Premium Northern Thailand
Premium Northern Thailand
Premium Northern Thailand
12 Days Starting in Bangkok and ending in Chiang Mai
Visiting: Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Ayutthaya, Ayutthaya to Sukhothai, Sukhothai, Mae Taeng, Chiang Mai
Tour operator:
Tour code:
TTPT
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
1-12
Trip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Discover a land of mouth-watering cuisine, natural landscapes and hospitable locals on a 12-day Premium journey through Northern Thailand. Get to know Thai culture as you travel from city streets to mountain tops. Explore the ancient temples of Ayutthaya, spend time with Lisu hill tribes at an incredible Feature Stay, bring an offering to local monks for an insightful Exclusive Experience, meet the experts at an elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai and uncover the country’s past in Kanchanaburi. With an experienced local leader by your side, you’ll soon see there’s more to Thailand than meets the eye.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Bangkok
Location: Bangkok
Accommodation: Ramada Plaza Bangkok Menam Riverside Hotel Bangkok or similar
Meals Included: dinner
Sa-wat dee! Welcome to Thailand. Your journey begins in Bangkok, where you’ll be met at the airport by a local representative and transferred to your hotel. After settling in, you’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, take some time to explore Bangkok at your own pace. By day, this city is steeped with history and tradition and by night, a flood of music and neon lights take over. Watch tuk tuks zip by while khlong boats slowly wind down the Chao Phraya River. After your meeting, join your small group for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant where your leader will introduce you to a local food scene bursting with flavour.
Included Activities:
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Day 2: Bangkok
Location: Bangkok
Accommodation: Ramada Plaza Bangkok Menam Riverside Hotel Bangkok or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast
Rise early for an optional Exclusive Experience away from Bangkok’s well-trodden tourist track. Join the locals for to a visit to a temple along the Chao Phraya River, where you’ll ‘make merit’ by bringing an offering to the temple’s monks – a truly unforgettable moment. After, your leader will take you for a day of sightseeing and activities. Wander Wat Po – a larger-than-life temple complex in the city that’s home of the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. Visit the Grand Palace and learn about the site which has been the official residence of the kings since the 1700s. Then, take a boat tour of the city's canals. The afternoon is free to rest or continue exploring – maybe check out the art collection at the Jim Thompson house or relax with a Thai massage.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 3: Kanchanaburi
Location: Kanchanaburi
Accommodation: U Inchantree or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast
Unleash your creativity and learn about the history of Benjarong today – a traditional style of painted Thai porcelain – with a visit to the ceramics community. The name literally means ‘five colours’ (although it’s not unusual to see up to eight) and artists use enamel to create intricate floral and geometric designs. This morning, you’ll get to paint your own mug or teacup which will be fired and sent to you to take home as a unique and very special souvenir. There will be time to buy lunch if you wish, before you continue to Kanchanaburi to visit to the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. This prisoner of war cemetery was one of the first museums to attempt to educate the public and keep the memory of the Asian and POW workers who died constructing the infamous Death Railway alive.
Included Activities:
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Day 4: Kanchanaburi
Location: Kanchanaburi
Accommodation: U Inchantree or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast
Start your day with a visit to Erawan National Park and see the park’s famous seven-level waterfall. The falls are regarded as some of the most beautiful in the country, with glacial blue waters rushing through the forest into bamboo-shaded pools, perfect for a refreshing dip. Many Allied prisoners of war and conscripted Asian labourers were engaged here to help build a rail route to Myanmar (Burma), including the passage infamously known as Hellfire Pass. Visit the memorial museum of the pass where your leader will give you more information about this chapter in history. Take a train across a portion of this 'death railway' along the Kwai Noi River and travel over the original wooden viaduct, known as the Krasae Bridge, constructed by the allied POWs. Pass through peaceful and naturally beautiful scenery as you learn of those who lost their lives building this rail route. The evening is yours to explore the town.
Included Activities:
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Day 5: Ayutthaya
Location: Ayutthaya
Accommodation: Kantary Hotel Ayutthaya or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
This morning, head to Ayutthaya – one of the ancient capitals of Siam and a UNESCO World Heritage site. On the way, visit Baan Nong Khao CBT Village – an agricultural village famous for its Pha Khao Mah hand-weaving. Visit the community’s museum, a palm sugar field and a local house to see how desserts featuring this famous Thai ingredient are made (of course, you’ll also get to sample these sweet treats)! Watch the weavers at work as they use more than 100 colours of yarn to create traditional Thai clothing, then carry on to Ayutthaya. When you arrive, explore the 13th-century ruins of Wat Phra Mahathat and the rows of Buddhas beheaded by the Burmese. Look out for the displaced Buddha head suspended in the roots of a Banyan tree – one of the country’s most photographed images. Tonight, the past will come to life as you board a traditional rice barge and tuck into a delicious Thai dinner.
Included Activities:
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Day 6: Ayutthaya To Sukhothai
Location: Ayutthaya to Sukhothai
Accommodation: Legendha Sukhothai Resort or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
Today, you’ll leave Ayutthaya and travel to the town of Phitsanulok by train. Sit back, relax and watch the scenery roll by. When you arrive, change to a private vehicle and continue the comfortable journey to Sukhothai, arriving at approximately 5 pm. The rest of the day is free for your own discoveries. You may like to relax by the pool or unwind with a Thai massage. For dinner this evening, maybe ask your leader where you can get a bowl of Sukhothai’s famously tasty noodles.
