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Map of Premium Northern Thailand including Thailand

Get up close and under the surface of Northern Thailand

Discover a land of mouth-watering food, stunning landscapes, fascinating history and incredibly hospitable locals on this Intrepid Premium journey through Northern Thailand. Get to know the innermost essence of Thai culture as you travel from city streets to mountain tops with a local leader, spend time with Lisu and Lahu hill tribes, visit grand temples and moving historical sites.

Start
Bangkok, Thailand
Finish
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Destination
Thailand
Style
Premium
Theme
Explorer
Code
TTPT
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

intrepid premium

premium comfort

Our best accommodation and highest level of service.

premium experiences

Unusual, exceptional and authentic on-trip experiences.

premium knowledge

Led by our most experienced and highest rated local leaders.

  • See the country through the eyes of a local as you travel with an experienced leader who will share stories, provide historical context, and of course know all the best places to eat.

  • Enjoy lunch on a traditional rice barge, eat a barbecue dinner by a campfire in the hills, have a relaxing picnic in the park and see the best of Bangkok’s culinary scene.

  • Stay in the beautiful Lisu lodge, a community-based project employing Lisu villagers, immerse yourself in local culture and enjoy creature comforts. 

  • Support an important animal welfare initiative, speak with local experts and get close to incredible creatures at the Elephant Nature Park.

  • Visit the home of the infamous ‘Bridge over the River Kwai’, learn about its dark history and the construction of the railway during the war.

Is this trip right for you?

  • You will visit a number of temples which require a level of modesty. All travellers will need to bring clothes that cover the arms and pants or skirts that go past the knees. The heat can be challenging, especially in April and May, so please pack accordingly.

  • This trip includes a cycling tour around Sukhothai Heritage Park, so a level of confidence on a bicycle will be required. The roads are quiet with minimal traffic and within the confines of the park it will be easy going so it is certainly a leisurely ride.

TTPT - Group touring around Thailand with tour leader
TTPT - Traditional Thai cuisine dinner
TTPT - Blue skies Sukhothai ruins and lotus pond in Thailand
TTPT - Local sleeping in a tuk tuk on the streets of Bangkok in Thailand
TTPT - Thailand Feature Stay: Lisu Lodge staff preparing meal
TTPT - Thailand Feature Stay: Lisu Lodge traditional Thai meal
TTPT - Learning about elephants at the Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai Thailand
TTPT - Serene Erawan falls in Erawan National Park, Thailand
TTPT - Thailand Feature Stay: Lisu Lodge lush field at sunrise
TTPT - Thailand Feature Stay: Lisu Lodge guest house exterior
TTPT - Thailand Feature Stay: Lisu Lodge twin room interior

Itinerary
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Welcome to Thailand! Your journey begins in Bangkok, where you’ll be collected at the airport and transferred to your hotel. After settling into your room, your journey begins with an important meeting at 6 pm. Please check for the Intrepid Premium noticeboard in the reception area of the hotel. If you arrive early, take some time to enjoy Bangkok’s irresistible energy. By day you’ll encounter a city steeped with history and tradition, but by night Bangkok is taken over by a flood of music and neon lights. Watch torrents of tuk tuks zip by while traditional khlong boats slowly wind down the Chao Phraya River. After your meeting, join your small group for a welcome dinner at an excellent local restaurant where your leader will introduce you to a food scene that’s bursting with local flavour.
Accommodation
  • Ramada Plaza by Wyndham or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
  • Bangkok - Welcome Dinner
Meals Included
  • Dinner
Special Information
The arrival transfer is only valid if arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through us. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 14 days prior to travel, as we may not be able to confirm a request made within 14 days of travel.

Rise early for an optional exclusive experience away from Bangkok’s well-trodden tourist track. Join the locals at sunrise for to a visit to a temple along the Chao Phraya River, where you’ll “make merit” by bringing an offering to the temple’s monks – a truly unforgettable moment. Today your leader will take you for a day of sightseeing and activities in lively Bangkok. Tour Wat Po, a larger-than-life temple complex in the city - home of the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. Also visit the majestic Grand Palace and learn about the site which has been the official residence of the kings since the 1700s, and enjoy a boat tour of the city's canals as your leader shows you how Bangkok’s locals live today. The afternoon is free to do as you wish, perhaps check out the art collection at the Jim Thompson house or relax with a Thai massage.
Accommodation
  • Ramada Plaza by Wyndham or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Bangkok - Grand Palace
  • Bangkok - Wat Pho
  • Bangkok - Khlong boat canal tour
  • Bangkok - Temple Sunrise Merit Making
Optional Activities
  • Bangkok - Jim Thompson's House - THB150
  • Bangkok - Thai Massage - THB250
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Please note when visiting the Grand Palace clothes covering your shoulders and knees are a requirement for entry.

