This 13-day Thailand beach escape begins in Bangkok, where guests explore vibrant markets and temples, enjoy street food in Chinatown, and may opt for a Thai cooking class. After a few days of cultural immersion, the journey continues to Khao Lak for beach relaxation, optional jungle adventures, and a visit to a turtle conservation centre. The final stretch unfolds in Phuket, offering ethical elephant encounters, island-hopping to Phi Phi and Khai Islands, and plenty of leisure time. The trip blends culture, nature, and coastal beauty, ending with a transfer to Phuket airport for departure.
Itinerary
Arrival Flight: TBA
Welcome to Bangkok – the quintessential eastern metropolis and Southeast Asia’s most vibrant capital city.
Meeting point: GATE 6, Arrival hall 2nd floor
Upon arrival to the airport, you will be warmly welcomed at the airport by your private English speaking tour guide who will take care of the transfer to your hotel.
Known in Thai as the city of angels, Bangkok is a city of mind-boggling history and spirituality, where you can expect ancient Thai temples that rise magnificently from the riverbanks, colorful palaces that glisten spectacularly in the sunlight, and a snaking river that audaciously wind its way through the heart of the city. Fabulous shopping awaits you, whether you’re after high quality artisanal handicrafts or excellent bargains in Asia’s most stylish shopping centers. If you’re a food lover, you will delight at the exceptionally delicious meals that can be enjoyed at every corner of the city. You will be warmly welcomed at the airport by our guide who will take care of the transfer to your hotel. Prepare to be left mesmerized by this urban wonderland.
Check in at your hotel and free time at leisure.
Meals included: None
Accommodation: Overnight in Bangkok
Note: Check-in at the hotel from 14:00
Train Market and Floating Market in Bangkok (07:30 – 14:00)
In the morning set off to Talaad Rom Hoob, better known as the train market. This market is located along the railway tracks and if you are lucky you will get to see the train pass within inches of the goods and produce on sale.The train announces its arrival with great blows of the horn, leaving just seconds for the merchants to repack the goods then reinstall them just as quickly once the train has passed.
Continue to Damnoen Saduak where local people sell their wares from boat to boat or boat to shore. You will be startled by the variety of goods and products that can be purchased and you may even put in some practice of your bargaining skills.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch at local restaurant
Accommodation: Overnight in Bangkok
Optional: Chinatown tuk-tuk food tour and night stroll (18:00 – 22:00)
Tonight, you will experience the real Bangkok lifestyle. You will hop on a tuk-tuk and start a twilight tasting adventure into bustling Chinatown. Your driver will let you go for a walk on Yaowarat Road and see its countless and colorful Chinese neon signs. Along lively street food stalls or old shops and hidden family stalls, you will have the opportunity to make new culinary discoveries. Between the smells of spices and dishes simmered in sometimes improvised furnaces, images of burning and flaming stoves, you will be absorbed by the spectacle of these street food, with expert hands shaped by tradition and family know-how. This is a great opportunity to discover simple but unique dishes that are popular with locals. Queue up with hungry foodies and discover some recipes that each have their little stories and anecdotes, and maybe learn how to pronounce their name in Thai.
Continue your evening on your tuk-tuk towards Pak Klong Talad, the swarming flower market. Here, when the heat of the day has subsided, the florists, porters, merchants, sellers of beatles or other offerings, work to deliver their goods on time for the next day. You will quietly leave this unique and colorful atmosphere for the silence and serenity of a temple and its illuminated stupas at night. A final destination during which you will find some tranquility after the hustle and bustle, before returning to your hotel.
Meals included: Dinner (Street food tasting sample dishes)
Free day at leisure.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight in Bangkok
Optional: Cooking class at Blue Elephant Cooking Class (08:00 – 13:00) (Join-in activity with private round trip transfer) – without guide
Meet your driver at the hotel lobby, travel to the starting station.
Today you will learn the secrets of delicious Thai cuisine.
An experienced chef will take you to the local market to get some of the ingredients you will later use in the dishes you will cook. It is a fun local experience, to start your culinary journey.
At the cooking studio, you will learn how to make some of Thailand’s most tasty dishes from scratch. Under the supervision of a professional, you are sure to create mouthwatering dishes that you can, of course, enjoy afterward.
Meals included: lunch at Cooking class
After checking out you will meet your driver and travel to Bangkok airport for your flight to Phuket. (without guide)
Hotel Pickup time: 09:30
Suggested flight: PG 273 BKK – HKT 12:35 – 14:05
Upon arrival at Phuket airport, you will be welcomed by an airport assistance who will assist you to meet your driver and then travel by car to your hotel in Khao Lak. Check in at your hotel and free time at leisure.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight in Khao Lak
Note: Check-in at the hotel from 14:00
Free day at leisure
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight in Khao Lak
Optional activity: Khao Lak Expedition (08:00 – 15:00)
(Join-in activity with shared round trip transfer)
In the morning, transfer from your hotel and begin the journey with a visit to the Tsunami Memorial Boat 813, a Thai police boat carried inland by the devastating 2004 tsunami. Here, you will learn about the impact of the catastrophe and its significance.
