For honeymooners looking to get a taste of the exotic foods and culture of Thailand, with a little beach relaxation thrown in, this is the perfect honeymoon tour. Start your adventure in Bangkok, touring the city and sampling the local cuisine with your guide, then travel north to Chiang Mai where you will visit temples and villages, and make friends with elephants. Finally, head to the Gulf of Thailand and relax in luxurious resorts on two of Thailand’s most romantic islands – Koh Phangan and Koh Samui.
“Close your eyes and imagine the perfect beach destination. Got it? Was it a secluded island with no one around but you and your partner, with white sand beaches and crystal clear water? Did you see yourselves lounging in your personal pool villa overlooking the sea? Maybe you saw yourselves snorkeling during the day and out for fun nightlife under the full moon? Really any vision you have for the perfect beach, Thailand has it. That’s what I love about Thailand for honeymoons – there is something that fits every individual guest and I can always find the right beach and the right property for you. What’s even better is that if you want the tropical island experience, but you also want more – Thailand has that too. Visiting with baby elephants (calfs) in the jungle, trekking, temples, culture, $5 hour long massages – yes, Thailand has all that and more.” – April Cole, Journeys Within Honeymoon Specialist
Day 1 Bangkok: Arrival
Arrive in Bangkok where you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel.
Meals Included: None
Overnight at So Sofitel Bangkok – 1Double So Comfy Room
Day 2 Bangkok: Public Transport City Tour with Klongs
You will be met by your guide at your hotel at 9am before transferring to the Skytrain. Enjoy an elevated view of central Bangkok before boarding a river express boat to the Flower Market. Experience the sights and smells before taking an exciting tuk tuk ride to Wat Pho to see the famous Reclining Buddha.
Relax with a thirty minute massage from the temple’s near-by traditional Thai massage school. Break for lunch at a local restaurant, and then head to the pride of Thailand, the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew housing the Emerald Buddha. Afterwards, you will hop into your own private riverboat for a tour of the klongs (canals) that make up the interconnected waterways of the city. Finally board a river express boat back to the Skytrain station and returning to your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at So Sofitel Bangkok – 1Double So Comfy Room
Day 3 Bangkok: Culinary Delights
Meet your guide in the hotel lobby around 8am to go and join the hustle and bustle of Bangkok’s morning streets. You will travel by public transport to a local market where you can see numerous food stalls set up selling fresh produce and the Thai’s answer to ‘fast food’. Make sure you sample a local tea and some of the more renowned dishes as you wander around the maze of the market.
You will then travel by local transport to the famous Aor Tor Kor Market. This high standard market created by the Marketing Organization for Farmers has become very popular due to its fresh produce and seafood at reasonable prices. Many locals make the journey just to eat at the food court, known for selling famous dishes from all around the country. After enjoying a filling lunch at the market, head back to your hotel for a free afternoon.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at So Sofitel Bangkok – 1Double So Comfy Room
Day 4 Chiang Mai: Arival and Doi Suthep Temple with Wat Suan Dok Sunset
Your driver will meet you at your hotel for your private transfer to the airport, where you will arrive in time for your onward flight – Bangkok Airways PG215 departing from Bangkok at 08:05 & arriving in Chiang Mai at 09:20.
You will be met by your guide at Chiang Mai Airport and transferred to your hotel.
Drive up to visit Doi Suthep, the most important Wat in Chiang Mai. Perched high above the city, it offers wonderful views of the city and countryside below. From here head west of the city walls on to one of the most beautiful viewpoints for sunset – Wat Suan Dok. Literally translated as ‘’field of flowers’’, this temple was built by King Keu Na of Lanna, and is a prime example of Lanna architecture. Here at this fourteenth century temple you will witness evening prayer as the monks and local people come together at the end of the day.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Marndadee Heritage River Village – 1Double Lanna Colonial Room
Day 5 Chiang Mai: Elephant Owner for a Day at Patara Elephant Farm
You will be met in the lobby of your hotel at 7:30am and transferred to the Patara Elephant Farm, located not far from Chiang Mai. At the farm you will be given your training outfit and a brief talk on working with elephants before heading into the bush to find them. You will learn about the management of the elephant farm and the how the breeding program has been developed and maintained. You will of course be introduced to the stars of the show, and slowly will learn how to work with them on the ground.
After you’ve made friends, you can then lead them down to the river for their morning bath, followed by a short ride to a local temple where you can learn about elephants in Buddhism and the Thai’s ancient relationship with these traditional beasts of burden. Around midday you will set off on a ride through the jungle to visit some lovely waterfalls where you can enjoy a picnic lunch as well as a swim in the falls with your elephant. Return to the camp in the afternoon and say goodbye to your new friends before being transferred back to your hotel.
Please note: Today you will get wet when you help with the elephants’ bath. Please bring appropriate clothing for this, as well as a towel and change of clothes.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Marndadee Heritage River Village – 1Double Lanna Colonial Room
Day 6 Chiang Mai: Villages and Bamboo Forest Trek with Caves
Your guide will meet you at your hotel at 07:30. This early start allows you to get on the trail before it gets too hot. Drive two hours to Chiang Dao where you will start your walk. We highly recommend a stop at a roadside coffee shop…an iced coffee or Chai Yen helps get you moving! Once in Ban Pang Tong you’ll be dropped at the end of a dirt road. Hike up the road as your guide tells you about different flowers and birds you see along the way. At the end of the road is a lovely village belonging Lao Ho people. Here Animism is still practiced and the local people are more wary of visitors and can be shy. Your guide will show you the different style of homes and you might get some shy waves from the kids.
