20 days 19 nights
Specific Tour
14 people
English
Quick answer
A 20-day Thailand trip with five guided days of culture in Bangkok, Ayutthaya, the floating market and the River Kwai, followed by two weeks of relaxed island hopping by boat between Koh Lanta, Koh Yao Noi, Koh Phi Phi and Ao Nang in Krabi.
From US$2,800 per person for the whole tour, as an indicative price for a small private group in 4★ hotels. It changes with group size, hotel level and season, and is confirmed in your tailor-made quote.
| Day | Route and highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in Bangkok | Bangkok |
| 2 | Grand Palace, Wat Pho and the flower market | Bangkok |
| 3 | Ayutthaya, the old capital | Bangkok |
| 4 | Railway market, floating market and the River Kwai | Kanchanaburi |
| 5 | River Kwai boat, Erawan Falls and a Thai massage | Bangkok |
| 6 | Fly to Krabi and cross to Koh Lanta | Koh Lanta |
| 7 | Free day on Koh Lanta | Koh Lanta |
| 8 | Explore Koh Lanta your way | Koh Lanta |
| 9 | A last easy day on Koh Lanta | Koh Lanta |
| 10 | Ferry to Koh Yao Noi | Koh Yao Noi |
| 11 | Free day on Koh Yao Noi | Koh Yao Noi |
| 12 | Island life on Koh Yao Noi | Koh Yao Noi |
| 13 | Ferry to Koh Phi Phi | Koh Phi Phi |
| 14 | Free day on Koh Phi Phi | Koh Phi Phi |
| 15 | Another day on Phi Phi | Koh Phi Phi |
| 16 | Speedboat to Krabi | Krabi |
| 17 | Free day in Ao Nang | Krabi |
| 18 | Relax in Krabi | Krabi |
| 19 | A final beach day | Krabi |
| 20 | Depart from Krabi | — |
Private tour with your own English-speaking guide · 20 days / 19 nights · Bangkok – Ayutthaya – Damnoen Saduak – Kanchanaburi – Krabi – Koh Lanta – Koh Yao Noi – Koh Phi Phi – Krabi
This Thailand island hopping tour gives you the best of both worlds. The first five days are guided and full of variety: the Grand Palace and the canals of Bangkok, the ruins of Ayutthaya, the Maeklong Railway Market and Damnoen Saduak floating market, and a night on a floating raft on the River Kwai, followed by a swim in the emerald pools of Erawan Falls.
Then you fly south to Krabi and the pace slows right down. Four nights on Koh Lanta, three on Koh Yao Noi, three on Phi Phi and four in Ao Nang let you settle into island life rather than rushing from beach to beach. Boat transfers between the islands are arranged for you, so you only need to pack and step aboard.
Your guide and car are private for the touring in and around Bangkok. On the islands you have free days to swim, explore or join a boat trip whenever you like.
Easy. The guided days include moderate walking at temples and a short forest trail at Erawan Falls, with swimming if you like. Island transfers are by shared ferry or speedboat, which can be bumpy in windy weather. The last two weeks are free and relaxed. Ideal for couples and families with children over 10 who enjoy the beach.
A mix of comfortable 3- and 4-star stays: Aira Hotel Bangkok, the River Kwai Jungle Rafts (a simple floating raft room), Lanta Emerald Bungalow Resort, Purana Resort Koh Yao Noi, Viking Nature Resort on Phi Phi and Holiday Style Ao Nang Beach Resort, or similar. We can upgrade the beach stays on request.
December to March is the ideal time, with dry weather and calm, clear seas along the Andaman coast; November and April are also good. From May to October the southwest monsoon brings rain and rough seas, and some island boats run less often. Erawan Falls is at its fullest just after the rains, from October to December.
