Meet & Greet: On arrival at Bangkok Airport you will be welcomed to Thailand by your private English speaking guide and then transferred to your hotel to check in and relax.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Riva Arun (Riva Studio).

Morning's guided tour of Bangkok: After breakfast you will be taken on a tour of the city. Walk through the morning flower markets to explore real Thai lifestyle. Then board a long-tailed boat to Thonburi, in the west of Bangkok, situated on the right side of the Chao Phraya River. Its many canals had originally given Bangkok the name "Venice of the East." Passing along the canals in the boat gives you a first-hand impression of the scenic life along Bangkok‘s waterways. You will also visit the majestic Royal Barges and the Temple of Dawn. Return to the hotel to make your own arrangements for lunch.

Afternoon guided tour to the Grand Palace & Wat Pho: This afternoon you will be collected from your hotel for a tour which includes three of the most unusual Buddhist temples in Bangkok: Wat Traimit with its invaluable Golden Buddha (5 ½ tons of solid gold); Wat Pho, the largest temple in Bangkok, with the colossal Reclining Buddha and the Chedis of the Kings, and the Grand Palace which is one of the most beautiful examples of ancient Siamese architecture and has been the residence of the Kings of Thailand for over two centuries. Here you will see palaces which were used for different occasions: the Funeral Palace, the Reception Palace, the Throne Hall, the Coronation Hall, the Royal Guest House and the beautiful Emerald Buddha Temple.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Riva Arun (Riva Studio).

Meals: Breakfast

Morning guided tour to the Floating Market: After an early breakfast set off for the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market which is situated 70 miles west of Bangkok and is a very attractive place for visitors to see the old style and traditional way of selling and buying fruits & vegetables from small boats. You will also see traditional Thai houses as well as see how the way the people here live and travel by boats. The tour includes a visit to Nakorn Pathom, site of the highest Chedi in Thailand called "Phra Patom Chedi" which is the largest pagoda in Southeast Asia.

Afternoon free: This afternoon you are free to relax or to make the most of Bangkok's excellent shopping opportunities.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Riva Arun (Riva Studio).

Meals: Breakfast

Private transfer: After an early breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Chiang Rai.

Flight: TG130 Bangkok - Chiang Rai 08.35 - 09.55

Guided excursion to Chiang Saen: On arrival you will be met by your guide and then you will set off on the drive to Chiang Saen, the former capital of the first Thai Kingdom, which is situated directly on the Mekong River at the Thailand-Laos border. Here you will visit Wat Phra Dhat Jom Kitti by climbing 383 steps to the top of the hill. You will also visit Wat Jedi Luang and the small museum nearby. Lunch will be taken at a local restaurant. Later continue by longtail speedboat upriver on the Mekong toward the Golden Triangle where the borders of Thailand, Burma and Laos meet. Afterwards you will be transferred to your hotel to check in.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Katiliya Mountain Resort & Spa (Mountain Suite).

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Full day guided tour in the Golden Triangle region: After breakfast you will drive from your hotel to visit a Lisu Village at Ban Mae Kaotom and then continue uphill, via Mae Chan, passing Yao and Akha hill tribe villages. Afterwards proceed to Doi Mae Salong, passing through beautiful mountain scenery. There are stunning views from the top taking in a large part of Thailand, Burma and the Mekong Valley. Lunch will be taken at a local restaurant. This afternoon depart Doi Mae Salong for Mae Sai, which is the northernmost Thai town and set on the Burmese border. Stroll through the town and take a look at the vibrant market. After time to explore here you will drive to Chiang Rai, stopping off at Fish Cave along the way, and on arrival you will be transferred to your hotel to check in.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the The Legend Chiang Rai (Superior Studio)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Full day guided tour from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai: After breakfast you will be taken to board a simple long-tail boat for a three-hour journey up the Kok River, passing tiny hill tribe villages, bamboo huts and jungle scenery. Disembark at Ban Pha Tai and continue by road to visit Ban Lorcha, a Phami Akha hill tribe community centre. This community-based tourism development project promotes sustainable, self-reliant development to improve the quality of life of villagers in this Akha Community, and is a model for tourism in hill tribe villages. Lunch will be taken at a local restaurant. After lunch you will set off by road to Chiang Mai via the towns of Fang and Chiang Dao. On arrival in Chiang Mai you will be transferred to your hotel to check in and relax for the rest of the day.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Tamarind Village (Lanna Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Full day guided tour of Chiang Mai: After breakfast you will set out to explore the local fresh market before taking a short "samlor" (tricycle) ride to Wat Phra Singh. This 14th century Lanna style temple has been one of Chiang Mai's most important sanctuaries. Opposite is Wat Prasat, one of the oldest unreconstructed temples in the city, and after looking around here you will visit Wat Suan Dok where the ashes of former kings of Chiang Mai and the Royal Family are kept. Your last stop of the day will be at Wat Gate (or Wat Gatekaram) which dates back to the mid 15th century and sits in a great location in the historic district on the east bank of the River Ping. Lunch will be taken in a local restaurant and this afternoon you will visit Wat Doi Suthep, which is tucked away in the mountains at an elevation of 1,056m. The temple is reached using a 290 step staircase and the monastery at the top was built by King Gue-Na in 1383. At its centre is a big Chedi (spiral pagoda) which contains relics of the Lord Buddha. Afterwards continue your tour with a visit to some local handicraft factories to see the manufacturing of lacquerware, the weaving of Thai Silk and also to see how paper umbrellas are made.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Tamarind Village (Lanna Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

'Elephant Day Care' experience at Patara Elephant Farm: After an early breakfast you will drive out to Patara Elephant Farm where you will have a full morning of 'elephant day care', where the emphasis is on caring for any pregnant elephants and mothers with small off-spring. On arrival at the farm you will register and get changed into your training outfit and have a chance to learn about the farm's elephant conservation philosophy. You will then be taking part in the daily healthcare routine of the elephants which includes health inspection, feeding, walking with the elephants for exercise and also to the water for drinking and bathing. You will be able to observe them interacting among their families in natural environments. The knowledgeable staff will be providing you with information regarding their daily care as you go along. In the early afternoon, bid your elephant farewell and then set off back to your hotel. Please note that no elephant riding is included in this tour and it will be shared with other participants.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Tamarind Village (Lanna Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Private transfer: This morning you will be transferred to the airport for the Thai Airways flight to Phuket via Bangkok.

Flight: TG129 Chiang Mai - Phuket 12.35 - 14.30

Private transfer: On arrival in Phuket you will be met at the airport and transferred to your beach hotel in Khao Lak to check in. The drive will take around one hour.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Khao Lak Paradise Resort (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

At leisure: You are free to do as much or as little as you like. Khao Lak offers a wide variety of activities and this is also a great opportunity to arrange a day trip to the nearby Similan Islands.

Accommodation: Stay at the Khao Lak Paradise Resort (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast