Ultimate Luxury in Thailand: Bangkok & Phuket - 14 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Bangkok, Manohra River Cruise

Welcome to Thailand! Touch down in the buzzing capital Bangkok, which is beloved for its chaotic energy, tasty street food, nightlife, and Buddhist sights. A driver will take you to the 5-star Siam Kempinski Hotel in the city's heart, connected by a walkway to the high-end Siam Paragon Mall. Settle into your room, which blends Thai design with modern flare, including a balcony overlooking gardens and a free-form pool.

Spend the afternoon relaxing at your lavish resort or explore Bangkok independently. Absorb some Buddhist culture with a trip to Wat Saket, a hilltop temple that offers supreme sunset city views. Afterward, satisfy your taste buds at the Michelin-starred street food stall, Jay Fai, where you can try their coveted crab omelet.

You'll end the day with an atmospheric dinner cruise along the Chao Phraya River. Board the luxurious Manohra, an antique wooden rice barge, to sail along the water, admiring Bangkok's twinkling night skyline while you feast on fine Thai dining. Pass illuminated landmarks, from the Grand Palace to Beaux Arts-style mansions.

Day 2: Bangkok Floating Market, Temple & Grand Palace Tour

Today you'll discover some of Bangkok's most famous sites on a private tour. Begin with a trip 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 exotic fruit and handicrafts from their boats. Hail down the food vendors for a spot of lunch of delicious Thai food and witness traders selling food and handicrafts on their boats.

Enjoy a traditional Thai lunch at the market before returning to Bangkok to explore its urban wonders. First is Wat Pho, a decorative temple founded during the 16th century and houses a giant, 150-foot-long (46 m) reclining Buddha statue whose feet are inlaid with mother-of-pearl.

Finally, you'll visit the Grand Palace, a complex of intricate temples and palaces built in 1782, which 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 Emerald Buddha, a 26-inch (66 cm) jade statue of a meditating Buddha.

Day 3: Cooking Class at Blue Elephant Cooking School

Get a taste of Thailand this morning with a private cooking lesson at Blue Elephant Cooking School. Meet the expert chefs who'll teach you to create up to five Thai dishes. Start with a trip to the local market, where you'll shop for ingredients, from colorful produce to fragrant herbs and spices.

Return to the school afterward to cook dishes such as tom yum koong (hot and sour prawn soup) and paneang kai (red curry with chicken). Afterward, you'll receive a culinary certificate and dine on your creations in the Blue Elephant Restaurant before returning to your hotel.

Spend the rest of the afternoon as you please. Relax by the hotel pool with a cocktail, or head to the opulent on-site spa to indulge in various decadent treatments. Choose from a menu of massages themed around the European seasons, or try the couple's Royal Siam Signature Experience, which includes a body scrub, Thai herbal bath, massage, facial, and soothing hot oil scalp massage.

Day 4: Jim Thompson House & Suan Pakkad Palace Museum

Delve into the history of Bangkok today with a private tour of the city's top museums. Start at the Jim Thompson House, a complex of six teak buildings that showcase Thai architecture, set among landscaped gardens. Explore this historic property, once home to American Jim Thompson, who was credited with revitalizing the Thai silk industry. Peruse the museum's collection of Southeast Asian art and artifacts from the silk industry.

Continue to the Suan Pakkad Palace, which belongs to the Prince and Princess Chumbhot. Tour eight teak Thai houses filled with fine art and antiques belonging to the royal couple. Notable features include musical instruments and Ban Chiang pottery that date back over 4,000 years. After your visit, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy Bangkok at your own speed.

Day 5: Free Day in Bangkok

Spend a final free day in Bangkok. If you're visiting over the weekend, don't miss Chatuchak Market—with more than 15,000 stalls, it's one of the world's largest outdoor markets and sells everything from clothes and flowers to food and antiques. Alternatively, see a puppet show for some ancient culture or browse Warehouse 30 for modern art exhibitions.

For more shopping, travel to the outskirts of the city to Amphawa Floating Market, where vendors trade from hundreds of wooden row boats, selling Thai snacks and souvenirs. The Mae Klong Railway Market is another favorite, located 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.

Head to vibrant Chinatown in the evening to sample the street food. Here, you can gorge on local classics like kai satay (barbecue chicken with sweet and sour peanut sauce) and ba mee mhoo daeng (crispy noodles with pork). Finish off your feast with some Thai desserts and Chinese herbal drinks.

Day 6: Fly to Phuket, Fine Dining Experience

Say goodbye to Bangkok this morning and fly 1.5 hours south to Phuket, the country's largest island. Set on the Andaman Coast, Phuket is known for its powdery beaches, neon nightlife, and luxury resorts. The island is also home to diverse landscapes ranging from lush rainforest to palm-fringed beaches and craggy limestone cliffs.

Your driver will be waiting to take you to Banyan Tree Phuket on the exclusive west coast. Check into your private pool villa, surrounded by a sparkling lagoon and flower-filled gardens. Your elegant, Thai-style villa offers everything from an outdoor bathtub to floor-to-ceiling windows and a refreshing pool. Settle in and explore the resort's facilities, which include an award-winning spa and an 18-hole golf course.

This evening, your driver will take you to the Baan Rim Pa Royal Thai Restaurant for an evening of fine dining. The eatery's sophisticated teak and silk decor, live piano music, excellent Thai food, and cocktail bar make this one of Phuket's premier dining establishments. Dine on dishes such as tom yaam goan uan (spiced seafood soup), po pia sod (fresh spring rolls), and gaeng garee (yellow curry).

