Thailand Panorama: From Bangkok to the Golden Triangle and Phi Phi in 21 Days

Your private guide and driver meet you at Bangkok airport and take you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to recover from your journey, take a swim or wander the nearby streets. Tomorrow starts early, so this is a good evening for a simple dinner close to the hotel and a full night of sleep. Your guide will brief you on the three weeks ahead.Overnight: Bangkok

Rise early to reach Wat Pho for the monks' morning chanting, then see its 45-meter Reclining Buddha. Continue to the Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha. In the afternoon, a long-tail boat takes you up the Chao Phraya into the canals of Thonburi. Stop at Wat Khun Chan, rarely visited by tourists, cross a footbridge into old alleys for a cold coffee, visit the white stupa of Wat Paknam and walk around an orchid and fruit farm.Overnight: Bangkok · Meals: B

Drive an hour into the countryside of Samut Songkhram. At Maeklong Railway Market, vendors pull back their stalls each time the train rolls through. Then take a paddle boat through the canals of Damnoen Saduak floating market, or the quieter Tha Kha market on weekends. Continue to Kanchanaburi to visit the Allied cemetery, and ride the Death Railway from Wang Pho for 30 minutes along the river.Overnight: Kanchanaburi · Meals: B

Drive just over two hours to Bang Pa-In, the royal summer palace, where Thai, Chinese and European buildings stand around ornamental lakes. Then continue to Ayutthaya, capital of Siam for four centuries. Hop into a local tuk-tuk to visit Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, Wat Mahathat with its Buddha head in the roots of a tree, and Wat Phra Si Sanphet, with a walk through a local market on the way.Overnight: Ayutthaya · Meals: B

Head north to Lopburi to visit the palace of King Narai the Great, built in 1666, where the king spent much of each year. Continue to Uthai Thani, stopping at Ban Khok Mo, a village where traditional weaving is still part of daily life, and at Wat Tha Sung with its glittering crystal hall. Take a boat along the Sakae Krang River past floating houses, then end the day at the colorful night market in town.Overnight: Uthai Thani · Meals: B

Drive about 45 minutes to Hub Pa Tat, where a path through a cave opens into a small hidden valley of tall trees. Then visit Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park, a UNESCO site with Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Phra That and the forest temples of Aranyik. On the way to Sukhothai, stop in Phitsanulok to see a folk museum of rural life and Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, home of one of the most revered Buddha images in Thailand.Overnight: Sukhothai · Meals: B

Explore Sukhothai Historical Park by bicycle. The park holds almost 200 ruined chedis set among lotus ponds and lawns. Start with the giant Buddha of Wat Si Chum, then ride to Wat Phra Phai Luang, Wat Si Sawai, Wat Sa Si and Wat Traphang Ngoen. The paths are flat and easy. In the afternoon, drive north to Lampang, a small and charming town of old wooden houses.Overnight: Lampang · Meals: B

Visit Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, founded in the 13th century and kept in its original Lanna form, with open-sided halls and a tall golden chedi. Take a 30-minute horse-cart ride through town and the nearby villages, a local tradition. Continue north, with a coffee stop beside Phayao Lake for the views, and arrive in Chiang Rai at the end of the day.Overnight: Chiang Rai · Meals: B

Head into the green mountains of the far north. The road climbs to Doi Mae Salong, where tea plantations cover the slopes and you can taste the local brews. Visit an Akha village and a Lisu village to learn about the hill peoples of the area, then the gardens of Mae Fah Luang. Continue to Chiang Saen, an ancient town on the Mekong near the Golden Triangle, for the night.Overnight: Chiang Saen · Meals: B

Start with a long-tail boat on the Mekong at the Golden Triangle and a visit to the Opium Museum. Drive on to Thaton, a peaceful town on the Kok River, and visit Wat Thaton. The road then climbs through the Fang district to Doi Ang Khang, where the Royal Agricultural Station grows flowers, fruit and vegetables suited to the cool climate. Visit the village of Ban Khum before coming down to Chiang Dao.Overnight: Chiang Dao · Meals: B

