When planning your tour, how do you select the best places to visit in Thailand? It is a undoubtedly a game of roulette unless you are working with a Specialist. Here we have created our top tour recommendation for a first visit to Thailand. Designed to bring you the very best experiences, we are sure it won’t be the last after your client’s explore all we have arranged for you! Zip around Bangkok  in a tuk tuk like a local, sample divine Thai food and soak up the culture at the Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha. Walk with elephants and chat with a monk in Chiang Mai. Finally, relax on a stunning beach and embark on a spectacular sea kayaking adventure. This is really is the perfect first-time experience!

Thailand – a perfect beginning – Tour highlights

Bangkok – Chiang Mai – Phuket

• Zip around Bangkok's streets in a Tuk Tuk on a food tour of the city.

• Receive a monk's blessing at a Buddhist Temple in the north of Thailand.

• Walk with Elephants at an ethical rehabilitation centre.

• Enjoy a sea kayaking adventure around Phuket's many karst islands.
  
  

Suggested itinerary – We will customise this for you

Day 1 – Bangkok Arrival

Arrival at Bangkok airport and your clients are greeted near the exit of the aircraft, taking the stress out of navigating such a large airport. We guide your clients through the airport avoiding lengthy immigration queues and assist with  luggage as we make sure your client’s first impressions are just right!

Meals: None

Hotel: Anantara Riverside Bangkok (Deluxe River View Room)

Day 2 – Bangkok –  Bangkok hidden waters and  lesser-known secrets

Today, we begin with an off the beaten track experience which even seasoned travellers won’t have experienced. Explore the Chao Praya river as the locals have for generations, taking a small private boat through the small canals, locally called Klongs. Later on amazing and unexpected moments lie ahead, with several temple visits included with perhaps the most surprising being the ‘Mouth of the Canal temple’. This is a gently-paced day, where we stop for a drink on the canal and take in a local lunch whilst visiting a market.

Finally, we head to a 250 year old community and see a local artist’s house. Afterwards we see hundreds of Orchids, a product Thailand is famous for. Explore the orchid garden where your clients learn the secrets as to how they cultivate such stunning flowers.

This evening your clients are free to explore. Alternatively let your Specialist offer some night time suggestions or dinner reservations!

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Hotel: Anantara Riverside Bangkok (Deluxe River View Room)

Day 3 – Bangkok – Discover Bangkok as a local

After a hearty breakfast, your client’s private guide will show them the more famous and well-visited sites.  These sites are still as impressive as ever and  include the Grand Palace, Emerald Buddha and Wat Pho where your clients may witness the monks chanting in the early morning. Later today we do what Thai’s love, we take lunch as locals.*Please note, appropriate dress is required today*

Because tonight will be a late night, we suggest a day at leisure this afternoon to enjoy the hotel. Early evening we take to the streets of Bangkok after dark in the most iconic of all vehicles, the Tuk-Tuk! We hit the streets and let the feast begin! First, we sample the famous Pad Thai and a number of other delightful Thai dishes. Later we wander through the largest flower market outside of Holland, and lastly we return to Wat Po. Experiencing this temple without others around gives us a real sense of how it must have been when originally built.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Hotel: Anantara Riverside Bangkok (Deluxe River View Room)

Tuk Tuk, Bangkok

Day 4 – Bangkok – Fly to Chiang Mai

After breakfast we take a short flight to Chiang Mai. Your clients will notice a distinct a change in culture and scenery as we head to the jungles of the north.  This afternoon, we have a rest and enjoy the hotel or alternatively wander around this charming city.

If your clients wish to have more included today, just let your Specialist know. We can tailor today’s itinerary to satisfy your clients interests.

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: Rachamankha (Courtyard Superior Room)

Day 5 – Chiang Mai – Hidden Charm of the North.

Today is another day off the beaten track and also quite a spiritual day. Firstly we visit the striking and vast Wat Umong. Wander around the temple and soon understand why it is used for meditation with birds chirping and bells ringing the only sound. Later, receive a Buddhist monk’s blessing and spend time chatting together to learn more about this intriguing religion or the monk’s own journey.

We take your clients to a local and truly authentic noodle restaurant, the choice may be limited but the taste is far from it!

After lunch, wander around the artist’s village of Baan Kang Wat which has a wonderful bohemian feel.  Explore the individual craft stores selling their wares and have a coffee at a local coffee shop. Savour the ambiance and creative energy all around.

Finally, on the way back to the hotel, in order to give your clients an insight into local life, we visit a local market where the clients may perhaps pick up some snacks.

The afternoon is at leisure.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Hotel: Rachamankha (Courtyard Superior Room)

Day 6 – Chiang Mai Walk with elephants an ethical enjoyment.  (Shared tour)

This morning we take your clients into the jungles north of Chiang Mai. This is one of the very best places to visit in Thailand for learning about, walking with and generally caring about these amazing elephants.  Observe the elephants and let them dictate the day because whatever they decide is how the day shall evolve. Your client’s support will help future generations learn more about these magnificent creatures and hopefully one day we will see more elephants back in the wild.

Meals: Breakfast and lunch

Hotel: Rachamankha (Courtyard Superior Room)

Elephant washing, North Thailand

Day 7 – Chiang Mai – Fly to Phuket

After an action-packed couple of days, it is time to slow things down a little. Your clients say goodbye to the north of Thailand as they take a direct flight south to the sun-kissed beaches of Phuket. After your clients are transferred to their resort the day is at leisure to acclimatize and unwind. Clients shall soon feel the sea breeze and be completely relaxed. For those looking for one of the best places to visit in Thailand for a beautiful and quiet white sand beach, The Surin is the place!

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: The Surin (One Bedroom Cottage)

Day 8 – Phuket – Food glorious food.

Because we are going on a culinary adventure this morning, skip the hotel breakfast as we will need the appetite today!  Phuket Town has been recognised as one of the World’s leading cities for gastronomy and so we show your clients it’s secrets and serve up its delights. They are aplenty! We take your clients to the finest eateries on a journey from breakfast through to lunch. During the walking tour your clients will no doubt admire the town’s stunning Sino-Portuguese architecture.  We try many varieties of food from Roti, curries, dim sum and more. This is Asia Travel Specialists favourite foodie tour.  On the way back to the hotel in the mid-afternoon we stop for one final surprise treat and enjoy it with a stunning backdrop.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

Hotel: The Surin (One Bedroom Cottage)

Day 9 – Phuket – Amazing sea discovery

After a leisurely morning, we set sail around noon and head into the waters off the coast of Phuket. Discover the stunning limestone Karst islands which rise out of the azure water. From a distance, they appear to be just rocks but as we get closer and investigate, we see there is much more here than meets the eye! Your client’s kayaking guide will paddle them through the waters and explore the hidden caves. Enjoy a light lunch and then a buffet dinner as we sail back during the stunning sunset.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Hotel: The Surin (One Bedroom Cottage)

Thailand Karst scenery

Day 11 – Phuket

A day to lay back and enjoy the beach or pool.

Meals: Breakfast

Hotel: The Surin (One Bedroom Cottage)

Day 12 – Phuket – Departure

The final few hours for your clients to reflect on their perfect beginning in Thailand. Transfer to the airport to take the departure flight home.

Meals: Breakfast