Thailand from north to south & beach holiday in Phuket

Today, you’ll be flying to Thailand with connecting flight(s) on the way.

You land in Thailand’s second largest city, Chiang Mai – a city in Northern Thailand rich in culture, history and natural beauty. The city is surrounded by mountains, including Doi Inthanon, which is the highest point in Thailand. Chiang Mai is also the former capital of the ancient Lanna kingdom, which existed from 1292 to 1775, so you’ll discover many influences from this era around the city.

On your arrival, you’ll pass through immigration and pick up your luggage. Your guide will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall, holding up a TourCompass sign, and you’ll be driven to your hotel in central Chiang Mai.

You’ll probably need to relax after the long flight, so there are no excursions planned, leaving you free to do whatever you want. On with your swimwear and enjoy a dip in the hotel pool or head out on an adventure in the city – it’s up to you! You might like to stroll through the narrow streets and explore the small local shops and cosy cafés. You can also experience the vibrant city life at one of the city’s markets, where, among other things, you can taste local delicacies and buy local handicrafts.

In the evening, you can enjoy the sunset along the moat, where you will find several good restaurants offering delicious local specialties

After breakfast, an exciting bike ride in historic Chiang Mai awaits you, which is a great way to experience the city.

You’ll be driven to our partner’s office, where you will be kitted out with a bicycle and bicycle helmet. After a quick briefing, it’s time to hit the pedals and experience the charm of the city. The route is flat and easy, making it suitable for most people. You’ll cycle through the small, quiet streets of Chiang Mai to the fine temple Wat Inthakhin Sadue Mueang, known for its 700-year-old white Buddha statue. The bike ride continues past the Three Kings monument to Tha Phae Gate, the city gate where traders brought their wares into the city in its heyday. Here, the guide will tell you all about Chiang Mai as a former trade centre. You’ll continue to the nearby Somphet Market, where you have time for a browse and to soak in the local atmosphere. You’ll also have the opportunity to taste the colourful fruits and sweets. Chiang Mai’s oldest temple, Wat Chiang Man, then awaits. It is here that the 1,800-year-old Crystal Buddha and the 2,500-year-old Marble Buddha are kept. Finally, you’ll visit the city’s largest and most iconic monument, Wat Chedi Luang, once home to the Emerald Buddha, which is now housed in Wat Phra Kaew temple in Bangkok.

After a lovely 3–4-hour bike ride, you will be ready for a well-deserved and delicious lunch, consisting of the dish ‘khao soi’ – a spicy noodle soup which is a speciality in Northern Thailand. Lunch is served at the restaurant Naree De Klang Vieng, which is run by inmates from the women’s prison Klang Vieng. Thanks to the prison’s excellent rehabilitation project, the women, who have typically been convicted of selling or producing drugs, have the opportunity to train in various service professions that will prepare them for a new life outside the prison walls. The food and service are second to none!

Learn more about the rehabilitation project here. 

After lunch, you will be driven back to your hotel, where the rest of the day is at your leisure.

There are no excursions planned for today, allowing you to choose what you’d like to do and set your own pace. You can explore more of Chiang Mai or purchase one of our exciting excursions, which you can read more about below.

There’s time to enjoy a quiet morning until check-out. You’ll then be picked up from the hotel and driven to the village of Bandoo in Hang Dong Province, a 20–30-minute drive from Chiang Mai. You’ll make your way to a traditional teak house that is around 150 years old. The house is owned by the Raunkaew-Yanon family, which has played a major role in shaping and preserving the Lanna culture in the area.

The family welcomes you, and you are given a tour of the house and the family’s plantation. Many different types of fruit grow here, including bananas, mangoes and coconuts, while the garden is full of herbs and spices for cooking.

Then it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get cooking in the traditional kitchen, where food is lovingly prepared using the fresh, local produce. You will first learn about the classic cooking methods before embarking on some delicious dishes consisting of meat, rice, vegetables and fragrant spices. Finally, you can reap the rewards of your work when you sink your teeth into the wonderful flavours on the second-floor terrace offering panoramic views of the surrounding village.

After an exciting, authentic and educational day, you’ll be driven back to Chiang Mai. There’ll be time to explore the city, do that last bit of shopping and have dinner before being driven to the train station, where you’ll take the night train to Bangkok. We recommend that you buy some snacks and drinks for the train ride.

The night train departs from Chiang Mai at 6 pm and arrives in Bangkok at 6.50 am the next morning.

For an additional fee, you can fly from Chiang Mai to Bangkok instead of taking the night train. This option will include an extra night in Bangkok.

You arrive in the Thai capital early in the morning. A guide holding up a TourCompass sign will be there to meet you in the arrivals hall of the station. You will then be driven to a local eatery, where breakfast is served.

After breakfast, you’ll be driven to the hotel where you can store your luggage until check-in in the afternoon. In the meantime, an exciting bike ride awaits, where you will experience the authentic Bangkok away from the stream of tourists and the big, busy highways.