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 Panorama: From Bangkok to the Golden Triangle and Phi Phi in 21 Days · Grand Thailand: Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Krabi, Kanchanaburi and Bangkok in 22 Days · Thailand from Old Kingdoms to Gulf Islands: Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, Khao Sok, Samui and Koh Tao in 17 Days
Photos: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Grendelkhan, CC BY-SA 3.0, 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; PumpkinSky, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; WPPilot, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Tom Ek, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; kallerna, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Amazing Thailand: Bangkok, the River Kwai and Andaman Island Hopping in 20 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 driver and guide meet you at Bangkok airport and take you to your hotel. Standard check-in is at 2 pm, so you may want to leave your bags, have lunch nearby and rest after the flight. The evening is free to take a first walk in the neighborhood or simply go to bed early. Tomorrow your private guide begins with the great sights of the capital.
Overnight: Bangkok
Start at the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, home of the Emerald Buddha. Next, visit Wat Pho, the home of traditional Thai massage, where you can book a 30-minute massage. In the afternoon, a long-tail boat takes you along the Chao Phraya and through the quiet Thonburi canals to Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn. End at the flower market by the river, where vendors thread orchids and jasmine into beautiful garlands.
Overnight: Bangkok · Meals: B
Drive about 75 kilometers north to Ayutthaya, capital of Siam for four centuries and once one of the great trading cities of Asia. Begin at Bang Pa-In, the graceful Summer Palace of King Rama V, set among lakes and pavilions. Then explore the UNESCO-listed ruins of Ayutthaya, with their tall prangs, brick chedis and weathered Buddha images. Please dress modestly for the palace. You return to Bangkok in the late afternoon.
Overnight: Bangkok · Meals: B
Head west to the Maeklong Railway Market, where vendors pull back their awnings moments before a train rolls through. Then explore Damnoen Saduak floating market in a small boat, past stalls selling fruit and noodles from the water. Continue to Kanchanaburi and cross the famous bridge of the Death Railway on the River Kwai. Check in to your floating raft room and enjoy a candlelight dinner for two by the river.
Overnight: Kanchanaburi · Meals: B, D
After breakfast on the river, take a boat trip along the River Kwai, then continue to Erawan National Park in the Tenasserim Hills. Its seven-tiered falls drop through a chain of emerald pools, and a forest trail leads you from one level to the next. Bring a swimsuit for a cool dip. In the afternoon, drive back to Bangkok, where a 60-minute traditional Thai massage eases away the day. The evening is free.
Overnight: Bangkok · Meals: B
Enjoy a free morning before your transfer to the airport for the short flight south to Krabi. Our representative meets you on arrival and takes you to the pier for the ferry to Koh Lanta. On the island, a driver takes you to your resort, where the rest of the day is yours. Koh Lanta is long, green and relaxed, with wide sandy beaches along its west coast and a laid-back feel.
Overnight: Koh Lanta · Meals: B
Your first free day on the island. Sleep in, have a long breakfast and spend the day on the beach or by the pool. The sea along the west coast is usually calm and clear in the dry season, perfect for swimming. In the late afternoon, take a walk along the sand and stay for the sunset, which is one of the island's simple pleasures.
Overnight: Koh Lanta · Meals: B
Another day to enjoy at your own pace. If you would like to explore, a scooter or a taxi can take you to Lanta Old Town on the east coast, with its wooden stilt houses and seafood restaurants over the water. Many visitors also join a boat trip to the nearby islands for snorkeling, which we can arrange for you at extra cost. Or simply stay put and read in the shade.
Overnight: Koh Lanta · Meals: B
Your final full day on Koh Lanta is free. It is a good day for a massage, a swim in the morning before the heat and a relaxed lunch at a beach restaurant. In the evening, enjoy fresh grilled fish or a Thai curry as the sun goes down. Pack your bags tonight, as tomorrow you take the boat to a quieter island in Phang Nga Bay.
Overnight: Koh Lanta · Meals: B
After breakfast, you have free time until your transfer to the pier. A shared ferry carries you north through the Andaman Sea to Koh Yao Noi, a peaceful island of rubber groves, rice fields and small fishing villages. A driver meets you on arrival and takes you to your resort. Check in, explore the gardens and watch the limestone islands of Phang Nga Bay change color as evening falls.
