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Map of Explore Northern Thailand including Thailand

Immerse yourself in the warm hospitality and natural beauty of Northern Thailand

Northern Thailand is a treasure trove filled with glittering temples, ancient ruins, exotic markets and sumptuous foods. Explore the capital of Siam's golden age at Sukhothai, visit the bustling markets of Chiang Mai, stay at a special homestay with local friends and enjoy a traditional khantok dinner - there's so much to discover on this tour through Thailand's northern kingdoms.

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

Why you'll love this trip

  • Support an important animal welfare initiative and get close to incredible creatures at Chang Chill Elephant Park

  • Discover the secrets to Thai cuisine, pick up some impressive new culinary skills and taste delicious local dishes in a Chiang Mai cooking class.

  • Work up an appetite with a leisurely cycle through the ancient Buddhas and ruined temples of World Heritage-listed Sukhothai Park, then feast on a home-cooked picnic lunch.

  • See how the locals live on a bicycle ride through your homestay village. Ride past the rice fields and breathe in the fresh country air, with beautiful mountains in the distance.

Is this trip right for you?

  • There is a night at a homestay on this trip, a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in everyday Thai life. Facilities are basic and multishare, typically with mattresses on the floor and shared bathrooms. The rewards of such an authentic local experience are immeasurable.

  • There is an included bike ride around Sukhothai Heritage Park on this trip. Don't worry if you are not an experienced cyclist as it’s a leisurely ride, and one of the best ways to explore the park.

thailand sukhothai historical park
thailand lamang elephant hospital

Itinerary
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Sa-wat dee! Welcome to Bangkok, Thailand's bustling capital. Bangkok is famous for its tuk tuks, khlong boats and street vendors serving up delicious Thai food. With no planned activities until your important welcome meeting at 6 pm, why not head out and explore. You could take a riverboat to Chinatown and explore the crowded streets, uncover the magnificent Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, wander down the tourist mecca of Khao San Road, or indulge in a Thai massage. After the meeting tonight, perhaps gather your fellow travellers together and tuck into some into world famous street food.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Bangkok - Grand Palace - THB500
  • Bangkok - Thai Massage - THB250
  • Bangkok - Bangkok Tuk Tuk Experience Urban Adventure - THB2365
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
As this trip does not spend much time in Bangkok, we encourage you to spend a few extra days exploring this great city. Check out our Bangkok guide here: intrepidtravel.com/adventures/Bangkok-guide-thailand

It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

This morning, leave the current capital of Thailand and head north by train (approx 6 hours) and private mini van (approx 1 hour) to one of the first ancient capitals of Siam, Sukhothai. Located on a fertile plain, Sukhothai was established in the 13th century, and the name means the 'Dawn of Happiness'. It’s now famous for its World Heritage-listed historic park that celebrates the Golden Age of Thai civilisation. Tonight, be sure to head to the fascinating local night market and try the local dishes, like Sukhothai noodles.
Accommodation
  • Resort (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Sukhothai - Night Market
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Head out to the historical ruins of Old Sukhothai, set amid beautiful lakes and gardens. The religious art and architecture of the Sukhothai era are considered to be the most classic of Thai styles, and the Sukhothai Historical Park contains the remains of 21 historic sites, with awe-inspiring Buddha images and four large ponds often filled with stunning lotus flowers in full bloom. Upon arrival at the park, hire bicycles and enjoy a few leisurely hours feeling the breeze in your hair and learning about the history of this fascinating place. Enjoy a home-cooked picnic lunch somewhere along the way, and if you have enough free time, visit a local ceramics factory.
Accommodation
  • Resort (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Sukhothai - Historical Park bike tour
  • Sukhothai - Home-cooked picnic lunch
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

Travel by private minivan from Sukothai (approx 4 hours) to the warm and welcoming home of Intrepid's long-time friends in a small Thai village where you’ll spend the night. Accommodation at the homestay is multishare and basic (there will be fold-out mattresses on the floor and shared bathrooms), but there is no better way to better understand a country and its people. In the evening, you’ll be treated to a traditional northern Thai khantok dinner, accompanied by live music and dancing.
Accommodation
  • Homestay (Multishare) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Village Homestay - Cultural performance
  • Village Homestay - Khantok dinner
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

In the morning, jump on some bikes and cruise around the homestay village. This is a great opportunity to see how the locals live, and you’ll make a few stops along the way to see small country industries in the area. Cycling past the rice fields and breathing in the fresh country air, with beautiful mountains in the distance, makes this morning a picture-postcard experience. Say goodbye to your new friends and travel on to Chiang Mai (approximately 45 minutes). The most vibrant city in northern Thailand, Chiang Mai has many famous temples and an interesting old city area. Renowned for dazzling beauty and extremely welcoming locals, the ‘Rose of the North’ will leave you spellbound. Chances are, you won’t want to leave. In the evening, swing by the Free Bird Cafe, a branch of the Thai Freedom House social enterprise that offers education and training to Burmese migrants and refugees. The cafe is used to train students from Thai Freedom House in the hospitality industry, and profits from the cafe feed straight back to the enterprise. Enjoy a tasty meal here while hearing more about their story.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Village Homestay - Home-Cooked Lunch
  • Village Homestay - Cycling tour
  • Chiang Mai - Dinner at Freebird Cafe
Optional Activities
  • Chiang Mai - Night Market - Free
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner

