The North of Thailand: Bangkok, River Kwai, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in 9 Days

Your private guide and driver meet you at Bangkok airport and take you to your hotel. In the afternoon, set out on a temple tour that covers three very different sides of Thai Buddhism. At Wat Traimit you see the solid gold Buddha, more than five tons of it. At Wat Pho, the 46-meter Reclining Buddha fills its hall, and the temple is known as the home of traditional Thai massage. Finish at Wat Benchamabophit, the Marble Temple, built from Italian Carrara marble in classic Thai style.Overnight: Bangkok

Leave early for Damnoen Saduak, about 100 kilometers west of the city, where vendors sell fruit, snacks and noodles from small boats on the canals. On the way, stop at Nakhon Pathom to see Phra Pathom Chedi, one of the tallest stupas in the world. Lunch is an international buffet at a riverside country resort. Back in Bangkok, explore the Grand Palace, home of the Chakri kings since 1782, and Wat Phra Kaew with the revered Emerald Buddha. Shoulders and knees must be covered.Overnight: Bangkok · Meals: B, L

Drive west to Kanchanaburi, around 130 kilometers from Bangkok. Visit the Allied cemetery, where some 9,000 prisoners who built the Thailand-Burma railway in 1942 and 1943 are buried, and the JEATH Museum, which tells their story through photographs and objects. Then board a train on the original Death Railway line for a scenic ride along the river, with lunch near the station where you get off. End the day at the famous Bridge on the River Kwai before checking in.Overnight: Kanchanaburi · Meals: B, L

Head for the old royal capital. First comes Bang Pa-In, the summer palace of King Rama V, where Thai, Chinese and European buildings sit around ornamental ponds. Next, walk through the UNESCO-listed ruins of Ayutthaya, once a great trading city on the Chao Phraya River, with its brick prangs, chedis and weathered Buddha images. After lunch at a local restaurant, your guide takes you to the station for the overnight train to Chiang Mai. Modest dress is needed at the palace.Overnight: Overnight train · Meals: B, L

Arrive in Chiang Mai and begin in the old city at Wat Chedi Luang, whose great chedi once held the Emerald Buddha, and Wat Phra Singh, a fine example of Lanna art from 1345. Drive up Doi Suthep to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, 1,050 meters above the city, where a golden chedi and wide views over the Ping valley sit at the top of 306 naga-lined steps. In the evening, enjoy a khantoke dinner of northern dishes served on low trays, with Lanna music and traditional dance.Overnight: Chiang Mai · Meals: B, D

Spend the day in Doi Inthanon National Park. Stand at the 2,565-meter summit and walk the short Ang Ka nature trail through moss-covered cloud forest and rhododendrons. Continue to the Twin Royal Pagodas, built to honor the late King and Queen, with gardens and views over the ridges. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Royal Project, which helps hill-tribe farmers grow flowers and vegetables, and finish at Wachirathan Waterfall, which plunges around 100 meters into a misty pool.Overnight: Chiang Mai · Meals: B, L

Drive north through the hills to Chiang Rai. Start at the Blue Temple, Wat Rong Suea Ten, painted in deep blue and gold by a local artist. Next, visit Baan Dam, the Black House, where dozens of dark teak pavilions hold an unusual collection of carvings, bones and art. End at Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple, a dazzling work by national artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, covered in white plaster and mirrored glass. The rest of the day is yours.Overnight: Chiang Rai · Meals: B

Drive to Mae Sai, the northernmost town in Thailand, on the border with Myanmar, and browse its busy market. Continue to the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet at the junction of the Mekong and Ruak rivers, and visit the Opium Museum to learn the region's history. Stop at Chiang Saen, the ancient Lanna capital founded around 1328, to see its temple ruins and old walls. In the afternoon, fly from Chiang Rai to Bangkok for your final night.Overnight: Bangkok · Meals: B

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at your hotel and, if time allows, a last stroll or some shopping close by. Your guide and driver then take you to Bangkok airport in good time for your flight home or on to your next destination. If your flight leaves late in the day, we can arrange a day room or one more activity in the city on request, such as a long-tail boat ride on the canals.Meals: B