Northern Culture & Island Life
Private - Independent Tour
Bangkok – Chiang Rai – Mae Kampong Village - Chiang Mai – Ko Samet
Thailand entices visitors with its forever contrasting experiences showcasing fine architecture, sacred Buddhist temples, tropical lush rainforests and white sandy beaches. Blend this with warm hospitality offered by locals during a homestay, cooking up your very own Thai feast. Visiting the nation’s animal, the Thai elephants that are being rehabilitated and finally travelling like James Bond on a speedboat to a tropical island. This tour will really offer a diverse and unforgettable adventure.
Your Itinerary
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Day 1
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Day 2
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Day 3
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Day 4
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Day 5
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Day 6
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Day 7
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Day 8
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Day 9
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Day 10
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Day 11
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Day 12&13
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Day 14
Day 1 : Bangkok
Welcome to the vibrant city of Bangkok. You will be met by a local Englishspeaking guide and private driver at the airport who will transfer you to your hotel. This evening settle in and relax in style with a rooftop pre-dinner drink as you soak up the atmosphere of the city below.
Day 2 : Bangkok
Discover Bangkok’s famous landmarks and hidden gems in a unique way. Start your day at Wat Pho, experiencing the serene morning chanting, then enjoy a private blessing at a temple known to locals but off the tourist radar. After lunch (not included), explore a restored ‘gingerbread house,’ learning its history while savouring local Thai snacks and tea or coffee. Travel around the city in a traditional tuk-tuk for an authentic Thai experience, making this a perfect blend of well-known sights and lesser-seen treasures.
Day 3 : Bangkok
This morning you will explore the old Portuguese area of Bangkok and learn about its historically significant and unique architecture with your private guide and driver. This evening your driver will collect you from your hotel and transfer you to an evening aboard the Manohra Dinner Cruise. Enjoy a gourmet Thai set dinner while cruising past Bangkok’s iconic landmarks, including Wat Arun and the Grand Palace, with stunning views of the city’s skyline illuminated at night.
Day 4 : Chiang Rai
Check out of your hotel, your driver and guide will meet you and transfer you to the airport for your 1.5 hour flight to Chiang Rai. Your local guide and private driver will meet you at the airport and drive you to your hotel in Chiang Rai. Freshen up before you embark on a fast boat along the Mekong River where two rivers converge in a valley, known as the Golden Triangle. Be prepared for stunning views of where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet.
Day 5 : Chiang Rai
Your guide will take you on a full day tour to the scenic Mae Salong valley visiting a tea plantation. This area is known for its local oolong tea, the tea bushes were originally imported from Taiwan and thrive on the mountainous landscape. Your tour will also include a visit to the Chinese Marty’s Memorial Museum, Phra Boromathat Chedi and Wat Santikhiri.
Day 6 : Mae Kampong Village Home Stay
Leave Chiang Rai with your guide for the charming mountainside village of Mae Kampong, known for its cosy wooden houses. Enjoy a leisurely walk along a nature trail by the stream, passing waterfalls and tea and coffee plantations. For lunch, help prepare a simple meal with a local host family at their home stay. In the afternoon, choose between learning how to make fermented tea or relaxing with a herbal steam bath. End your day with a delightful home-cooked dinner and warm hospitality. Stay in simple but comfortable home stay accommodation with a Thai family host and feast on home cooked meals.
Day 7 : Chiang Mai
Your early bird morning begins by offering alms to monks at the village temple with your host, followed by a homemade breakfast. Visit a local artist’s house, explore his collection, and create your own artwork. Next, head to the Chiang Mai Art Museum for a deeper dive into the local art scene, surrounded by beautiful mountain and lake views. After lunch (not included), journey to Chiang Mai city, the 'rose of the north.' Late afternoon, enjoy a 3-hour private tuk-tuk food tour, tasting dishes at an infamous night market and beyond, while quiet temples glow under the sunset.
Day 8 : Chiang Mai
Your guide will meet you in the lobby to embark on an iconic half-day journey ascending 3,500 feet to the sacred Wat Prathat Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai's holiest temple. Climb 306 steps to admire the golden pagoda and enjoy stunning city views. Afterwards, travel by local truck to the White Hmong hill tribe village. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure.
Day 9 : Chiang Mai
Today your driver and guide will take you to view the national animal of Thailand, the Thai elephant at Elephant National Park, the first ethical sanctuary in Thailand. Many of the residents have been rescued from circus shows, elephant riding or may have sustained injury. Here you will sense their now peaceful lifestyle where they are respected and cared for, your visit will contribute to their well -being and rehabilitation. This afternoon is at leisure to further explore at your own pace.
Day 10 : Chiang Mai
Something a bit different today as you take part in a half day cooking class. Your 'chef' will take you on a tour of the market then to an organic farm. You’ll make a curry paste from scratch using your own mortar, adjusting the spice level to your preference. You’ll prepare a curry, soup, noodle dish, dessert, and receive a recipe book, tea, and water. The best part is eating the results for lunch! The afternoon is free to relax.
Day 11 : Ko Samet
Your driver and guide will meet you in the hotel reception and transfer you to the airport for your flight to Bangkok. You will then be driven in a private vehicle, approx. 2.5 hours to Rayong and Ban Phe pier where you will join a shared speedboat transfer to Ko Samet. Relax with a cool cocktail on this paradise island.
Day 12&13 : Ko Samet
If it’s unspoilt beaches and lazy afternoons at a beach bar you are looking for then this is the perfect spot. Unwind with a massage or spa treatment, in the cooler mornings you may wish to start your day with a walk in Ko Samet National Park (local entrance fee applies). Water sports enthusiasts will be spoilt for choice with snorkelling equipment, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards readily available. You will find restaurants dotted along the beach, from BBQs to street food and sumptuous seafood restaurants.
Day 14 : Transfer to Bangkok
Time to leave or you may prefer to extend your stay, retrace your steps on a speedboat transfer back to the mainland. At the pier your private guide and driver will transfer you to Bangkok airport for your return flight.