This morning head to Ayutthaya, one of the ancient capitals of Siam and a World Heritage site. Give your camera batteries a workout as you explore the photogenic 14th-century temple of Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon while your leader shares knowledge of the complex’s history. Continue to the ornately decorated Wat Phanan Choeng, one of Ayutthaya's oldest temples and home to a 19-metre-high Buddha. Then you’re in for a real treat - the past will come to life as you board a traditional rice barge and explore Chao Phraya River while tucking into a delicious Thai lunch. Continue on to the 13th-century ruins of Wat Phra Mahathat and discover rows of Buddhas beheaded by the Burmese. Look out for the displaced Buddha head suspended in the roots of a Banyan tree - one of the country’s most photographed images. Return to Bangkok for the evening and enjoy some of the many amazing restaurants on offer.
Accommodation
  • Ramada Plaza by Wyndham or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Ayutthaya - Rice Barge Lunch
  • Ayutthaya - Private Rice Barge Tour
  • Ayutthaya - Temples Tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 2 hours.

Travel by private transport to Kanchanaburi, a modern riverfront town with a dark past. Located at the meeting point of the Khwae Noi and Khwae Yai rivers, Kanchanaburi is home to the infamous 'Bridge on the River Kwai'. Many Allied prisoners of war and conscripted Asian labourers were engaged here to help build a rail route to Myanmar (Burma), including the passage infamously known as Hellfire Pass. Visit the memorial museum of the pass where your leader will provide more information about this chapter in history. Take a historical train journey across a portion of this 'death railway' along the Kwai Noi River and travel over the original wooden viaduct, known as the Bridge on the River Kwai, constructed by the allied POWs. Pass through peaceful and naturally beautiful scenery as you learn of those who lost their lives building this rail route. The evening is yours to explore the town.
Accommodation
  • Dheva Mantra Resort & Spa or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Kanchanaburi - Historical train ride
  • Kanchanaburi - Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 3.5 hours.

Make the short drive to the Erawan National Park, named after the three-headed white elephant of Hindu mythology, and visit the magnificent seven-tiered waterfall. Take a dip in radiant emerald green waters, climb the tiers to find different cascades at every level, or sit back and snap pictures of the luxuriant vegetation. On the way back to Kanchanaburi, stop in at the World War II cemetery and museum for a guided tour with your leader, who will share stories and explain the cemetery is the main resting place for the prisoners of war who laboured under Japanese rule in building the Thai-Burma Railway. Enjoy a free evening in Kanchanaburi - perhaps wander through the rows of street food vendors in town, or reflect on the day with a drink overlooking the River Kwai at one of many charming riverfront establishments.
Accommodation
  • Dheva Mantra Resort & Spa or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Kanchanaburi - Kanchanaburi War Cemetery
  • Kanchanaburi - Erawan National Park
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Depart Kanchanaburi in the morning and drive to Hup Pa Tat. Explore the beautiful valley surrounded by limestone mountains with your leader on hand to help spot wildlife and rare plants. Legend has it that centuries ago this valley was a gigantic cave, until the ceiling caved in; massive chunks of limestone lying on the valley floor support the theory. Continue to Uthai Thani where you’ll lunch enjoy lunch cruising on a traditional rice barge, watching village life along the riverfront stream by as your travel through beautiful countryside. Afterwards, stop by the transfixing glass temple of Wat Tha Sung before travelling on to Nakhon Sawan where you will spend the night. This evening perhaps check out the local market where you can get your hands on a range of enticing regional street food.
Accommodation
  • 42CThe Chic Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Uthai Thani - Hup Pa Tat
  • Uthai Thani - Wat Tha Sung
  • Uthai Thani - Traditional rice barge lunch cruise
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 5 hours.

Today you will leave Nakhon Sawan and travel to the town of Sukhothai, stopping en route in the historic city of Phitsanulok. Here you will have the chance to pick up some lunch, and perhaps visit the temple of Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat, famed for its beautiful golden Buddha statue. Continue to Sukhothai, where the rest of the afternoon is free for your own discoveries. You may like to relax by the pool or unwind with a Thai massage, and for dinner this evening be sure to ask your leader where you can get a bowl of Sukhothai’s famously tasty noodles.
Accommodation
  • Sukhothai Treasure Resort & Spa or similar (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Sukhothai - Organic Farm lunch - THB900
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 3 hours.

