Day 1: Arrival in Bangkok (-/-/D)
Pick up and transfer from Bangkok airport to the hotel for welcome drinks and introduction to the tour.
After check in, we will take you on a half day sightseeing to the old heritage of Siam. The tour will start with the Royal Grand Palace, Bangkok’s number one ‘must-see’ attraction as well as Thailand’s most important landmark. You will visit the main sites including the magnificent throne halls and the Emerald Buddha. (Note: Grand Palace is one of the most popular destinations and is usually a number one must-see place in Bangkok. Not surprisingly, it receives millions of tourists annually. To get the best of your visit and avoid crowds on spot we will allow your guide flexibility to visit the temple either early morning or late afternoon if possible in your itinerary. If you by any means decide that there are too many people for your liking, the guide can bring you to an alternative temple in the area such as Wat Saket or Wat Suthat, this decision needs to be made before entering the Grand Palace.)
Then continue to visit Wat Pho. Bangkok’s oldest temple is home to the magnificent reclining Buddha as well as the first school of traditional medicine and Thai massage and is also regarded as Thailand’s first University.
After a day of touring in this vibrant metropolis, a relaxing evening beckons with a drive through Bangkok’s old quarters that delivers sights of an illuminated Grand Palace, the Royal Ground, temples and the lit-up Ratchadamnoen Avenue. As dinner time approaches, drop by Krua Apsorn Restaurant for an appetizer known as “Somtam”, a light papaya salad. If you’re feeling adventurous, try the version with raw crab!
For main course, we make a stop in the older parts of Bangkok to try a classic Thai dish. The Pad Thai at Lung Pha is cooked in the old fashioned way on a charcoal grill and won’t disappoint! Then stroll along a local fresh market in the famous area of Bangkok, “Pak Klong Talad”, one of the biggest fresh markets in the region to glimpse varieties of orchids and sweet smelling exotic flowers, and various kinds of fresh vegetables, ingredients and herbs
Overnight in Bangkok.
Distances and journey time:
Bangkok Airport – Bangkok (35 km): 45 min
Overnight Shanghai Mansion [Deluxe room with breakfast]
Day 2: Bangkok (B/L/D)
At just an hour’s drive south of Bangkok, Samut Songkhram Province offers visitors a glimpse into Thai countryside life. We will start the day with a stop at a local train station to experience a short regional train ride bounding for an amazing country market that has sprouted along the railway tracks. Here, you will witness the dexterity and speed of the vendors as they quickly pack their stalls right before 08:30 am when the train approaches; hence bringing shopping to a brief halt. It is a standard practice and stall holders have learnt the art of assembling and reassembling their wares at a moment’s notice!
From here, we will take a boat ride on the canals out to a small coastal village, where we learn how traditional coconut desserts are made, join hands with the knowledgeable host in this homestay setting and try cooking your own dessert, making a perfect snack for the way back to Bangkok. Lunch at a local restaurant.
In the evening, explore the flavors, spices and aromas of the city’s Village of Love—the historic Bangrak neighborhood. Experience how the locals live, eat and shop as you take part in unique local food tastings each packed with authentic history and intimate stories of the neighborhood.
Our local experts have hand-picked food that is guaranteed to tickle your taste buds, and their intimate stories of Bangkok and Thailand’s everyday culture will fill your minds with amazement. Fulfill your stomach with all scrumptious street food as your dinner.
Overnight in Bangkok.
Distances and journey time:
Bangkok – Samut Songkram – Bangkok (160 km): 2 hrs
Overnight Shanghai Mansion [Deluxe room with breakfast]
Day 3: Bangkok – Ayutthaya (B/L/D)
Check out from the hotel in Bangkok and drive north towards Ayutthaya where we will visit some of the most significant historical places and try a ride in the kermit tuk tuk, symbolic for and only found in Ayutthaya.
Lunch at Krua Pak Wan Restaurant. Proceed on a trip to the town’s Muslim Quarter which offers the opportunity to sample an unusual local delicacy, candy floss roti.
Apart from the main temples we pass along the way, highlights include Wat Tuk, the temple with the one eyed dog and the Temples of Sins, where you will be constantly reminded of how the wrongdoings in this life will come back to haunt you in the next. We also visit a local blacksmith at his workshop where some of the most beautiful swords (Dab) and knives are made by hand.
For dinner, travel to a local little cozy restaurant called Baan Khun Pra, situated just by the river. Arguably some of the best seafood in Ayutthaya can be found here.
In the evening, stroll the night market west of Bang Lan Road for a glimpse of the local life and some unique food tasting opportunities.
Overnight in Ayutthaya.
Distances and journey time:
Bangkok – Ayutthaya (83 km): 1.30 hr
Overnight Iudia on the River [Courtyard Ville with breakfast]
Day 4: Ayutthaya – Khao Yai (B/L/D)
Today, the route takes us east to the valleys of Pak Chong and Khao Yai.
Before lunch, enter Khao Yai National Park, here we walk a trail and try to spot some wildlife, many birds can be seen and with some luck we might also spot larger mammals.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
Upon arrival at the GranMonte vineyard and winery, meet with the daughter of the founder, Nikki, an internationally renowned wine master whom will during this privately guided tour teach us how Thai wine is made and the secrets behind producing world class quality wine in a tropical country. Sip through the wide selection of locally produced wines, tour the vineyards and take in the tranquil and relaxed atmosphere.
For dinner, a special experience with some of the best local food and wine.
Overnight in Khao Yai.
Distances and journey time:
Ayutthaya – Khao Yai (110 km): 2 hrs
Overnight Phuwanalee Resort [Superior room with breakfast]
Day 5: Khao Yai – Khon Kaen (B/L/D)
We leave Khao Yai and the beautiful valleys heading towards Nakorn Ratchasima on route 2. After a few hours, stop for lunch by the Phi Mai temples, an 11th century Khmer compound and enjoy a local specialty, the Pad Mii Korat. If you’re well versed in Thai cuisine you probably heard of the renowned Pad Thai, a quite basic fired noodle dish. Pad Mii Korat is its sibling, cooked in a slightly different way and obviously best enjoyed right here in Korat.
Continue the ride and arrive Khon Kaen in the afternoon for an Issan-style cooking class held in a garden. Experience and learn the techniques how local food is cooked and what distinct the north eastern kitchen from the rest of Thailand. Later, drive into the town of Khon Kaen to visit the lake and watch the sun set at the One Pillar Pagoda.
Dinner at Hug Hang restaurant, offering an interesting fusion menu.
Overnight in Khon Kaen.
Distances and journey time:
Khao Yai – Phi Mai (166 km): 2.09 hr
Phi Mai – Khon Kaen (153 km): 2.16 hr
Overnight Wishing Tree [Deluxe room with breakfast]
Day 6: Khon Kaen – Phitsanulok (B/L/-)
Local picnic breakfast out in the open at a rice field before the journey takes off towards Phitsanulok. Heading west from Khon Kaen, we leave the northeast and travel back to the central plains of Thailand.
After passing several national parks, we arrive in Phitsanulok town for a daring tasting experience at the local market. Insects and bugs are both local delicacies here. For those who prefer just regular lunch, a local restaurant hosts us for a Phitsanulok meal.
After lunch, visit Wat Mahatat or Wat Yai. Situated by Naresuan Bridge, this temple is home to what many consider to be the most beautiful golden Buddha image in the Kingdom, unknown to most tourists. Continue to visit Cha Thawee Folk Museum, where a historic collection of local tools from the past reflecting local lifestyle is displayed.
Overnight in Phitsanulok.
Distances and journey time:
Khon Kaen – Phitsanulok (321 km): 4.36 hr
Overnight Patara Resort [superior room with breakfast]
Day 7: Phitsanulok – Sukhothai (B/L/-)
In the afternoon stop by a local community just by the historical park Si Satchanalai. In this village elephants end up after getting rescued from abusive working/living conditions. Hear the stories of the elephants and how their fate brought them to this village. Apart from the elephants the community also makes handcrafted wooden and silk products.
Upon arrival in Sukhothai, check in at the hotel situated by Sukhothai Historical Park, the UNESCO world heritage site.
Overnight in Sukhothai.
Distances and journey time:
Phitsanulok – Sukhothai (61.6 km): 55 min
Overnight Legendha [Deluxe room with breakfast]
Day 8: Sukhothai – Saraphi (B/L/D)
Following breakfast, transfer from Sukhothai to Chiang Mai. For those interested, visit the Sukhothai Historical Park before departure to Chiang Mai.
After a 4-hour ride north, arrive Saraphi, a small district south of Chiang Mai town. Lunch is served in an authentic yet comfortable and modern teak house homestay, where you also will spend your night. Your hosts are great entertainers and a friendly couple, which means plenty of good laughs together.
In the afternoon, explore the surroundings by foot and get close up to the Thai countryside. Rice fields, small villages, rivers and of course lots of local temples is a guarantee. While in the area, don’t miss the ordained old Lamphun road, with its trees wrapped in orange ribbons, protecting the trees from being cut down.
In need of a love boost? The trees and the road are supposedly sending out a romantic vibe and the location has been the shooting place for many emotional scenes in Thai love movies.
Before watching the sunset over the plains of Chiang Mai, enjoy a home cooked barbeque with northern Thai native eats.
Overnight in Saraphi (Chiang Mai).
Distances and journey time:
Sukhothai – Saraphi (306 km): 4 hrs
Overnight Golden Teak Home [homestay]
Day 9: Saraphi – Chiang Mai (B/L/-)
After a short 30-minute drive to the city of Chiang Mai, breakfast at a cozy little food stall. Continue to a renowned Thai gourmet coffee shop where coffee is treated like art for a cup of freshly brewed cup of your choice.
After breakfast in the city, visit an authentic Chiang Mai market filled with fresh groceries from nearby farms, we are guided by a TV –chef showing us her best tips and advice when picking out ingredients for the Thai dishes. Loaded with vegetables, meats and fresh fruits for dessert we take on the mission trying to cook a Thai dish to perfection.
After the cooking class, travel on the back of a local songtaew (pickup truck) to the underground temple Wat Umong. Make merit at this unique temple and come back to the city a better person!
Back to the hotel for a refreshing shower and maybe a quick nap. In the evening, visit a local market in Chiang Mai, where you will find both genuine and odd products sold by the locals.
Overnight in Chiang Mai.
Distances and journey time:
Saraphi – Chiang Mai (20 km): 30 min
Chiang Mai – Wat Umong – Chiang Mai (12 km): 25 min
Overnight 99 Gallery [Deluxe room with breakfast]
Day 10: Chiang Mai – Mae Chan (B/L/-)
After breakfast, check out from the hotel and start the journey northeast towards Chiang Rai. After about a 3-hour drive, including a 1 hour scenic drive through a national park, stop at an Akha Hilltribe and visit a homestay to see how the locals live on the hillside of the mountain.
After another hour in the van, time for lunch at Cabbages and Condoms Restaurant in Mae Chan. This community initiated restaurant is part of the chain of Cabbages and Condoms restaurants around Thailand, educating locals about reproductive health.
After lunch, transfer to the resort and relax at leisure for the rest of the day.
Overnight in Mae Chan.
Distances and journey time:
Chiang Mai – Mae Chan (232 km): 4 hrs
Overnight Manee Dheva [Villa with breakfast]
Day 11: Mae Chan – Chiang Rai – Departure (B/-/-)
Following breakfast at the hotel, check out and transfer to Chiang Rai airport for drop off.
Distances and journey time:
Mae Chan – Chiang Rai Airport (49 km): 1 hr
Thailand food has become famous around the world for its light, elegant and fiery cuisine. Now guests can travel across the country to explore the many cultural and historical influences that have combined to shape the country’s famous dishes. From the bustling urban markets of Bangkok to rural restaurants in the north and northeast, this 11-day tour allows visitors to discover the ancient art of Thai food, from sourcing the ingredients to cooking your own authentic dishes
Discover transformative adventures with Spirit Journeys Worldwide travel tours, where immersive experiences and cultural encounters await.
