It’s time to step away from your everyday, and catch your flight to Chiang Mai.
Most suited for
Families, Couples
Ideal time to visit
Nov - Feb
Over 16 immersive days, you’ll wind your way through forested mountain roads, peaceful valleys, golden-spired temples and and living hill-tribe communities.
The real magic lies in the rhythm of the north, from misty rice fields at dawn to daily life in remote hilltop villages, alongside warm hospitality and flavour-packed food throughout.
In Chiang Mai, you’ll join a local guide to uncover the best of the city’s backstreet eats: banana-leaf parcels, sizzling skewers and handmade dumplings from family kitchens. Then it’s into the Mae Hong Son Loop, where you’ll wake to verdent views, float by lantern light through jungle caves, and visit remote Karen villages.
This is Thailand for the culturally curious and those looking for a ‘classic’ route that is not generic.
Hidden Gems of Northern Thailand
As with all our holidays, this itinerary is just a starting point. We will create a bespoke package which will be completely unique for you.
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Day 1
Your adventure begins
Days 2 - 4
Chiang Mai
Your guide and driver will welcome you to Thailand. Settle in before exploring by electric tuk-tuk, sampling noodles and sweets from family kitchens and visiting a lesser-known hilltop temple away from the crowds. Choose between time with the Forest-to-Fork farming communities or a hands-off elephant visit at ChangChill.
In the evenings? Go on after-dark food adventures through the city’s best-loved local eateries – by electric tuk-tuk, too.
Days 5 - 9
Mae Hong Son Loop
With your guide and driver by your side, you’ll leave Chiang Mai behind and begin the Mae Hong Son Loop: a journey through the winding roads of Thailand’s most remote and least-visited province. This curated overland circuit takes you through hidden valleys, hill tribe villages, forested national parks and spiritual sanctuaries – many inaccessible without insider knowledge and logistical know-how.
Your guide will travel with you for the entire loop, helping translate local customs and connecting you with villagers, elders, artisans and cooks, creating an immersive, deeply human way to discover northern Thailand.
Here’s how the journey unfolds, day by day…
Day 5
Chiang Mai - Pai
Head northwest into the mountains along one of Thailand’s most scenic roads, with hairpin bends and highland views. Stop at the WWII Memorial Bridge for coffee and its wartime story, then hike Pai Canyon early, before the backpackers pile in.
Your guide shows a quieter side of Pai, soaking in Sai Ngam hot springs and magical sunset views from a little-visited hilltop temple. Tonight, stay outside town at a charming riverside lodge: blissfully free from partiers, with only the sounds of crickets and the flowing river outside.
Day 6
Ban Rak Thai
Set off early with your guide to Tham Lod Cave, one of the country’s most impressive natural wonders, travelling by bamboo raft through vast caverns lit by lantern light, past prehistoric paintings and ancient teak coffins set high in the rock. Continue by local 4×4 into Ban Muang Pam, a very remote Karen village, where you learn how to carve bamboo with a local artisan.
You’ll stay at a one-of-a-kind forest lodge run by Galliya, a local woman who bought this patch of land aged 17 and has built something truly special with the help of her family. Your room faces the forest, meals are cooked over charcoal using traditional recipes; you’re likely to dine on spicy sausage, jungle vegetables, and sticky rice under the light of the stars.
Day 7
Pha Bong
Wake early for breakfast, prepared by Galliya’s mother, in the rice fields as morning mist lifts from the valley. Visit a forest temple for a personal blessing, then continue to Ban Jabo, a hilltop Lahu village, where a respected elder will show you how to make a palow talisman and demonstrate his ceremonial instruments.
Stretch your legs at the surreal Fish Cave, where huge blue carp glide through mountain water; cross the Sutongpe Bamboo Bridge to a remote monastery, and end the day at Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu just as the sun sinks behind the ridges. Settle into your next peaceful forest lodge and have an evening drink under the trees.
Day 8
Mae Sariang
Today, it’s on to a quiet Karen village outside Mae Sariang, where community-led tourism supports traditional livelihoods. This is the home of royally certified wool weaving and award-winning highland coffee, originally introduced by missionaries and sustained through skill and pride.
Your guide will introduce you to the women who spin and dye the wool, and the farmers who now sell their coffee to premium cafés across Asia. You’ll learn how their success has enabled younger generations to return from the cities to build lives in the highlands again.
Days 9 - 11
Sukhothai
Travel south towards Sukhothai, passing through Ob Luang National Park, where dramatic gorges and prehistoric rock art hint at ancient civilisations. Pause overnight before continuing through fertile farmland to Thailand’s ancient capital, Sukhothai.
