Thailand’s Northern regions encompass intriguing stories that date back centuries, and these will be unearthed as you explore the marvelous, humanmade, and natural relics in which these sought-after cities pride themselves. You will uncover the country’s iconic wartime past in addition to discover the fascinating cultures that reside in rural destinations that rarely visited by tourists. Every aspect of this voyage is customized to help you expose the gripping heritage that resonates from Thailand’s...
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
Bangkok – A Fascinating Look into the Spirit of Thailand
Brimming with cultural highlights and teeming with luxurious experiences, Bangkok is a pivotal first stop on your 12-day heritage tour across the Northern region of Thailand. The city comes to life with an abundance of enthralling opportunities to delve into the country’s renowned cuisine and to learn more about the ancient traditions in which local lifestyles are firmly rooted. Shortly after you have landed and privately transferred to your luxurious, 5-star accommodation in the heart of the city, you will be provided with an unrivaled tour of Bangkok’s age-old temples
Accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, you will arrive at the entrance to Wat Arun, which is an imposing temple that stands over 70 meters tall alongside the Chao Phraya River. Decorated with multi-colored porcelain, the temple was conceptualized by King Taskin centuries ago when he arrived at the break of dawn. Wat Arun is both an impressive display of the country’s meticulous attention to architectural detail and a heritage site of tremendous value. Your tour will continue with a leisurely cruise across the Chao Phraya River to the gold plated, 150-foot long reclining Buddha image within the elaborate walls of Wat Pho. This incredible spectacle, along with the intricately crafted statues and murals that are positioned around the sacred complex, resonates an aura of spiritual significance and provides a wealth of intriguing photo-worthy moments to celebrate your cultural exploration. Afterward, you will board a regal cruise liner for a gourmet, multiple-course dinner by candlelight as you gently glide across the Chao Phraya River and immerse yourselves in the wondrous flavors of gourmet Thai cuisine.
What's Included:
Day 2
Bangkok – Discover Dazzling Displays of Arts and Crafts
Day 3
Bangkok – A Trip to Thailand’s Wartime Past
Day 4
Mae Hong Son – Regal Retreat of Raw Natural Beauty
Day 5
Mae Hong Son – Culture beyond Borders
Day 6
Chiang Mai – An Educational Exploration of Outstanding Conservation
Day 7
Chiang Mai – Across the Roof of Thailand
Day 8
Chiang Mai – Enlightening Expedition to Chiang Rai
Day 9
Sukhothai – A Past Preserved with Pleasure
Day 10
Sukhothai – Reveal Ancient Rarities
Day 11
Pattaya – A Taste of Terrific Thai Wine
Day 12
Pattaya – Farewell to Paradise
Trip Highlights
- Visit iconic temples in Bangkok such as Wat Arun and Wat Pho and celebrated art and cultural museums across its vibrant cityscape
- Experience a day trip to Kanchanaburi on and marvel at the trio of wartime UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Retreat to the rural beauty of Mae Hong Son and spend your stay in a regal, traditionally-inspired resort that is enveloped by the exuberant jungle
- Explore Mae Hong Son’s staggering topography and the friendly Shan Villages that inhabit the luscious terrain
- Learn more about Chiang Mai’s ethical elephant rehabilitation programs at a renowned conservation center and dine at a gourmet, eco-conscious establishment
- Encounter the many indigenous species of creatures and plant life that can be found in the jungles of Doi Inthanon National Park
- Journey to Chiang Rai to discover its significant spiritual sites and culture in which the city is shrouded
- Transfer to Sukhothai and voyage through its preserved palace ruins that are steeped in fascinating history
- Further discover Sukhothai’s dramatic past at beloved museums that are dotted across the town
- Escape to the seaside city of Pattaya for a resplendent stay in absolute style and fine dine at a stellar wine estate that is known for its exceptional vintages and blends
Detailed Description
Many of Thailand’s strong-rooted traditions and cultural landmarks are encapsulated in the country’s Northern regions in destinations that you will discover on this extensive, 12-day expedition. Your journey will begin in the thriving Bangkok cityscape, which will inspire you with its spiritual complexes that house its revered Buddhist temples. The awe-inspiring display of meticulous dedication to craft will be exemplified as you venture to the city’s prestigious art galleries and cultural museums, each showcasing the local talent and influence of its historical forebears. Afterward, you will transfer away from the exuberant city to the dramatic terrain of Kanchanaburi. You will discover the country’s dramatic past and the role this region played during these triumphs and tribulations as you visit the Kanchanaburi trio.
Your adventure will continue to the luscious green valleys of Mae Hong Son, where you will reside in an astounding but traditionally-inspired resort amongst a jungle setting. Here, you will trek across the red sand cliffs of Pai Canyon and marvel at the sprawling scenic backdrops while being welcomed into the home of an ethnic Shan family. As you connect with the locals and lend a helping hand in creating traditional, Northern Thai cuisine, you will feel completely humbled and leave with a wealth of invaluable knowledge. Your next destination will be Chiang Mai, where you will be blown away by Doi Inthanon National Park and the ethical efforts of one of the city’s pioneering elephant conservation centers. Set to the soundtrack of wondrous wildlife and vistas of emerald-topped jungles, you will feel worlds away from home. You will then enjoy a day trip to Chiang Rai, where you will encounter the fascinating temples and palaces that showcase sculptures of incredible inception.
