Royal Echoes of Siam: Ayutthaya, Sukhothai and the North in 10 Days

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