10 days 9 nights
Specific Tour
14 people
English
Quick answer
A ten-day private tour from Bangkok to the north of Thailand through Ayutthaya, Lopburi, Uthai Thani, Sukhothai, Lampang, Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. It returns by overnight sleeper train and ends with the Grand Palace and the Damnoen Saduak floating market.
From US$2,300 per person for the whole tour, based on 4 travellers sharing double rooms in 4★ hotels as listed (couples travelling alone pay a little more). It changes with hotel level, season and group size, and is confirmed in your tailor-made quote.
| Day | Route and highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in Bangkok, Thonburi canals and Wat Arun | Bangkok |
| 2 | Morning market, Bang Pa-In and Ayutthaya | Ayutthaya |
| 3 | Lopburi and the river town of Uthai Thani | Uthai Thani |
| 4 | Riverside market and Sukhothai Historical Park | Sukhothai |
| 5 | Lampang Luang and on to Chiang Rai | Chiang Rai |
| 6 | Golden Triangle and the road to Chiang Mai | Chiang Mai |
| 7 | Doi Suthep and an orchid farm | Chiang Mai |
| 8 | San Kamphaeng crafts and the night train | Overnight train |
| 9 | Grand Palace, Wat Pho and the Golden Buddha | Bangkok |
| 10 | Damnoen Saduak floating market and departure | — |
Private tour with your own English-speaking guide · 10 days / 9 nights · Bangkok – Bang Pa-In – Ayutthaya – Lopburi – Uthai Thani – Sukhothai – Lampang – Chiang Rai – Golden Triangle – Chiang Mai – Bangkok – Damnoen Saduak
This Thailand private tour runs for ten days with your own guide and vehicle, and it follows the country's history from south to north. You start on the canals of Thonburi in Bangkok, then travel up the Chao Phraya to the summer palace at Bang Pa-In and the ruined capital of Ayutthaya. From there the road leads to Lopburi and on to Uthai Thani, a quiet river town where families still live in floating houses.
Next comes Sukhothai, the first Thai capital, with its calm Buddha images and lotus ponds. You cross into the north through Lampang, spend a night in Chiang Rai and stand at the Golden Triangle where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet. Chiang Mai gives you Doi Suthep and the craft villages of San Kamphaeng before an overnight sleeper train carries you back to Bangkok.
The last two days bring the great royal sights of Bangkok and an early boat ride through the Damnoen Saduak floating market. It is a full itinerary with real variety: palaces, markets, river life and mountain temples, all at a private pace.
Moderate. Expect two to three hours of walking on most days, often at temples with steps, and several long drives of four to six hours between Uthai Thani, Sukhothai, Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. Good for families with children over 10 and active older travelers who enjoy history.
Eight nights at 4-star level, plus one night on the sleeper train: Nouvo City Hotel or similar in Bangkok, Classic Kameo Ayutthaya, Uthai River Lake Resort (the best option in this small town), Legendha Sukhothai Resort, Nai Ya Hotel in Chiang Rai, Amora Tapae in Chiang Mai and De Prime Rangnam in Bangkok, or similar.
The best time is November to February, when days are dry and the north is cool, especially in the mornings. March to May is hot, so plan temple visits early. From June to October rain showers are common, but the countryside is green and the rivers are full.
Your guide and driver are yours alone for the whole trip, so the pace, the stops and the start time each morning follow you. The standard version has an English-speaking guide; guides who speak French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Hebrew, Arabic, Chinese or Vietnamese can be arranged on request.
More ideas: All private tours in Thailand · Thailand Discovery: Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket in 10 Days · Bangkok, Krabi and Khao Sok: Islands and Rainforest in 10 Days · Truly Northern Thailand: Chiang Rai, Pai and Mae Hong Son in 10 Days
Photos: This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote. Feel free to use any of my images, but please mention me as the author an, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Meneerke bloem, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Bienvenue en Thaïlande, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Slleong, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons; ผู้สร้างสรรค์ผลงาน/ส่งข้อมูลเก็บในคลังข้อมูลเสรีวิกิมีเดียคอมมอนส์ – เทวประภาส มากคล้าย, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Bjørn Erik Pedersen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; PA, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Royal Echoes of Siam: Ayutthaya, Sukhothai and the North in 10 Days is a starting point. Our Hanoi travel designers adjust every day to your pace, interests and hotel style, then run the trip with your own guide and driver.
Your guide meets you at Bangkok airport and takes you to your hotel. Later in the day, board a long-tail boat for a ride through the klongs of Thonburi, the old canal side of the city. You pass wooden houses on stilts, small shrines and families going about their day by the water. The boat stops at Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, whose tower rises about 80 meters above the river and is covered in pieces of colored porcelain. It is a gentle first taste of Bangkok after your flight.
