Vivid Thailand: Temples, Jungles and Beaches

Day 1: Bangkok – Arrival

Sawadee! After a long flight, you’re welcomed by your guide just beyond the luggage carousel — their warm smile and soft greeting mark your first taste of Thai hospitality. A private microbus transfer carries you through the early rhythm of the capital, past tangled power lines, gold-domed temples, and the first tuk-tuk darting through traffic.
Once checked in at your hotel, the rest of the day is yours. Let your body unwind and your senses tune into the pace of the city. 

Overnight in Bangkok

Day 2: Bangkok – City Tour

Morning:
Today begins with a guided journey into the heart of Bangkok’s royal and spiritual identity. At Wat Phra Kaew, the Emerald Buddha sits serenely, his gaze unchanged through centuries. Just steps away, the Grand Palace dazzles in gold and glass — each surface telling a story of power, faith, and intricate craftsmanship. Then onto Wat Pho, where the Reclining Buddha rests his 46-meter-long frame in graceful stillness. As you move between halls of prayer and glittering stupas, you’ll hear the soft chime of temple bells and feel the serenity of saffron-robed monks.

Afternoon:
From sacred stillness to the riot of color in Chinatown, you’ll thread through alleys where every inch bursts with life — spices, jade trinkets, roasted duck, and colorful neon signs. Discover Pak Klong Talat, the flower market, where streets bloom with lotus buds and orchids, freshly cut and fragrant. Pause as artisans craft delicate offerings right on the pavement — a quiet rhythm amidst the vibrant chaos.

Overnight in Bangkok

Day 3: Bangkok – Ayutthaya – Phitsanulok

Morning:
Say goodbye to the modern sprawl. Your journey begins to Ayutthaya, where Thailand’s former capital rests in stately silence. Amongst twisted fig trees and crumbling stupas, you walk the same earth that kings once did. At Wat Phra Sri Sanphet and Wat Mahathat, the Buddha’s face smiles from the roots of ancient trees — a symbol of endurance in a changing world. At Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, monks chant softly as incense curls into the air.

Afternoon:
Leaving the past behind, your route continues north through open countryside, rice paddies flashing silver in the sun. After approximately four hours, you arrive in Phitsanulok, a town that still holds the pulse of a slower Thailand. Check in your hotel and enjoy the rest of your day.

Overnight in Phitsanulok

Day 4: Phitsanulok – Sukhothai – Lampang

Morning:
Today, the road takes you to Sukhothai, Thailand’s first kingdom. The name means “Dawn of Happiness,” and you feel it immediately in the soft light filtering through bodhi trees and the slow pedal of your bicycle through the ruins. In this UNESCO World Heritage Site, time feels like it has slowed. Giant Buddhas sit in meditation, lotus ponds reflect chedis, and birds sing from trees that once shaded scholars and kings.

Afternoon:
After lunch and a visit to Wat Si Chum — where a colossal Buddha peers out from his brick frame with timeless calm — you continue to Si Satchanalai Historical Park. Less visited, yet equally rich, it lies tucked in forested hills — moss-soft paths lead to lichen-covered temples and quiet reflection. The final stretch is a 2.5-hour drive to Lampang, where the city welcomes you with its wooden homes and a more local, lived-in charm.

Overnight in Lampang

Day 5: Lampang – Chiang Mai

Morning:
As the sun rises over the riverside town of Lampang, a gentle clip-clop echoes through the sleepy streets. You begin your day with a short horse ride, weaving through charming lanes lined with teakwood houses and quiet temples. It’s a slow, peaceful introduction to local life that awakens all the senses. Then, you step into the sacred grounds of Wat Phra That Lampang Luang. A blend of Lanna and Burmese styles, the temple is like an intricately carved wooden storybook, with age-stained walls and intricate rooftop carvings. Light filters through the ornate gables, catching flecks of gold and dust in midair. You feel history not through facts, but through presence.

Afternoon:
The journey north to Chiang Mai is a gentle one, winding past rice paddies and forested hills. As the city approaches, you ascend to one of Thailand’s most iconic landmarks: Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Whether you climb the famed 306 steps flanked by Nagas or glide silently in the cable car, the result is the same — a breathtaking vista over Chiang Mai and the golden spire of the temple reaching skyward. 

Overnight in Chiang Mai

Day 6: Chiang Mai – Elephant Care & Temple Tours

Morning:
This morning brings an experience of connection, not sightseeing, but sharing. At Eco Elephant Care, you step into the quiet world of Thailand’s gentle giants. Wearing traditional mahout clothing, you prepare herbal scrubs, feed the elephants by hand, and wade into the river to bathe them — the splash of water, the soft rumble of an elephant’s contentment, the joy reflected in their eyes. There are no tricks, no shows — only the silence of trust between species. And when it’s time to say goodbye, you leave with muddy feet and a heart full of something quietly profound.

Afternoon:
Conclude the day with a visit to three of Chiang Mai’s most soul-stirring temples. Wat Umong, hidden in a forest glade, invites you to wander through its mossy tunnels and ancient stupas — a place where stillness lingers like incense. At Wat Suan Dok, the brilliant white chedis contrast against the sky, each containing sacred relics, while Wat Chedi Luang, with its towering, time-worn chedi, reminds you how even the broken can be majestic.

