12 days 11 nights
Specific Tour
14 people
English
Quick answer
A private 12-day Thailand tour that travels by road from Bangkok through Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, Si Satchanalai and Lampang to Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, then flies to Phuket for a Phi Phi Islands day trip and free time on the beach.
From US$2,210 per person for the whole tour, based on 2 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 | Bangkok |
| 2 | Grand Palace, the canals and Wat Arun | Bangkok |
| 3 | Railway market, floating market and a river dinner | Bangkok |
| 4 | Bang Pa-In and Ayutthaya to Phitsanulok | Phitsanulok |
| 5 | Sukhothai and Si Satchanalai to Lampang | Lampang |
| 6 | Lampang Luang, the White Temple and the Golden Triangle | Chiang Rai |
| 7 | To Chiang Mai via Doi Suthep | Chiang Mai |
| 8 | Farm cooking class and old city temples | Chiang Mai |
| 9 | Fly to Phuket | Phuket |
| 10 | Phi Phi Islands by speedboat | Phuket |
| 11 | Free day in Phuket | Phuket |
| 12 | Depart from Phuket | — |
Private tour with your own English-speaking guide · 12 days / 11 nights · Bangkok – Ayutthaya – Phitsanulok – Sukhothai – Si Satchanalai – Lampang – Chiang Rai – Chiang Mai – Phuket
This northern Thailand road trip traces the story of the Thai kingdoms from south to north. After three days in and around Bangkok, with the Grand Palace, the canals, the Maeklong Railway Market and a floating market, you drive north through Ayutthaya to Phitsanulok, Sukhothai and the quiet ruins of Si Satchanalai. Each stop shows a different chapter of Thai history.
Further north, Lampang is home to Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, one of the finest Lanna wooden temples. In Chiang Rai you visit the White Temple and take a boat on the Mekong at the Golden Triangle. In Chiang Mai you climb Doi Suthep and cook a Thai lunch on a farm, before flying south to Phuket for the Phi Phi Islands and a lazy beach day.
Your guide and car are private for all the touring on the mainland. The road days are long, but they pass through some of the most beautiful countryside in Thailand.
Moderate. Days 4, 5 and 6 are long road days of five to six hours each, broken up by sightseeing and coffee stops. Walking is mostly on temple grounds and historical parks. Best for travelers who enjoy road journeys, including couples and families with children over 10. We can add a night in Sukhothai to slow the pace.
Comfortable 4-star hotels: Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn in Bangkok, The Imperial Hotel Phitsanulok, The Space Hotel Lampang, The Heritage Chiang Rai, Mövenpick Suriwongse Hotel Chiang Mai and Novotel Phuket Kamala Beach, or similar. Five-star upgrades, such as The Riverie by Katathani in Chiang Rai and Katathani Phuket Beach Resort, are available.
November to February is the best time, with dry, mild weather in the north and calm seas in the Andaman. March and April are hot but still good for the islands. From May to October, Phuket is wetter and boat trips can be cancelled in rough weather, while the north is green and lush.
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 Island Hopping: Bangkok, Phuket, Phi Phi and Krabi in 12 Days · Luxury Spas of Thailand: Bangkok, Hua Hin and Chiang Mai in 11 Days · Romantic Thailand: Bangkok, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Phuket in 11 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; Grendelkhan, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Bjørn Erik Pedersen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; 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; JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/), CC BY-SA 3.0, 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; CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Northern Thailand by Road and Phuket: Ayutthaya to Chiang Rai in 12 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.
Welcome to Thailand. Your private guide and driver meet you at Bangkok airport and take you to your hotel on the Sathorn side of the city. Standard check-in is at 2 pm, so you may want to leave your bags and enjoy a first meal nearby. The rest of the day is free to rest after your flight. Your guide will brief you on the journey ahead before leaving you to settle in.
Overnight: Bangkok
A full day in the heart of Bangkok. Start at the Grand Palace, the former home of the kings of Siam, and Wat Phra Kaew with its revered Emerald Buddha, golden chedi and colorful towers. Please wear long trousers or skirts and covered shoulders. In the afternoon, a long-tail boat takes you along the Chao Phraya River into the quiet canals of Thonburi, past wooden houses on stilts, to Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn.
Overnight: Bangkok · Meals: B
Drive west to the Maeklong Railway Market, where vendors pull back their awnings just minutes before a train rolls slowly through the stalls. Continue to Damnoen Saduak, about 100 kilometers from Bangkok, and explore its busy canals in a small boat, with fruit, noodles and souvenirs sold from the water. Return to Bangkok to rest. In the evening, your driver takes you to the river for a buffet dinner cruise with live music.
