Thailand: From Capitals to Beaches

Modern and ancient cities, national parks and dream beaches await you on this 20-day journey through Thailand. Route: Bangkok – Ayutthaya – Khao Yai National Park – Chiang Mai – Koh Samui – Khao Lak – Phuket.

Day 1. Bangkok

On arrival we check in and, after a short rest, set off on a Chao Phraya River cruise to admire the capital’s main sights from the water over dinner with live music and traditional Thai dance. We will see the Asiatique The Riverfront night market, the Grand Palace, Phra Sumen Fort (1873), the Rama VIII Bridge, the National Museum of Royal Barges and Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, with its rich decoration and 82-metre spire dating from the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Both banks of the river are lined with the city’s finest hotels: Mandarin Oriental, Sheraton, Peninsula, Anantara and others.

Day 2. Bangkok

In the morning we set off on a city tour: the Grand Palace; the Museum Siam, whose exhibitions reveal the essence of Thai culture; Wat Pho, home to Thailand’s largest Reclining Buddha (and a traditional Thai massage session); and Wat Arun. The Bank of Thailand Learning Centre tells the story of the country’s economy, and the Jim Thompson House Museum introduces the art of silk-making. We will spend the afternoon at ICONSIAM, whose SookSiam showcases the cuisine and crafts of Thailand’s 77 provinces, with a musical fountain show in the evening.

Later we will admire the city from one of its many rooftop bars, such as The Sanctuary, named the world’s best-designed bar in 2025, the legendary Sky Bar at Lebua at 247 metres and the Mahanakhon SkyWalk Rooftop Bar (314 m). The new three-storey Akara Sky Hanuman immerses guests in Thailand’s traditions, culture and history: a mirrored observation deck with a digital art gallery, a dance hall with DJ sets, a Thai restaurant and a night market, all 276 metres above the ground. It also hosts costumed performances, photo shoots in traditional Thai dress, royal tea ceremonies to piano music and tastings of regional Thai cuisine. Another wonderful spot for an evening is Dusit Arun, Thailand’s largest rooftop park.

Day 3. Bangkok

This day is yours to plan. Watch daily life in Lumpini Park, visit a floating market, learn the basics of Muay Thai and see professional boxers in the ring in the evening. Join a pottery class, an art studio or a sewing workshop to make your own bag, wallet or card holder. Tech enthusiasts will love the Space & Time Cube+ digital art gallery, while collectors can lose themselves for hours in the riverside galleries of River City Bangkok, browsing art, antiques, vintage musical instruments, home decor, fashion and accessories. Among the rarest exhibits is a statue of the Minotaur dating from the early first millennium, and in the evenings the complex’s rooftop cinema screens timeless classics.

Opened in 2024, Dior Gold House with Café Dior by Mauro Colagreco brings together the heritage of the fashion house and contemporary Thai art. Wellness lovers can visit high-tech spas or relax in the onsen of Pañpuri Wellness.

Bangkok is famous for its restaurants. Our recommendations include the Japanese Akira Back Bangkok at the Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen’s Park, NUSARA by celebrated Thai chef Ton (Thitid Tassanakajohn), Côte by Mauro Colagreco and Sorn, the country’s first three-Michelin-star restaurant, serving southern Thai cuisine.

Day 4. Ayutthaya

A morning transfer takes us 80 km north of the capital to Ayutthaya. Founded in 1350, it became the second capital of Siam and for centuries was one of the largest and most advanced cities in the world, until it was destroyed by the Burmese army in 1767. Today the historic city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its main monuments include the Wang Luang Grand Palace, the former royal residence; the royal monastery of Wat Mahathat, with a Buddha head entwined in the roots of a sacred Bodhi tree; Wat Phanan Choeng; Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, whose main stupa you can climb; and Wat Lokaya Sutha, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha.

We will spend the night at Thann Wellness Destination Bangsai Ayutthaya, a 47-room hotel with an extensive wellness complex, and take an evening walk through the historic town.