Sukhothai, established in the 13th century, was one of the first ancient capitals of Siam. Famed for its World Heritage listed historical park, which captures the Golden Age of Thai civilisation, the capital's name literally means 'Dawn of Happiness'. Visit the historical park, which spans the ruins of the town, where you will rent a bicycle and take part in a cycle tour. As you ride around, your leader will let you know more about the history of this former metropolis and its fascinating structures. Enjoy a home-cooked picnic lunch in the beautiful grounds of Sukhothai Park. The rest of the afternoon is free to explore the town, or you might want to simply read a book by the pool back at your accommodation. This evening, regroup and head to the home of one of our local friends where you’ll enjoy a wonderful homecooked dinner and a unique insight into life in this part of the country.
Accommodation
  • Sukhothai Treasure Resort & Spa or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Sukhothai - Historical Park bike tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Travel from Sukhothai to the Mae Taeng region. Draped between tranquil rice fields and fruit orchards, you’ll find the echanting Lisu Lodge, your feature stay accommodation for the evening. The lodge is a community-based project that trains and employs Lisu villagers from the nearby hill tribe and aims to preserve their cultural heritage. The Lisu people are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group and one of the six main hill tribes of Northern Thailand. Meet the colourfully dressed villagers and learn more about the Lisu way of life - a truly special experience that is sure to be one of your enduring memories of Thailand. The lodge offers gorgeous guestrooms decorated in the traditional Lisu style with modern comforts. Savour unforgettable views of the surrounding hillside and valley, and enjoy a tantalising dinner of Thai food mixed with traditional Lisu dishes. You don’t have to look for a cultural experience here - it’s all around you.
Accommodation
  • Lisu Lodge or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Mae Taeng - Lisu Lodge Dinnner
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 6 hours.

Travel to the Elephant Nature Park - a unique project that provides sanctuary for elephants and other animals. Be greeted by an expert local guide and learn the stories of the rescued elephants and the issues they face in South-East Asia. Feed the elephants from a viewing platform, walk with the expert staff to watch elephants bathe and play, and enjoy a vegetarian buffet lunch. Then head to the village of Kup Kap, home of the Lahu people. Explore the village on foot as your leader provides insight on the Lahu way of living and what makes this hill tribe different. Experience a personal and intimate interaction as you are welcomed into a Lahu villager’s home for tea and coffee, then go on to learn how the local coffee is produced. This evening gather around the campfire for a traditional barbecue dinner on return to your feature stay accommodation.
Accommodation
  • Lisu Lodge or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Chiang Mai - Elephant Nature Park Half Day Trip
  • Mae Taeng - Lahu Hilltribe Village Experience
  • Mae Taeng - Mae Tamaan Base Camp BBQ Dinner
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 1.5 hours. If visiting the Lahu village outside of coffee season, you will learn about the local herbal tea instead.

This morning you will visit Wat Ban Den, a sprawling complex filled with intricately decorated sacred temples. Enjoy views of the countryside as you pass through colourful buildings and whimsical statues. Carry on to Chiang Mai, a laidback city that has retained a mellow atmosphere and authentic feel. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore - perhaps dive into Chiang Mai’s street food scene or check out more Buddhist temples - be sure to ask your leader for recommendations. In the evening, your group will be treated to dinner at an excellent local restaurant to celebrate your Northern Thailand adventure.
Accommodation
  • Bodhi Serene Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Chiang Mai - Farewell Dinner
  • Chiang Mai - Wat Baan Den Temple
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 1.5 hours.

With no activities planned for today, your adventure comes to an end after breakfast. If you would like to extend your stay in Chiang Mai we can help arrange extra accommodation (subject to availability).
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

11 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 dinners

Transport

Train, Private mini van, Longtail boat, songtheaw, Bicycle

Accommodation

Hotel (4 nights), Resort (5 nights), Lodge (2 nights)

Included activities

  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
  • Bangkok - Welcome Dinner
  • Bangkok - Grand Palace
  • Bangkok - Wat Pho
  • Bangkok - Khlong boat canal tour
  • Bangkok - Temple Sunrise Merit Making
  • Ayutthaya - Rice Barge Lunch
  • Ayutthaya - Private Rice Barge Tour
  • Ayutthaya - Temples Tour
  • Kanchanaburi - Historical train ride
  • Kanchanaburi - Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum
  • Kanchanaburi - Kanchanaburi War Cemetery
  • Kanchanaburi - Erawan National Park
  • Uthai Thani - Hup Pa Tat
  • Uthai Thani - Wat Tha Sung
  • Uthai Thani - Traditional rice barge lunch cruise
  • Sukhothai - Historical Park bike tour
  • Mae Taeng - Lisu Lodge Dinnner
  • Chiang Mai - Elephant Nature Park Half Day Trip
  • Mae Taeng - Lahu Hilltribe Village Experience
  • Mae Taeng - Mae Tamaan Base Camp BBQ Dinner
  • Chiang Mai - Farewell Dinner
  • Chiang Mai - Wat Baan Den Temple

Premium Inclusions

  • Arrival airport transfer
  • Tipping for accommodation, activities and transport
  • Luggage transfer
  • Daily breakfast and signature local meal experiences
  • 24/7 on-ground support

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Premium Northern Thailand trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. Due to limited luggage space in our vehicles, please ensure that you are packing light and compact. Large, bulky suitcases are unsuitable for this trip. Please refer to the Packing section of the Essential Trip Information for details. 

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

View Essential Trip Information

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