After a short briefing and adjustment of your bicycle, you set off together with a skilled and experienced guide. The route is flat and easy, making it suitable for most people. You cycle through the popular backpacker area, Khaosan Road, and on through small alleyways and past small canals. You continue along the Chao Phraya River to the Rama VIII Bridge, where you cross the river into authentic, western Bangkok, where you’ll visit ancient temples and experience local life up close. The excursion continues along the large canal, Bangkok Noi, through small, quiet streets and past a local village, where the locals will send happy smiles and waves your way. You’ll cross a small bridge, taking you over to the other side of the canal, where you’ll cycle past Buddhist temples and Thonburi’s train depot. You’ll then take the ferry back to lively, eastern Bangkok, where you’ll cycle past the Grand Palace. You’ll park your bike and go for a walk in the lovely nearby Saranrom Park, which was once only used by the royal family. Back in the saddle, you’ll cycle past a fragrant food market. You arrive at the Giant Swing, which is the last stop of the tour and one of Bangkok’s popular landmarks.

You’ll then be driven to the hotel to check in, and you have the chance to take a shower and have a rest. The rest of the day is yours to do as you please.

You wake up to the hectic, colourful and fascinating capital, Bangkok, which is home to some 12 million people. There are no excursions planned, so you can set your own pace today.

When it comes to getting about in Bangkok, you needn’t worry about the notorious traffic, as the city offers a wide range of transport options. A lot of people get around by tuktuk, but the river taxis are also popular and account for a significant portion of the city’s public transport, as they stop at many of the city’s sights. You can also take the Sky Train, which winds its way between the city’s high-rise buildings and is a good, fast and cheap way of travelling.

Bangkok is divided into east and west by the 372-km-long Chao Phraya River. The eastern part of the city is considered to be central Bangkok, with the popular areas of Silom and Sukhumvit and China Town, which offer a high concentration of shopping centres, local markets and good eateries. It is also on the eastern side that you’ll find the historic part of Bangkok, which is home to the city’s royal palace, the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Phra Kaew.

After walking all over Bangkok in the tropical heat and noisy traffic, there will almost certainly be moments when you dream of greener, quieter places. Might we suggest a visit to Lumpini Park and Benjakitti Park? You can also choose to head over to the western side of the river, where you’ll find yourself in a completely different world without skyscrapers and tooting tuktuks. You’ll encounter a more authentic Bangkok here, and a maze of canals, where houses stand on stilts and postmen make their deliveries by boat.

In the evening, it’s pretty much a must to visit one of the city’s sky bars, which is the perfect place to enjoy a cold drink and at the same time watch the sun setting over the metropolis.

You could also visit the neon-lit China Town or the Asiatique The River Front shopping venue, which in addition to shops also offers restaurants and entertainment.

You also have the option to participate in one of our exciting optional excursions, which you can read more about below.

Whatever you decide to do, we guarantee that you won’t get bored!

You’ll be collected from your hotel and taken to the airport, where you’ll catch a flight south to Surat Thani—a journey of 1 hour and 15 minutes. Once you land, collect your luggage and meet your driver, who will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with a TourCompass sign. He’ll transfer you to Khao Sok National Park, where an authentic jungle adventure awaits.

Khao Sok is one of Thailand’s largest national parks, spanning 739 km², and arguably one of the most breathtaking. Here you’ll find one of the country’s biggest areas of pristine primary forest—ancient, untouched rainforest that has stood undisturbed for millions of years. The lush surroundings and life-giving rivers are home to an abundance of wildlife, including gibbons, langurs, and macaques. The petite mouse deer, along with muntjacs and serows, also reside here. If you’re very fortunate, you might even catch a glimpse of the beautiful, long-tailed marbled cat. Bird enthusiasts have plenty to look forward to too: hornbills and red-headed trogons are just some of the many species living in the dense jungle.

The drive from Surat Thani airport to your hotel takes around 1 hour and 40 minutes. Upon arrival at your accommodation, you’ll enjoy a peaceful canoe trip along the Sok River. It’s a truly delightful experience, drifting quietly on the water while you soak up the sights and sounds of the surrounding rainforest. Take in the view of dramatic limestone cliffs and lush, vibrant nature. Listen to the birds singing high in the treetops, and keep an eye out by the riverbanks—if you’re lucky, you might spot a monitor lizard. Best of all, you can simply sit back and relax while your local guide does the paddling for you.

Afterwards, you can choose to unwind and take in the beautiful natural surroundings right outside your door.

In the evening, you will have the option to join a night safari, giving you the chance to spot some of the jungle’s fascinating wildlife. Read more about this optional tour below.

Another adventure awaits you today.

Part of Khao Sok National Park is made up of the 165 km2 emerald green Cheow Lan Lake. The lake was formed when the Rajjaprabha Dam was built in 1987, flooding the area. 385 local families were relocated and compensated, and animals were both sailed out via the rivers and flown out by helicopter. As the area became more and more flooded by rain and river water, part of the rainforest was transformed into a lake. The high limestone rocks, which once stretched up between the treetops, were transformed into small rainforest islands that today stick up out of the emerald green water. It is for good reason that Cheow Lan is sometimes described as Thailand’s answer to Guilin, one of the most beautiful places in China.

