NEW TRIP
An active exploration of traditional villages, culture, and cuisine from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
Thailand Private Journey
Overview
Northern Thailand’s mountains, forests, rivers, waterfalls, and tiny rural communities are the true heart of Thailand. Add to this a rich melting pot of cultures and a warm welcome, and you have a destination perfect for travelers, from couples to families. We’ve created an active Private Journey here, complete with elephant tracking, a bike ride through a World Heritage Site, a cooking class, float trips, and two-night homestay in a Karen village. We’ll have you hiking in a forest with mahouts (elephant caretakers) to find free-ranging elephants, meeting the friendly Karen hill tribe people, sampling the famous street food, and roaming fascinating handicraft markets. Your grand finale is Chiang Mai, where ancient city walls wrap around more than 30 Buddhist temples. Here you can stroll the famous Night Market, climb 300 stairs to the ornate Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep temple, or just enjoy an optional wonderful massage. Join us to discover the easy-going ambiance and fascinating heritage of northern Thailand, one of the most delightful places on the planet.
Arrive: Bangkok, Thailand
Depart: Chiang Mai, Thailand
Highlights
- Experience elephant tracking, bike riding, a cooking class, and float trips
- Meet the Karen hill tribe people their mountain villages
- Enjoy a two-night homestay in a welcoming Karen village
- Bike through the World Heritage-listed temples of Sukhothai Historical Park
- Explore captivating Chiang Mai, with its famous handicrafts and dazzling temples
Itinerary
Enjoy the kingdom’s capital city with a private tour by boat around the famous klongs (canals), a visit to the majestic Grand Palace, then hop on a tuk-tuk (open-air three-wheeled vehicle) for a tour of serpentine alleys full of tiny markets, shrines, and food stalls.
Fly to Mae Sot and head over mountain roads to Karen hill tribe country, where you are hosted for a two-night homestay with a family and a day of tracking elephants in the forest alongside trained mahouts. On Day 6, board your raft for a relaxing float downstream past the forested banks, a relaxing way to appreciate the natural beauty of the Umphang area.
Take a leisurely bike tour through World Heritage-listed Sukhothai Historical Park, birthplace of Thai art and architecture, then visit the off-the-beaten-path city of Lampang for a hands-on cooking class in northern Thai cuisine. Complete your journey in unforgettable Chiang Mai, with its moated old quarter, elegant temples, traditional wooden houses, and quiet, leafy gardens. Depart on Day 11.
Extend your adventure in Thailand with a relaxing stay at Koh Jum Beach Villas on the island of Koh Jum, where beachfront rooms offer tranquil gardens and great sunset vistas of Phi Phi National Marine Park. Relax by your private pool, enjoy the pristine beach, and absorb the beauty of Thailand’s tropical coast. Koh Jum is 30 minutes by boat from the Krabi mainland and has a relaxed atmosphere. It is less developed than nearby islands, which makes it idyllic for a hideaway holiday.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 2, Easy to Moderate, according to our trip grading system. It is appropriate for anyone in good health who is physically active and enjoys regular moderate walks and hikes. There are forest and village walks with little elevation gain or loss, float trips, and a half-day of biking at a temple site. On four days, there are drives of 3-4 hours on mountain roads. The walking and cultural tours will keep you on your feet for 3-4 hours over a mix of streets and stairs.
The terrain for the elephant tracking on Day 5 is on dirt paths across rolling, forested hills with little elevation gain/loss.
For your own enjoyment of travel, we recommend you make a special effort to be in good physical condition. Daily brisk walking and/or regular hiking (or using a stair-climbing machine at your gym) are excellent preparatory exercises.
Northern Thailand has a tropical climate, with a dry season from November to April and a rainy season roughly from mid-May to October. During the November to April season, temperatures range from 80 to 60F, the humidity is lower, and it’s a great time for outdoor activities. Be sure to bring a warm jacket and long pants because temperatures can fall below 60F at night. There are also many cultural events in this season.
The hotels we use on this trip are the best available in each location. They have comfortable rooms with en suite bathrooms. On Days 4 and 5, you’ll stay in a simple village home in the Karen village of Palatha with two-person rooms and shared bathroom facilities.
Northern Thai cuisine is noted for the use of fresh local herbs, dried spices, and fermented or preserved ingredients and often features elements of Laotian, Burmese, and Chinese cuisine. Reflecting the relatively cool climate, typical ingredients include pork, forest vegetables, ginger and garlic, along with noodles and rice. The cuisine is typically spicy, so be sure to share your preferences with your guide.
You’ll travel on a variety of modes of transport on your journey, including a private minivan, a songthaew (traditional Thai taxi), and tuk-tuks. On Days 4, 6, 7, and 8, there are drives of 3-4 hours on curving mountain roads. There is an internal flight from Bangkok to Mae Sot on Day 3.
Client Testimonials
"The trip was well organized. A high point was the excursion to the Palatha Homestay. The operation was well planned and totally enjoyable. The tour guides were excellent and very knowledgeable. We got to interact with the people of the area, which was very interesting."
Su T.
Lexington, KY
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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.