Cultural Tour in Thailand from Bangkok to Krabi (free day at the beach)

Upon your arrival in Bangkok, your driver will be waiting for you at Bangkok International Airport (Suvarnabhumi) to transfer you to the hotel. At the hotel, you will be given a brief introduction of your trip and any last minute doubts will be clarified.

Accommodation in Bangkok.

Breakfast at the hotel and free day in Bangkok. You can have a walk around Bangkok and explore the city on your own.

Accommodation in Bangkok.

You will start the day by discovering the most famous floating market in Thailand, Damnoen Saduak. The market consists of a labyrinth of narrow canals full of traditional boats where the products that you will visit aboard a traditional boat are sold.

Next, you will learn about WWII while visiting the Bridge over the River Kwai, which is a railway bridge spanning the Kwai Yai in Kanchanaburi that was crossed by the Thailand-Burma Railway. The metal bridge was built during World War II by forced laborers under the orders of the Imperial Japanese Army and is famous for the novel by Pierre Boulle and the film based on it. In 1945 the metal bridge was bombed and two central arches were destroyed which at the end of the conflict were restored by the Japanese as war damage. You will have a unique experience during the train tour on the bridge.

You will also visit the JEATH War Museum about more the Thailand-Burma Railway built between 1942 and 1943 by Allied POWs under the direction of the Japanese. The acronym JEATH stands for the main nationalities involved in the construction of the railway: Japanese, English, Australian, American, Thai and people of Holland.

Accommodation in Kanchanaburi.

The day will begin with a visit to Erawan National Park, a protected area found in Kanchanaburi Province and a natural gem with some of the best-known waterfalls in the country. The park has an area of approx. 550 square kilometres and was created in 1975. The park’s main attraction is the Erawan Falls, named after the three-headed white elephant from Hindu mythology. The seven-tiered falls are said to resemble the elephant. You can bathe in the pools of crystal clear water.

In the afternoon, you will have lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, you will be transferred to the hotel in Ayutthaya.

Accommodation in Ayutthaya.

In the morning, you will be transferred to Ayutthaya, the former capital of the Siam Empire, where you will discover the archaeological ensemble of temples such as Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, Wat Mahathat and Wat Chai Wattanaram of the Ayutthaya Historical Park, which was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.

Next, you will visit the former Royal Palace of Bang Pa-In also known as the “Summer Palace”, a complex formerly used by the kings of Thailand. The palace is located on the bank of the Chao Phraya River in the Bang Pa-En district of Ayutthaya province and was originally built by King Prasat Thong in 1632. Most of the current buildings were built between 1872 and 1889 by King Chulalongkorn.

In the afternoon, you will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. You will taste the Candy Floss Roti, one of the best known delights of the place, a crepe with cotton candy.
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After lunch, you will be transferred to your next destination by road to the north, Sukhothai, another of the ancient capitals.

Accommodation in Sukhothai.

In the morning, you will visit Sukhothai Historical Park, another of the country's ancient capitals, on a bicycle. The park brings together the archaeological remains of Sukhothai, capital of the Sukhothai kingdom in the 13th and 14th centuries, in present-day northern Thailand and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Inside the city walls several archaeological sites are preserved, among which the remains of the royal palace and 26 temples.

Then, you will continue north, making a stop to see the spectacular Phayao Lake, which is almost semi-circular in shape and is the largest freshwater lake in the northern region and the fourth largest in the country. The lake is 1.5 metres deep, covers an area of approximately 19.8 square kilometres, and is home to around 50 species of fish.

Next, you will arrive in Chiang Rai and visit the colourful Wat Rong Suea Ten or the Blue Temple, more painted in a striking blue with overlays of gold ornaments that is located just a few kilometres from the city of Chiang Rai. The name “Rong Suea Ten” in Thai is translated as the “house of the dancing tiger” because historically the area surrounding the temple was full of wildlife, particularly tigers. The centrepiece within the great hall is a massive statue of a seated white Buddha, surrounded by contemporary Buddhist art in a modern style.

