On arrival in Bangkok airport, we meet and greet you then transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy your surroundings or relax and recover from the flight.

After a pre-tour briefing we spend the morning visiting the Grand Palace complex and the royal temple of the Emerald Buddha. After lunch we spend the afternoon cruising along some of Bangkok’s many canals, observing the daily lives of the locals and stopping at interesting sights en route. The evening is free for you to enjoy one of Bangkok’s many excellent restaurants.

This morning we drive to the historic town of Kanchanaburi, site of the famous bridge over the River Kwai. We spend the day visiting the Allied War Cemetery, war museum and the remains of the original bridge - built by POWs during the Second World War. We also take a train journey on the Death Railway and a short long-tailed boat ride on the Kwai Noi River.

We spend the morning visiting Erawan National Park, well known for its spectacular multi-tired waterfalls. Its rugged landscape is thickly forested and home to an amazing array of plants and wildlife. The afternoon is free to relax or do some more sightseeing in and around Kanchanaburi.

Our next stop is Ayutthaya, the former capital of Thailand (1350-1767AD). Here we take a tour of the many ancient temples scattered around the site and along the banks of the Chao Phraya River. We also enjoy lunch on board a traditional rice barge. In the evening we take the overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai.

Upon arrival in Chiang Mai we transfer you to your hotel and the rest of the morning is free to relax and settle in. After lunch we take a trip to Doi Suthep temple, which contains a holy relic of the Buddha, and affords a wonderful view over the city. In the evening we experience a special Kantoke Dinner, which is an important part of the northern Thai culture. There will also be a performance of local hill-tribe music and dancing.

Today we drive to the nearby town of Lampang. En route we stop at the Elephant Conservation Centre to see elephants bathing and demonstrating their skill at hauling timber. We’ll also see the elephant hospital, to which sick and injured elephants from all over the country are brought. In Lampang we visit some of the most important temples in the north and enjoy the traditional architecture still in evidence in and around the town centre.

It’s a free day in Chiang Mai today, and there are many options available to keep us busy, including a Thai cooking course, bike ride around the temples and other sites of Chiang Mai, and a traditional Thai massage.

Leaving Chiang Mai behind we head north to the charming city of Chiang Rai. This laid back city was once the capital of the Lanna Thai kingdom, which was absorbed into Thailand in 1786. After checking into our hotel we take a boat trip on the Mae Nam Kok River, which gives us a great chance to see the area’s stunning natural jungle scenery.

Today we explore the infamous Golden triangle, which covers the borders of Thailand, Burma and Laos. We stop at several hill-tribe villages to experience the local villager’s distinctive dress and daily lives. We also visit Mae Sai, the most northerly point of Thailand, where Burmese lacquer ware, gems and jade are sold, along with other goods from Burma and Laos.

We have a free day today to explore more of Chiang Rai, or to relax and take it easy. There are plenty of options available, including walking some of the many trails into the surrounding jungle, in search of local wildlife.

This morning we transfer back to Chiang Rai airport for the short flight back to Bangkok. After checking into our hotel the rest of the day is free to enjoy some more sightseeing or relax by the hotel pool.

Today is free for you to do some more sightseeing or a bit of last minute souvenir hunting before we transfer you back to the airport for flight home.