You will continue to Sukhothai, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you will discover preserved temple and palace ruins that date back centuries. As you peruse the monuments in varying degrees of restoration, you will appreciate the country’s dedication to spirituality and tradition. Your stay will reveal more of the mysteries and folklore in which the town is steeped as you unearth age-old stories inscribed in ancient texts and murals. The final stop of your cultural excursion is Pattaya, which is a city that is the zenith of luxury, seaside living, and you will experience it from the comfort of your immaculate, 5-star villa. You will be treated to a taste of prestigious Thai wines at an exceptional estate amidst a backdrop of its verdant vineyards. This one-of-a-kind experience will highlight Pattaya’s ability to produce world-class wines despite the industry not being as pronounced as it is in other countries. Your final morning will bring with it a brilliant sunrise that you can enjoy as you lounge on the beach and soak in your final hours on Thailand soil. Lastly, you will immerse yourself in a revitalizing spa treatment at your resort’s premier wellness center before grabbing your belongings and bidding your final farewell to the Land of Smiles.
Learn more by seeing how our partner Thailand travel companies can personalize your dream itinerary for you.
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
Reviews of Zicasso's Referral Service
4.87 stars based on 735 reviews.
A huge shout-out to Zicasso's trip coordinator, who orchestrated this incredible trip for us. Each outing was better than the previous one; our guides were awesome, both fun and informative; the hotel selections were just what we wanted, intimate and special. And everything was scheduled like clockwork.
Despite epic rainfall (which led to flash flooding in areas of Chiang Rai and, in fact, prevented normal access to the Black House Museum), they carried on, delivering every bit of our planned itinerary on time and to a tee. This type A control freak (me) never felt the need to “manage” a thing, which speaks volumes about this tour operator's extraordinarily high level of organization, communication, and coordination.
Thank you to everyone involved. It was clearly a team effort. We are most grateful for the magical, once-in-a-lifetime experience you made possible for us.
Reviewed By Julia U.
Zicasso's travel company was amazing! I cannot say enough good words about this company and all the people we worked with!
We planned our honeymoon to Thailand with our travel specialist. He gave us a call shortly after we filled out the contact form. We talked about what we were hoping for on our vacation and what kinds of hotels we like to stay at, etc. Our specialist was very responsive over the whole planning process and would send us sample itineraries until my partner and I were completely happy with the whole trip. His suggestions were thorough and we didn't have to do any research on our own.
We did a trip around the whole country: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, a couple of national parks, and Koh Samui. We had mostly private tours and they were all fantastic! The drivers and tour guides were all friendly and knowledgeable.
Each night, our contact messaged us all the details we needed for the next day. It was super-helpful and allowed us to relax more knowing someone was there for us. We really enjoyed our experience and would be happy to work with this travel company again!
Reviewed By Jessica T.
Our trip was seamless from start to finish. We were thoroughly impressed by the expertise and attentiveness of our local guides—their knowledge, perfectly timed tours, and the thoughtfully planned itinerary by the Zicasso trip planner made for an exceptional experience.
Reviewed By Bernadette B.
Everything was very well arranged by Zicasso's travel specialists. It was a smooth and pleasant experience. The tour guides were always on time. Airport pick-ups and drop-offs were very helpful. The hotels where we stayed were amazing. It was a great experience!
Reviewed By Maitraye S.
We had a great trip to Thailand with our Zicasso trip planner. They set us up with a very helpful guide in Bangkok, who made it easy from the time we stepped off the plane, through all the temples, activities, night markets, tuk-tuks, and boats.
Our hotel in Bangkok was great, with nice views and a nice breakfast buffet. We took the free hotel ferry to the shopping mall and it was a lot of fun.
Our resort in Koh Samui was incredible. It had a great beach and pool. The elephant sanctuary and the cooking class were highlights. We would probably pass on Pig Island next time as it was very dirty and we saw pigs getting attacked.
Overall, we had a great time and the tour guide took care of us completely, from start to finish.
Reviewed By Miles K.
We had an amazing, nearly three-week trip throughout Southeast Asia. Zicasso's tour operators did an incredible job planning all of the details of the trip. In general, I am not easily impressed and I tend to be pretty upfront with my criticism. In this case, I was truly impressed. I really don't have any criticism about the whole experience.
This was a very complicated trip, with eight cities/locations and six internal flights. We had great communication in the months and weeks leading up to the trip. They were receptive to all of our requests and they gave very good advice when we had questions.
All of the guides were great. The hotels were amazing and all of the details of the activities, transfers, and internal flights were well thought out and well coordinated. I was so impressed by their attention to detail. They were also willing to be flexible and able to make changes, even during the trip. I was able to reach them throughout the trip by WhatsApp and they responded quickly every time. I would recommend them wholeheartedly.
Reviewed By Jeffrey W.