After sunset, you will visit one of the most popular places in the city of Chiang Rai and meeting point of its inhabitants, the night market.

Accommodation in Chiang Rai.

In the morning, you will go to the “Golden Triangle”, where the Mekong River is the border between Thailand, Laos and Burma (Myanmar). You will visit the Opium Museum and Baan Dam or the Black House, the lifelong work of Thai national artist Thawan Duchanee depicting a set of 40 traditional buildings, mostly made of dark teak wood, scattered around the grounds of the last residence of the artist. The buildings are interspersed with modern and extravagant designs and house a collection of paintings, sculptures, silver and gold items, bones and animal skins.

Next, you will discover one of the most spectacular and different temples in the country, and in continuous evolution, Wat Rong Khun or the White Temple that was designed and built by Don Chalermchai Kositpipat. Wat Rong Khun is different from any temple in Thailand for having a “ubosot” (a type of meeting room) decorated with white more and crystals.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

Accommodation in Chiang Mai.

On this day you will visit the best-known places in Chiang Mai, known as “The Rose of the North”, starting with the temples of Wat Phra Sing and Wat Chedi Luang, where you can be in contact with Buddhist monks.

In the afternoon, you will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, you will visit the Warorot Market, the heart of Chinatown, one of the busiest markets, and Ton Lamyai, the flower market.

Next, you will go to Doi Suthep Temple, located in the mountains, with a large golden pagoda and stunning views of the city. The temple is 15 kilometres from the city of Chiang Mai and is located at an elevation of 1,073 metres.

In the evening, you will be picked up at the hotel and taken to live one of the most local and authentic experiences of northern Thailand, a Khantoke dinner accompanied by a show and traditional dance making an unforgettable evening.
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Accommodation in Chiang Mai.

Breakfast at the hotel and free day in Chiang Mai.

Accommodation in Chiang Mai.

Today you will be transferred to the airport to catch your flight to your next destination, Krabi. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your accommodation.

The rest of the day is free to start exploring what this beach destination has to offer.

Accommodation in Krabi.

You will start this day of the Thailand Itinerary (14 days) with a trip to the Koh Phi Phi Islands, a small archipelago in the Andaman Sea, south of Thailand, made up of four main islands. You will see the world famous Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi Leh Island, where the movie “The Beach” was filmed (you will not get off the boat because it is closed to the public). Maya Bay is an incredibly beautiful bay that is protected by 100-metre high cliffs on three sides. This bay is an exceptional setting with reefs adorned with hundreds of multi-coloured fish.

Next, you will visit the Viking Cave, one of the most remarkable sites on Koh Phi Phi Leh Island, located at the foot of a high limestone cliff on the northeast side of the island. The cave owes its name to the paintings that were found on the southern eastern walls of the cave depicting various types of ships, including what resembles a more Scandinavian drakkar.

You will also visit the Monkey Beach, a small cove located on a peninsula in Koh Phi Phi Don, the largest and most touristic of the two main Koh Phi Phi islands. You will see the fascinating long-tailed macaques descending the rocks to greet boats and tourists. You will snorkel in the spectacular turquoise waters of this cove.

In the afternoon, you will have lunch at a restaurant on Koh Phi Phi Don Island.

You will end the day with another swim or snorkel in another of the icons of this archipelago, the island of Koh Pai (Bamboo Island). It is a small almost circular island surrounded by a strip of white sand and covered with exuberant vegetation that includes Casuarina trees and Bamboo trees in its central part that gave the island its name.

Accommodation in Krabi.

Breakfast at the hotel and free day in Krabi. You will stay in a hotel near the unspoiled Ao Nang beach with the blue waters of the Andaman Sea. A short walk along the beach will take you to the boats that provide access to other beaches on the coast and nearby islands.

Accommodation in Krabi.

On your departure day, you will be transferred to Krabi Airport to take your flight back home.