- Tour code
THAADV01
- Start
Bangkok
- End
Khao Lak
- Min. age
16 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Classic
- Trip pace
Active
- Language
English
This trip is built around three very different Thailands. Bangkok is loud, hot and delicious, full of gilded temples and cooking smells. Chiang Mai, up in the northern hills, runs at an easier pace and has a food culture all its own. Khao Lak, on the Andaman coast, is where you finally slow down, with warm sea, soft sand and a day out at the Similan Islands.
In between, you'll learn to cook Thai classics like Pad Thai and Penang curry, spend a day with elephants at an ethical sanctuary, and work your way through khao soi, mango sticky rice and, if you're brave, a fried insect or two at a Chiang Mai night market.
Two short domestic flights link the regions, so you spend your time on the ground rather than on the road. It's a small group of 6 to 16 fellow travelers, many joining on their own, and your Soca Islands Host keeps the days flowing so you can simply enjoy them.
Why This Journey
Eight days is enough for a real sense of Thailand if you pick the right three places. Bangkok gives you the temples and the street-level energy, Chiang Mai the northern food and a gentler rhythm, and Khao Lak the beaches and reefs of the Andaman Sea, without trying to squeeze in everything.
The highlights are hands-on: cooking in a home-style kitchen, helping bathe elephants at an ethical sanctuary, and snorkeling over the Similans' coral reefs. With a free beach day before the farewell dinner, it suits first-timers and solo travelers who want company, good food and a proper rest at the end.
Where You'll Stay
Bangkok (2 nights): Riva Surya Bangkok, on the river near the Grand Palace and old town. Chiang Mai (2 nights): Tamarind Village, inside the Old City. Khao Lak (3 nights): La Flora Resort & Spa, on Bang Niang Beach. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Rooms 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 (BKK) or Don Mueang (DMK), and out of Phuket International Airport (HKT) at any time on Day 8; 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
Eat your way through Bangkok's famous street food
Spend time up close with elephants near Chiang Mai
Unwind on the soft, quiet sands of Khao Lak
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)
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Optional activities and personal expenses
- Single room supplement (single rooms on request, subject to availability)
- Extra hotel nights before or after the trip
Group itinerary
Arrive in Bangkok, where your arrival transfer takes you to the hotel to meet your Soca Islands Host and the rest of the group.
In the afternoon you set off on foot through the city's historic streets, pausing along the way for a cold drink. Tonight everyone heads out together for dinner and live music at one of Bangkok's buzziest spots.
Today starts with a visit to some of Bangkok's oldest and most revered temples, built with the riches of the old Thai kings. Step in from the traffic and you'll feel the calm, and get a sense of how central Buddhism is to everyday Thai life. Shoulders and knees should be covered at the temples.
After lunch, roll up your sleeves for a hands-on cooking class. You'll make favorites like Pad Thai and Penang curry, then sit down to eat them in a setting that feels more like a friend's kitchen than a restaurant.
A morning flight takes you to Chiang Mai. Grab a Thai iced coffee, then spend the day getting to know this laid-back city of temples and moats on your own terms.
Dinner is a proper introduction to northern cooking: khao soi, a rich curry noodle soup, and sai ua, a spicy sausage fragrant with turmeric, lemongrass and fresh herbs.
You'll spend today at an ethical elephant sanctuary south of Chiang Mai. Walk alongside the elephants, feed them and help with bath time, while the team explains their conservation work and the traditional herbal medicine used to care for the animals. You'll even roll your own herbal vitamin balls.
In the evening, a night market awaits. Try khao soi again, mango sticky rice, or something bolder, like fried insects.
Fly south and head to Khao Lak, where you check in by the beach.
The evening is all about easing into coast mode: fresh seafood, a cold beer and the sound of the surf.
Today is a full day on the water. Your boat heads out to the Similan Islands, a national park known for near-empty white beaches, clear turquoise water and colorful coral reefs.
Snorkel alongside tropical fish, hop between islands, stretch out on the sand, and stay out long enough to watch the sun set over the sea.
No plans today unless you want them. Swim, lie on the beach or go looking for street food.
Tonight the group shares a farewell dinner, a chance to look back on the week and the friendships made along the way.
Your trip wraps up today, and your departure transfer takes you to Phuket International Airport (HKT). Head for your flight home, or stay on and keep exploring: Thailand's airports connect easily to the rest of Southeast Asia and beyond.
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
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 websiteTamarind Village
A low-rise boutique hotel in Lanna style, set around courtyards and a centuries-old tamarind tree inside Chiang Mai's moated Old City on Ratchadamnoen Road. Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang, cafés and the Sunday Walking Street are all within walking distance.
It has an outdoor pool, a restaurant serving northern Thai dishes and a spa, and its quiet gardens make a calm base after busy days.
La Flora Resort & Spa
A beachfront resort on Bang Niang Beach in Khao Lak, within walking distance of the Bang Niang market and local restaurants. Piers for boats to the Similan Islands are a short drive north.
Rooms and villas sit in gardens behind the sand, with pools, a spa, and restaurants facing the Andaman Sea.
Rooms
You'll stay at Trip Hotel.
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- +$1,157 per person
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
Room prices are per person for the Nov 14, 2027 departure and can differ on other dates. You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
Fly into Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) or Don Mueang International Airport (DMK). Fly out of Phuket International Airport (HKT) any time on day 8.
Proposed accommodation is Riva Surya Bangkok (2 nights), Tamarind Village in Chiang Mai (2 nights) and La Flora Resort & Spa in Khao Lak (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. An arrival transfer in Bangkok and a departure transfer to Phuket International Airport (HKT) on Day 8 are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
The trip includes 7 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 5 group dinners, as described 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 The Thailand Trip 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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- Travel dates:
Nov 14 – 21, 20278 days · Trip Hotel16 spots remaining$3,497$3,147 USDper person, sharing a room · single room +$1,157Early bird: 10% off the first 3 placesTaken off at checkout while places last.$300 today, then 10 monthly payments of about $285Or save 5% when you pay in full (the trip price only, not add-ons)
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