Bangkok Trip Overview
Explore Bangkok’s small alleys, encounter wooden houses, guardian spirit signs, fresh markets, old communities and more. Discover the klongs in a long tail boat. Visit Bang Pa-In, the majestic former summer residence. Explore Ayutthaya, the ruins of the former capital of the Thai Empire. Head to the floating market to source ingredients for your upcoming cooking class at a local’s house. Explore national parks around Pranburi, known to be the best elephant and gaur sighting place in Thailand, the only place where you can still spot elephants in the wild. Visit the WFFT Wildlife Rescue Centre, bathe an elephant, then head up north to explore Chiang Mai and it’s surroundings, including interesting local villages.
Additional Info
Duration: 11 days
Starts: Bangkok, Thailand
Trip Category: Air, Helicopter & Balloon Tours >> Air Tours
Explore Bangkok Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Bangkok, Thailand, Thailand
Explore Bangkok’s small alleys, encounter wooden houses, guardian spirit signs, fresh markets, old communities and more. Discover the klongs in a long tail boat. Visit Bang Pa-In, the majestic former summer residence. Explore Ayutthaya, the ruins of the former capital of the Thai Empire. Head to the floating market to source ingredients for your upcoming cooking class at a local’s house. Explore national parks around Pranburi, known to be the best elephant and gaur sighting place in Thailand, the only place where you can still spot elephants in the wild. Visit the WFFT Wildlife Rescue Centre, bathe an elephant, then head up north to explore Chiang Mai and it’s surroundings, including interesting local villages.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Bangkok (-/-/-)
Stop At: Suvarnabhumi Airport, 999 หมู่ 1 Tambon Nong Prue, Amphoe Bang Phli, Chang Wat Samut Prakan 10540, Thailand
Meet your guide and driver for a private transfer to your hotel in Bangkok. The rest of the day is free at your own leisure.
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight at The Siam, Siam Suite room.
Day 2: Bangkok Klong Tour and Hidden Treasures (B/L/-)
Stop At: Klongs, Wutthakat BTS, Bangkok Thailand
After breakfast transfer to the pier and hop on a long tail boat for a khlong tour, a great way to observe local life along the canals and stop at a kind of local artist community; Khlong Bang Luang. Well preserved wooden homes more than a century old and historic but non-touristy temples join smaller art studios, vintage antique galleries, a few outstanding hole-in-the-wall noodle shops, a tiny guesthouse and several family-run cafes, convenience shops and barbers. The centerpiece of the Khlong Bang Luang community is Baan Silapin (Artists House), which occupies a traditional two-storey wooden building set beside the canal and centered around a 300-plus-year-old chedi.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Temple Of Dawn (Wat Arun), 158 Thanon Wang Doem, Wat Arun, Bangkok Yai, Bangkok 10600 Thailand
We then head to Wat Arun, or Temple of Dawn, a Khmer-style Buddhist temple and major landmark on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River.
Second part of your day will focus on the discovery of some hidden natural treasures in the heart of Bangkok! First, we stop and visit Champa Temple, an ancient temple that was built more than 200 years ago. Its highlight is the embellishing porcelain at the gable end. We continue and stroll along the local green neighborhood, enjoy slow-paced life and beautiful canal views. We visit a beautiful traditional Thai house (only open on the weekend) and learn how to make traditional Thai vintage powder garland with the master – an ancient craftwork that has been practiced since the Ayutthaya era.
Time for a tasty local lunch prepared by the local community!
In the afternoon, you will learn how to make delicious Thai banana cake with the elder matriarch of the community. Her ingredients are mostly organic and fresh from her garden!
Return to your hotel in the late afternoon with the evening at leisure.
Duration: 5 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at The Siam, Siam Suite room.
Day 3: Bangkok – Bang Pa-In – Ayutthaya – Bangkok (B/L/-)
Stop At: Bang Pa In Palace, Ban Len, Bang Pa-in 13160 Thailand
This morning, after breakfast, we will head to Bang Pa-In, home of the King’s former summer residence. The palace dates back to the seventeenth century, pre-dating the establishment of Bangkok as the capital, although it did fall into disuse for a long period. All the buildings you see today date from its revival by King Rama IV in the 19th century. Today, the palace is only used infrequently, and then mostly for state occasions rather than as a royal summer residence. The residence is an interesting mix of different architectural influences, from European to Chinese.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Ayutthaya City Park, 126 Moo 3, Asia Rd, Ayutthaya 13000 Thailand
After a short drive to the river, we hop on a long tail boat and cruise to Ayutthaya, our final destination of the day. Time to taste the local dishes in a local restaurant. Don’t miss the excellent “roti”, a kind of local pancake made of rice flour.
