- Tour code
THASGPADV01
- Start
Bangkok
- End
Phuket
- Min. age
16 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Explorer
- Trip pace
Active
- Language
English
This is Thailand's classic route from top to bottom, taken at a comfortable pace over twelve days. It starts in Bangkok with the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, a night on the Chao Phraya River and the famous market where vendors pull their stalls back for passing trains.
Up north, the mood changes completely. You'll head to the Golden Triangle where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet, stop at the dazzling White and Blue temples, soak your feet in roadside hot springs, and sit down to a Khan Toke feast served on low tables in a Lanna wooden house. Chiang Mai adds an elephant sanctuary, the hilltop temple of Doi Suthep and the craft villages of Sankampaeng.
The last leg is all coast: Phuket's viewpoints, temples and beaches, plus a canoe trip through the caves and mangroves of Phang Nga Bay. Your Soca Islands Host keeps everything running, so you can enjoy the sights and your small group of 6 to 16 travelers without juggling the details.
Why This Journey
Most first trips to Thailand pick either the cities or the beaches. This one gives you four distinct regions in a single, well-paced loop: Bangkok's royal temples and markets, Chiang Rai's border country and hill-tribe villages, Chiang Mai's Lanna culture, and Phuket's limestone seascapes.
Flights between regions keep long road days to a minimum, and the guided touring leaves free afternoons and evenings for markets, massages and food on your own terms. It suits travelers who want to see a lot of Thailand properly the first time, with a host and a group to share it with.
Where You'll Stay
Bangkok (3 nights): Riva Surya Bangkok, on the river in the old town near Phra Athit Road. Chiang Rai (2 nights): The Riverie by Katathani, on the Kok River. Chiang Mai (3 nights): Cross Chiang Mai Riverside, on the Ping River. Phuket (3 nights): The Pavilions Phuket, in the hills above the north-west coast. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Prices are based on two people sharing a double room with two beds.
Getting There
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Fly into Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and out of Phuket International Airport (HKT); arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
What you will see and do
Explore Bangkok's grand temples and lively markets
Discover the forested hills and Lanna traditions of northern Thailand
Kick back on Phuket's white-sand beaches
What's included
All activities mentioned on the itinerary
Accommodations in double rooms
Experienced Soca Islands Host with you throughout the trip
One farewell group activity when possible
Max 16 travellers per group
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Group transportation
What's excluded
- International flights (travelers arrange their own)
- Travel insurance (required; proof of cover must be provided)
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Personal expenses
- Single room supplement (single rooms on request, subject to availability)
- Extra hotel nights before or after the trip
Group itinerary
Welcome to Bangkok, where shopping malls sit next to street markets and gleaming towers overlook ancient temples. Your arrival transfer brings you to the hotel, where you meet your Soca Islands Host and the group.
This evening, step out of the hotel and onto a river taxi, then finish the night with a drink high above the city at one of its most striking sky bars.
Today's touring covers the big names: the Grand Palace complex and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Pho with its giant reclining Buddha, and Wat Traimit, home of the Golden Buddha. Cover shoulders and knees for the temples.
You're free in the afternoon to browse the markets or shop. At night, a boat ride along the Chao Phraya River leads to a traditional Thai dinner and cultural show.
Leave the city for a half-day trip to the Maeklong Railway Market, where traders fold away their awnings each time a train rolls through, and to the floating markets, where fruit, vegetables and local goods are sold straight from wooden boats.
Afterward you'll see more of Bangkok's temples, then the rest of the afternoon is yours. It's a good evening to try street food around the old town.
A flight north brings you to Chiang Rai, where lunch is waiting when you arrive.
Check in by the Kok River and take the rest of the day slowly. The north runs at a gentler pace than the capital, and the Night Bazaar is close by if you fancy an evening wander.
Today you explore the Golden Triangle, the region where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet along the Mekong. You'll meet Akha and Yao hill-tribe communities, walk among the old ruins of Chiang Saen and browse the busy market at Mae Sai on the border.
A traditional lunch is included along the way, before you return to Chiang Rai for the night.
Travel by road to Chiang Mai with some memorable stops. First is Wat Rong Khun, the all-white temple covered in mirrored glass, then Wat Rong Suea Ten, glowing in deep blue.
Take a break at the Mae Kachan hot springs, where you can soak your feet, before carrying on to Chiang Mai. Lunch is included on the way.
You'll spend much of today at an elephant sanctuary and rescue center, then visit a farm full of orchids and butterflies.
In the evening, sit down cross-legged for a Khan Toke dinner. It's a northern tradition: dishes are shared family-style on low tables in a Lanna-style teak house.
Head up the mountain to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai's hilltop temple, with views over the city on a clear day, and visit a Hmong hill-tribe village.
On the way back you stop in Sankampaeng, known for its umbrellas, silk and other handicrafts. The evening is free.
Enjoy an unhurried morning in Chiang Mai, then fly to Phuket and transfer to your hotel.
Rest up by the pool or watch the sunset over the Andaman Sea, because the island days start tomorrow.
A full day of touring shows you the island from end to end. You'll visit Wat Chalong (Wat Chaithararam), look out from Promthep Cape, stand beneath the Big Buddha and walk the old Sino-Portuguese streets of Phuket Town.
Stops also include Freedom Beach, Karon Beach, the Central Phuket Floresta shopping center and Wat Ko Sire.
An early start gets you to James Bond Island (Koh Tapu) before the day-trippers. From there, you'll canoe into the mangroves and through Lod Nai Cave, surrounded by limestone towers and clear green water all day.
Squeeze in one more half-day tour, with stops at the Phuket Aquarium and Wat Charoen Samanakij temple.
Then it's time to say goodbye, and your departure transfer takes you to Phuket International Airport (HKT) for your journey home.
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
The Pavilions Phuket
A hillside retreat above Layan and Bang Tao on Phuket's quieter north-west coast, with suites and pool villas set among tropical gardens and views out to the Andaman Sea.
It is a calm base for touring days: a shuttle runs down to the beach and nearby shops, and the resort has a restaurant and a spa to come back to. Tropical View Suites are 81 m² (872 ft²), with a separate lounge.
Hotel website
The Riverie by Katathani
A large riverside resort on the banks of the Kok River in Chiang Rai, a short drive from the city centre, the Night Bazaar and the clock tower.
Gardens, several pools, a spa and a choice of restaurants make it an easy, comfortable base for day trips to the Golden Triangle and the White Temple. Rooms are 36 m² (388 ft²), with a king-size bed or two single beds.
Hotel website
Cross Chiang Mai Riverside
A small, design-led resort of 29 suites on the east bank of the Ping River in Chiang Mai's Wat Ket neighbourhood, a short ride across the river from the Night Bazaar and the Old City.
Every suite has a balcony, some with river or Doi Suthep views, and there is an outdoor pool, a rooftop bar, a spa and an open-air restaurant.
Hotel website
Riva Surya Bangkok
A 68-room riverside hotel on Phra Athit Road in the old quarter of Bangkok, with the Chao Phraya River on one side and the cafés and bars of Banglamphu on the other. The Grand Palace, Wat Pho and the express-boat piers are close by, and Wat Arun sits a short boat ride downriver.
A riverside pool, a café and a riverside bar give the group an easy place to regroup after a long flight.
Rooms are 32 m² (344 ft²), with a king bed or twin beds.
Hotel websiteRooms
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- Extra cost
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
Fly into Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and fly out of Phuket International Airport (HKT).
Proposed accommodation is Riva Surya Bangkok (3 nights), The Riverie by Katathani in Chiang Rai (2 nights), Cross Chiang Mai Riverside (3 nights) and The Pavilions Phuket (3 nights), or similar, subject to confirmation.
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travelers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
Yes. Arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
The trip includes 11 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 2 dinners, as shown in the itinerary. Other meals are at your own cost.
Extra nights can be requested, subject to hotel availability; contact our Customer Experience team for a quote.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day, so feel free to book your departure at your own convenience.
We recommend arriving before 3 pm on Day 1 to make it in time for the welcome event. But don’t worry no matter when you land, we’ll have an airport transfer ready for you.
Please Refer to your government’s travel advice or consult your local consulate. Remember, passport and visa requirements can change, so make sure to stay updated.
Excluding alcohol, we suggest budgeting around USD $40.00 per day for extras.
While we’re not medical professionals, we want to help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure. Here are some tips:
- Consult with a healthcare professional: Schedule an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure to get any necessary vaccines or medications.
- Up-to-date medical advice:
- US residents: Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- UK residents: Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website.
- Australian residents: Refer to the Smart Traveler Health website.
3. Government travel advice:
- US residents: Consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
- UK residents: Check the FCDO Travel Advice.
- Australian residents: Visit the Smart Traveler website.
4. Medication tips: If you take prescription medication, bring enough to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Carry a copy of your prescription in case you need to visit a clinic abroad.
We hope this helps you prepare for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Please keep in mind that our itinerary, activities, and hotels might change. These adjustments could happen with little notice due to factors like availability, weather conditions, seasonal shifts, or other circumstances beyond our control. Rest assured, we always aim to minimise any impact on your experience. Occasionally, we may tweak the itinerary to try out fresh ideas and keep the adventure exciting.
We believe solo travelers shouldn’t have to pay extra to explore the world. That’s why our group trips are designed around shared accommodation and do not include a single supplement. Solo travelers joining our group trips are paired in twin or multi-share rooms with another traveler of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Some of our Independent trips are structured differently. For these itineraries, solo travelers will need to book at the single occupancy rate.
Tips are not included in the cost of this tour. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and based on what you feel comfortable with.
Would you like to learn more or customise our Enchanting Thailand Adventure trip?
Have questions about accommodations, accessibility, group preferences, or dietary needs? Complete the form below and our team will get back to you shortly.
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