12-Day Highlights of Thailand Tour

What to expect on this itinerary
Pearl-white beaches line crystal clear waters, magnificent mountains tower up from the earth, golden palaces glimmer under the sun, and grand temples share a wealth of insight. Award-winning restaurants cover the vibrant city streets, and coral reefs yearn to be explored. Thailand boasts many enchanting experiences across its diverse and tropical landscape. On this specially-curated, 12-day tour, you will explore some of the best sights and attractions that this country has to offer. Journey to the Land of Smiles and create memories that will last a lifetime as you uncover what makes this destination truly special and unique.
Customizable Itinerary
Chiang Mai – A Tranquil Arrival Amidst Nature
Thailand’s secluded beauty is best experienced in the Northern capital of Chiang Mai. The diverse landscape and isolated experiences make for an incredibly immersive and captivating stay. Upon your arrival, you will comfortably transfer to your lavish boutique resort that will be nestled at the base of Doi Suthep Mountain. Built into the mountain, your private will villa offer exceptional tranquility within nature. Picture-perfect vistas of the greater Chiang Mai area and first-class amenities make this your ideal destination to rest your head after your long flight into Thailand. You can relax in the private pool before fine dining at the distinguished resort restaurant to let the afternoon slowly slip into the evening.
What's Included:
Chiang Mai – A Soaring Tour in a Private Hot-Air Balloon
Chiang Mai – Share Stories with the Locals
Bangkok – Rise to the Clouds
Bangkok – Delve into a Cuisine of Tremendous Depth
Bangkok – Trace Back Thailand’s Cultural Roots
Koh Samui – Experience Luxury on Sand and Sea
Koh Samui – Island Hop to Idyllic Hideaway Spots
Koh Samui – Absorb an Island Steeped in Heritage
Phuket – Cherish an Evening Supper on the Lagoon
Phuket – Glide Across Phuket Island as a VIP
Phuket – The Best of Phuket’s Allure
Trip Highlights
- Uncover the country’s iconic landscapes from the unique perspectives of a private hot-air balloon flight over Chiang Mai and a VIP helicopter tour over Phuket
- Immerse yourself into the culture of an ethnic hill tribe in the less-traveled city of Chiang Rai to uncover the age-old traditions of Thailand’s local inhabitants
- Learn more about the country’s diverse wildlife and sustainable eco-practices while caring for elephants and an ethical sanctuary
- Discover the tastes of Thailand as you sample dishes prepared by award-winning chefs and revered local cooks on an exclusive food tour of Bangkok
- Craft and master Thai cuisine yourselves as you learn the secrets behind their most coveted dishes at a prestigious culinary school
- Indulge in visits to premier landmarks and ancient temples in Bangkok to learn more about the country’s rich heritage
- Experience a luxurious island-hop to immaculate seaside destinations off the coast of Koh Samui
- Luxuriate at Phuket’s best-kept beach secrets as you traverse the Andaman Sea via the comfort of a lavish private vessel
Detailed Description
Chiang Mai, the first destination on your Thailand highlights tour, is a wonderfully rugged region that is complete with striking mountain ranges and sprawling jungles. Nestled at the base of the renowned Doi Suthep Mountain lies an immaculate resort that you will have the luxury of calling home for a few days. With some time to unwind, you can enjoy the first-class amenities and divine Thai cuisine before your adventurous exploits begin the following day. During your stay, you will check off iconic experiences in the Land of Smiles. A sunrise spectacle from the unique perspective of a private hot-air balloon will take your breath away. Shortly after landing, you will journey to an ethical elephant sanctuary that is set amid a luscious, jungle setting. You will enjoy more of Northern Thailand’s diverse cultural heritage and landscape the following day as you are accompanied by a knowledgeable guide who will help you discover the traditional living of an ethnic hill tribe before visiting the magnificent temple atop the Doi Suthep cave complex.