Days 5-6. Khao Yai National Park

Khao Yai, Thailand’s oldest and third-largest national park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the best places in the country to see wild elephants. It is also home to gaur, Asian black bears, gibbons, serow, sambar deer and 280 species of birds. Dense jungle, rivers and the stunning Haew Suwat Waterfall, featured in the film “The Beach”, attract hikers. We will taste red wines at PB Valley Khao Yai Winery and visit the Japanese-style Hokkaido Flower Park, with kilometres of sunflowers, lavender, cosmos, daisies and many other flowers. In the evening we will visit the bat cave to watch thousands of bats take flight.

We will stay at Sala Khaoyai, enjoying the views from the infinity pool and a barbecue on the panoramic terrace of our own villa. We will swim in the crystal-clear emerald natural pool of Ban Tha Chang, visit the Khao Yai Art Museum with its open-air sculpture collection and paintings by Thai artists, play golf and visit GranMonte Vineyard at the foot of the park.

Days 7-9. Chiang Mai

We return to Bangkok and take a direct flight to Chiang Mai, the northern province and city with 700 years of history. We will greet the sunrise at Doi Suthep temple and watch its stupa glow gold; wander the Old City admiring temple facades; meditate in the silence of the forest monastery of Wat Umong; follow the Monk’s Trail to Wat Pha Lat; visit an elephant sanctuary that practises ethical treatment of animals; optionally visit a village of the long-neck women; climb the “sticky” Bua Thong Waterfall; and reach the roof of Thailand in Doi Inthanon National Park.

Days 10-11. Koh Samui

We return to Bangkok and fly directly to Koh Samui. This island in the Gulf of Thailand welcomes us with pale sandy beaches, forested hills and coconut groves. Its gently sloping beaches make Samui perfect for families with children. The island is a wellness hub, with hotels and retreats such as Four Seasons, Six Senses and Kamalaya. We will spend a few relaxing days here.

On a private tour of Ang Thong National Marine Park we will admire 42 green limestone islands and emerald bays, take a speedboat ride, snorkel over coral reefs and enjoy the view from the park’s lookout.

Days 12-17. Khao Lak

On the Andaman coast, Khao Lak is a perfect base for exploring Phuket, the Similan Islands, Phang Nga Bay and Khao Sok National Park. We will stay at the family-run boutique hotel The Sarojin, holder of two Michelin Keys and committed to supporting local communities. Set in a tropical garden on an 11-km beach, it arranges private candlelit dinners in the jungle by a waterfall or on a sandbar, transfers to golf courses (the nearest is 20 minutes away, two more within an hour), excursions and trips on its own yacht.

During our stay we will visit:

• the Similan Islands, with incredibly vivid, clear water and coral reefs teeming with life;
• the Surin Islands in the national marine park of the same name, where divers can explore Richelieu Rock and meet whale sharks, mantas and Napoleon wrasse;
• Phang Nga Bay with James Bond Island and the floating Muslim fishing village of Koh Panyee. Here you can explore sea caves and mangroves by canoe, ride longtail boats and walk along Thai Muang beach, where you will not see another tourist for miles;
• Khao Sok National Park, with the world’s oldest evergreen rainforest. Tigers, leopards, sun bears, tapirs, pangolins and many other animals and birds call it home. We will watch elephants up close, walk in the forest with a guide, go canoeing and bamboo rafting, and swim in Cheow Lan Lake among picturesque karst mountains and islets. You can stay in the park for 3-4 days;
• Khao Lak – Lam Ru National Park, with cosy beaches beside evergreen rainforest and the picturesque five-tier Ton Chong Fa Waterfall.

Days 18-20. Phuket

Phuket is home not only to Thailand’s most exclusive hotels but also to its best entertainment parks: the Phuket FantaSea theme park with a Cirque du Soleil-style show, the international-class Siam Niramit show, colourful parades at Carnival Magic Phuket, the Andamanda and Splash Jungle water parks, and the Hanuman World adventure park. We will stay at Dinso Resort & Villas, set in the jungle.

This is a sample Thailand itinerary. Every journey we offer is individual and designed around the client’s wishes. Would you like to travel to Thailand? Our travel consultants will create an itinerary for your dates and interests – from island holidays to a full sightseeing programme.