Beauty of Thailand: Culture, the North and Three Beaches in 15 Days

Welcome to Thailand. Have your visa or visa approval letter ready for immigration, then meet your private guide and driver in the arrivals hall. The drive to your hotel takes about 45 minutes, depending on traffic. The rest of the day is yours to rest after the flight, take a swim or wander the streets around the hotel. Your guide will brief you on the days ahead before saying goodnight.Overnight: Bangkok

A full day in the capital. Begin at the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, home of the Emerald Buddha. Next door at Wat Pho, see the Reclining Buddha and enjoy a 30-minute traditional Thai massage in the temple that keeps the art alive. After lunch, a long-tail boat takes you along the Chao Phraya River and the quiet Thonburi canals to Wat Arun. Finish with the colorful flower market and the Golden Mount.Overnight: Bangkok · Meals: B

Leave early for Kanchanaburi, about 130 kilometers west of Bangkok. Visit the Allied cemetery, where some 9,000 prisoners who built the Thailand-Burma railway are buried, and the JEATH Museum, which recalls their story through photographs and objects. Then board a train along the original Death Railway line for views over the river and the countryside. End at the Bridge on the River Kwai before checking in near the river.Overnight: Kanchanaburi · Meals: B

Head for Ayutthaya, capital of Siam from 1350 and today a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Walk with your guide through Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, Wat Mahathat and Wat Phra Si Sanphet, with its row of three great chedis. Continue to Ang Thong to see Wat Muang and its giant seated Buddha, almost 100 meters high. After a local lunch, drive north to Phitsanulok, about 405 kilometers in total for the day, as rice fields give way to greener hills.Overnight: Phitsanulok · Meals: B

Drive to Sukhothai, capital of the first Thai kingdom from 1238 to 1438 and the cradle of Thai art and writing. Walk through the Historical Park among lotus ponds, ruined temples and calm Buddha images, including the giant seated Buddha at Wat Si Chum. Then continue north into the hills, stopping for lunch by Phayao Lake, a peaceful spot with wide views. You reach Chiang Rai in the late afternoon.Overnight: Chiang Rai · Meals: B

Drive to Mae Sai, the northernmost town in Thailand, where a lively market sits right on the border with Myanmar. Continue to the Golden Triangle, where the Mekong and Ruak rivers mark the meeting point of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar, and see the large golden Buddha by the river. Visit the Opium Museum, then spend time in Chiang Saen, the old Lanna city founded around 1328, with Wat Phra That Chedi Luang and its ancient walls.Overnight: Chiang Rai · Meals: B

Visit Wat Phra Kaew in Chiang Rai, where the Emerald Buddha was first found and where a jade copy now sits. Continue to the Blue Temple, Wat Rong Suea Ten, and Baan Dam, the Black House, a striking complex of dark teak pavilions filled with art. Finish at the White Temple, Wat Rong Khun, covered in white plaster and mirrored glass. In the afternoon, drive south through the mountains to Chiang Mai.Overnight: Chiang Mai · Meals: B

Spend the day on Doi Inthanon, Thailand's highest mountain at 2,565 meters. Visit the summit and walk the short Ang Ka nature trail through cloud forest, then the Twin Royal Pagodas with their gardens and views. After lunch at a local restaurant, see the Royal Project's flower nurseries, created to help hill-tribe farmers, and the Wachirathan Waterfall, which drops around 100 meters into a misty pool.Overnight: Chiang Mai · Meals: B, L

After breakfast, your guide and driver take you to Chiang Mai airport for the flight south to Koh Samui. A private transfer meets you on arrival and takes you to your beach resort. The rest of the day is free to swim, enjoy the view and slip into island time. In the evening, try fresh seafood at one of the beach restaurants nearby.Overnight: Koh Samui · Meals: B

A full day to do as much or as little as you like. Spend it on the sand and in the pool, book a spa treatment, or explore the island's coconut groves and viewpoints. If you would like an outing, we can arrange a boat day to Ang Thong Marine Park or a visit to the Big Buddha and the fishing village of Bophut at extra cost.Overnight: Koh Samui · Meals: B

Enjoy a second free day by the sea. Mornings are often the calmest time for a swim or a beach walk, and afternoons are perfect for a long lunch or a nap in the shade. Families with teenagers may enjoy kayaking or paddleboarding from the beach. Your next transfer is the following morning, so there is no need to rush.Overnight: Koh Samui · Meals: B

Enjoy a free morning, then transfer from the island back to the mainland and on to Khao Sok, one of the oldest rainforests in the world. Your resort sits near the dam and Cheow Lan Lake, surrounded by tall limestone cliffs and jungle. Spend the evening listening to the forest. A boat trip on the lake can be arranged for the next morning at extra cost if you would like to see more.Overnight: Khao Sok · Meals: B

Take the morning at your own pace, with a walk near the resort or a quiet coffee looking out over the hills. Later, your private transfer drives you south to Phuket, the largest island in Thailand, about three hours away. Check in to your hotel and enjoy the evening by the beach or in the lively streets nearby.Overnight: Phuket · Meals: B

A free day to enjoy Phuket your way. Relax on the beach, visit the Sino-Portuguese shophouses of Phuket Old Town, or join a boat trip to the limestone islands of Phang Nga Bay. We are happy to arrange any of these for you at extra cost. In the evening, treat yourselves to a farewell dinner at one of the beachfront restaurants.Overnight: Phuket · Meals: B

Enjoy a last breakfast and a final swim if time allows. Your guide and driver collect you from the hotel and take you to Phuket airport for your flight home or on to your next destination. If your flight is late in the day, we can arrange a late check-out or a day room on request.Meals: B