Overnight: Koh Yao Noi · Meals: B
Koh Yao Noi is one of the calmest islands in southern Thailand, with very little traffic and a strong local Muslim culture. Spend the day by the pool, swim from the beach or rent a bicycle to ride the quiet coastal road past villages and mangroves. If you would like to see the bay up close, the resort can arrange a long-tail boat trip to the nearby islands.
Overnight: Koh Yao Noi · Meals: B
A second free day on the island. Start with an early swim while the sea is still, then enjoy a long lunch of fresh seafood at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, read in the shade or book a massage. As the sun sets, the karst islands across the bay turn gold and pink, one of the loveliest views in the Andaman. There is nothing to plan today.
Overnight: Koh Yao Noi · Meals: B
After breakfast, enjoy some free time before your transfer to the pier. A shared ferry takes you south across the sea to Koh Phi Phi, famous for its towering limestone cliffs and clear turquoise water. On arrival, you are taken to your resort, set in a quiet bay away from the busiest part of the island. Check in and spend the afternoon swimming or relaxing in your bungalow.
Overnight: Koh Phi Phi · Meals: B
A day to enjoy Phi Phi at your own pace. Snorkel in the clear water near your resort, walk to a quiet beach or climb to the viewpoint above Tonsai village for the famous view of the twin bays. If you would like to see Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon on Phi Phi Leh, we can arrange a long-tail or speedboat trip at extra cost, ideally early in the morning.
Overnight: Koh Phi Phi · Meals: B
Your second free day on Koh Phi Phi. Spend the morning on the beach, book a massage in the afternoon and enjoy dinner by the water as the lights come on in the bay. If you are keen divers or snorkelers, the reefs around the island are some of the richest in the Andaman, and local dive shops offer trips for all levels.
Overnight: Koh Phi Phi · Meals: B
After breakfast, enjoy free time until your transfer to the pier. A shared speedboat brings you back to the mainland, where a driver meets you and takes you to your resort in Ao Nang, the lively beach town of Krabi. Check in and spend the afternoon by the pool or on the beach. Ao Nang has plenty of restaurants and cafes within easy reach for the evening.
Overnight: Krabi · Meals: B
Your time in Krabi is completely free. Ao Nang's beach is framed by limestone cliffs, and long-tail boats leave from the sand for Railay, a beautiful peninsula reachable only by sea. You can visit it on your own, or we can arrange a private boat for the day at extra cost. In the evening, enjoy the sunset from the beachfront promenade.
Overnight: Krabi · Meals: B
Another easy day. Sleep in, swim in the pool and enjoy a long lunch. If you feel like a gentle outing, the town of Krabi, with its riverside night market, is about thirty minutes away by taxi. Many guests also use this time for a last massage or simply to rest before the journey home. Your hotel desk can help with any local plans.
Overnight: Krabi · Meals: B
Your last full day in Thailand. Spend it however you like best: one more swim, a final boat trip, some shopping for gifts, or a quiet afternoon with a book. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner of fresh seafood by the sea and look back on three weeks that took you from royal palaces and river rafts to some of the most beautiful islands in Asia.
Overnight: Krabi · Meals: B
Enjoy a relaxed breakfast. Your time is free until your private transfer to Krabi International Airport for your flight home or to your next destination, often with a connection in Bangkok. Please allow enough time at the airport, especially in the busy dry season. We hope you take home happy memories of Thailand's culture, its gentle people and its unforgettable sea.
Meals: B
You sleep in a simple floating room on the river, surrounded by jungle. It is rustic rather than luxurious, with very limited electricity, but the peace and the sounds of the river make it a highlight for many guests. Bring a flashlight and insect repellent.
No. The guided part covers the first five days around Bangkok and Kanchanaburi. On the islands, our representatives and drivers meet you at each pier and take you to your resort. The free days are yours, and we can add a private boat trip or guided outing on any of them.
No. The flight from Bangkok to Krabi is quoted separately because fares change often. We book it at the current fare and add it to your quote so you see one total.
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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