Overnight: Bangkok · Meals: B, D
An early start today, at around 6:45 am. Stop first at Bang Pa-In, the elegant Summer Palace of King Rama V. Then explore Ayutthaya, the old capital, visiting Wat Yai Chaimongkhon, Wat Mahathat with its Buddha head in tree roots, and Wat Phanan Choeng. Lunch is at a restaurant in Chai Nat. Continue north to Phitsanulok for a short orientation tour of the city. The drive is about 405 kilometers, or six hours.
Overnight: Phitsanulok · Meals: B
Begin at Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat in Phitsanulok, where locals bring morning offerings to the Phra Buddha Chinnarat, one of the most revered Buddha images in Thailand. Drive on to Sukhothai Historical Park, a UNESCO site of lotus ponds, temples and serene Buddha statues. After lunch, visit Si Satchanalai, a quiet park of ruined temples reached across a wooden suspension bridge. Continue to Lampang for the night, about 410 kilometers in total.
Overnight: Lampang · Meals: B
Visit Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, a walled Lanna temple with fine wood carvings and a revered golden chedi. Head north with a coffee stop by Phayao Lake, then visit Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple, near Chiang Rai. Continue to the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet, and take a 45-minute boat trip on the Mekong with a stop on Don Sao Island. End at the House of Opium museum.
Overnight: Chiang Rai · Meals: B
After breakfast, your guide and driver take you south to Chiang Mai, about three hours by road through green hills. Before checking in, drive up the mountain to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, built in 1383 and one of the most sacred temples in the north. Climb the 306 steps flanked by naga serpents to the golden chedi and enjoy wide views over the city and the Ping Valley. Then settle in to your hotel.
Overnight: Chiang Mai · Meals: B
A gentle day after the long drives. In the morning, head to an organic farm outside Chiang Mai for a hands-on Thai cooking class. Pick herbs and vegetables in the garden, learn to balance sweet, sour, salty and spicy flavors, and enjoy the dishes you make for lunch. In the afternoon, your guide takes you to two of the old city's great temples, Wat Phra Singh and the ruined chedi of Wat Chedi Luang.
Overnight: Chiang Mai · Meals: B, L
The morning is free for a last walk or a visit to a market in Chiang Mai. Your driver then takes you to the airport for a direct flight of about an hour and twenty minutes to Phuket. On arrival, a private driver meets you and takes you to your hotel on Kamala Beach. Standard check-in is at 2 pm. Spend the rest of the day by the pool or on the sand, watching the sunset over the Andaman Sea.
Overnight: Phuket · Meals: B
Join a speedboat day trip to the Phi Phi Islands. On Phi Phi Leh, visit Maya Bay, then swim in the emerald water of Pileh Lagoon and see Viking Cave from the boat. Lunch is a Thai buffet on Phi Phi Don at Tonsai Bay. In the afternoon, cruise to Khai Island to snorkel among colorful fish and relax on its white sand beach before returning to Phuket. Bring sunscreen, a hat and a swimsuit.
Overnight: Phuket · Meals: B, L
A full day to enjoy the beach. Swim, read under a parasol or book a Thai massage at your hotel. If you feel like exploring, Phuket Old Town, with its colorful Sino-Portuguese shophouses and cafes, is less than an hour away, and we can arrange a private car on request. In the evening, enjoy fresh seafood at one of the restaurants along Kamala Beach.
Overnight: Phuket · Meals: B
Enjoy a final breakfast and a last swim or a quiet hour by the sea. Your time is free until your private transfer to Phuket International Airport for your flight home or to your next destination. We hope this journey from the old capitals of Siam to the islands of the Andaman has given you a rich picture of Thailand and its people.
Meals: B
Days 4, 5 and 6 are the longest, at around five and a half to six hours of driving each, with plenty of stops for sightseeing and coffee. Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai takes about three hours. If you prefer a slower pace, we can add a night in Sukhothai or Lampang.
Yes, for children over 10 who enjoy history and road trips. The railway market, the floating market, the Mekong boat ride, the cooking class and the Phi Phi snorkeling day keep younger travelers busy.
The standard trip is a shared speedboat tour with a guide and lunch. If you prefer a private boat, we can arrange one at extra cost, which lets you start earlier and avoid the busiest times.
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.
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