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Premium Northern Thailand

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Operated by Intrepid Travel
Tripcode: TTPT
Overview
Destination:
Thailand, 
Duration:12 days
Type:Group tour (max 12)
Style:
Adventure,
Explorer,
Travel Period
October 2026 - December 2028
Discover a land of mouthwatering food, stunning landscapes, fascinating history and incredibly hospitable locals on this 12-day Premium journey through Northern Thailand. Get to know Thai culture as you travel from city streets to mountain tops. Explore the ancient temples of Ayutthaya, spend time with Lisu hill tribes, meet the experts at an elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai, uncover the country’s past in Kanchanaburi and find hidden temples on a barge ride along the Chao Phraya River. With a local leader by your side, you’ll soon see there’s more to Thailand than what meets the eye.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. Some room configurations have two single beds, although a double bed will always be requested.
3. Due to limited luggage space in our vehicles, please ensure that you are packing light and compact. Large, bulky suitcases are unsuitable for this trip. Please refer to the Packing section of the Essential Trip Information for details.
4. Please provide your full passport details as per your passport information page at the time of booking for train tickets. Fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.

Highlights:
  • 1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel. 2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. Some room configurations have two single beds, although a double bed will always be requested. 3. Due to limited luggage space in our vehicles, please ensure that you are packing light and compact. Large, bulky suitcases are unsuitable for this trip. Please refer to the Packing section of the Essential Trip Information for details. 4. Please provide your full passport details as per your passport information page at the time of booking for train tickets. Fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new tickets.
Standard inclusions
  • Meals: Meals: 11 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 6 dinners.
  • Transport: Train, Private mini van, Longtail boat, Songtheaw, Bicycle.
  • Accommodation: Hotel (4 nights), Resort (5 nights), Lodge (2 nights).
  • Complimentary arrival transfer.
  • Bangkok - Welcome Dinner.
  • Bangkok - Grand Palace.
  • Bangkok - Wat Pho.
  • Bangkok - Temple Merit Making.
  • Bangkok - Khlong Electric Boat Canal Tour.
  • Kanchanaburi - Kanchanaburi War Cemetery.
  • Kanchanaburi - Bridge Over the River Kwai.
  • Baan Nong Khao - Weaving Community Visit.
  • Kanchanaburi - Erawan National Park Visit.
  • Kanchanaburi - Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum.
  • Kanchanaburi - Train trip on Death Railway.
  • Ayutthaya - Temple Visit.
  • Ayutthaya – River Cruise and Temple Visit.
  • Ayutthaya - Train to Phitsanuloke.
  • Sukhothai - Morning Alms Offering.
  • Sukhothai - Historical Park Visit and Bike Ride.
  • Sukhothai - Dinner in a Local Home.
  • Muang Kued – Village Visit and Cooking Demo.
  • Muang Kued – River Rafting.
  • Muang Kued – Sword Dancing Show and Masterclass.
  • Muang Kued - Festive Dinner.
  • Chiang Mai - Elephant Nature Park Half Day Trip.
  • Chiang Mai - Kalm Village.
  • Chiang Mai - Doi Suthep Temple Visit.
  • Chiang Mai – Chef’s Table Farewell Dinner.
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Itinerary
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Day 1: Bangkok
Sa-wat dee! Welcome to Thailand. Your journey begins in Bangkok, where you’ll be met at the airport by a local representative and transferred to your hotel. Tonight, you’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, maybe explore Thailand’s capital at your own pace. By day, you can experience a city filled with history and tradition, but by night Bangkok is taken over by a flood of music and neon lights. Maybe visit one of the many temples or explore Chinatown. Watch tuk tuks zip by while traditional khlong boats slowly wind down the Chao Phraya River. After your meeting, join your small group for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant where your leader will introduce you to the local flavours.
Day 2: Bangkok
Rise early for an optional Premium Experience away from Bangkok’s tourist track. Join the locals and visit a temple along the Chao Phraya River, where you’ll ‘make merit’ by bringing an offering to the temple’s monks. Later, your leader will take you for a day of sightseeing and activities around the city. Tour Wat Po – a larger-than-life temple complex in the city and home of the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. Visit the Grand Palace and learn about the site which has been the official residence of the kings since the 1700s, then head out on an electric boat tour of the city’s canals as your leader shows you how Bangkok’s locals live today. The afternoon is free to do as you wish – maybe check out the art collection at the Jim Thompson House or relax with a Thai massage.
Day 3: Kanchanaburi
On the way to Kanchanaburi today, you’ll visit Baan Nong Khao CBT Village – an agricultural village famous for its Pha Khao Mah handweaving. Visit the community’s museum, a palm sugar field and a local house to see how local desserts are made with this famous Thai ingredient. Of course, you’ll get to sample the sweet treats, too! Then, watch the weavers at work as they use more than 100 colours of yarn to create traditional Thai clothing. After, maybe grab some lunch before you continue to Kanchanaburi to visit the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. This prisoner of war cemetery was one of the first museums to educate the public and keep the memory of the Asian and POW workers who died constructing the infamous Death Railway alive.
Day 4: Kanchanaburi
Visit Erawan National Park to explore a famous seven-level waterfall or simply swim and relax. The falls are said to be some of the most beautiful in the country, with glacial blue waters perfect for a dip. Many Allied prisoners of war and conscripted Asian labourers were engaged here to help build a rail route to Myanmar (Burma), including the passage infamously known as Hellfire Pass. Visit the pass interpretive centre, where your leader will provide more information about this chapter in history. Take a historical train journey across a portion of this ‘Death Railway’ along the Kwai Noi River and travel over the original wooden viaduct, known as the Krasae Bridge, constructed by the Allied POWs. The evening is yours to explore the town.