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up from the hotel. Wave goodbye to the rainforest as you set course for Cheow Lan Lake, where more than 100 limestone karsts jut up out of the emerald-green water.

Please note that you cannot bring all your luggage out to the lake, so you can safely leave it at the hotel. We recommend that you instead bring a backpack with the essentials you’ll be using over the next few days at the lake. When you meet your driver again on day 9, they’ll bring your luggage.

First, you’ll be driven to the small local town of Ban Ta Khun, where you’ll visit the local market in the middle of the town, which is known for the excellent quality of its turmeric and papaya, among other things.

You’ll then be driven to the Ratchaprapha pier, up close to the impressive dam. From here, you climb aboard a long-tailed boat and ride out onto Lake Cheow Lan, where you can enjoy majestic landscapes with iconic limestone karsts.

At lunchtime, you arrive at your overnight accommodation – a floating bungalow in the middle of the lake. After check-in, the staff are ready to serve you a traditional lunch, which is enjoyed overlooking the surrounding nature.

You can then choose whether you want to stay at the hotel, where you can relax with a good book, explore the area by kayak or take a dip in the emerald green lake directly from your veranda. The water is clean and warm all year round.

You can also choose to participate in an exciting hike that takes you through the jungle to one of the area’s beautiful stalactite caves, Coral Cave. Make sure to bring water and sturdy, closed-toe shoes, and note that it can be slippery during the rainy season. Together with your guide, you will be sailed to where the hike starts in a long-tail boat. On the hike, you will experience the jungle’s impressive fauna, and your guide will tell you about the different species along the way. You might well also see some of the birds and insects that inhabit the jungle. After about 45 minutes, you will arrive at a lagoon where a bamboo raft will be waiting to take you to Coral Cave, which takes about 15 minutes. Inside the cave, you will discover beautiful stalagmites and stalactites resembling elephants, witches and snakes. The trip then goes back the same way as you came.

In the late afternoon, you can join a fantastic boat safari. This is an opportunity to spot some of the local birds and wild mammals, such as hornbills, elephants, oxen and sambar deer. On the way back to the hotel, the sun is slowly setting behind the high limestone cliffs – a completely magical sight!

A delicious dinner awaits you at the hotel, and afterwards, you can lean back after a day packed with new experiences and look up at the beautiful clear starry sky, which is not disturbed by artificial light.

It’s simply magical to wake up in the middle of Cheow Lan Lake. Pull back the curtains, open the door to your veranda and watch the mist lift slowly over the still lake, where the silence is only interrupted by the Asian koel.

Early this morning, you’ll be going on another exciting boat safari. Keep an eye out for the Indochinese Grey Langur, gibbons and macaques.

After the boat trip, breakfast is served and then there’s enough time for a dip in the lake, a spot of canoeing or simply to enjoy the view and the silence.

You check out late morning and travel by boat back to the mainland. On the way, you can enjoy the last view of the amazing limestone karsts.

Your driver will be waiting for you back at the pier, ready to drive you back to the rainforest, where you will be served a delicious Thai lunch.

Next, you’ll be driven to your hotel at Thailand’s No. 1 beach holiday destination: Phuket. The drive takes about 3 hours and 45 minutes.

After check-in, the rest of the day is yours to do as you please. Perhaps you fancy a dip in the waves? Or how about a stroll along the beach, where you can enjoy the sun’s rays and the sound of the gentle waves?

You’ll be staying at Kata Beach, which is on the south-western coast of Phuket and one of the most famous beaches on the whole island. Kata Beach actually consists of two beaches: Kata Yai, the “big” beach, and Kata Noi, the “small” beach. Both beaches have fine, golden sand. The water is clear, calm and relatively shallow – ideal beach for children and adults alike. Kata Beach also offers a good selection of restaurants, bars, and shops.

There are no excursions planned for today, so you can enjoy Phuket at your own pace.

Phuket is Thailand’s largest island, boasting more than 30 magnificent beaches, making it tempting to spend the days lazing on the golden sand and swimming in the warm water. But if you do feel like heading out in search of adventure, Phuket actually has a lot to offer in the way of nature and cultural experiences.

We certainly also recommend a snorkelling trip to one of the beautiful coral reefs off the coast of Phuket, where you’ll see the most beautiful colourful fish?

East of Phuket is Phang Nga Bay, which is famous for its many islands and impressive limestone cliffs. Among other things, this is the bay where you can find the legendary “James Bond Island”, where sections of The Man with the Golden Gun were filmed in 1974.

Even further east are the heavenly Phi Phi Islands, which can be experienced on a full-day excursion, giving you time to bathe, go snorkelling, and relax on the alabaster sandy beaches.

You must not miss spending at least one evening on a sunset excursion to Khao Rang Hill, one of Phuket’s most famous lookout points. It offers a beautiful panoramic view of the city, nearby islands, and the undulating landscape.

Below, you can see a selection of the optional excursions we offer:

Today, you’ll be saying goodbye to Thailand. You’ll be picked up from the hotel and driven to the airport, from where you fly back to Europe with connecting flight(s) on the way.

You land at your selected airport after a lovely holiday packed with experiences.