You will journey to Bangkok after your immersive stay in Northern Thailand. Here, you will delve into the rich tastes of Thailand with an enthralling food tour of the most authentic and luxurious culinary destinations that the country has to offer. You will further your knowledge of Thai cuisine at a prestigious culinary school, where you will learn the age-old traditions of their most coveted meals. The following day, you will revel in revered landmarks and uncover the sheer beauty of the glimmering golden temples. A stop at the Jim Thompson House will conclude your inspiring stay in Bangkok. Then, you will then make your way to Koh Samui, which is a magical island that shares tranquil experiences for a truly pleasurable stay. A private speed boat will transfer you to the pivotal neighboring islands as you hop your way around this paradise. You will dine on world-class cuisine and visit immaculate cultural destinations throughout your serene exploration.
Next, you will make your way to the tropical island of Phuket. Boasting a collection of pristine white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters, you will be whisked away to paradise, where you will stay in an ultra-luxurious resort that will provide you with an enchanting spa treatment at its leading wellness center. The next day, you will capture unforgettable vistas of the greater Phuket region as you soar across the sky in a VIP helicopter. You will witness more of the picturesque seascape from the comfort of a luxurious private speed boat as you tour hideaway beaches and snorkel the vibrant coral reefs. Your Thailand trip will culminate with a private tour of Phuket’s most significant cultural and heritage sites. If the beautiful sights and attractions were not enough, you will share in exquisite, award-winning meals alongside marvelous sunset views to finish off your vacation in absolute style. Consider learning more about our travelers’ best Thailand travel experiences by reading their Thailand travel reviews.
Starting Price
$4,300 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 98 reviews
The Zicasso travel team made my birthday "bucket-list" trip incredible! Every detail of my trip was expertly taken care of. All my scheduled tours were on time despite a little "liquid sunshine".
Our trip entailed visits to three areas in Thailand (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Koh Samui). In each location, our tour guides were amazing!
In Bangkok, we were greeted and expertly ushered to the various incredible sights and activities by two guides. In Chiang Mai, we were greeted and introduced to the sights and history by another guide. Everyone was very knowledge and made each tour interesting and engaging,
We could not have asked for more on this incredible trip! Without a doubt, I will be seeing Thailand again in my very near future and with no other than the team from Zicasso's travel company! Thank you to our agent and his team.
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We recently completed a 29-day custom-designed tour of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam with Zicasso’s travel company. As a couple, we have toured 100 countries on six continents. We always travel by ourselves and not in groups. We often plan and book our itinerary and activities on our own. We have experienced tour operators in the past who just string together “cookie-cutter” activities and call it a custom tour. I commend the travel company for not taking this path.
Our tour was completely tailored to our needs. We went through several iterations of the itinerary to match it to our interests and they were untiring in making adjustments to suit our particular needs. The hotels were all of excellent quality and very well located. The itineraries in each of the locations we visited met our expectations and addressed the interests we had discussed with the representatives of the travel company. All of the guides were good and several were amongst the best we have ever had. The support of the travel company was outstanding throughout our trip, with daily check-ins and immediate reactions when assistance was requested. I would rate the tour as exceptional. I unhesitatingly recommend the travel company.
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To our travel specialist,
We would like to thank you for putting such an amazing trip together for us.
Your hotel choices were spot-on! We were happy to be by the river in Bangkok.
In Hanoi, our guide was a walking Wikipedia. He adjusted our schedule to a perfect spot to see the train upon my request. The signature cruise on a lovely boat was a highlight of the trip.
Our guide in Ho Chi Minh City was great in communication. She reached out on WhatsApp before our arrival. We enjoyed the Happy Buddha and canoe experience.
The tunnel tour was very disappointing. We seemed very rushed and we listened to other tour guides for information. Lunch was at 10.45am and we arrived at the airport five hours before departure.
Our guide in Bangkok was so compassionate. She taught us about offerings and the lotus. The river location was perfect for us.
Our guide in Chiang Mai was very soft-spoken and gave us a fabulous tour. She wanted us to experience the “northern food!"
The elephant sanctuary you chose was perfect, with just the right amount of time.
In Phuket, we were not picked up by our assigned driver. Our guide was there with a driver. She was helpful in the airport upon our return to Hong Kong.
This was an amazing trip for both of us!
Thank you so much!