Explore Chiang Dao Cave, a network of four connected chambers filled with stalactites. Some passages are low, so be ready to bend down, or simply visit the first chambers. Then drive to Chiang Mai. In the afternoon, join a Thai cooking class shared with other travelers, where you shop for ingredients, cook several dishes and enjoy the meal you prepared.Overnight: Chiang Mai · Meals: B, L, D

Walk through the old city within its moat and brick walls, visiting Wat Phra Singh, the teak hall of Wat Phan Tao and the giant ruined chedi of Wat Chedi Luang. Ride a rickshaw through lanes of old houses and browse Kad Luang, the central market. In the afternoon, drive up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep for its golden chedi and city views. In the evening, the Night Bazaar is yours to explore.Overnight: Chiang Mai · Meals: B

Spend the morning in the craft villages east of Chiang Mai, around Bo Sang and San Kamphaeng, where artisans paint paper umbrellas, weave silk and craft lacquer boxes and wood carvings. In the afternoon, enjoy a two-hour boat trip on the Ping River, watching the scenery change from city to countryside, with traditional teak houses and green banks along the way.Overnight: Chiang Mai · Meals: B

Enjoy a free morning in Chiang Mai, then transfer to the airport for your flight south to Phuket. A driver meets you on arrival and takes you to your hotel near the beach. The afternoon is yours to swim and settle into the slower rhythm of the coast. In the evening, try fresh seafood at one of the many restaurants close to the sand.Overnight: Phuket · Meals: B

A full day with no fixed plans. Relax by the pool or on the beach, book a spa treatment, or explore the colorful Sino-Portuguese shophouses and cafés of Phuket Old Town. If you would like a guided outing, we can arrange a boat trip to the limestone islands of Phang Nga Bay at extra cost.Overnight: Phuket · Meals: B

Enjoy a second free day on the island. Mornings are often calm and perfect for a swim, while the afternoon is good for a long lunch, a massage or a sunset drink at one of the viewpoints along the west coast. Pack lightly for tomorrow, as the ferry to Phi Phi carries your bags but space on the islands is relaxed and simple.Overnight: Phuket · Meals: B

Enjoy a free morning before your transfer to the pier for the ferry to Koh Phi Phi. The crossing takes you past open sea to towering limestone cliffs and turquoise bays. Check in to your beach resort and spend the rest of the day at leisure. There are no cars on the island, so you move around on foot or by boat.Overnight: Koh Phi Phi · Meals: B

Wake up to the sound of the sea and spend the day as you wish. Swim and snorkel off the beach, climb to the viewpoint above Tonsai village for the classic view of the twin bays, or book a long-tail boat trip to Phi Phi Leh and its lagoon at extra cost. In the evening, enjoy dinner on the sand.Overnight: Koh Phi Phi · Meals: B

Another unhurried day in the Andaman Sea. Read in the shade, take a kayak along the coast or try a cooking or massage session at your resort. Families with teenagers often enjoy a snorkeling trip to nearby Bamboo Island, which can be added at extra cost. Sunsets here are worth staying out for, so plan to be by the water early in the evening.Overnight: Koh Phi Phi · Meals: B

Your last full day on the island is free for one more swim, a final walk along the beach or simply rest before the journey home. Take time to pack slowly and enjoy a farewell dinner of your choice. Our team will confirm the ferry time and your next transfers the evening before, so there is nothing to worry about.Overnight: Koh Phi Phi · Meals: B

After breakfast, take the ferry back to Phuket, where a driver meets you at the pier and takes you to Phuket airport for your flight home or on via Bangkok. Please allow a comfortable gap between the ferry and your flight; we will help you choose the right times. If you would like to break the journey, we can add a night in Bangkok.Meals: B