Bangkok & the Northern Kingdom

Depart UK

Fly from London to Bangkok. (N) 

Meal basis: As per itinerary – B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals.

Arrive Bangkok, Thailand

Arrive in the capital of Thailand, a large city of golden stupas, gleaming skyscrapers, winding waterways and lively markets, as well as the home of over nine million people. Check in to Praya Palazzo for 3 nights. (B) 

Bangkok

Today you delve into the traditional side of Bangkok, both its spirituality and regal history. Begin at the Grand Palace – arriving early to avoid the biggest crowds – and see the revered Emerald Buddha statue. Continue to the Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, which displays fashionable gowns made for Thailand’s Queen Mother, then meander through the streets by tuk-tuk to visit Wat Pho’s 46-metre Reclining Buddha. In the afternoon, you take a trip along the waterways by private boat, accompanied by tales of the city’s historic neighbourhoods. Finish at the Artist’s House, a canal-side residence on stilts that showcases local arts and crafts. (B) 

Bangkok

This afternoon, a private vehicle will take you to the Jim Thompson House. Formerly the residence of an American magnate of Thai silk, this traditional teak home is filled with curios and antiques. Browse its silk shop and gallery, then visit Wat Arun (‘Temple of Dawn’) in time for sunset, where you can admire its porcelain art up close. (B)  

Chiang Rai

Meet your guide in the hotel lobby for your private transfer to the airport, where you are assisted with your flight from Bangkok to Chiang Rai. Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to The Legend Chiang Rai for 2 nights. (B) 

Chiang Rai

Your day is free to explore Chiang Rai, or to simply unwind at your hotel. Chiang Rai is the gateway to the Golden Triangle region – where the borders of Laos, Myanmar and Thailand meet – and where the Lanna Kingdom of northern Thailand emerged in the 13th century. Surrounded by tea plantations, coffee farms and hillside villages, the relaxed town features vibrant temples, authentic restaurants and eclectic markets worth visiting. (B) 

Chiang Mai

This morning, depart by car for Chiang Mai, stopping en route at the ‘White Temple’ of Wat Rong Khun. This contemporary Buddhist temple dazzles with its ice-white facade, adorned with glass mosaics and elaborate dragon and elephant motifs. Arrive in Chiang Mai, the cultural heart of northern Thailand, and check in at Meliá Chiang Mai for 3 nights. (B) 

Chiang Mai

Today, you discover the natural beauty of Chiang Mai, where the Lanna kings of old held court. Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand, and among the country’s most popular destinations. Picture leafy avenues, markets jammed with a panoply of tempting produce, and hundreds of serene temples, all overlooked by green mist-veiled mountains. Begin in the Mae Rim district, where you discover the sustainable livelihoods of its hilltop community, then explore the gardens and glasshouses of Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden. The garden houses rare endemic flora alongside wild orchids, water lilies and ornamental gingers. Enjoy lunch at a writer’s ‘secret garden’, then return to central Chiang Mai. (B, L) 

Chiang Mai

Begin your day wending across remote green hills by chauffeured tuk-tuk, a chance to explore Thai rural life. You’re transferred to Mae Wang district to board your vehicle – customised to handle the rolling terrain – then you journey along scenic mountain trails between farming villages, waterfalls and rice terraces. Return to your hotel in Chiang Mai this afternoon. (B, L) 

Bangkok

Transfer to Chiang Mai Airport for your flight to Bangkok. In Bangkok, meet your guide and transfer to Novotel Suvarnabhumi Airport for the night. (B) 

Fly home

You are met and transferred by private vehicle to Suvarnabhumi International Airport. (B)