Thailand Last Minute Holiday
Itinerary
Day 1 – Welcome to Bangkok
You’ll be met on arrival in Bangkok and taken directly to your accommodation located in buzzing Chinatown. On the way to your hotel you’ll get a glimpse of how vast and diverse Bangkok is: skyscrapers sit alongside temples with golden roofs, roads are busy with tuk tuks, cars and scooters. Welcome to Bangkok! You’ll stay in a simple hotel with plenty of character, surrounded by local restaurants, cafes, and some of the best street food stalls in Chinatown, with all of Bangkok’s main sites within easy reach.
Day 2 – Exploring Bangkok
Time to discover Bangkok! We have not planned anything, so you can explore Bangkok as you wish, at your own pace. From your hotel, it’s about a 20-minute walk to the Chao Phraya River, where you can hop on the Chao Phraya Express boat – just like the locals do. It’s a relaxing way to get around, with no traffic jams and a refreshing breeze as you glide along the water.
Don’t miss a visit to the impressive Grand Palace, home to the famous Emerald Buddha – a small but sacred statue dating back to 43 BC. Many Thai people come here to make offerings, and the welcoming atmosphere gives you the chance to quietly observe local traditions. You’ll see incense being lit, flowers placed at shrines, and food offerings made to Buddha. From here, it’s a short 10-minute walk to Wat Pho, known for its enormous reclining golden Buddha and its traditional Thai massage school. Afterwards, hop back on the boat and cross the river to visit the strikingly colourful Wat Arun.
Day 3 – Train to Sukhothai
Next, you’ll enjoy a scenic train ride from Bangkok to Phitsanulok. During the 5-hour journey you’ll see the high-rise buildings and busy neighbourhoods of Bangkok gradually make way for lush greenery and mountains in the distance. On arrival in Phitsanulok, you will be transferred to the ancient royal city of Sukhothai, where you’ll stay in a traditional hotel. The hotel is situated close to the wonders of the ancient temples and ruins of Sukhothai’s UNESCO-listed Historic Park. Settle in and relax after a long day of travelling.
Day 4 – Discover ancient temples
Your day is free to explore the enchanting temple ruins at your own pace, but we would recommend starting bright and early when the temperature is cooler. The ruins of Sukhothai are among the largest and most impressive in the country. From the thirteenth century, the country was ruled here for two hundred years, and it served as the epicentre of Thai culture. Some temples and ruins date back even earlier and are built in the Khmer style, similar to Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
We would suggest you hire a bike so you can cover the larger distances more easily and fit more in to your day. The trails around the park are well-maintained and you’ll pass ancient temples, manicured lawns and colourful lily ponds along the way. The ruins are divided into five zones. The central zone contains the best-preserved ruins and Wat Mahathat, the largest of them, should not be missed. In the Northern zone you’ll find Wat Si Chum, with its regal 15m high Buddha; you might even recognise his often photographed fingers. The Western zone is rarely visited by tourists and is a good spot to relax under the shady trees.
Day 5 – Bus to Chiang Mai
Today you’ll travel by bus to Chiang Mai. This bustling city with its busy roads and buzzy nightlife also has a more laid-back, reverential vibe strongly influenced by the multitude of sacred temples and shrines. After settling into your hotel it’s worth taking a stroll to the night market where you can spend hours shopping and bargaining for souvenirs. This market is largely geared towards tourists, so if you’d like a more authentic experience, we would recommend heading over to Warorot market where you’ll find an assortment of fruits, vegetables, dried fish and even pig heads! When you leave the walled part through the city gate, you will find atmospheric, illuminated restaurants along the canals.