Today you can enjoy a Thai cooking class! If you're a foodie, then you’ll discover some of the secrets of Thai cuisine, learn the key ingredients, how to use them, and what to use in their place if you can’t get them at home. As well as taking your own comprehensive recipe book with you after the class, you'll feast on the fruits of your labour for lunch. The rest of the day is free for you to explore Chiang Mai at leisure. Perhaps explore the famous temple complex of Doi Suthep. Drive along a scenic, winding mountain road that ends at an impressive 300-step naga-guarded stairway (approximately 45 mins). The rewards justify the climb with one of the most beautiful temples in Thailand on display, not to mention fantastic panoramic views of the city and the opportunity to listen to hypnotic evening chanting by resident Buddhist monks. Or maybe wander markets, meet monks, cruise the river, and slurp noodles on a Mae Ping River Experience.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Chiang Mai - Thai Cooking Class
Optional Activities
  • Chiang Mai - Doi Suthep temple complex - THB50
Meals Included
  • Lunch
Special Information
For more ideas about what to do in your free time in Chiang Mai, check out our city guide here: intrepidtravel.com/adventures/what-to-do-in-chiang-mai

Today, you’ll have a pretty special time visiting the ChangChill elephant experience. Take a 1.5-hour drive out of Chiang Mai to ChangChill, where you’ll begin to learn how this organisation supports the protection, conservation and lifestyle of free roaming elephants in the region. You’ll observe the daily patterns of these jungle giants from a safe distance, seeing how they graze and socialise with their other friends. The expert local guides will be able to give you a ‘live lecture’ on the elephants themselves, its sustainable tourism practices and conservation efforts in the area. Enjoy some refreshments nearby the elephant’s mud pit but be careful not to get a spray! Be treated to some lunch in a riverside sala (pavilion) alongside your giant friends, who will be enjoying a meal too. Return to Chiang Mai where the rest of the time is at leisure.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Chiang Mai - ChangChill elephant sanctuary
  • Chiang Mai - ChangChill Elephant Sanctuary Lunch
Meals Included
  • Lunch

There are no activities planned for the final day and you are able to depart the accommodation at any time. If you are staying on in Chiang Mai why not join an Urban Adventure and allow yourself to be spirited away on an early morning Chiang Mai tour that puts you at the epicentre of Buddhist rituals. Learn to meditate, offer alms to monks, and make an offering at a temple. If you’re feeling active then you might want to saddle up for a half day cycling trip. Enjoy a pleasant ride along the green banks of the Ping River and stop at a former leper colony turned rehabilitation centre. Continue along various fruit orchards, cycling down small country roads and meandering around the villages on the outskirts of Chiang Mai. Here you’ll discover the real rural Thailand and encounter the Thai way of life. Explore the temple ruins of Wiang Kum Kam, the former capital of Lanna, before you cycle back to Chiang Mai.
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

3 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 2 dinners

Transport

Private minibus, Public bus, Songthaew, Taxi, Train, tuk tuk, Bicycle

Accommodation

Multi-share Homestay (1 night), Hotel (4 nights), Resort (2 nights)

Included activities

  • Sukhothai - Night Market
  • Sukhothai - Historical Park bike tour
  • Sukhothai - Home-cooked picnic lunch
  • Village Homestay - Cultural performance
  • Village Homestay - Khantok dinner
  • Village Homestay - Home-Cooked Lunch
  • Village Homestay - Cycling tour
  • Chiang Mai - Dinner at Freebird Cafe
  • Chiang Mai - Thai Cooking Class
  • Chiang Mai - ChangChill elephant sanctuary
  • Chiang Mai - ChangChill Elephant Sanctuary Lunch

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Explore 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

Travellers on Intrepid trips are required to produce proof of full vaccination against COVID-19. Read details here.

1. A Single Supplement to have your own room is available on this trip excluding Day 4 (Homestay).
2. You may enter Thailand under the scheme of ‘Test & Go’ which allows you to enter Thailand with only one day quarantine on arrival. Please check the specific requirements in the website below and we recommend you complete these requirements at least 14 days before arrival to allow time for possible delays in this process.
https://www.tatnews.org/2022/02/thailand-reopening-exemption-from-quaran...
3. You’ll need to organize your T&G package with our start point hotel directly as it’s a package required by the government that will include one night accommodation, airport arrival transfer, 1 PCR test and 1 self-ATK test (for Day 5). Our start point hotels are approved SHA++ hotels to provide this package. Please check the hotel website for specific inclusions in the package and book directly with the hotel. Therefore, we won’t be able to provide booking for pre-trip accommodation or arrival airport transfer at this stage. Departure transfer is still bookable through us.
4. While this T&G scheme with 1-day quarantine is in place, we recommend you arrive at least 1 day before your trip so that you can complete this quarantine before the trip starts. Please inform your agent of your arrival date in Thailand so that our local team can help arrange your Day 5 self-test accordingly.

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.

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