Included Activities:
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Day 7: Sukhothai
Location: Sukhothai
Accommodation: Legendha Sukhothai Resort or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
Sukhothai, established in the 13th century, was one of the first ancient capitals of Siam. Start your day with an optional alms offering before visiting the UNESCO World Heritage-listed historical park, which captures the Golden Age of Thai civilisation. The park spans the ruins of the town and you’ll rent a bicycle and to tour the grounds in the best way. As you ride, your leader will teach you about the history of this former metropolis and its fascinating structures. Have a picnic lunch in the grounds of Sukhothai Park, then the rest of the afternoon is free to explore the town at your own pace. Tonight, regroup and head to the home of a local, where you’ll sit down to a homecooked dinner.
Included Activities:
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Day 8: Mae Taeng
Location: Mae Taeng
Accommodation: Lisu Lodge or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
Travel from Sukhothai to the Mae Taeng region- sitting between rice fields and fruit orchards, you’ll find Lisu Lodge, your Feature Stay accommodation. The lodge is a community-based project that trains and employs Lisu villagers from the nearby hill tribe and aims to preserve their cultural heritage. The Lisu people are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group and one of the six main hill tribes of Northern Thailand. Meet the villagers and learn more about the Lisu way of life. The lodge offers guestrooms decorated in the traditional Lisu style with modern comforts. Featuring unforgettable views of the surrounding hillside and valley, this is a great opportunity to soak in the beauty of Thailand and rub shoulders with the locals. Tonight, you’ll sit down to a delicious dinner of Thai favourites mixed with traditional Lisu dishes.
Day 9: Mae Taeng
Location: Mae Taeng
Accommodation: Lisu Lodge or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
After breakfast at Lisu Lodge, it’s just a quick trip to Muang Kued Village where you’ll meet with a local villager and enjoy a private guided tour. Learn about village life, the reforestation of the surrounding area and how produce is grown in the village orchards. Explore the organic farm and choose the ingredients for a cooking class where you’ll learn how to cook traditional Thai food. After lunch, join the villagers for a chance to learn how to weave palm leaves to create ornaments and accessories. Tonight, you’ll have a barbeque dinner at the nearby Mae Tamaan Base Camp.
Included Activities:
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Day 10: Chiang Mai
Location: Chiang Mai
Accommodation: Smile Lanna Resort or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
Travel to the Elephant Nature Park – a unique project that provides sanctuary for elephants and other animals. Be greeted by an expert local guide and learn the stories of the rescued elephants and the issues they face in South-East Asia. Feed the elephants from a viewing platform, walk with the expert staff to watch elephants bathe and play, and enjoy a vegetarian buffet lunch. When you arrive back in Chiang Mai in the late afternoon, the evening is yours to enjoy your way. You may want to visit the vibrant Night Bazaar or take a stroll around the old town which is bounded by moats. Your guide can give you recommendations on where to go for dinner.
Included Activities:
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Day 11: Chiang Mai
Location: Chiang Mai
Accommodation: Smile Lanna Resort or similar
Meals Included: breaksfast, dinner
Start your day with a caffeine hit at a sustainable social enterprise with a focus on all things coffee. From here, you’ll drive to the famous temple complex of Doi Suthep. Take in stunning views along the scenic and winding mountain road which brings you to an impressive 300-step Naga-guarded stairway. The rewards justify the ascent to the top, with one of the most beautiful temples in Thailand and panoramic views of the city. Return to Chiang Mai where you’ll have time to relax before an exclusive farewell dinner cooked by a local chef. Dine on traditional northern Thai food like kao soy (yellow wheat noodles in a curry broth, traditionally served with chicken or beef), as you reminisce about the wonderful adventures you’ve had in Northern Thailand.
Included Activities:
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Day 12: Chiang Mai
Location: Chiang Mai
Meals Included: breaksfast
With no activities planned for today, your adventure comes to an end after breakfast. If you would like to extend your stay in Chiang Mai, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.
What's Included
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Bangkok - Welcome Dinner
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Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
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Bangkok - Grand Palace
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Bangkok - Khlong boat canal tour
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Bangkok - BTS one day pass
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Bangkok - Wat Pho
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Bangkok - Wat Pho Temple Sunrise Merit Making
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Ayutthaya - Rice Barge Lunch
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Ayutthaya - Private Rice Barge Tour
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Kanchanaburi - Historical train ride
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
Transport
- Train , Private mini van , Longtail boat , Songtheaw , Bicycle
Accommodation
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
- Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
Important Information
- 1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
- 2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room?on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip?and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. Please note that some room configurations have two single beds, although a double bed will always be requested.
- 3. Due to limited luggage space in our vehicles, please ensure that you are packing light and compact. Large, bulky suitcases are unsuitable for this trip. Please refer to the Packing section of the Essential Trip Information for details.
- 4. On the TTPT231111 and TTPT231114 departures, the Feature Stay will be Sibsan Resort and Spa, rather than Lisu Lodge, in Mae Taeng.
Check out our Q&As
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
No
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Yes, Complimentary arrival airport transfer
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Are international flights included in this tour?
No
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Yes if aged 15+ and accompanied by an adult
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No
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Is this trip right for you
You will visit a number of temples which require a level of modesty. All travellers will need to bring clothes that cover the arms and pants or skirts that go past the knees. The heat can be challenging, especially in April and May, so please pack accordingly.
This trip includes a cycling tour around Sukhothai Heritage Park, so a level of confidence on a bicycle will be required. The roads are quiet with minimal traffic and within the confines of the park it will be easy going so it is certainly a leisurely ride. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions