Experience Overview
Delve into the wonders of northern Thailand on a trip packed with unforgettable experiences. Explore the elegant stone stupas and sprawling palaces of Ayutthaya Historical Park; then venture to Chiang Mai, where we’ll craft local dishes with ingredients gathered from a town market and visit a rural village for a traditional meal. While discovering Buddhist temples and lush mountain landscapes, gain an intimate perspective on Thailand’s rich history and cultural heritage.
Highlights
- Swim in turquoise pools below a seven-tiered waterfall
- Meet a resident monk and receive a Buddhist blessing at one of Thailand’s most revered temples
- Explore Wat Pho to view a colossal gilded statue of the Reclining Buddha
- Visit a village home outside and sit down to a traditional khantok dinner
Trip Details
Product Code: 1608
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: Private bus/minivan, train, boat, plane, walking.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles: National Geographic Journey, Extreme Adventures
Supplier Code: ATTNG
Starts: Bangkok, Thailand
Finishes: Bangkok, Thailand
Duration: 8 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical rating: Light
Includes
Activities
- Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Traditional Thai Home Dinner, Chiang Mai Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Meet with Monks, Chiang Mai Your Foodie Moment: Cooking Class, Chiang Mai
- Arrival transfer
- Entrance to the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre war museum and train ride
- Visit to Erawan National Park
- Tour at Ayutthaya Historical Park
- Dinner on a converted rice barge
- Sunset visit to Doi Suthep monastery
- Explore Bangkok and take a klong boat ride
- Internal flights
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Hotels (7 nts).
- 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners
Transport
- Private bus/minivan, train, boat, plane, walking.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD 2349 (CAD 294 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Bangkok
Arrive at any time; your arrival transfer is included.
Day 2: Bangkok/Kanchanaburi
After breakfast, travel to the city of Kanchanaburi, situated at the convergence of the Khwae Noi and Khwae Yai Rivers. Board a train for a winding journey into World War II history as you cross the bridge made famous by the 1957 film The Bridge on the River Kwai. At the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre, learn about the Burma Railway, constructed by imperial Japanese forces to connect Bangkok and Burma; then visit the nearby Kanchanaburi War Cemetery to see where the prisoners of war who worked on the railway were laid to rest.
Day 3: Kanchanaburi/Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
This morning, hike into the lush landscapes of Erawan National Park, located high in the mist-shrouded Tenasserim Hills. Take a dip in the turquoise pools of the Erawan Falls—so called because its top tier of cascades resemble the three-headed, mythological elephant known as Erawan. This afternoon, transfer to the historic city of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, a former capital of the medieval kingdom of Ayutthaya, also known as Siam. Sample traditional Thai dishes during dinner on a converted rice barge from the 1930s.
Day 4: Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya/Chiang Mai
Set out to explore the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Ayutthaya Historical Park, centered on the old city which served as the Siamese capital from the 14th to 18th centuries, when it was one of the largest and most cosmopolitan regions in the world. Stroll down well-planned city streets to view magnificent palaces and Buddhist monasteries that set the standard for Thai architecture for generations to come. Later, return to Bangkok and transfer to the airport for your flight to Chiang Mai. Visit a traditional village in the countryside and enjoy a khantok-style dinner, served on low pedestal trays.
Khantok in the Northern dialect means wooden tray, used for carrying dishes, round in shape and made of teak wood. The host will invite guests to sit on the floor around the khantok. After dinner, enjoy tea time with the opportunity to talk with local people to learn their way of living.
Day 5: Chiang Mai
Delve into the bustle of Chiang Mai's morning markets with a local chef, and learn about colourful fruits and fragrant herbs as you select ingredients for a Thai cooking class. Enjoy your creation for lunch, then set out to visit a historic temple. Sit down with one of the resident monks to discuss daily life and the tenets of Buddhism. Later, clear your mind to the chanting of monks at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, one of the most spectacular gilded temples in Thailand.
Monk chats are a great cultural exchange, but also important in helping the young Monks improve their English.
Day 6: Chiang Mai
Spend a full day exploring Chiang Mai's temples and forested hills on your own, or choose between a variety of optional activities. Opt to take a cycling tour through verdant rice paddies and the elegant historic district. In the evening, choose to visit Chiang Mai's vibrant night market.
Day 7: Chiang Mai/Bangkok
This morning, fly to Bangkok and board a traditional klong boat for a ride along the winding canals that have earned the city the nickname the “Venice of the East.” Glide past colourful temples, modern skyscrapers, and houses perched above the water. Visit Wat Pho, Bangkok's largest and oldest temple complex, and often considered Thailand's first public university—its many inscriptions were intended to instruct visitors. Marvel at the magnificent statue of the Reclining Buddha, glittering with gold leaf and mother-of-pearl.
Day 8: Bangkok
Depart at any time.
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
Gabriele - Traveled, December 2023
Fantastic journey. Our tour guide AEF was great. She was very organized, super friendly and supplied a lot of knowledge. Highly recommended everything
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/02/2024
Belinda - Traveled, January 2023
Everything was great
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/31/2023
Andreas - Traveled, December 2022
10/10 recommend! Best way to experience Thailand, hands down.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/12/2023
David - Traveled, November 2022
Informative, varied and a great experience all round
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/26/2022
Alan - Traveled, February 2020
Great experience - all the details went off exactly as planned. Well done!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/25/2020
Gail - Traveled, December 2019
We had a great time. A good mix of group led and independent time. Interesting visits and a cohesive group of people.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 01/03/2020
HR - Traveled, December 2019
Overall experience was good. The places we visited varied and transport and accommodation was good. We would have liked more in depth explanations about culture, history and mythology.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/27/2019
Ray - Traveled, April 2019
Very enjoyable trip. Our guide was professional and friendly. Nothing was too much trouble for her.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/23/2019
MariaMazzara - Traveled, February 2019
I loved the tour. I loved our guide, Meow— she was incredibly attentive. Only change I would have made is to do tour of Bangkok ( reclining Buddha) on first day & added one more day in Chiang Mai. Along with option to depart from Chiang Mai to next... Show more National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures commented on this review Happy you enjoyed - and thank you for the suggestion Maria!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/11/2019
Elsie-Veronica - Traveled, July 2018
I was extremely pleased with the itinerary, the meals, the places, the experiences!!!! Whoa - what a lot of things to do and experience. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the experience - a train ride, the war museum, the ancient temples, the... Show more National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures commented on this review Thanks for your feedback and for traveling with us. Sounds like you had an action packed tour with us in this fantastic corner of the world!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/14/2018
Renee - Traveled, February 2018
A really intensive trip through Thailand. We covered a lot in a very short time. Of course, this meant that at times we were rushed through some places but it’s to be expected if you’re seeing a lot of places in limited time. The accommodation was excellent and our guide Ben was fantastic! She always went out of her way to make sure we were comfortable and happy. National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures National Geographic Journeys with G Adventures commented on this review Thanks for the review Renee - our world deserves more you!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 02/19/2018
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