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Classic Thailand with Phuket - Small Group - 06 Feb 2027 to 04 Dec 2027
Operated by Trafalgar
Tripcode: 4YA621M27
Overview
Destination:
Thailand,
Duration:14 days
Type:Group tour (max 45)
Travel Period
March 2027 - December 2027
Discover Thailand through its royal capitals, river landscapes, regional flavours and island coast. From Bangkok’s temples, markets and rooftop skyline to Kanchanaburi’s wartime history and floating river stay, this journey reveals the country through meaningful local experiences and distinctive settings. With your Small Group, you'll travel by local train, tuk tuk and longtail boat, spend time in Chiang Rai’s tea country and connect with Lanna traditions in Chiang Mai through cooking, village hospitality and important temple visits. Then continue to Phuket, where historic streets, coastal scenery and time at leisure bring a different side of Thailand into view, with the chance to explore further by land or water.
Highlights:
Standard inclusions
- 5 Dinner (D)
- 13 Breakfast (B)
- 4 Lunch (L)
Itinerary
Expand all 
Collapse all
Collapse allWelcome to Bangkok
Arrive in Bangkok, the gateway to Thailand, where royal landmarks, Buddhist temples and fast-paced city life come together in one of Asia’s most distinctive capitals. On arrival, you’ll be greeted and transferred to your hotel, with time to settle in before joining your Travel Director and your small group for dinner at a local rooftop restaurant overlooking the city skyline.
Explore Bangkok
Spend the morning discovering Thailand’s capital, Bangkok. At Pak Khlong Talat, the city’s main flower market, you’ll make a traditional floral garland with local vendors. Then visit Wat Pho, where you’ll present your handmade garland as an offering to the monks, meet a monk and receive a blessing. Continue by tuk tuk to the Grand Palace and explore the royal complex before visiting Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Later, return to your hotel and enjoy time at leisure. You could explore local markets, sample Bangkok’s street food or head out for rooftop city views. This evening, perhaps join an Optional Experience dinner cruise aboard the Manohra.
Relaxation and Royalty in Bangkok
Begin the day in Bangkok with the chance to join morning tai chi in Lumpini Park, where locals gather at first light. Perhaps visit Jim Thompson House on an Optional Experience and see the former home of the American silk entrepreneur, now known for its collection of Thai art. Later, explore Bangkok from the water as you cruise along the Chao Phraya River and into the canals of Thonburi, passing waterside communities along the way. Visit the Royal Barge Museum to see the ornate vessels used for royal processions, then continue to Wat Arun for sunset before returning to your hotel.
Kanchanaburi by Train and Boat
Travel to Kanchanaburi and visit the world-famous Bridge over the River Kwai. Later, board a local train for a scenic ride along the historic Death Railway, crossing the Wang Po Viaduct, one of its best-known surviving sections, built by prisoners of war during the Second World War. Continue to the Thailand-Burma Railway Museum and the War Cemetery, where more than 6,000 Allied prisoners of war are laid to rest. Then transfer to a local pier and take a longtail boat to FloatHouse River Kwai Resort, where you’ll stay in a floating villa on the river and end the day with dinner at the hotel.
Hellfire Pass
Today brings a deeper look at Kanchanaburi, from the history of the Thailand-Burma Railway to the natural landscape along the River Kwai. Travel to Hellfire Pass and learn about one of the most difficult sections of the Thailand-Burma Railway, cut by hand through the rock during the Second World War. Visit the Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum, where photographs and personal accounts record the experiences of the prisoners of war and Asian labourers who worked on the line. Later, return to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. You may wish to join an Optional Experience to Sai Yok Yai Waterfall, one of the best-known sights in the national park, before continuing to Lawa Cave, known for its limestone formations and underground chambers.
Ayutthaya and off to Chiang Rai
From the temple ruins of Old Siam to the northern landscapes of Chiang Rai, this day brings together two very different sides of Thailand. This morning, visit Ayutthaya, the UNESCO-listed former capital founded in 1350, where monasteries and royal temples reveal the scale of one of the region’s most important historic cities. At Wat Mahathat, you’ll see the Buddha head held within the roots of a Bodhi tree, one of Ayutthaya’s most recognised sights. Later, head to Bangkok Airport for your flight to Chiang Rai, before settling into your hotel and enjoying dinner together.
Chiang Rai
Begin your day in Chiang Rai’s tea country, where plantation landscapes and local production shape another side of northern Thailand. Visit a tea estate to learn about the history of Thai tea, the ingredients and growing conditions behind it, and the way production supports local communities. You’ll see how green tea and first flush black tea are processed, compare tea brewed with mineral and RO water, and try brewing your own with expert guidance. Forest honey, tea tastings and homemade pastries add to the experience before a late lunch at a local restaurant. Return to your hotel afterwards, or choose an Optional Experience to the Golden Triangle and the House of Opium, a museum opened in 1989 that traces the region’s opium history.