Overnight: Bangkok
Start with a walk through a busy local morning market near the Giant Swing, full of fresh produce and Thai sweets. Then drive north to Bang Pa-In, the royal summer palace with its pavilions set around lakes and gardens. From here, a long-tail boat carries you up the Chao Phraya River to Wat Phanan Choeng, home to a huge seated Buddha. Continue by car to Ayutthaya, the Thai capital for four centuries, and explore Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon and Wat Mahathat, where a stone Buddha head is wrapped in the roots of a fig tree.
Overnight: Ayutthaya · Meals: B
Drive to Lopburi to see Phra Prang Sam Yot, a Khmer-style temple shared with a lively troop of monkeys, and the palace of King Narai, who welcomed French envoys in the 17th century. Continue to Uthai Thani, a small town far from the usual routes, where many locals live in floating houses on the Sakae Krang River. Enjoy lunch on a boat as you cruise past them. In the afternoon, visit Wat Tha Sung with its hall of glittering glass mosaics, and climb up to Wat Sangkat Rattana Khiri for a view over the town.
Overnight: Uthai Thani · Meals: B, L
Take an early walk through Uthai Thani's riverside market, where boats bring in fish and vegetables. Then head north to Sukhothai, the first capital of Siam in the 13th century. Spend the afternoon in the Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of lotus ponds, brick chedis and serene Buddha images. Your guide shows you Wat Mahathat, the spiritual heart of the old city, and Wat Si Chum, where a giant seated Buddha fills a tall open hall. Late afternoon light here is lovely, and the park is quiet.
Overnight: Sukhothai · Meals: B
Leave Sukhothai for the north. In Lampang, visit Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, one of the finest Lanna temples in Thailand, with its old teak hall and golden chedi inside fortified walls. The mix of Thai and Burmese styles reflects the history of this region. Continue through farmland and small villages to Chiang Rai, arriving in the late afternoon. The rest of the evening is yours to settle in and enjoy the relaxed feel of a northern town.
Overnight: Chiang Rai · Meals: B
Drive to the Golden Triangle, where the Ruak River joins the Mekong and Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet. Take a boat ride on the Mekong for a view of all three countries. Afterward, visit hill villages of the Yao and Akha peoples, known for their embroidered clothing and silver work, and learn a little about their way of life. In the afternoon, follow the mountain road south to Chiang Mai, the cultural center of northern Thailand.
Overnight: Chiang Mai · Meals: B
This morning, drive up the forested slopes of Doi Suthep to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the most sacred temple in northern Thailand. Climb the long naga staircase, or ride the funicular, to reach the golden chedi and a wide view over Chiang Mai. Later, visit a local orchid farm, where hundreds of varieties bloom in bright colors. In the evening you can join an optional khantoke dinner, a northern Thai set meal with hill-tribe dance.
Overnight: Chiang Mai · Meals: B
Spend the day in the San Kamphaeng area east of Chiang Mai, a long-standing center of northern crafts. Watch artisans at work on silk weaving, lacquerware and wood carving, and see how the pieces are made from start to finish. In the evening, your guide takes you to Chiang Mai station to board an overnight air-conditioned sleeper train to Bangkok. Watching the countryside fade into the dark from the window is part of the fun.
Overnight: Overnight train · Meals: B
Arrive in Bangkok in the morning and transfer to your hotel to freshen up. Then explore the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, home of the Emerald Buddha, the most revered image in Thailand. Walk next door to Wat Pho to see the giant Reclining Buddha, covered in gold leaf. In the afternoon, visit the Marble Temple, Wat Benchamabophit, built from Italian marble, and Wat Traimit, where a solid gold Buddha weighing more than five tons sits in a gleaming hall.
Overnight: Bangkok
Leave early for Damnoen Saduak and explore the floating market by motorboat, weaving between wooden boats piled with fruit, noodles and flowers. On the way back, stop in Nakhon Pathom to see Phra Pathom Chedi, the tallest stupa in Thailand. Return to Bangkok for some free time before your transfer to the airport for your onward flight, or for a few extra days at the beach.
Meals: B
Yes. Each day mixes temples with markets, boat rides and time on the road, so it rarely feels repetitive. There are some long drives in the middle of the trip and steps at several temples, but your guide sets a steady pace and plans breaks along the way.
Yes. The sleeper train has shared air-conditioned carriages with curtained berths. If you prefer a hotel bed, we can replace it with a short flight from Chiang Mai to Bangkok and an extra night in either city.
Most days include two to four hours on the road. The longest stretches are Uthai Thani to Sukhothai, Sukhothai to Chiang Rai via Lampang, and Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai, each with stops for sightseeing and lunch.
Yes. This is a private tour with your own English-speaking guide. We also arrange private guides who speak French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Hebrew, Arabic, Chinese or Vietnamese: tell us when you enquire and we confirm your guide in the quote. Book early for the December to April high season.
Nothing is payable until you approve your written quote. We then ask for a 30% deposit to confirm, and the balance 45 days before arrival, by bank transfer or card. Bank details come with your booking confirmation; always confirm them with us by phone or WhatsApp (+84 812 247 572) before any transfer.
Save the itinerary to share with your travel companions
Save the itinerary to share with your travel companions
