16 Days In-depth Thailand Tour with Phuket

Day 1 Bangkok Arrival

Flight: International flight on your own arrangement or upon request

Welcome to Bangkok! Upon arrival, your guide will greet you at the airport and escort you to hotel for check-in.

Overnight in Bangkok.

Day 2 Bangkok City Highlights

Meals: B

After breakfast, you will have a full-day city tour of Bangkok. First visit Wat Traimit, known as the Temple of the Golden Buddha. It is the home to a gold Maravijaya Attitude seated Buddharupa statue, with a weight of 5.5 tons.

Then visit Wat Arun, known as the Temple of the Dawn, which is one of the most published images of Bangkok. In the middle of the temple, an 82 metres high beautifully decorated Khmer-style tower stands, where you can walk up the steep stairs and admire the view of Bangkok and the rivers.

After that, explore Wat Pho, also called the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. Finally, head for the Grand Palace, one of the must-sees in Bangkok, followed by Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which is regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand.

Overnight in Bangkok.

Day 3 Bangkok Excursion to Kanchanaburi

Meals: B

In the morning, visit Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, where you can experience the traditional Thai market with numerous vendors selling local food, fresh fruit and products from their boats.

After an exploration of the market, drive to Kanchanaburi that is famous for the Death Railway built during WWII. Made famous by the book and movie The Bridge on the River Kwai, the bridge and railway are notable attractions in Kanchanaburi. Today, carriages still go on the tracks, taking travelers through the fields of sugar cane and rice terrace.

Finally, pay a visit to the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre to learn more history about the railway.

Overnight in Bangkok.

Day 4 Bangkok to Ayutthaya, Flight to Chiang Rai

Flight: Domestic flight is on Indochina Tour's arrangement

Meals: B

After breakfast, drive to explore the ancient capital of Ayutthaya. Your tour begins at one of Ayutthaya’s oldest markets, where you can sample the traditional boat noodles and among other authentic bites from a local vendor.

Next, visit the iconic temples in Ayutthaya. The first one to see is Wat Yai Chai Mongkol with its 196-foot-tall (60-meter) stupa, followed by the ancient ruins of Buddha images at Wat Mahathat, also known as the Temple of the Great Relics. Finally, stop by Ayutthaya’s most historically important temple, Wat Phra Si Sanphet.

In the afternoon, visit Ayutthaya Historical Park, home to Wat Chai Wattanaram, one of Ayutthaya's most renowned temples. Then go behind the scenes of the production of roti sai mai to see how this spun sugar dessert is made and enjoy a taste.

Drive back to Bangkok airport for the onward flight to Chiang Rai.

Overnight in Chiang Rai.

Day 5 Chiang Rai City Highlights

Meals: B

Today, enjoy a city highlights tour of Chiang Rai. Visit the Navel City Pillar, a monument made of more than 100 Khmer-style pillars, and Rai Mae Fah Luang, a beautiful museum showcasing Lanna artifacts.

After that, head to Wat Rong Khon, normally known as the White Temple and Wat Rong Suea Ten, known as the Blue Temple. Then drive to Black House, also called Baan Dam, where you can see a lot of skeletons and animal skins, strange but impressive.

Overnight in Chiang Rai.

Day 6 Chiang Rai Excursion to Golden Triangle

Meals: B

Today, head to the Golden Triangle region to have a full day excursion.

Start the morning by Long Neck Karen Village to see the long neck hill tribe people who relocated from the Thai and Myanmar border. If time permits, you can watch cockfighting near the hill tribe village. Then drive to Mt. Doi Mae Salong to visit the Chinese village on the top of the mountain.

After lunch, continue the trip to the highest peak on the Thai-Myanmar border, Doi Tung. Here you can overlook the entire northern rice field plain and visit Doi Tung Temple that was built in A.D.1493. The scenery here may remind you of Switzerland.

After that, drive back to your hotel and enjoy your free time.

Overnight in Chiang Rai.

Day 7 Chiang Rai Excursion to Chiang Saen

Meals: B

After breakfast, drive to visit the House of Opium located at the bent of the mighty Mekong River to learn about the opium history of Thailand. From here, you can also get the overlooking views of the river junction by the three countries of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos.

