Classic Thailand

DAY 1 (BANGKOK)

Start your journey in Bangkok, the city of angels. The capital and most populous city in Thailand, Bangkok is a rapidly modernizing metropolis that offers glittering skyscrapers, mega malls, and efficient sky train lines alongside opulent gilded royal buildings, sidewalk-lined streetfood carts, and ubiquitous shrines and pictures of the monarchy. Upon arrival, you will be met at the airport and transferred via private vehicle into the city to your hotel. Check in and relax for the rest of the afternoon. Unwind with a coconut or lemongrass drink as you enjoy bucolic riverside scenes from your hotel. In the evening as the day starts to cool down, it is time to dive into the bustling action at Chinatown on a streetfood tour. Eat your way down the streets of this massive open air food market and try staple dishes such as sizzling oyster omelets, egg noodles with crab and wontons, grilled satay skewers, curry over rice, and fresh fruits and juices. Learn about the convergence of Thai and Chinese cultures in Bangkok through its food. It is estimated that as much as a third to a half of the Thai population have Chinese ancestry.

DAY 2 (BANGKOK)

Today you will explore Bangkok's most famous and historically significant sites, most of which are situated on Rattanakosin Island. When Rama I founded the city as the capital of his new kingdom in 1782, he chose the bend of the riverbank and turned it into a royal island by digging canals to form moats. Begin with the Grand Palace, a sprawling royal complex of sparkling gilded structures. Nearby is Wat Pho, home of the Reclining Buddha and instruction center of Thai massage. Peruse the amulet market and flower market, and learn their cultural importance, before getting on a traditional long-tail boat for a cruise through the canals, known as klongs. When Bangkok was first founded, the land was mostly marshy swampland and thus canals instead of roads were the main mode of transportation. Today though most canals have been paved over, few still exist. See old and renovated wooden homes that fringe these waterways, a slice of life of yesteryear. End the day at Wat Arun, a striking temple on the west bank covered with over one million glazed ceramic tiles.

DAY 3 (BANGKOK)

Arise early to visit one of Bangkok's morning wet markets. Feel the frenetic energy of the buzzing market and be sure to try a hot local breakfast while there. If it is a weekend, make your way to a floating market outside of town. Then, visit the teak home of Jim Thomson, a cultural icon who is reputed to have saved the Thai silk craft before mysteriously disappearing into the Malaysian jungles. If you wish, experience the megamall phenomenon that is Siam Paragon, which features a multiplex cinema, bowling alley, concert hall, and Southeast Asia's largest aquarium. Round out the day with a stroll along Bangkok's first road which parallels the river. This area is undergoing a renaissance thanks to young street artists and entrepreneurs refitting old shophouses with hip cafes, restaurants, and bars, and art galleries.

DAY 4 (CHIANG MAI)

Today you'll fly up north to Chiang Mai, the capital of the former Lanna Kingdom. Once strong enough to rival the Ayutthaya Kingdom, Lanna was eventually dismantled and absorbed into the emerging Siam nation-state in the late 1800s. The distinct language, culture, foods, and traditions of the Lanna still exist today in Chiang Mai and other northern regions of Thailand. Learn about the fascinating history of this historic city and its double moat on an old city tour by rickshaw. Then survey the city and the surrounding land from above at the top of Doi Suthep, a mountain just outside of the city. At the peak is one of the country's most venerated temples, and where you will receive a blessing. Before heading to your hotel, make a final stop at Wat Umong, one of the most unique and least-visited temples of the city. The temples's underground tunnels were built to contain a mad monk.

DAY 5 (CHIANG MAI)

Go beyond the basic red, green, and yellow curries and pad thai commonly associated with Thai food, and learn another side of this complex cuisine with a private cooking class focused on Lanna cuisine. Jungle vegetables and herbs, pork, and sticky rice are cornerstones of this regional cuisine, which inclines towards salty and spicy tastes. Create dishes using market and farm fresh ingredients over a traditional charcoal stove and enjoy lyour unch in a sala pavilion. Alternatively, the adventure-inclined can instead opt to take advantage of Chiang Mai's jungles and rivers and go white-water rafting or ziplining. In the afternoon, experience this old city's contemporary culture with a visit to the Maiiam Contemporary Art Museum and a stroll through the trendy Nimman district which is known for boutiques, cafes, and restaurants. This evening, visit a nighttime market which promises plenty of snacks and bargains. If it is the weekend, the famous Weekend Walking Street is a real treat.

DAY 6 (CHIANG RAI)

Continue north by car to Chiang Rai, a town that sits on the border with Laos and Myanmar, a region known as the Golden Triangle. Enroute, break up your drive with stops to the White temple and Black House, two architectural statement pieces. Arrive at your jungle abode, whether the family-friendly Anantara resort or lavish tents of Four Seasons next door. Settle in and enjoy the rest of the day as you wish. Both resorts are all-inclusive and best known for their elephant-based activities.

DAY 7 (CHIANG RAI)

Spend the day how you wish; the resort offers a number of included excursions and activities. The resort's most popular activity is spending time up-close with the elephants from the camp nearby. Learn how mahouts train their elephants and enjoy feeding them snacks and washing them in the river. Also nearby the resort is the Opium Museum which is well-worth a visit to learn about the area's history as an opium-producing region.

DAY 8 (CHIANG RAI)

Another popular activity is the Three-Country excursion which takes you across the borders of Laos and Myanmar for a tour of the Golden Triangle. Visit the local markets and villages and see how these neighboring border towns overlap and differ.

DAY 9 (PHUKET)

After big cities and jungles, it's finally time to unwind at the beach. Fly south to Phuket, the country's most famous beach destination. This tropical paradise with pearly white sand, swaying palm trees, and warm turquoise waters is the real deal. Take your pick from a range of luxury accommodations, from white-glove resorts to barefoot boutiques, private-pool villas perched cliffside with stunning views or directly on the beach. The day is entirely yours to while away.

DAY 10 (PHUKET)

Take a morning cultural excursion to Phuket's Old Town, a quaint collection of Sino-Portuguese shophouses and historic mansions, Chinese shrines, temples, and Peranakan restaurants. Return to your resort and spend the rest of the day at leisure, whether on the beach of by the pool. To really take advantage of your last day in paradise, opt for a private yacht charter. Set course for the many small islands and lagoons that harbor a whole world of sealife just below the crystal clear surface. Strap on a mask and explore the underwater side of Phuket. Drink in the sunset with a glass of champagne and a fresh bbq seafood dinner back at your villa, a sublime end to your journey through Thailand, the Land of Smiles.

DAY 11 (DEPARTURE)

Enjoy your breakfast, and perhaps one last dip in the ocean and a coconut, before your private transfer to the airport for your flight onward.