Overnight in Chiang Mai

Day 7: Chiang Mai – Whitewater Rafting and Quad Bike

Adventure pulses through your veins today. The forests of Mae Taeng Valley become your playground, first with a thrilling ride on a quad bike through jungle trails and red earth paths. Dust kicks up. Laughter echoes. The adrenaline is real, but so is the beauty: flashes of green, rustling trees, distant hills.
Then comes the whitewater. With paddle in hand and nerves tingling, you plunge into the Mae Taeng River, navigating class III and IV rapids. Water splashes your face. The raft spins and charges through swirling currents. It’s a wild, wet, and exhilarating communion with nature.

Overnight in Chiang Mai

Day 8: Chiang Mai — Chiang Dao

Morning:
You leave the city behind and head north toward the quiet, misty highlands of Chiang Dao. Here, life follows a different rhythm. After a warm welcome at Ban Mae Meah Village, your trek begins — deep into jungle trails, past bamboo thickets and birdsong. En route, you stop to learn traditional bamboo basket weaving at a local home — the hands that guide yours are worn but skilled, each movement a story passed through generations.

Afternoon:
A hidden waterfall appears like a secret revealed. You pause here, resting beside the cool waters and sharing a picnic under the jungle canopy. Later, the trail leads you back toward the village as the sun softens. In the evening, the mountain air turns crisp. You gather for dinner at the homestay, surrounded by stories, laughter, and the faint aroma of roasted coffee. It’s a bonus you’ll join after the meal, when you learn the art of roasting beans the village way. Here, comfort doesn’t come from luxury, but from authenticity.

Overnight in Chiang Dao

Day 9: Chiang Dao

Morning:
You wake to birdsong and the mountain breeze drifting through the open window. The rhythm of the village is soft — roosters crowing in the distance, water boiling on a wood stove. After breakfast, you step into the morning light and head to the nearby tea farm. Here, your fingers gently pluck fresh leaves, still dewy with mist. You watch as the villagers roast and prepare the tea — a slow, meditative process that feels more like ceremony than routine. Then we visit Wat Tham Pha Plong, a cave temple hidden at the foot of Chiang Dao Mountain. You ascend the 510 steps, each one drawing you inward. Inside the temple cave, silence envelopes you. It’s a place where time seems to pause, and your breath slows.

Afternoon:
After lunch at a quiet local café, you visit a nearby vegetable farm, where leafy greens stretch in rows. Your host explains the traditional farming techniques, and you begin to understand just how intimately the people here live with the land. The return to Chiang Mai is calm. 

Overnight in Chiang Mai

Day 10: Chiang Mai — Phuket

You bid farewell to the northern hills and board a flight southward. Within hours, the air shifts — from crisp mountain breeze to the warm embrace of sea salt and sun. Phuket welcomes you with lush palms, blue skies, and the promise of something entirely different. After settling in at your beachside hotel, the rest of the day is yours. Perhaps you’ll walk along the shore, letting the waves catch your ankles. Or maybe you’ll sip something cool under a canopy of tropical trees, watching the sky change color as the sun begins to set. 

Overnight in Phuket

Day 11: Phuket — Zipline & Quad Bike

Morning:
Today is all about sensation — adrenaline, wind, and wide-open views. Your zipline adventure begins among treetops, where a network of platforms, spirals, and ropes weaves through the forest canopy. Each leap sends a thrill through your chest, the wind in your ears and the jungle rushing below your feet. The longest line stretches 500 meters — a moment of flight you won’t forget.

Afternoon:
Back on solid ground, you switch gears and saddle up for a quad bike ride through the rubber tree forest. The trail winds and climbs, eventually bringing you to a panoramic lookout where the Big Buddha sits in silent watch over the sea. From up here, the world feels both vast and still. Then it’s time to descend again, winding through the trees before returning to your start point. Dusty, exhilarated, and maybe just a little sun-kissed — it’s a day that reminds you how alive you are.

Overnight in Phuket

Day 12: Phuket — Coral Island

Morning:
The sea calls. After a short transfer, you step onto a speedboat that skims over the waves toward Coral Island — just 15 minutes from the mainland, but a world away in feeling. As you land, the island reveals itself in a palette of turquoise water, powdery white sand, and dense green foliage. You have the entire morning to swim, snorkel, or simply lie beneath the palms listening to the soft lap of waves. Beneath the surface, the world of marine life glides by — clownfish, coral gardens, and sun-dappled sea urchins.

Afternoon:
A leisurely lunch is served by the beach — the kind of meal where you linger with sandy toes and salty skin, eating slowly, smiling often. Then, a final swim or a nap under the shade, before the boat takes you back across the water. 

Overnight in Phuket

Day 13: Phuket — Free & Easy

Today, there is no schedule. No guide waiting at the lobby, no transport revving outside. Just you — free to let the day unfold exactly as you please. 
Maybe you’ll return to the sea for one last swim, or perhaps wander through the quiet Old Town. If you want some treatment, a Thai massage under the shade of coconut palms could be just what your body needs. Every choice is the right one when rest is the destination.
The island doesn’t ask anything of you today — only that you stay a little longer in the feeling of being fully alive.

Overnight in Phuket

Day 14: Phuket — Departure

As the sun rises, you take in your final views of Phuket. The breeze carries a trace of the sea, a familiar scent now. You zip your suitcase — a little fuller than when you came, not just with souvenirs, but with color, laughter, and unexpected moments. 
Our driver arrives to take you to the airport. As the road winds through the island one last time, you might find yourself smiling — because while your body is heading home, your heart has found a second one here.
Until our paths cross again on your next adventure, safe travels!