Day 6 – Explore Chiang Mai
Today you have plenty of time to explore Chiang Mai. The city is home to over 300 temples, both inside and outside the city limits. We highly recommend visiting Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. It’s perched on a hill just outside the city and, on a clear day, the view over Chiang Mai is absolutely worth the climb. Abother ‘must see’ is Wat Phra Singh, located in the heart of the walled city. This temple is known as the Monastery of the Lion Buddha because of the sacred image of Phra Singh that is venerated here. Towards the end of the day, you can stroll to the Ploen Ruedee Night Market, where various food trucks offer a variety of dishes. Or you can try an authentic papaya salad or Pad Thai at the night market or the Sunday Market.
Day 7 – Bus to Pai
After breakfast, take a songtaew or taxi to the bus station in time for the bus to Pai. Don’t expect a large tour bus, as they don’t navigate the winding mountain hairpin turns easily. Instead, you’ll board a minibus for this leg of the journey. The journey takes around 3 hours, winding through the mountains along a road full of twists, steep cliffs and lush valleys. You’ll have the entire afternoon to explore Pai. Chill by the pool or go for a stroll through the rice paddies to Pai Canyon, a stunning spot for a sunset view. In the evening, dive right in the thick of it – Pai’s night market is a feast for the eyes (and stomachs)!
Day 8 – Cycling through the Pai countryside
Start your day with a dip in the swimming pool and enjoy a delicious breakfast, as this afternoon you will be setting out to explore the valleys and hills surrounding Pai by bike. Your guide will take you through gentle, meandering trails passing rice paddies, following the Pai River and ending up at the scenic Pai Canyon. Along the way, your guides will share insights into the local culture, nature and way of life here. You will return back to your hotel by late afternoon.
Day 9 – Return to Chiang Mai
After breakfast, it’s time to check out of your charming Thai-style hotel on the outskirts of Pai. If you have an early bus ticket back to Chiang Mai, head straight to the bus station. For those with a later bus, take the opportunity to explore Pai’s market – not the typical tourist hub, but a genuine glimpse into the daily lives of the locals.
Day 10 – Khao Sok National Park: in the heart of nature
This morning, you will take a taxi to Chiang Mai airport to catch a flight to Phuket. Here, you will be collected by our driver, along with a small group of other travellers, and taken to the Anurak Community Lodge in Khao Sok National Park, a stunning location hidden amongst the limestone cliffs. The lodge is run entirely by people from the local community, who receive training and support in hospitality. This gives them the chance to build a sustainable future and a steady income.
This afternoon, you will head to the river where your canoe and guide will be waiting for you. As you paddle through the twists and turns of the calm river, you can enjoy the view of the idyllic limestone cliffs towering above. Your local guide can tell you all about the flora and fauna in this dense undergrowth before you head back to the lodge for a tasty dinner, which is included. Afterwards, sit back and soak up the serenity of the lush jungle, listening to the monkeys playing in the trees above.
Day 11 – Khao Sok’s lakes & jungle
After breakfast, you will board a longtail boat at Racha Praba Dam for a day trip. Steep rock formations rise high from the mirror-smooth lake. Take a refreshing dip in the clear water to cool off and enjoy a local Thai lunch. After your meal, you will take a walk through the jungle with your guide, surrounded by the sounds of various animals in the background. At the end of the day, you will be returned to your lodge.
Days 12 & 13 – Island time on Koh Samui
After saying goodbye to the friendly staff of the community lodge in the morning, your journey continues to the last stop on this tour of Thailand. You’ll transfer to the pier of Surat Thani and board the ferry to Koh Samui where you will spend the next 2 nights. Time to relax! Koh Samui has lots to offer: there’s a good selection of restaurants and bars to choose from and plenty of day trips if you’re feeling active. If you’re not, just enjoy the sand and the sea, but make sure you treat yourself to a Thai massage on the beach.
Day 14 – Departure from Koh Samui
All good things must come to an end, and today so must your Thailand trip. This morning you’ll take one last stroll along the beach before making your way to the airport. We’ll arrange your domestic flight tickets for your flight back to Bangkok, where you can connect to your international flight home.
Accommodation
