A two-week journey from south to north, this perfect first-timer tour of Thailand encompasses all the top sights as well as venturing into less-explored areas to explore pristine nature and local culture with a stay at a beautiful eco-lodge..
Our Thailand Highlights tour will see you exploring the most iconic sites, delving into deep-rooted culture and dining on delicious cuisine and thoroughly researched to bring you a range of once-in-a-lifetime experiences, many of which are entirely exclusive to us.
Discover the former splendour of this ancient capital
Cruise the mighty Mekong River where Thailand, Laos and Burma meet
Explore the striking Buddhist White Temple in Thailand's northernmost city
Come face to face with the local hill tribes
Spend the day with Asian elephants at Chiang Mai's Thai Elephant Care Centre, a home for elderly pachyderms, where you’ll meet, feed and bathe the gorgeous residents.
Venture deep into the northern highlands and spend the night at one with nature at the Lisu eco-lodge, where you'll enjoy a local dinner and a Lisu folklore experience.
Visit Maeklong Railway market, famous for being along a railway line – witness the fascinating bustle of activity by the stallholders to move their wares out of the way as a train comes through!
Fly to the vibrant city of Bangkok. Depending on your time of arrival the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.
Bangkok is a whirlwind of exotic energy, a sensory extravaganza like few other cities. Neoclassical houses rub shoulders with high-rise skyscrapers and majestic golden temples, while river taxis and ferries throng its busy canals. Today's sightseeing includes Wat Pho, the dazzling Grand Palace and a stroll through Chinatown. Later, take to the Chao Phraya River on a longboat to get an alternative view of the city.
Enjoy the sights and sounds of the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and the bizarre Railway Track Market before heading out of Bangkok to Kanchanaburi. It was here that many Allied POWs and indentured Asian labourers were forced to build the Thai-Burma Railway during the WWII Japanese occupation of Thailand. Stop at the famous bridge on the River Kwai and visit the Thai-Burmese Railway Museum to learn their stories, then pay your respects at the War Cemetery before checking into your hotel. Spend the night in Kanchanaburi.
Drive to Hellfire Pass and visit the fascinating museum before a short walk through the pass. Step on board an old locomotive to travel along a section of the Death Railway, passing through the Kwai Gorge. Return to Bangkok in the afternoon.
A scared city and former royal capital, Ayutthaya today is a crumbled kingdom that has retained its bygone splendour. Explore this impressive archaeological site, touring the principal sights including Bang Pa-In, the former royal summer residence. Return to Bangkok and fly to Chiang Rai, a city in Thailand's northern highlands.
Transfer to the area known as the Golden Triangle – the point where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet and notorious for the cultivation of opium that used to take place here. Take a boat ride on the Mekong over the border into Laos and visit Don Sao Island where you can take a leisurely stroll through the local market. Return to Chiang Rai. Explore the night market this evening.
Travel to Mae Salong Mountain, an area well known for its tea plantations – you can sample some of the local brew whilst you are here. Enjoy a Yunnanese lunch before visiting Doi Tung Palace and Mae Fah Luang Garden.
Explore the striking Buddhist White Temple before departing Chiang Rai. Heading in the direction of Chiang Mai, you’ll travel along a beautiful mountain road with breathtaking views. Entering Chiang Mai province, spend tonight at Lisu Lodge (or similar), an eco-lodge operated by Lisu hill tribe villagers. Rooms are built in the traditional Lisu style and overlook lush fields and hills. Dinner is followed by a Lisu folklore performance.
Depart Hmong Lodge to Mae Daeng where you will enjoy a leisurely bamboo rafting trip on the Mae Daang River. Later, visit the ancient city of Wiang Kum Kam and take a walking tour of charming Chiang Mai, visiting Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh.
Spend the day at an ethical elephant sanctuary and retirement centre, where you can meet, feed and care for these rescued and elderly residents.
Discover the secrets of traditional Thai cooking with a morning cookery class. Ascend to Wat Doi Suthep, a temple perched on top of Doi Suthep Mountain. This evening, sit down to a Thai Kantoke dinner, and be entertained by a selection of cultural performances.
This morning is at your leisure before you are transferred to Chiang Mai airport to board your flight to New Zealand, arriving home the same or following day.
All of our tour departures include international flights and taxes in the price unless a land only option is selected
We have a selection of dedicated departures for solo travellers. These departures feature a maximum group size of 18 and exclusive benefits including a single room throughout your tour, complimentary return airport transfers (within 50km radius of major Australian airports) and a cocktail on arrival at your destination. Travellers from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne also receive a complimentary Australian airport lounge pass for use prior to departure.
Extend your holiday or break up your journey with one of our extensions and stopovers. Choose from city breaks or some beach time, or spend more time in your chosen destination.
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All of our tours offer a single room supplement, which means you’ll have a room to yourself throughout your chosen tour. Continue the check-out process for the applicable supplement.
On most tours, you can choose our 'Happy to Share' option, which may enable you to share a twin room with other solo customers of the same gender who also request Happy to Share. If a share partner is found, the Single Supplement will be removed from your booking. If a share partner is not found, the Single Supplement will remain and is payable with your final balance.
If you are booking on a Dedicated Solo departure, a single room is already included in the price and there are no additional single supplements to pay.
With our flight inclusive option, we'll do the planning for you and meet you on arrival.
We include airport pickup upon arrival at your destination and drop off at the end of your tour (on the scheduled tour arrival and departure days) and when booking pre or post tour accommodation with us.
We partner with established and reputable airlines for your international flights.
We can assist with upgrading your seat to premium or business class for an additional cost.
Our team will work with you to choose your ideal routing and if we make changes to your tour itinerary that impact flights, we’ll rebook them for you.
Our On-Tour Support Team is available to provide advice about how to handle flight changes.
