Historic Thailand

Explore the Thai Kingdom from north to south on this journey into the country's rich past.

Historic Thailand

Discover Thailand's long and rich history, from 13th-century Sukhothai, royal seat of the first Siamese dynasty, through old Ayutthaya, Thailand's great historic capital, to modern-day Bangkok.

Outline Itinerary

  1. Day 1: Arrive Bangkok

    You will be met on arrival at Bangkok Airport and transferred to your hotel in the city centre. Rest of day at leisure.

  2. Day 2: Bangkok to Chiang Mai

    Transfer to the airport for your morning flight to Chiang Mai, Thailand's second city and northern capital.

  3. Day 3: Chiang Mai

    This morning, leave Chiang Mai for the Maetaman Valley, a beautiful spot about an hour's drive from town. The valley is a wonderful place for a gentle trek.

  4. Day 4: Doi Suthep-Pui National Park

    Set off early this morning and head north from Chiang Mai to Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, a mountainous reserve that offers some of the best terrain for hill-walking in Thailand. Your destination is Hmong Lodge, which occupies a superb site in the forested hills, only a short distance from a traditional Hmong mountain village.

  5. Day 5: Thaton via Chiang Dao

    After breakfast, continue to the town of Thaton, with a visit to the Chiang Dao Caves complex and a stop at a local restaurant for lunch en route.

  6. Day 6: Thaton to Chiang Rai via the Golden Triangle

    After breakfast, depart Thaton for the Golden Triangle, where the Ruak River meets the Mekong, and where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos border.

  7. Day 7: Chiang Rai to Sukhothai

    Depart Chiang Rai this morning for the historic city of Sukhothai, the first capital of Thailand. It's a half-day's drive, with a stop along the way at Phayao, a small town located on the shore of a beautiful freshwater lake. Lunch is at a restaurant on the lakeshore.

  8. Day 8: Sukhothai

    Explore Sukhothai at your own pace. The Historic Park is large and best explored by bike (a number of sites are located outside the city). Don't try to cover everything! Your guide will be on hand to take you through the highlights, including the ruins of Wat Si Chum, Wat Mahathat and Wat Phra Phail Luang.

  9. Day 9: Sukhothai to Ayutthaya

    Leaving Sukhothai this morning, you journey south to Thailand's second historic capital, Ayutthaya, seat of the Siamese kings from the mid-14th to the late 18th century.

  10. Day 10: Ayutthaya

    At its height, in the 17th and 18th centuries, the royal capital Ayutthaya was among the largest cities in the world (with a population of over one million), and the trading capital of Asia. Sadly, that city no longer exists, having been almost completely destroyed in 1767 during the Thai-Burmese wars.

  11. Day 11: Ayutthaya to Kanchanaburi via Suphanburi

    Leave Ayutthaya this morning for Kanchanaburi (2 hours), stopping en route at Suphanburi to visit the 800-year old Wat Palelai, one of the oldest surviving temples in Thailand. Lunch at a local restaurant in Suphanburi.

  12. Day 12: Kanchanaburi

    This morning, embark on a guided tour of Hellfire Pass, where you can walk the original train tracks built by the Allied POWs during the Second World War. At the Hellfire Memorial Museum, learn more about the staggering loss of human life involved in the construction of the line, popularly known as Death Railway.

  13. Day 13: Kanchanaburi to Bangkok

    Depart Kanchanaburi this morning for Bangkok. En route, there will be time to visit the world's largest pagoda, Phra Pathom Chedi, at the centre of a royal monastery built during the reign of King Rama IV.

  14. Day 14: Bangkok

    This morning, take a guided tour of Bangkok’s most famous sights, including Wat Pho, the oldest temple (and university) in the city, and the Grand Palace & Wat Phra Kaeo (the temple of the Emerald Buddha), the most distinctive and ornately decorated temple complex in Thailand.

  15. Day 15: Departure

    At leisure until your scheduled transfer to the airport for your international flight home.

Price guide

Price based on two travellers in shared twin/double accommodation and subject to availability at the time of booking.
Pricing

15 days from £2385pp

Pricing

15 days from £2385pp

Bangkok and Ayutthaya

You did a great job in crafting the parts of this trip and all of us were very happy with what we saw and did.

William

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Jeremy’s passion, knowledge and experience of Kilimanjaro is second to none... outstanding.

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