest of the day to relax on the sun-baked beach and swim in the azure waters of the resort's infinity pool. Later, if you're feeling active, visit the nearby Takua Pa Old Town. This former mining town is filled with Sino-Portuguese architecture and has a main walking street where you can shop and snack on street food. Alternatively, rent a kayak to paddle through the coast's rich mangrove forests.

Day 8: Transfer to Khao Sok National Park, Ethical Elephant Experience

Venture into nearby Khao Sok National Park today, a protected area of thick jungle home to the oldest evergreen rainforest in the world, crashing waterfalls, and limestone karsts. The vast Cheow Lan Lake, created by a damming project, takes center stage in the park and is dotted with floating raft houses. After the two-hour journey, you'll arrive at Elephant Hills Rainforest Camp, a luxury-tented jungle camp in the heart of the park, where you'll settle into your African-inspired safari tent.

Tuck into a buffet lunch before embarking upon a canoe trip down the peaceful Sok River, taking in views of the limestone mountains and cliffs covered with dense primary rainforest. Disembark at the camp's conservation-focused elephant park, where you can ethically interact with Asian elephants. Learn about these gentle giants and their mahouts (elephant carers), then help prepare a meal and feed the animals.

After your unforgettable wildlife encounter, return to camp for a restful evening. Enjoy dinner and drinks, accompanied by entertainment such as Thai dance performances, then retire to your tent to fall asleep to the sounds of the jungle.

Day 9: Cheow Lan Lake Long-Tail Boat Ride & Jungle Walk

Rise early for a private long-tail boat ride on sparkling Cheow Lan Lake, the jewel of Khao Sok National Park. As you float along, soak up views of the limestone karsts rising from emerald water and look out for soaring hornbills above. The park is a haven for wildlife, including banded pittas, monkeys, the Asian ox, and even leopards. You'll return to Elephant Hills Rainforest Camp and have time to unwind before enjoying a buffet lunch overlooking the lake.

In the afternoon, head out with an expert guide to discover the wonders of one of the world's oldest rainforests on foot. One of the most biodiverse areas on earth, the rainforest boasts diverse flora and fauna, including pitcher plants, hardwood trees, figs, dipterocarps, bamboo, coconut, 48 mammal species, and 311 bird species. After your trek, return to camp for dinner and drinks under a star-filled sky.

Day 10: Cheow Lan Lake Canoe Safari, Transfer to Phuket

Relish a final morning in Khao Sok with a private canoe safari along the channels of Cheow Lan Lake. As you paddle, your guide will point out birds and primates in the trees. Afterward, there's time to relax at the camp and enjoy a final lunch before making the three-hour journey by private boat and car to Phuket. Thailand's largest island is known for its powdery beaches, neon nightlife, and landscapes ranging from rainforest to palm-fringed beaches and craggy limestone cliffs.

Your driver will take you straight to the luxurious Rosewood Phuket. Check into your villa, which lies just moments from the white sands of Emerald Bay. Villa highlights include floor-to-ceiling doors that open onto a garden terrace with loungers and a plunge pool. Spend the rest of the day settling in; lounge by the three infinity pools, then dine at one of the four eateries, which include Ta Khai for Thai seafood and the beachfront Red Sauce for Italian classics.

Day 11: Free Day in Phuket & Luxury Beachfront Dinner

Today is yours to enjoy Phuket at your own pace. Chill in your villa or take advantage of the resort's first-class activities, which include yoga and Muay Thai (Thai boxing) classes, watersports, spa treatments, and cooking and cocktail-making masterclasses. Alternatively, head out to explore Phuket independently. Start in the Old Town with its 19th-century shophouses and Sino-Portuguese architecture, and continue to Thalang Road, where you'll find a popular market.

Freshen up at your villa before this evening's private dining experience at SALA Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort. Set among lawns along the beach, you can watch the buttery sunset over the Andaman Sea as you settle in for a gourmet meal. Choose from a menu of tempting treats, from lobster cooked in green curry to chicken braised in mild peanut curry to crispy spring rolls filled with pork and vegetables.

Day 12: Taste of Phuket Food Tour

This morning you'll discover Phuket's diverse food scene, which is influenced by the island's Arab, Indian, Portuguese, French, and Chinese roots. A private guide will take you to the island's best food spots, many of which are only known to locals. Highlights include breakfast at a dim sum place near the market, followed by curry and roti for lunch and a Sino-Thai-style feast of noodles and local delicacies as you wander the streets of the Old Town.

The rest of the day is yours to relax or continue exploring Phuket. Indulge in some beach time or visit the famed 147-foot-tall (45 m) Big Buddha Statue and the sacred Wat Chalong, which is the biggest temple in Phuket and dates back to the 19th century. Pause for photos at Windmill Viewpoint and stroll along nearby beaches as the sun sets before heading back to your villa.

Day 13: Phi Phi & Khai Islands Speedboat Tour

Explore the Phi Phi Islands today, an archipelago 25 miles (40 km) east of Phuket, known for its film-worthy beaches and top snorkeling spots. The trip starts with a private speed boat ride to Phi Phi Ley, where you'll see Maya Bay from the water, the setting for the Leonardo DiCaprio movie, "The Beach." You'll also moor at Pileh Lagoon and Viking Cave for swimming and snorkeling.

Sail on to Phi Phi Don, stopping at Monkey Beach along the way, known for its cheeky macaques. Before lunch, you'll have time to snorkel in the clear waters, spotting multicolored marine life. Spend the afternoon on idyllic Bamboo Island, chilling on pillow-soft beaches or swimming and snorkeling in the topaz waters.

After lunch, continue to Ton Sai Bay for some village sightseeing before sailing on to the cluster of Khai Islands, famed for their unspoiled sands and undeveloped vibe. Laze on the palm-shaded beach, sip a cocktail, or snorkel among coral reefs teeming with marine life. The trip ends with an exhilarating speedboat ride back to Phuket for one last evening on the island.

Day 14: Depart Phuket

Today your luxury Thailand getaway comes to an end. Spend a final few hours on the beach or shopping for souvenirs before your airport transfer. Safe travels!

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