Day 7: Island Hopping on a Private Catamaran

Today you'll experience the remote beauty of Phuket's surrounding islands, Ko Hey (Coral Island) and Ko Khai Nok. Board a catamaran yacht to sail across the azure Andaman Sea, taking in tropical scenery from the deck. Hop between the two tiny islands, famed for their unspoiled sands, snorkel-worthy waters, and undeveloped vibe. Spend your time lazing on the palm-shaded beach, sipping a cocktail in one of the beachside cafés, or cooling off in the sea.

Both islands offer exceptional year-round snorkeling, with calm waters home to coral reefs teeming with marine life. When you've had your fill of sun, sea, and sand, sail back to Phuket for a relaxed evening at your resort. Try one of Banyan Tree's restaurants, including Thai cuisine at Saffron, healthy plant-focused poolside meals at Veya, or a romantic seafood dinner overlooking the lagoon at Watercourt.

Day 8: Elephant Care Experience & Cooking Class

Get to know Thailand's iconic national animal today with a private elephant care experience. After breakfast, your driver will pick you up from Banyan Tree for the hourlong journey to Phuket's elephant sanctuary. Meet expert guides who'll introduce you to the elephants and teach you about their natural habitat, behavior, and place in Thai culture.

Learn about the elephants' diet and help mix a banana, sugar cane, cucumber, and corn meal. You'll get to feed the elephants by hand and prepare their vitamin balls, then pamper these gentle giants with an herbal compress massage and mud sand spa. Head down to the water to bathe with the elephants and learn about the special relationship between the animals and their mahouts (elephant carers).

The trip ends with a cooking class, where you'll learn how to create some of Thailand's signature dishes, such as pad thai (stir-fried rice noodles) and som tum (green papaya salad). Feast on your creations before returning to your villa for an afternoon by the pool.

Day 9: Phuket Sightseeing & Dinner at Baba Beach Club

Relish a free morning to sample Banyan Tree's first-class facilities. If you're feeling active, tee off at the on-site Laguna Golf Course, center yourself with a yoga class, or enjoy a game of tennis. Alternatively, visit Banyan Tree Spa for the ultimate spa session, including a range of Thai-style massages, body scrubs, and facials.

In the afternoon, meet your guide for a private tour of Phuket. Start at 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. Next, wander the streets of Phuket's Old Town, discovering Sino-Portuguese architecture, Thai temples, Chinese shrines, museums, and stately mansions.

Pause for photos at Windmill Viewpoint and stroll along nearby beaches as the sun begins to set. Your final stop is the trendy Baba Beach Club, which lies just steps from pristine Natai Beach. Savor dinner and drinks accompanied by world-class DJs and take a dip in the club's pool before returning to your hotel.

Day 10: Helicopter Tour over Phuket & Phang Nga Bay

Take to the skies today with a private helicopter tour over Phang Nga Bay. After breakfast, your driver will whisk you to the heliport, where you'll board the helicopter. Rise into the sky and soar above the Andaman Sea for bird's eye views of Phang Nga Bay. This 154-square-mile (400 sq km) national park is home to towering limestone karsts, caves, hidden lagoons, and some of Thailand's most extensive mangrove forests.

Your pilot will highlight key sights, including unique rock formations, James Bond Island, and the sprawling floating Muslim village, Ko Panyi. Circle back toward Phuket, fringed with ribbons of golden sand, spotting landmarks like the Big Buddha statue and ornate Wat Chalong. Finally, fly over Thalang District's rainforest before landing at the heliport. Spend the rest of the day basking at your resort or on the beach.

Day 11: Free Beach Day in Phuket

Soak up the sun today at one of Phuket's outstanding beaches, which offer everything from watersports to pure relaxation. Kata Beach is loved for its pale sand and picture-perfect palm trees and has plenty of local food vendors and market stalls to peruse. Nai Harn is another popular option, with a lively shopping scene when you need a break from the sun.

If you're looking for something quieter, head to Freedom Beach, where you can find the best white sands in Phuket. Although it's more challenging to get to (you can either hike a steep path or take a long-tail boat there), you'll escape the motorized watersports and beach vendors for a truly peaceful experience. After a sun-drenched day by the sea, return to your resort for dinner and a restful evening.

Day 12: Visit Phuket's Gibbon Rehabilitation Project

Take part in vital wildlife conservation work today with a trip to Phuket's renowned Gibbon Rehabilitation Project (GRP). Head to the center in the morning, where one of the project's expert guides will teach you about the history of the GRP and its mission to rescue gibbons from the illegal pet and tourism trade and reintroduce them into the wild, where they were poached to near-extinction over 40 years ago.

You'll tour the center and spot its current residents, learn about research methods, and observe the gibbons' behavior and calls. Hear stories of how the animals were rescued and make some nutritional balls, which you'll wrap in banana leaves to be put into a long-distance feeding system for the gibbons. During the forest tour, you may spot other wildlife, from flying lemurs to the oriental pied hornbill.

After the tour, you can opt to stay for lunch and then spend some time trekking through this protected forest to a crashing waterfall. Your driver will be waiting to take you back to your resort afterward for an afternoon of sun-soaked relaxation.

Day 13: Phi Phi Islands Swimming & Snorkeling 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. 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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