Next, experience one of Thailand’s oldest modes of river transportation—a bamboo raft ride. Keep an eye out for your paddler guide, who may point out wildlife resting on tree branches above, such as snakes, monkeys, spiders, and monitor lizards. The ride will take approximately 45 minutes, depending on water levels.
Following this, explore the Turtle Conservation Center at Thap Lamu Naval Base, where turtles are nurtured and cared for before being released into the wild.
Take some time to relax near a refreshing waterfall and savor a delicious Thai lunch to replenish your energy.
After lunch, retreat to a traditional temple for a brief introduction to Buddhism. Here, you may participate in Chinese prophecy readings and experience a few unique rituals.
The adventure continues with a visit to Khao Lak Beach, featuring a short off-road drive (5 minutes), followed by a jungle walk (15 minutes) leading to a scenic waterfall.
Finally, we will transfer you back to your hotel, bringing your memorable excursion to a close.
Meals included: Lunch at local restaurant
Free day at leisure
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight in Khao Lak
After checking out you will meet your driver and travel to your hotel in Phuket.
Hotel Pickup time: 12:00
Upon arrival to Phuket, Check in at your hotel and free time at leisure.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight in Phuket
Distance and duration: Khao Lak – Phuket : 110 kilometers, around 2 hours driving
Observe gentle giants at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary (08:30 – 13:00)
(Join-in activity with shared round trip transfer)
You will be picked up at your hotel and drive to Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, the island’s first real ethical elephant sanctuary. Upon your arrival you will receive an orientation briefing that will provide you with all the necessary background information to make the most out of your visit. Then, it will be time to marvel at the sanctuary’s inhabitants from a safe distance as the focus of Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is on observation with as little interaction as possible. However, you will have the exciting opportunity to see the gentle giants up close during their feeding time when you provide them with nutritious snacks. You can let the amazing memories sink in as you enjoy a healthy meal before returning back to your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch (Simple & basis at Elephant camp)
Accommodation: Overnight in Phuket
Free day at leisure.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight in Phuket
A day on Phi Phi Island by speedboat (join-in) (07:30 – 17:00)
(Join-in activity with shared round trip transfer)
After being picked up at your hotel, you will drive to Royal Marina where you will be welcomed by the crew that will take care of you throughout the day.
Board a speedboat on the emerald waters of the Andaman Sea.
You will arrive at the island Koh Phi Phi Ley, where you will have time to enjoy the magical landscape of Maya Bay famous for The Beach which was partially filmed there! The first stop is Sama Bay, one of the most famous sites of this small island, where you will explore Phi Phi Ley Cove, the stunning, emerald-green lagoon. You will have the time to swim and snorkel with the multi-coloured fish and be amazed by the magical coral reef! Your boat will then head towards Viking Cave, a natural cavity located at the bottom of a tall limestone cliff. The place owes its name to 400-year-old paintings found there, representing boats, perhaps Chinese junks, that look like Scandinavian drakkars. You will obviously notice the bamboo scaffolding stretching sometimes a hundred meters up to the roof of the cave and built to reach the precious bird nests that some intrepid harvesters take to sell to Chinese restaurants. Later, you will continue to the crystal-clear waters of Monkey Beach. Time for a lunch break! In the lively village of Tonsai Bay, on Koh Phi Phi Don, your buffet lunch will be served at a lovely beachfront restaurant. Your tour will end with a last stop at Khai Island, a peaceful island with a long golden sandy beach – the perfect place to end your day lounging around or swimming before the captain takes you back to Phuket for you to return to your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Buffet Lunch (at a local restaurant)
Accommodation: Overnight in Phuket
Free day at leisure.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight in Phuket
Free day at leisure.
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight in Phuket
Optional activity: Phang Nga bay by speedboat (Join-in)
Your driver will pick you up from your hotel for a drive to the Royal Phuket Marina, from where you will start your cruise to Panak Island and then Hong Island. You will first disembark at Khao Phing Kan, well-known for its gigantic cliff which seems to be cloven in two, before moving to the famous ‘James Bond Island’, which featured in ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’ movie. This spectacular island has a remarkable appearance, similar to spikes driven into the sea.
After lunch, you will discover Khao Khian and then enjoy canoeing at Talu Island. There, you will have time to swim and relax on the white sandy beach before returning by boat to the Royal Phuket Marina, where your driver will await you for the trip back to your hotel.
Meals included: Lunch at local restaurant
Free day at leisure
Meals included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight in Phuket