Then head towards the ancient city of Chiang Saen, where ruins of numerous temples, stupas, Buddha images are still to be seen. Pay a visit to Chiang Saen National Museum or tour the temples of Wat Pa Sak, Wat Phra Chao Lan Thong or Wat Phra That Pha Ngao.

Overnight in Chiang Rai.

Day 8 Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai

Meals: B

Today, you will transfer to Chiang Mai, taking around 3 and a half hours. En route, visit Meow Hill Tribe Village that locates on Doi Suthep. It was once famous for opium cultivation. Then head to visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, where you can get a panoramic view of Chiang Mai City. The site is also one of the best places to enjoy a sunset.

Upon arrival, go to tour the beautiful temples in Chiang Mai. Start with the Buddhist temple of Wat Umong, nestled in the forested foothills of Suthep Mountain. Before you head inside to see the impressive Buddha statue, learn about the Buddhist proverbs posted throughout the grounds.

Then visit Wat Suan Dok built in the 14th century, a white bell-shaped temple housing a 20-foot (6-meter) Buddha. See the large prayer hall and the unique open-sided chapel. Also, you have the opportunity to chat with the monks about Buddhism and their temple life.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Day 9 Chiang Mai Zipline Tour

Meals: B

Today, you will experience a zipline tour in Chiang Mai. The tour begins with a pickup from your at about 10:30. After 1 hour drive, you get to the zip-lining center, set against a backdrop of lush rainforests and coffee plantations.

On arrival, meet your instructors and watch the safety briefing and demonstration before getting suited up in your helmet and harness. Then, climb up to the treetops to enjoy the zip-lining and feel a rush of adrenaline as you zoom through the trees.

A total of 28 zip-lines are included, reaching up to about 274 meters long. There are 4 abseils, ranging in height from 20 meters to 50 meters, 4 sky-bridges, and the "zigzag way" with its 3 hair-raising spiral stairways.

After that, head back towards Chiang Mai and enjoy your free time.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Day 10 Chiang Mai Excursion to Elephant Nature Park

Meals: B

Today, tour the elephant rescue and rehabilitation center - Elephant Nature Park, involving in the rescues of the disabled elephants, dogs and cats.

You can volunteer and care for the animals. Take your time to wander freely on the grounds and get close to these gentle giants. You get the opportunity to feed them and learn how to bathe them.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Day 11 Chiang Mai Cooking Class

Meals: B / L

After breakfast, departing your hotel at 8:30 am, head to a produce market where the locals pick up fresh food from farmers and vendors.

Visiting the market with a guide offers the building blocks of Thai cuisine. You can learn how to choose the right ingredients for each dish you are going to prepare. Upon arrival at the cooking school, roll up your sleeves for cooking.

You have a five-course menu to finish, including an appetizer, stir-fry dish, soup, curry, and dessert, as well as preparing fresh spring rolls and Thai tea. When the meal is ready, sit down to try the dishes you’ve prepared.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Day 12 Chiang Mai to Phuket

Flight: Domestic flight is on Indochina Tour's arrangement

Meals: B

Enjoy your breakfast and free morning until transfer to airport for the onward flight to Phuket. Upon arrival, your guide and driver will welcome you at the airport and then escort you to hotel for check in. The rest of the day is free for you to explore.

Overnight in Phuket.

Day 13 Phuket Excursion to Similan Islands

Meals: B

Phuket lies off the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea, consisting of Phuket Island which is the largest island of Thailand and another 32 smaller islands off the coast.

Today, you will take an excursion to Similan Islands, an archipelago in the Andaman Sea off the coast. These islands are covered with thick forest and the most striking sights are to be found beneath the waves. Snorkeling and swimming are good choices.

Overnight in Phuket.

Day 14 Phuket Full Day Beach Relax

Meals: B

The next few days are all about unwinding.

You can simply lie on the beach for a sunbath, jump into the blue sea waters to have fun, taste the fresh seafood with a glass of cocktail in hand, go further to adventure the off-coast small islands, or explore the nearby fishing villages to find the history of Phuket.

Overnight in Phuket.

Day 15 Phuket Full Day Beach Relax

Meals: B

Continue relaxing on the beaches.

Overnight in Phuket.

Day 16 Phuket Departure

Flight: International flight on your own arrangement or upon request

Meals: B

Today enjoy your free time until transfer to the airport for your flight home.

End of service.