21 days 20 nights
Specific Tour
14 people
English
Quick answer
A private 21-day Thailand tour: 13 days of overland touring from Bangkok through Kanchanaburi, Ayutthaya, Uthai Thani, Sukhothai and Lampang to Chiang Rai, Mae Salong and Chiang Mai, followed by a free week in Phuket and on Koh Phi Phi.
From US$2,930 per person for the whole tour, based on 4 travellers sharing double rooms in 4★ hotels as listed (couples travelling alone pay a little more). It changes with hotel level, season and group size, and is confirmed in your tailor-made quote.
| Day | Route and highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive in Bangkok | Bangkok |
| 2 | Dawn at Wat Pho, the Grand Palace and hidden canals | Bangkok |
| 3 | Maeklong, Damnoen Saduak and Kanchanaburi | Kanchanaburi |
| 4 | Bang Pa-In and Ayutthaya by tuk-tuk | Ayutthaya |
| 5 | Lopburi and the river town of Uthai Thani | Uthai Thani |
| 6 | Hub Pa Tat, Kamphaeng Phet and Phitsanulok | Sukhothai |
| 7 | Cycling Sukhothai and on to Lampang | Lampang |
| 8 | Lampang Luang and on to Chiang Rai | Chiang Rai |
| 9 | Mae Salong tea hills and Chiang Saen | Chiang Saen |
| 10 | The Mekong, Thaton and Doi Ang Khang | Chiang Dao |
| 11 | Chiang Dao Cave and a cooking class in Chiang Mai | Chiang Mai |
| 12 | Chiang Mai old city and Doi Suthep | Chiang Mai |
| 13 | Craft villages and a Ping River cruise | Chiang Mai |
| 14 | Fly to Phuket | Phuket |
| 15 | Free day in Phuket | Phuket |
| 16 | Another free day in Phuket | Phuket |
| 17 | Ferry to Koh Phi Phi | Koh Phi Phi |
| 18 | Free day on Koh Phi Phi | Koh Phi Phi |
| 19 | Island time on Koh Phi Phi | Koh Phi Phi |
| 20 | Last full day by the sea | Koh Phi Phi |
| 21 | Ferry to Phuket and depart | — |
Private tour with your own English-speaking guide · 21 days / 20 nights · Bangkok – Kanchanaburi – Ayutthaya – Lopburi – Uthai Thani – Kamphaeng Phet – Sukhothai – Lampang – Chiang Rai – Mae Salong – Chiang Saen – Doi Ang Khang – Chiang Dao – Chiang Mai – Phuket – Phi Phi
This Thailand private tour gives you three weeks to see how the country fits together. You start in Bangkok with dawn chanting at Wat Pho and a boat trip into canals few visitors reach, then head west to Kanchanaburi and north through Ayutthaya, Lopburi and the riverside town of Uthai Thani. Along the way you see silk weavers, floating houses on the Sakae Krang River and a hidden valley reached through a cave at Hub Pa Tat.
The UNESCO-listed parks of Kamphaeng Phet and Sukhothai lead you to Lampang, Chiang Rai and the tea hills of Mae Salong. You visit the royal agricultural station on Doi Ang Khang, explore Chiang Dao Cave and finish the north in Chiang Mai with a cooking class, the old city temples, craft villages and a cruise on the Ping River.
The final week is for rest: three nights near the beach in Phuket and four on Koh Phi Phi, with clear water, limestone cliffs and plenty of time to do nothing at all.
Moderate. The first two weeks include many road days, an easy bike ride in Sukhothai, a short cave walk at Hub Pa Tat and low, narrow passages in Chiang Dao Cave. The last week is free time. Well suited to active couples, fit older travelers and families with children over 10 who enjoy road journeys.
Comfortable 4-star hotels where available: Nouvo City Hotel in Bangkok, U Inchantree Kanchanaburi, Kantary Hotel Ayutthaya, Sukhothai Heritage Resort, Baan Suchadaa in Lampang, Grand Vista in Chiang Rai, Bansaeo Garden Resort in Chiang Saen, Bodhi Serene in Chiang Mai, The Old Phuket and Phi Phi The Beach Resort, or similar. In Uthai Thani (Uthai River Lake Resort) and Chiang Dao (Marisa Resort) the best available hotels are simpler, local properties. Upgrades are available on request.
November to March is the best time for this tour: the north is dry and cool, and the Andaman Sea around Phuket and Phi Phi is calm and clear. April is very hot, and the northern hills can be hazy from late March. From May to October the Andaman coast has rain and rough seas, so for those months we suggest a beach on the Gulf of Thailand instead.
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 · Amazing Thailand: Bangkok, the River Kwai and Andaman Island Hopping in 20 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; This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote. Feel free to use any of my images, but please mention me as the author an, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Chainwit., CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Meneerke bloem, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; PumpkinSky, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; This Photo was taken by Supanut Arunoprayote. Feel free to use any of my images, but please mention me as the author an, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Bienvenue en Thaïlande, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Takeaway, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; ekeidar, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; ผู้สร้างสรรค์ผลงาน/ส่งข้อมูลเก็บในคลังข้อมูลเสรีวิกิมีเดียคอมมอนส์ – เทวประภาส มากคล้าย, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Thailand Panorama: From Bangkok to the Golden Triangle and Phi Phi in 21 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.
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
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
The touring part lasts 13 days, with drives of two to four hours on most days and plenty of stops. The last week is entirely free, which gives you time to rest. If you prefer, we can shorten the beach section and make this a 16 or 17 day trip.
No. The flight from Chiang Mai to Phuket and the flight from Phuket to Bangkok are quoted separately because fares change often. We book them for you at the current fare and add them to your total.
Almost. Uthai Thani and Chiang Dao are small, authentic towns without large hotels, so you stay one night in each at the best local property. Everywhere else we use comfortable 4-star hotels, and upgrades are possible.
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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