Day 5: Ayutthaya
This morning, head to Ayutthaya – one of the ancient capitals of Siam and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Sit down for a royal culinary experience at a Michelin-recommended restaurant, trying dishes like Toong Thong and the flower-shaped Chor Muang, once enjoyed in noble households. Then, head out for a Premium Experience on a century-old Thai rice barge in the style of the King Rama V period. Drift along the Chao Phraya River as Thai high society once did, stopping at two seldom-visited temples. Observe elders praying and villages ‘making merit’ at the riverside Wat Bang Nom Kho temple and step into a local neighbourhood at the Wat Bang Pa Mhor temple. Back on land, it’s on to more temples in Ayutthaya. Visit the photogenic 13th-century ruins of Wat Phra Mahathat and discover rows of Buddhas beheaded by the Burmese. Look out for the displaced Buddha head suspended in the roots of a Banyan tree (one of the country’s most photographed images).
Day 6: Phitsanulok to Sukhothai
Today is relatively early start as you leave Ayutthaya and travel to the town of Phitsanulok by train. Sit back, relax and watch the scenery roll by. When you arrive, change to a private vehicle and continue this comfortable journey until you arrive in Sukhothai. The rest of the day is free for your own discoveries. You may like to relax by the pool or unwind with a Thai massage. For dinner tonight, maybe ask your leader where you can get a bowl of Sukhothai’s famously tasty noodles.
Day 7: Sukhothai
Start your day in Sukhothai with an optional alms offering. Sukhothai was established in the 13th century and is one of the first ancient capitals of Siam You’ll visit its famed UNESCO World Heritage-listed historical park, which captures the Golden Age of Thai civilisation. Hop on a bicycle for a cycling tour through the park and as you ride, your leader will teach you more about the history of this former metropolis and its fascinating structures. Have a picnic lunch then the rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore the town at your own pace or relax by the pool. This evening, regroup and head to a local home, where you’ll sit down for a homecooked dinner and a unique insight into life in this part of the country.
Day 8: Mae Taeng
Today you’ll travel from Sukhothai to the Mae Taeng region. Draped between rice fields and fruit orchards, you’ll find the Lisu Lodge – your Feature Stay for the night. The lodge is a community-based project that trains and employs Lisu villagers from the nearby hill tribe and aims to preserve their cultural heritage. The Lisu people are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group and one of the six main hill tribes of Northern Thailand. Meet the colourfully dressed villagers and learn more about the Lisu way of life – this is a truly special experience that’s sure to be one of your enduring memories of Thailand. The lodge offers guestrooms decorated in the traditional Lisu style with modern comforts. Savour unforgettable views of the surrounding hillside and valley and enjoy tonight’s dinner of fresh, local Thai food.
Day 9: Mae Taeng
After breakfast at Lisu Lodge, get ready for a day of Premium Experiences. First, it’s a quick trip to Muang Kued Village, where you’ll meet with a local villager for a private guided tour. Start the day on board a raft for a scenic float down the Mae Taeng River, then learn about village life, the reforestation of the surrounding area and how produce is grown in the village orchards. Explore the organic farm and choose the ingredients for a cooking demonstration where you’ll learn how to cook traditional Thai food from the locals. Then, learn the art of the graceful Lanna sword dance, led by a local expert. Return to Lisu Lodge for a short break before your Northern Thai culinary experience. Enjoy vibrant performances like the Klong Sabadchai (a traditional sacred drum) and the women-led Candle Dance from the CBT Baan Muang Kued community.
Day 10: Chiang Mai
Today, you’ll meet the residents of the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai – a wildlife project that provides sanctuary for elephants and other animals. Your expert local guide will share stories of the rescued elephants and the issues they face in South East Asia. Watch the elephants from a viewing platform as they bathe and play. After, tuck into a vegetarian buffet lunch before heading back into Chiang Mai. Visit Kalm Village – an art, craft and culture centre in the Old Town that supports local artists. Then, the evening is yours to enjoy your own way. Maybe visit the vibrant Night Bazaar or spend more time exploring the Old Town, bounded by moats. Your leader can give you recommendations on where to go for dinner.
Day 11: Chiang Mai
This morning, drive to the famous temple complex of Doi Suthep. Take in the views along the scenic and winding mountain road, which brings you to an impressive 300-step, Naga-guarded stairway. The rewards justify the ascent to the top, with one of the most beautiful temples in Thailand, not to mention the fantastic panoramic views of the city. Return to Chiang Mai where you’ll have time to relax before your farewell dinner at Tutu’s home-style restaurant. There’s no menu here – just seasonal dishes served to share, one plate at a time. You might try her signature mangosteen and crab salad or classic Thai dishes like panang and massaman, all prepared with care and tradition. It’s a warm, personal setting to swap stories with your group and close out the journey.
Day 12: Chiang Mai
With no activities planned for today, your adventure comes to an end after breakfast. If you would like to extend your stay in Chiang Mai, we can help arrange extra accommodation (subject to availability).
Dates

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Travellers

Operator
Intrepid Travel

Intrepid is a small group tour travel company with humble beginnings that now sends over 100,000 travellers a year on grassroots and responsible travel tours.

Important Information
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*Terms and conditions
Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice. For more information, please see Terms of Use
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per person twin share
11 nights
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