Founded after the fall of Si Satchanalai and Sukhothai, Ayutthaya flourished as the capital of the Thai Kingdom for 400 years until it was invaded and burned by the Burmese in 1767. It was then that the capital was moved to its present day site of Bangkok. The ruins of Ayutthaya are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the ruins and active temples that still remain with your personal guide, including Wat Phanachoeng, Wat Yai Chai Mongkol and Wat Mahathat, Wat Phra Si Sanpet and Wat Ratchaburana temples.
Transfer back to Bangkok with an expected arrival time around 18.00 latest (depending on traffic).
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at The Siam, Siam Suite room.
Day 4: Bangkok Walking Tour (B/L/-)
Stop At: Wat Suthat, Bamrung Mueang Road, Bangkok 10200 Thailand
Visitors often see Bangkok as an enormous modern metropolis, full of expressways, massive department stores and skyscrapers, but there is an other (more hidden) side which clearly shows the origins of a people who still believe in traditions from years gone by. This morning you will be picked up by your guide at 06.45 to go on a special walking tour to explore hidden Bangkok.
We start at the famous Giant Swing (Sao Chingcha), originally used for Brahmanic ceremonies. In this neighborhood you will also see many shops selling large Buddha images and related religious products. From the Swing we walk to the Corrections Museum which was once the site of the Bangkok Remand Prison, an old and overcrowded penal facility located in the heart of Bangkok. In 1990 it was turned into a public park called Rommani Nart. Just across is Wat Suthat Thepwararam, a 200+ years old temple known for its unusual ‘farang’ statues. Afterwards we wander through small alleys, encounter wooden houses, guardian spirit signs, fresh markets (Along Soi Thesa), old communities (Phraeng Phuton) and more. At the city pillar you will learn more about Buddhism and local beliefs, ancient superstitions. Thai cities always house a pillar to host the guardian spirit or deity of the city!
Just around the corner stands Wat Phra Chetuphon, which is more commonly known by its old name of Wat Po. It was founded in the 17th century, making it the oldest temple in Bangkok. King Rama III enlarged the temple in 1832 and turned the temple into a center of learning, making it in essence Thailand’s first university. Rama III is also responsible for the construction of the enormous reclining Buddha statue.
Time to enjoy a tasty local lunch in a riverside restaurant.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: The Grand Palace, Na Phra Lan Rd, Maharaj Pier next to Wat Phra Kaeo Temple Complex, Bangkok Thailand
In the early afternoon, visit the famous Grand Palace. The Grand Palace Complex, which includes the Temple of The Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Keow), is a “must” for every visitor to Bangkok. Within Wat Phra Keow is a fabulous Buddha image, carved from one piece of jade.
The visit ends with a well deserved foot massage before heading back to your hotel with the remaining of the afternoon at leisure.
Duration: 3 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at The Siam, Siam Suite room.
Day 5: Bangkok – Floating Market – Thai Cooking Class – Pranburi (B/L/-)
Stop At: Don Wai Market, Soi Rai Khing, Sam Phran, Nakhon Pathom 73110 Thailand
After breakfast, we take the road to our next destination – Nakhon Pathom (about 2h drive). On arrival, you will be greeted by Mrs Aoy, your personal host for the day! Aoy is a passionate food lover who fully commits herself to every task at hand especially when it comes to preparing authentic and beautifully presented Thai dishes. Aoy lived abroad for 10 years and now works in the tourism industry. Since returning to Thailand, she has dedicated herself to teaching Thai cooking to foreigners and opening a restaurant in her home. Aoy lives on a lush, beautiful property on the banks of the Tha Chin River and uses fresh herbs and produce grown in the local community in her cooking.
You will first board a local boat and head to the authentic floating market of Don Wai where we will select the ingredients for today’s class. The market is known for its wide variety of vegetables and Thai snacks. As you shop together, Aoy will show you regional fruit and vegetables at her preferred vendors in the market. After learning about the local produce and farming community you will board a boat that Aoy steers herself. Enjoy the river breeze and passing views of local homes and lush river vegetation during your 30 min boat ride to Aoy’s tropical riverside home.
After your boat ride, you will be greeted with a welcome drink in the calm of Aoy’s garden oasis. You will then join Aoy in her professional kitchen studio for your cooking class. In this hands-on cooking lesson you will learn to prepare from scratch two of Aoy’s favorite Thai dishes. Aoy will share her deep knowledge of Thai herbs and spices and passion for cooking as you cook together in her studio kitchen that is also used by her other cooks for the restaurant she runs from her home. Be prepared to roll up your sleeves and chop vegetables, pound spices, and laugh as you cook together with this charming and fun-loving host!
Time to say goodbye to your friendly host and head to your next destination – Pranburi (about 2.5h drive). Pranburi is a quiet, but up-and-coming beach destination, ideal for those who are looking for an unspoiled beach and an opportunity to explore nearby natural wonders such as Kuiburi National Park – the only place in Thailand to spot wild elephants in their natural habitat! You will reach your beach hotel right before sunset. Evening is at leisure.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at Aleenta Pranburi, Palm Pool Residence room.
Day 6: Pranburi – Mangrove Forest – Kuiburi National Park (B/L/-)
Stop At: Pranburi Forest Park, Pranburi 77120 Thailand
Today you will enjoy some time walking through the largest protected mangrove forest in the country, located nearby Sam Roy Yod National Park, or the “Mountain of 300 Peaks”. The park consists of dramatic limestone hills, mangrove forests, creeks and white sand beaches. This unique environment offers a large variety of wildlife and nature attractions. It is also a sanctuary of wildlife and various kinds of local and migratory birds. First stop at the Mangrove Forest Nature Trail (about 12kms, 0.5h drive from the hotel), a wooden walkway that allows visitors to walk through in the middle of a beautifully preserved natural mangrove forest. Many animals can be easily seen such as sea crabs, tropical birds or lizards. During high tide, various tropical fish can be seen only few meters away from the walking bridge.
Around 11.00, we take the road to Kuiburi National Park (80kms, about 1.5h drive). We will stop on the way in a hidden little piece of beach right next to a picturesque cliff – a very popular lunch area for locals! Your picnic box, prepared with organic vegetables, is not only delicious but also plastic-free to limit the impact on the environment.
Reach the national park by 14.00 and get introduced to your local ranger. All rangers come from the area and used to be farmers employed in the pineapple industry. Their English is very limited but your guide will have no difficulties in translating their enthusiasm about the park and their numerous inhabitants. Known to be the best elephant and gaur sighting place in Thailand, it is almost 99% sure visitors will see elephants any day! Wild mammals such as gaurs, golden jackals, leopards, deers, bantengs, langurs are also commonly spotted in the national park.
Around 17.00 we will head back to your hotel with the evening at leisure to review all the beautiful pictures taken along the day!
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at Aleenta Pranburi, Palm Pool Residence room.
Day 7: Pranburi – WFFT Wildlife Rescue Centre – Pranburi (B/L/-)
Stop At: Pranburi Forest Park, Pranburi 77120 Thailand
Early this morning (07.00) time to leave to your next destination: the WFFT Wildlife Rescue Centre (70kms, about 1h drive). Upon arrival you will then be assigned a dedicated guide for the day, who will give you a personal guided tour around. You’ll see all of the 350 rescued animals at the Wildlife Rescue Centre, hear their stories and learn why they are living here.
Lunch and refreshments will be provided for you. You will eat with the staff and volunteers, and have the opportunity to meet them and discuss their work at the WFFT Wildlife Rescue Centre and Elephant Refuge and Education Centre.
After lunch, you will join our Elephant volunteers at the Elephant Refuge and Education Centre. You will meet and greet our elephants and learn about their individual stories and personalities, learn about the conservation issues that elephants face, and how they are exploited by tourist attractions, forced to carry lots of people and perform tricks – you will see none of this at our elephant refuge, where we value the elephant’s natural behavior! You will walk with one of our elephants on her daily walk, and have the opportunity to give her a shower afterwards! You will then follow our volunteers on their feeding of the rescued animals, and get to see the bears and monkeys enjoy their meals.
Around 15.30 we will transfer you back to your hotel in Pranburi (70kms, about 1h drive).
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at Aleenta Pranburi, Palm Pool Residence room.
Day 8: Hua Hin – Chiang Mai – Cooking at a Family Home in a Local Village (B/-/D)
Stop At: Village Sivalai Village Project 4., 181 ถนน สันกำแพงสายใหม่ Tambon San Kamphaeng, Amphoe San Kamphaeng, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50130, Thailand
After breakfast, transfer back to Bangkok (about 3h drive) to catch your flight to Chiang Mai, the cultural capital of Northern Thailand. On arrival meet your guide and driver for a private transfer to your hotel in town for check-in and refreshments.
This afternoon you will be picked up at 15.30 and transferred to a local village. The home you will be visiting belongs to the Raunkaew-Yanon family, who arrived in the area possibly on the back of an elephant, almost 150 years ago. They are a Lanna family, continuing the traditions of many generations in building their homes of teak wood and maintaining the natural surroundings in a way now rarely seen in Chiang Mai.
Of course this is not your average commercial cooking class as you will learn more about their culture, the way of living and the architecture of a traditional Thai house and rice barn. The family orchard has many types of fruit such as banana, mango, coconut, whilst the garden is filled with herbs for cooking. They also demonstrate their skills making a small bamboo basket.
