Itinerary
- Day 1
Bangkok
You'll arrive in Bangkok and check into your hotel between noon and 2 PM. After you get settled in your room, there's time to relax before the group briefing at 5 PM where you'll meet the other travelers and learn what's coming up on the tour.
- Start point
- Bangkok, Bangkok Metropolis, Thailand (Astera hotel Bangkok, 17:00 - 18:00)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Panarai hotel or similar), Apartment (City center condomeiuam at Simese Sanampoa or similar)
- Day 2
Bangkok
A local guide takes you through Bangkok's key sights, starting with the Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha Temple to learn about Thai history. Lunch happens at a local spot, then you'll catch a traditional Thai dance performance at Sala Chaleam Krung (weekdays only, shows run at 1 PM, 2:30 PM, or 4 PM). By evening you're tasting Thai sweets and walking through Phahurat Market in Little India, checking out textile shops and street art along Khlong Ong Ang canal.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch like local people)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Panarai hotel or similar), Apartment (City center condomeiuam at Simese Sanampoa or similar)
Included Activities
- Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha Temple guided tour
- Lunch like local people
- Khlong Ong Ang Walking Street walk
- Phahurat Market walk
Optional Activities
- Traditional Thai dance performance at Sala Chaleam Krung (show times: 13:00, 14:30, 16:00 - weekdays only)
Landmarks Grand Palace Emerald Buddha Temple Sala Chaleam Krung Phahurat Market Khlong Ong Ang Walking Street 
- Day 3
Bangkok to Chiang Mai
After an early checkout, you head to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and take a boat through the waterways, getting photos of the train passing through the train market. Following a break for refreshment, you transfer to Bangkok train station and board an overnight train heading to Chiang Mai. Your guide meets you at the station in the morning.
- Accommodation
- Sleeper Train (Overnight train a/c room)
Included Activities
- Damnoen Saduak Floating Market boat trip
- Train market photo opportunity
Landmarks Damnoen Saduak Floating Market - Day 4
Chiang Mai
You arrive in Chiang Mai and connect with your guide at the train station, then transfer to the hotel. Local transport takes you through the old city past ancient walls, gates, and the moat before heading up to Doi Suthep. At Wat Phrathad Doi Suthep, built way back in 1383 at 3,500 feet elevation, you'll climb over 300 steps between massive Nagas to reach the golden pagoda holding a Buddha relic, plus you get panoramic views of the city and surrounding landscape.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Chiang mai gate or similar), Hotel (B2 Riverside Premier Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Transfer from train station to hotel
- Wat Phrathad Doi Suthep guided visit
Landmarks Wat Phrathad Doi Suthep Doi Suthep 
- Day 5
Elephant Sanctuary
About an hour north of Chiang Mai is an elephant sanctuary where you'll change into provided clothing and meet the elephants. You learn about their behavior and history while interacting with them in a natural setting, then you're making shampoo, feeding, playing with them, doing a mud spa, taking photos, and bathing them. After saying goodbye, you have seasonal fruit and water before the drive back to Chiang Mai.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Chiang mai gate or similar), Hotel (B2 Riverside Premier Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Elephant sanctuary experience - meet, feed, and interact with elephants
- Make shampoo for elephants
- Play mud spa with elephants
- Walk with elephants and bathe them
- Photo opportunities with elephants
- Seasonal fruit and drinking water
Landmarks Elephant Sanctuary 
- Day 6
Chiang Mai
Pick either a full-day biking tour or a half-day cooking class. The bike tour starts at 8:30 AM and covers Wat Koh Klang, McKean Hospital (a historic leprosy center), vegetable gardens, Wiang Kum Kam archaeological sites, and various ancient temples. Or choose the cooking class where you shop at Nong Hoi local market for ingredients, then head to Baan Hong Hual cooking school to learn making four Thai dishes, explore an herb garden, and get a cookbook to keep.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Chiang mai gate or similar), Hotel (B2 Riverside Premier Hotel or similar)
Optional Activities
- Full-day biking tour (08:30-12:30) - Trekker camp start, Baan Padad Tai village, Wat Koh Klang, McKean Hospital, natural vegetable garden, Wiang Kum Kam ancient sites including Wat Chang Kum, Wat E-Kang, Wat Nhan Chang, Wat Pu Beai, Wat Pra Thart Khaow, and Wat Chedi Leuim
- Half-day cooking class (09:00-13:20) - Local market shopping, Baan Hong Hual cooking school in Lanna Village, preparation of 4 Thai dishes, herb garden walk, Thai cookbook included
Landmarks Wat Koh Klang McKean Hospital Wiang Kum Kam Wat Chang Kum Wat E-Kang Wat Nhan Chang Wat Pu Beai Wat Pra Thart Khaow Wat Chedi Leuim Nong Hoi local market Baan Hong Hual - Day 7
Chiang Mai to Bangkok
Meet your guide at 3 Kings Monument at 10 AM for a half-day food tour sampling authentic Thai food, visiting local markets, and checking out temples. Later you board an overnight train back to Bangkok where you'll arrive and link up with the tour.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Thai food tasting during foodie tour)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Chiang mai gate or similar), Hotel (B2 Riverside Premier Hotel or similar)
Included Activities
- Half-day foodie tour - Thai food tasting
- Market visit
- Temple visit
Landmarks 3 Kings Monument - Day 8
Bangkok
The tour ends in Bangkok with optional chances to extend to beach destinations or other Southeast Asian countries. Contact the tour operator for recommendations and help arranging extensions.
- End point
- @Hua Lamphong (ณ หัวลำโพง), 326/1 Rama IV Rd, Bangkok, Bangkok Metropolis 10500, Thailand (Train station at Hua Lamphoung, 08:00 - 09:00)
Optional Activities
- Beach extension to Pattaya
- Beach extension to Phuket
- Beach extension to Hua Hin
- Beach extension to Krabi
- Beach extension to Samui
- Extension to other Southeast Asia countries