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Zicasso's travel expert addressed our one issue with our bed instantly and helped with navigating having to potentially go home because of health issues. Aside from that, our tour guide in Chiang Mai was the best we have ever had and to top it, he was a photographer, so took the most amazing photos for us.
I felt Bangkok was tough to rate because it was a very busy, dirty city, but we had an amazing guide one evening. We had issues with the driver showing up at the right time a few times, but mostly in Bangkok. Our agent was the best at addressing our needs.
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Our Zicasso travel agent did a wonderful job taking our requests and styling a complex, detailed itinerary. Everything worked perfectly. The guides all communicated with each other and the drivers were always at the expected locations. All accommodations were awesome and well-located.
Beginning in Chiang Mai, Thailand, we visited Doi Inthanon National Park, the Doi Suthep mountain temple, and had an absolutely awesome time visiting with elephants at the elephant sanctuary, among other things. We even got to play with a two-week-old elephant. All our dining recommendations were awesome and we particularly enjoyed our time with the guides.
Next, we flew to Krabi for unforgettable views and relaxing beach time. Again, the resort was awesome. We even went mountain climbing on Railay Beach. My son got engaged at the New Year's gala at our hotel, which was spectacular; an unbelievable stay. We particularly enjoyed our time with the guide!
Next, we finished in Bangkok, where the highlight was riding in the tuk-tuks and doing a city food tour. Our guide was so awesome and knowledgeable.
Unfortunately, eight of the 10 of us then flew home, while my wife and I continued to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Our guide was such a good travel companion and we left Cambodia with a true knowledge of Cambodian life/history/temples. He was very forthcoming about his life growing up under the Khmer Rouge. Although a long day, the temple tour was unbelievable, culminating in Angkor Wat. Our hotel was awesome and blocks from the nightlife on Pub Street. It was such a great stay.
Next, we flew to Saigon. We were met by our guide, who noticed we were hungry and immediately stopped at a local street food vendor for our first foray into bun bo. It was so good. The mix of history, countryside visits, and city tours with our guide was awesome and she even left us with a customized pictorial of our visit. The other excursion that needs mention is the Vespa city and food tour. Our main guide was delightful, giving us a true taste of Saigon culture and food. The drivers were so great. This tour finished with a surprise visit to a local bar/club, where we had front-row seats to an awesome Latin band for a nightcap. It was truly unforgettable. Also, we cannot forget our visit to the Cu Chi tunnels, where our guide did a great job educating and touring us through this unbelievable history.
Then, we flew to Hanoi to another awesome location. Highlights in Hanoi would be visiting the Hoa Lo prison, having dinner in a local family's home, and especially the Minsk backstreet tour. Our tour drivers were so awesome. This excursion really gave us a feel for the city/backstreets, as well as an idea of the frightening life of riding a motorbike through the city and back alleys of Hanoi. It was truly unforgettable. This tour finished with my knees about a foot away from the speeding train at Hanoi train station, another can't-miss site!
Next, we visited Ninh Binh for trekking, biking, and bamboo boating. The scenery was awesome and it was definitely a nice break from the busy city.
The trip finished with a two-night, three-day cruise on Hạ Long Bay. The scenery was unbelievable and the staff were excellent; so attentive and informative.
This trip truly was spectacular and we are so happy that Zicasso connected us with our agent to make all of this happen. We couldn't be happier with the entire trip!
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Zicasso’s travel specialist was a great resource in assisting us plan a trip to Thailand. We decided "last minute" (February) to plan a trip to Thailand in March and although it was a very short timeline, the travel specialist jumped into action and created several possible itineraries. We had a call so he could better understand our goals and with only a few tweaks, we signed off on a 12-day plan and off we went.
He is very personable and has experience living and traveling in the region, so he could speak first-hand on some of the recommendations. He was very thorough in helping us think through all the details; ie., packing, transportation, guides, drivers, money exchange, battery packs, passports, etc., etc. We did have a few questions while we were in Thailand and he was responsive to our queries.
The local guides and drivers in Thailand were all very good and we totally appreciated having that level of support, which was a first for us. It set a new level of travel for my husband and me. We would definitely work with Zicasso and the travel company for future travel. Thanks for the opportunity.
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