You will cook traditional home cooked recipes with authentic Northern Thai flavours that are different from standard dishes offered in commercial cooking classes. Also you will select fresh ingredients from the garden to add to today’s cooking extravaganza. Best of all you will have the opportunity to get to know a real Thai family, be their guest for the day and enjoy a delicious home cooked dinner with them! By 20.00 you will return back to your hotel.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at 137 Pillars House, Rajah Brooke Suite room.
Day 9: Chiang Mai (B/L/-)
Stop At: Doi Pui Mong Hill Tribe Village, Chiang Mai Thailand
Early departure (08.30) for a full day trip to a wonderful national park. We will start our exploration at the observatory where you will make a short nature walk through deciduous oak forests and mixed deciduous evergreen forests. Your guide will explain about the different forest types in the national park.
Walk to the national park headquarters where we will stop briefly at the tree nursery of FORRU, the forest restoration unit of Chiang Mai University. Meet with Khun Rattapol who can give you all background information about the Forest Restoration. After this chat we will embark on a nature walk through evergreen forests. You will hear the remarkable story of the giant fig tree and enjoy the towering trees, wild banana trees, ferns, Pandanus and various palms.
Picnic lunch at the headquarters. Continue to the top of Doi Pui where your guide will tell a famous legend while enjoying a light nature trail in an unspoiled environment. On the way back to Chiang Mai we make a quick stop at Montatarn Waterfall.
Duration: 8 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at 137 Pillars House, Rajah Brooke Suite room.
Day 10: Chiang Mai – Markets and Temples (B/L/-)
Stop At: Chiang Mai Gate, Mun Mueang Rd. Phra Sing, Chiang Mai 50200 Thailand
Early pick up this morning at your hotel for arriving at 06.30 at Chiang Mai Gate Market, a traditional market where you will find fresh vegetables, fruit, fruit-shakes, spices, cooked chicken, fish, sweets, coffee and other food products. Our guide will let you sample some typical Thai snacks, appetizers! Of course the monks are making their alms rounds as well! Afterwards return to your hotel for breakfast.
Following breakfast, we take a ‘songtaew’ to the riverfront (& much larger) Worarot Market. Be ready for colorful flowers, unfamiliar smells and friendly crowds. Nearby textiles, hill tribe clothes, silks, hats and beads can be found as well. From the market we go to Thapae Gate, one of the four original city gates, where we will continue by “Samlor,” or rickshaw. You have the opportunity to stop at Wat Chiang Mai, Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh, during this cyclo tour. At the last temple you will meet an English-speaking monk for a chat.
Duration: 4 hours
Stop At: Wiang Kum Kam, Chiang Mai Thailand
Afterwards we will take you to the ancient city of Wiang Kum Kam. It is believed to be the earliest historical settlement in the Chiang Mai area established by Mon settlers. Archaeological remains excavated at the site include stone tablets with Mon inscriptions, pottery, earthenware moulds, and Buddhist sculpture, dating back to the 8th century Haripunchai era. We drive first to the small information center to get more background information about Wiang Kum Kam and afterwards will explore Wiang Kum Kam old style by horse cart, the perfect way to visit the sites.
Around noon our guide will take you to one of the forgotten corners of Wiang Kum Kam and serve you a special picnic lunch amongst the ruins. In our picnic basket there are all kinds of delicious sandwiches, salads, seasonal fruit, a bottle of wine, mineral water and more!
Following this feast it’s time to say goodbye to Wiang Kum Kam and our guide will bring you back to your hotel.
Duration: 4 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: Overnight at 137 Pillars House, Rajah Brooke Suite room.
Day 11: Departure (B/-/-)
Stop At: Chiang Mai International Airport, 60 Thanon Mahidol, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
Breakfast. Check out and transfer to the airport for your flight to your onward destination.
Service Charter
Many local companies promise a high level of service, but not all are able to reach this goal. We are genuinely committed to delivering the highest level of service during all stages of your trip, including the planning. Should our standards drop below your expectations at any stage during the booking procedure, then please contact us immediately.
Price Promise
We don’t claim to offer the cheapest trips, as many of the cheap tours cut corners. We don’t believe in cutting corners and strive to deliver the best experiences on offer during your trip. We do claim to offer value for money and strongly believe that our original trips are an excellent deal. However, we are aware that we operate in a competitive environment, so please do contact us if you find a significantly better price elsewhere. There may be a reason for the discrepancy in the detail, but we will take it upon ourselves to review your quote and see if we can offer a better price.
Extra Touches
We pride ourselves on really looking after our guests. Travel with a personal touch isn’t just an empty slogan, but a philosophy that has guided our company since the beginning. Our team is always on hand to ensure you have a most memorable time on your holiday. Your satisfaction is our satisfaction. Rely on our experience to better your experience and enjoy an authentic journey.
Duration: 2 hours
Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.
