Capital of 'The Land of Smiles'
Explore Bangkok’s canals and floating markets by private long tailed boat.
From the jungles of Chiang Mai in the north to the tropical islands in the south, this holiday encompasses everything a first-time visitor to Thailand could wish for.
Easily adapted to suit a couple in pursuit of romance, culture and adventure or a family holiday that fulfils parents and kids in equal measure.
Explore Bangkok’s canals and floating markets by private long tailed boat.
Spend time assisting elephant conservation efforts in Chiang Rai.
Visit indigenous hill tribes and mountain top temples in lush northern Thailand.
Relax on the beach or go sailing and diving off the beaches of Phuket.
Get under the skin of Bangkok with our fabulous guides, wake at dawn to witness the monks at alms in Chiang Mai and head north to explore remote hill tribes and help with elephant conservation. A stay at the Four Seasons Tented Camp offers adventure and luxury in a beautiful riverside setting before heading to the white sandy beaches and James Bond scenes of Phuket. Some of our team have lived in Thailand so we have used our insider to ensure this holiday not only comprises of the essential sites but also includes a few surprises.
Day 1
Bangkok
Day 2 - 3
Bangkok
Day 4
Bangkok - Chiang Rai
Day 5
Chiang Rai
Day 6
Chiang Rai - Chiang Mai
Day 7
Chiang Mai
Day 8
Chiang Mai - Pai
Day 9
Pai
Day 10
Pai - Chiang Mai - Phuket
Day 11 - 13
Phuket
Day 14
Phuket - Bangkok
Day 1
Bangkok
Day 2 - 3
Bangkok
Explore Bangkok’s canals and floating markets by private long tailed boat.
Day 4
Bangkok - Chiang Rai
Day 5
Chiang Rai
Spend time assisting elephant conservation efforts in Chiang Rai.
Day 6
Chiang Rai - Chiang Mai
Day 7
Chiang Mai
Day 8
Chiang Mai - Pai
Day 9
Pai
Visit indigenous hill tribes and mountain top temples amidst the lush scenery of northern Thailand.
Day 10
Pai - Chiang Mai - Phuket
Day 11 - 13
Phuket
Relax on the beach or go sailing and diving off the beaches of Phuket.
Day 14
Phuket - Bangkok
Start your Thailand holiday amidst the canals and temples of Bangkok. This vibrant city is bursting with sites, from the soaring spires of the Grand Palace to the explosion of colour at the flower market and the constantly busy waterways, teeming with barges and boats going about their daily business. Join one of our local guides to explore the city using all forms of local transport from tuk tuk to river taxi, on foot and sky train.
While Four Seasons Tented Camp provides easy access to the temples of Chiang Rai and is right on the border with Myanmar, a stay here is all about the resident elephants. Numbers of Asian elephants in Thailand have declined rapidly over the past 50 years and the camp works alongside the Golden Triangle Elephant Foundation to adopt and rescue elephants from the city streets. Learn about the lives and behaviour of these intelligent and incredibly social animals, with time to bathe, feed and walk with some of the camp’s herd – a humbling and magical experience.
Hike through lush mountain jungles and visit remote hill tribe communities. Once famed for their opium trade the north is now renowned for skilled weaving, traditional farming and coffee plantations. End your day with a trip to a remote waterfall or gently drift through river scenery aboard a traditional bamboo raft, passing riverside villages and buffalos cooling in the shallows.
Parents travelling with children couldn’t wish for a more welcoming country. For older children, join one of our entertaining guides for a street food tour of Bangkok by tuk tuk, attend a Thai boxing match, learn more about the ancient Thai art of tattooing and explore Chiang Mai by Segway. For younger children try umbrella painting in Chiang Mai as well as snorkelling and kayaking off the beaches of Phuket. This holiday works well between November and April but if travelling during the northern hemisphere summer, swap Phuket for the island of Samui to avoid heavy rains.
For those with more time on their hands a lovely way to begin or end this holiday would be a journey between the contrasting cities of Singapore and Bangkok aboard the Eastern & Oriental Express Train. Over four days this signature rail journey passes through Malaysia, weaving its way through gently unfolding rural landscapes, past temples, tea plantations, colonial cities, ancient villages and historic monuments.
Prices will vary depending on the time of year you are travelling. Prices do not include international flights. Please ask one of our Travel Experts for an accurate quote. Flights purchased through Steppes Travel departing from the UK are ATOL protected.
Throughout January, Thailand will experience average temperatures of 27°C with very little rainfall, ideal for a winter sun destination to Thailand’s beaches on the west coast. January can be less humid than February and March, yet still experiences daily sunshine.
February will bring guaranteed sunshine to most of Thailand with January through to March being the best time to visit the islands of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan with temperatures averaging 25°C.
Temperatures in March begin to rise so the entire country will experience sunshine and warm weather. When visiting Thailand’s cities, such as Bangkok, sightseeing may be less comfortable with the higher humidity levels during the day yet pleasant temperatures in the evenings.
Thailand will experience very hot temperatures throughout the country. Cooler temperatures will be experienced in northern regions with an average of 29°C and occasional rainfall in western regions.
May will bring marginally cooler temperatures throughout Thailand than previous months with more chances of rainfall, particularly in western regions yet higher chances of daily sunshine in the east.
Prior to the monsoon season, June can be a great time to travel to Thailand with fewer crowds yet will still experience daily sunshine. Average temperatures can range from 25°C to 32°C.
From July to October, Thailand will experience the monsoon, bringing most of the country’s annual rainfall during this period.
As the peak on the monsoon season, September will bring heavy rainfall throughout Thailand yet eastern regions experience monsoon rains later than the rest of Thailand.
September will experience similar temperatures and humidity levels to August but depending on the region of Thailand, some areas will see less frequent rain showers even though it is likely to rain daily. Flooding may occur in some regions if the monsoon rains were particularly heavy in previous months.
As the monsoon season begins to end, October will experience less frequent rainfall and lower levels of humidity making it an excellent month for sightseeing and visiting the countryside to view the lush, green vegetation.
Thailand benefits from great weather year-round, with the best time to visit is from November to March. During these months, day temperatures are more bearable and there is less chance of rain.
December is one of Thailand’s peak months with lower humidity levels and comfortable temperatures throughout the country, allowing for opportunities to explore the entire country.
Our knowledge, curiosity and expertise set us apart, driving us to create remarkable holidays and Beautiful Adventures tailored perfectly to you, carefully curated to help protect and conserve our planet.
Are you ready to Discover Extraordinary?