Culture, Craftwork and Cuisine

Welcome to Thailand!  Upon arrival to Suvarnabhumi Airport, our team will be ready and waiting to welcome everyone and help with the transfer arrangements to the hotel.

Once check in is complete, it’s time to soak up some relaxation after a long flight with a traditional foot massage!

The remainder of the day can be spent at leisure, ready to explore Bangkok the next day.

Overnight in Bangkok.

Breakfast will be enjoyed at the hotel. Today will be a day to experience several kinds of public transportation that are typical for Bangkok people.

Departing the hotel, the first stop explores two of Bangkok’s most significant temples. The early start ensures the opportunity to witness Wat Pho’s monks gather for their morning chant – these mantras are used for both learning and demonstrating devotion to Buddhist teachings. Afterwards, explore Wat Pho’s spiritual grounds, including the gilded 45-meter reclining Buddha.

Next up is the Grand Palace, Thailand’s most famous site.  Do be prepared for crowds as tourists can clog the grounds during the day.  Our expert local guides know the quiet areas to relay the palace’s religious and royal significance.  The Grand Palace has been the seat of the Thai monarchy for more than two centuries, and houses several halls, temples, and museums.  Within the grounds is the Emerald Buddha, Thailand’s most revered relic.

Klong Bang Luang is the next stop of the day. It’s a laid-back riverside community, also known as the artist’s village, because there are galleries and art spaces around the community.

Board a longtail boat to explore the community and discover the way of life on the riverside. It’s a quiet and peaceful place in the middle of the busiest city in Thailand. Stop at Baan Silapin which translates as the artist’s house. An old-teak house that is famous for its puppet shows. Feeding fish is also possible here and perfect to keep kids entertained.

Overnight in Bangkok.

Breakfast will be enjoyed at the hotel. A private transfer kicks off the day with a drive from Bangkok to Ayutthaya, which was the seat of the Siamese Kingdom for four hundred years (The transfer takes approximately 1.5 hours).

Upon arrival in Ayutthaya, discover Bang Pa-In palace which was used as a summer retreat in the 17th century. The place was destroyed and then restored in the 19th century. It’s divided into two zones. The inner zone is for the royal family and the outer zone opens for visitors and tourists. Some historical temples can be seen before we depart.

Our next stop is Sukhothai. Sukhothai was the ancient capital of Thailand, before it was replaced by Ayutthaya and Bangkok.  This former capital is important in Thai history as it is regarded the birthplace of the country. It was during this period when Thailand freed itself from the Khmer Kingdom.

Evening at leisure.

Overnight in Sukhothai.

Breakfast will be enjoyed at the hotel. This day begins with exploring the ancient first capital city of Thailand “Sukhothai Historical Park”. The Park is also classified as a UNESCO Heritage Site. There are many fascinating sites in the park where you can explore the ruins of ancient Buddha images and stupas as well as relishing in plenty of beautiful photo opportunities.

Afterwards, visit Ban Na Ton Chan village. It’s a small village surrounded with Chan trees as per its name. Here, there’s a chance to witness the unique methods of how they craft their traditional textiles. A relaxing walk around the village follows, to visit some local at their houses, talk and interact with them.

After lunch, head back to hotel.

Remainder of the day at leisure.

(Evening optional: Walking Street)

Overnight in Sukhothai.

Breakfast will be enjoyed at the hotel. After breakfast, a private transfer will transport you from Sukhothai to Chiang Mai with some stops along the way.

The first of these stops will be in Lampang which is sometimes known as “Horse Carriage City” because of its history as a trading and transportation centre. Upon arrival, visit Wat Phrathat Lampang Luang. This historical temple is one of the most famous temples in Lampang. The stupa itself is enormous in line with its name, ‘Luang’ translates as ‘huge’. It is also one of the country’s most intact wooden temples.

The next stop is in the charming city of Lamphun.

Wat San Pa Yang Luang is the first stop upon arrival. It was the first Buddhist temple of the Mon Kingdom and considered by Thai’s as one of the country’s most beautiful, thanks to the intricate carvings it is adorned with. After this, it’s time to head to the Terracotta Garden to spend time exploring the statues dotting the grounds. The Terracotta Garden is a working terracotta factory and a large supplier of terracotta statues and bricks across the kingdom.

After a leisurely walk through the garden, get hands on and create your own terracotta statue.

Afterwards, the day will come to an end transferring to Chiang Mai. Nicknamed the ‘Rose of the North’, Chiang Mai has blossomed into a vibrant city that captures both the spirituality and modernisation of Thailand.

Evening at leisure.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Breakfast will be enjoyed at the hotel. This morning, the bucolic life is on full display as well as the chance to transform, literally, into a Thai farmer for the day.  Opportunities for new experiences abound, from learning how to grow rice, to the importance of buffalos in Thai farming methods, and how modern Thai farmers are incorporating organic practices into their craft. The peaceful day ends with some traditional umbrella painting and a healthy, home cooked lunch.

Next up, visit Warorot Market, a ramshackle collection of food, textiles, and homeware vendors.  There’s ample opportunity to mix with locals out for the day’s shopping and have the chance to taste a few Thai snacks. After that, a private rickshaw ride heads for the beautiful Wat Sri Suphan.  The temples façade, roof and Buddha statues are all covered in silver, in a unique contrast to most of Thailand’s gilded temples.

As evening approaches, an exclusive dining experience awaits outside the city that will introduce you to one of Chiang Mai’s culinary masters, Chef Gee.  The setting is a spacious and intricately decorated dining hall, overlooking the garden at the chef’s restaurant.  While other guests may be on the property, the experience is an intimate and very personalised affair, and you’ll have the full attention of the chef and her partner.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Breakfast will be enjoyed at the hotel. Then, transfer to Chiang Mai international airport for departure.