Onwards to Chiang Mai
Continue to Chiang Mai, stopping first at the White Temple, Chiang Rai’s best-known contemporary temple, recognised for its all-white exterior and mirrored decoration. On arrival in Chiang Mai, once the capital of the Lanna Kingdom, sit down to a traditional khao soi lunch at a local restaurant. Then explore with your choice experience. Walk along the old town walls and through the surrounding streets for a feel of the Old City, or visit the Lanna Folklife Museum to discover the history and traditions of the former Lanna Kingdom. Later, rejoin your group with a Local Specialist to Wat Chedi Luang, one of Chiang Mai’s most important Old City temples, best known for its vast 15th-century chedi, before enjoying a free evening.
Explore the Thai Countryside
Discover local life beyond Chiang Mai in Hang Dong, where village hospitality, home cooking and family traditions shape the day. You’ll meet Mr Prapat and his family at their village home, where you’ll be welcomed in the traditional Lanna way and receive a local mohom scarf before walking through the family gardens to see the herbs and ingredients used in northern Thai cooking. Then join a hands-on cooking session and sit down to the Farm-to-Table lunch you’ve prepared, sharing the meal with the family as your host talks about village life. Return to Chiang Mai later for time at leisure. You could browse the night market, visit the handicraft shops and coffee spots around Nimmanhaemin, or perhaps join an Optional Experience spa massage.
Chiang Mai Elephants
Set out early to experience two different sides of Chiang Mai. This morning, visit Elephant Nature Park, a rescue and rehabilitation centre with a no-riding policy, for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. You’ll observe elephants in a more natural setting, learn about their individual stories and understand how the sanctuary supports their care and habitat. After lunch at the sanctuary, return to the hotel for an afternoon at leisure; relax by the pool or head into the Old City. As evening approaches, ride the cable car to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, where the golden pagoda looks out across Chiang Mai from the mountainside. Later, come together for dinner at 137 Pillars House, a restored teak residence in the Wat Ket district, marking the final night of your journey through Thailand with your small group.
Fly to Phuket
Fly to Phuket today, where you’ll be met on arrival by your Local Host. Then begin exploring Phuket Old Town, where Sino-Portuguese shop-houses, temples and shrines reflect the island’s trading history and mixed cultural heritage. After time to discover this historic quarter, continue to your hotel and settle in. The rest of the day is at leisure. You could spend more time in Phuket Old Town, head to Promthep Cape for wide sea views or make your way to the west coast for time on beaches such as Kata or Karon.
Phuket at Leisure
Spend the day as you please in Phuket, whether that means staying close to your resort or seeing more of the island’s cultural side. You could visit the Big Buddha for wide views across the island, explore Wat Chalong, Phuket’s most important Buddhist temple, or head south to Promthep Cape, one of the island’s best-known coastal viewpoints. There is also the chance to join an Optional Experience to Phang Nga Bay, where long-tail boats, limestone islands, sea caves and waterside communities reveal a very different side of southern Thailand.
Phuket Your Way
Spend your final full day in Phuket at leisure, with time to enjoy the island at your own pace or pick up a few last souvenirs before your journey comes to a close. You might visit local boutiques for handicrafts, silk, spa products or Thai pantry staples to take home. Later, there is the chance to join an Optional Experience aboard a catamaran, sailing across the Andaman Sea to Coral Beach Club on Koh Hey before continuing along the coast to Promthep Cape in time for sunset.
Farewell Phuket
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your onward flight, marking the end of your journey through Thailand.
Dates
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Operator
Trafalgar
The best of the world unlocked for you. Imagine unmissable experiences you’ve always dreamed of, getting to know the locals and having everything taken care of every step of the way. Here's what you'll experience: Must-sees to local secrets: Visiting bucket list sites are a highlight of travelling, however, travelling on your own can make them hard work. Don’t queue with other sightseers for hours, with Trafalgar our experts unlock doors – think exclusive access to the Vatican out of hours or a tour of Versailles and its grounds with an expert. This, coupled with the intimate glimpses and hidden gems our local specialists show you, are the life-changing experiences that make you feel like an insider, not a tourist. One-of-a-kind experiences: Thanks to our global network you’ll unlock local access to communities and people around the world. Our 100+ Be My Guest experiences are a signature Trafalgar exclusive, where you will enjoy the hospitality of locals as you are welcomed into their homes to hear their stories and learn about their cultures. In every destination, you’ll also enjoy unique “Stays with stories” accommodation: more than just a place to rest your head, they are part of the heritage and fabric of the communities you visit. Responsible travel at heart: When you choose Trafalgar, you are choosing to make your travels a force for good and support our goal to MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®. We recognise our responsibility to ensure we make a positive impact on the planet we call home, the people we visit, and the rich wildlife we find. We ensure that the impacts of our business and your travels are positive in two ways: through our TreadRight Foundation, and our 5-year sustainability strategy How We Tread Right.
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per person twin share
13 nights
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