Leaving the village you’ll climb a steep hill for some amazing views of the rice fields and the village from above…don’t worry, this is the steepest hill of the day. Walk for a while in the sun seeing the fields and how the hill tribes survive through agriculture. You’ll stop for a break in a farmer’s hut overlooking the valley before continuing on until you enter the bamboo forest. Listen to the peaceful sounds of the bamboo rustling and groaning and the bird calls echoing through this calm area. Feel free to ask the guide questions or just soak up the beauty of your surroundings. Along the way, you may see villages collecting wood, cutting down bamboo or hunting.
After a couple of hours you’ll emerge into a valley with huge limestone cliffs towering around you and fields of rice and corn on either side of the trail. Follow the path into a Karen village and meet some of the locals to see their home. In this village there are often hill tribe women selling souvenirs, but they aren’t the Karen, who are a more shy and reserved group, but rather the Akha from a nearby village, who much more are outgoing and interested in the tourist market.
Afterwards you will meet your driver who will take you to lunch at Kru Chang Dao, one of the most famous restaurants in the area, known for their famous stewed pork and rice, as well as many other traditional Thai dishes. After lunch, if you are adventitious and willing to do some light spelunking, head off to nearby sacred caves for some exploration with a local guide by lamplight. Explore the nearby temple and garden before meeting back with your van for you 2 hour drive back to Chang Mai.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Marndadee Heritage River Village – 1Double Lanna Colonial Room
Day 7 Chiang Mai: Alms Giving and Pantawn Cooking Class
Buddhism is a huge part of life in Thailand and this morning you’ll see how local lives can revolve around Buddhism and its rituals. Wake up early and meet your guide at 6.30am to head to Wat Sri Sodha to see monks collecting alms and returning to their monastery for their morning meal. Your guide will explain why and how to give alms before so that you may respectfully take part in this daily ritual. Then visit Kruba Sri Vichi Monument where many locals come to leave candles, incense and flowers, and learn about the significance of each item as an offering.
Afterwards, you will follow your guide to Chiang Mai morning market where you will sit down for a typical local breakfast of noodle soup and delicious Chai Tea. Then you will head on to Wat Chedi Luang by 8am to listen to the monks morning chanting and learn about this importance practice in a monk’s daily life. Take a walk around this 15th century temple and its beautiful grounds before heading on to Wat Suan Dok around 10am.
At Wat Suan Dok you will have the opportunity to sit and chat with a monk about Buddhism, meditation and his everyday life. Once you are done with your questions, the monk will discuss with you the importance of meditation and then lead you in a brief mediation practice. Late morning you will be transferred back to your hotel.
You will be picked up between 4-4:30 and taken to the local market close to the Pantawan Cooking School, (located only 15 minutes from the old city) to introduce you the ingredients of Thai cooking and to see the local way of life in Chiang Mai. Your next destination will be the Pantawan Cooking School, where you will be welcomed with cold towel and a delicious drink. The school building is made of teak in the Thai old-luxury style, with a large comfortable space for cooking. They also have their own small organic farm, and sell the fresh vegetables at the market that you visited. The chef will demonstrate how to prepare each of the four dishes for you, before you will make them yourself. Retreat to the balcony where you can enjoy your delicious meal, and take in the peaceful view of the garden. The menu is based on the day of the week.
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight at Marndadee Heritage River Village – 1Double Lanna Colonial Room
Day 8 Koh Phangan: Arrival
You will be met by your guide at your hotel and transferred to Chiang Mai airport for your departure flight – Bangkok Airways PG244 departing from Chiang Mai at 08:25 & arriving in Samui at 10:10.
Today you will be transferred from the hotel to the pier in time to connect with the ferry to Koh Phangan. Arrive at the beautiful island where you will be met by a hotel representative and will be transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Santhiya Koh Phangan Resort & Spa – 1Double Pool Villa Suite
Day 9 Koh Phangan: Day at Leisure
You have today free to relax or explore on your own.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Santhiya Koh Phangan Resort & Spa – 1Double Pool Villa Suite
Day 10 Koh Phangan: Day at Leisure
You have today free to relax or explore on your own.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Santhiya Koh Phangan Resort & Spa – 1Double Pool Villa Suite
Day 11 Koh Phagan to Koh Samui
Today you will be transferred from the hotel to the pier in time to connect with the ferry back to Koh Samui. Arrive in Samui where you will be met by a representative from the Four Seasons Resort and will be transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure in Samui.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Four Seasons Resort, Koh Samui – 1Double One Bedroom Villa
Day 12 Samui: Day at Leisure
You have today free to relax or explore on your own.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Four Seasons Resort, Koh Samui – 1Double One Bedroom Villa
Day 13 Samui: Day at Leisure
You have today free to relax or explore on your own.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Four Seasons Resort, Koh Samui – 1Double One Bedroom Villa
Day 14 Samui: Departure
Transfer to the airport in time to catch your flight – Bangkok Airways PG874 departing from Samui at 12:15 & arriving in Bangkok at 13:20.
Catch your connecting departure flight-
Meals included: Breakfast
PLEASE NOTE: This itinerary is currently in progress and does not reflect hotel room availability. The pricing is not final until the itinerary has been confirmed and booked.
Tour Rate: $5,500 per person based on two people traveling
Price includes:
- Air tickets Hanoi – Luang Prabang – Siem Reap – Saigon
- Boat tickets as specified above
- Accommodation as specified above
- Air-conditioned car/van with driver
- Licensed English speaking guides
- Tours and admission fees as mentioned above
- Meals as specified in itinerary, including water
Price excludes:
- Personal expenses
- Visa fees
- Airport tax
- Drinks (except water) and meals not mentioned in itinerary
- Tips
