Thailand

Thailand in a Small Group: Bangkok, Kanchanaburi and the Villages of the North

Sixteen travellers at most, a cooking class, an ethical elephant farm and a day in the rice fields

Thailand

Thailand in a Small Group: Bangkok, Kanchanaburi and the Villages of the North

A tour closer to local people, in a group of 16 at most: two days in Bangkok between the klongs, Wat Arun and the Grand Palace, Kanchanaburi and the bridge on the River Kwai, the Erawan waterfalls, Ayutthaya, Sukhothai and Lampang, then the North differently: a cooking class in Chiang Mai, a night in the village of Mae Kampong, an ethical elephant farm with the Karen of Mae Wang and a day with the rice farmers. Back to Bangkok by plane. Beach extensions of 3 to 5 nights from €2,338 per person; private version from €3,422.

When

Nov to April

Price

From 2 148€ excl. flights

(based on 2 people sharing)

How long

10 nights

Ideal length

Bangkok

Days 1-4

Two days for the capital: the canals, the Temple of Dawn and the Grand Palace.

Day 1

Flight to Thailand

Flight to Thailand. Dinner and night on board.

Day 2

Arrival in Bangkok

Welcome at Bangkok airport by your French-speaking guide, with the traditional flower garland, and transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Day 3

The klongs and Wat Arun

A ride along the klongs, the canals that earned Bangkok the name of the Venice of Asia, then a visit to Wat Arun, the 82-metre Temple of Dawn on the Chao Phraya River.

Day 4

The Grand Palace

Visit the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred in the country. A free afternoon and dinner.

1 / 3

Kanchanaburi and the old capitals

Days 5-8

The markets of Mae Klong and Damnoen Saduak, the River Kwai and Erawan, then Ayutthaya, Sukhothai and Lampang.

Day 5

The markets – Kanchanaburi

Mae Klong market on the rails and the floating market of Damnoen Saduak by boat. Continue to Kanchanaburi: the Allied war cemetery and the bridge on the River Kwai (about 180 km).

Day 6

The Erawan waterfalls

A morning in Erawan National Park: a three-hour round-trip walk along seven tiers of waterfalls, with swims in the natural pools and curious monkeys.

Day 7

Ayutthaya and Uthai Thani – Sukhothai

Ayutthaya, the former capital of Siam and a UNESCO site, then Uthai Thani, 'the purple city', its rice fields and floating houses. Drive to Sukhothai (about 500 km).

Day 8

Sukhothai and Lampang – Chiang Mai

The temples of Sukhothai, capital of a powerful kingdom and a UNESCO site, then Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, a gem of Lanna architecture. Arrive in Chiang Mai.

1 / 4

The North differently

Days 9-13

Three days with the people of the North: cooking, a mountain village, elephants and rice fields.

Day 9

Doi Suthep and a cooking class – Mae Kampong

Visit Doi Suthep and its view over Chiang Mai. A cooking class that begins at the market, with your teacher, buying fresh produce. Drive to the village of Mae Kampong for the night.

Day 10

The ethical elephant farm in Mae Wang

Drive to Mae Wang, where the Karen have kept their traditions for nearly a century, and a day at an ethical elephant farm: you feed them and spend time with them, without riding them.

Day 11

A morning in the rice fields – flight to Bangkok

Dressed in local clothes, you learn transplanting, ox ploughing and harvesting with the rice farmers. Back to Chiang Mai for lunch, then fly to Bangkok.