When you arrive, explore its sprawling UNESCO-listed historical park, with moated temples, lotus ponds and stone Buddhas bathed in golden light, best seen early on foot or by bicycle. Stay a little longer to head into nearby villages or leisurely cycle through rice fields stretching right out to the horizon.
Days 12 - 15
Bangkok
A lovely way to arrive in Bangkok is by train from Phitsanulok, a six-hour journey that offers an unhurried view of central Thailand as farms, forests and water buffalo drift past your window. Flying is also an option if you prefer efficiency, though the train has bags more character.
Bangkok doesn’t need to be whirlwind. With four nights here, you’ll experience the capital at a measured pace, seeing it as it really is: part modern metropolis, part ancient river city, and always unmistakably Thai. Getting around is half the fun. Travel like locals do, by skytrain, tuk-tuk and solar-powered longtail boat. Visit Wat Pho and the Grand Palace early, before the crowds arrive, then wander hidden alleyways into Kudi Jeen, the old Portuguese quarter where communities still make centuries-old, traditional desserts in timber houses.
One of ETG’s most-loved experiences explores Talad Noi and Chinatown with a guide, uncovering art-lined backstreets, lesser-known temples and long-standing snack stops, before gliding quietly along historic canals by boat. Evenings reflect the city’s dual personality. One night might mean street food and tuk-tuks through Chinatown’s backstreets. The next, refined riverside dining at Suan Thip.
This is Bangkok with texture rather than tick-lists, whether you’re into your temples, textiles, secret neighbourhoods, or simply an incredibly good bowl of noodles!
Day 16
Fly home
With a deeper sense of the country and the places you’ve spent time in, it’s sadly time to wave goodbye to Thailand. Your driver will take you to the airport for your onward flight home.
Epic Trip in Thailand
From the moment we started conversations... we knew we would be in safe hands. ETG's first hand knowledge of all the destinations and experiences mean that they can bespoke the perfect trip for you. We experienced Thailand from a different perspective... with great guides. I work in hospitality and it’s all about the small details and surprise and delight moments which [they] get. Book with ETG you won’t regret it!
Simon
21 August 2024Excellent
850 Reviews
850 Reviews
What’s included:
With ETG, what’s included goes well beyond the basics. From the moment your trip begins to your final farewell, the essentials are already taken care of, leaving you free to immerse, explore and enjoy without the hassle of hidden extras.
Here’s what comes as standard in all of our holidays:
All flights (unless you’ve booked your own!)
Expert guides and drivers
All accommodation
Many meals and snacks
Immersive experiences throughout
All regional transfers
Tips
24/7 In-Country support
Personal travel consultant throughout
Pricing:
As every holiday is bespoke, prices vary depending on destination, flights, hotel choices, inclusions and travel dates. We aim to include as much as possible upfront, so you know exactly where you are. As an approximate guide:
Bespoke Holidays £4,500 - £8,500pp
Bespoke Luxury Holidays £8,500 - £14,500pp
Bespoke Family Holidays from £4,000 - £7,500pp
Meet Our Thailand Experts
Ella’s first trip to ‘The Land of Smiles’ sealed the deal. She fell instantly for the effortlessly friendly people and the banging food. Now, she spends her time helping travellers experience the Thailand she loves – from Bangkok’s hidden gardens with secret restaurants to quiet islands where you won’t be part of a pack of tourists. Phew.
“If you’re keen to get properly under the skin of Thailand, this is a really good way to do it. You’re spending time in quieter regions, meeting people in the highlands, and also getting a feel for Chiang Mai and Bangkok, so you come away with a proper sense of the country.”
Ella
Thailand Specialist
Explore Our Hotels & Villas
We’ve handpicked boutique hotels and unique stays that balance comfort, character, and connection to place. Full details will follow separately.
The ETG Guarantee
We guarantee you an experience no one else has ever had.
The travel magic you’ll remember won’t be found on a well-trodden – or over-Instagrammed – itinerary. It will be the surprises, discoveries and secrets that you’ll uncover along the way with us.
And because of our long-standing relationships with trusted partners across Asia, you’ll have access to experiences you can’t find on Google. The kind of special experiences that are literally impossible to find on your own.
Do you ever feel like people aren’t listening to you?
We get it. And we will – that’s a promise. Your holiday starts with with a proper, no-pressure call to understand what you want, what you don’t want, and what matters to you. From there, we create a completely unique adventure, inspired by our conversation together.
Experiences in Thailand
Crafting bespoke packages is the heart of what we do. Each holiday is specially designed to confound preconceptions and share magical, memorable, and truly exceptional experiences.
Important FAQs about Thailand
At Experience Travel Group, we’ve been crafting immersive holidays in Thailand for around 20 years and some of our team live there. Our in-depth local knowledge, long-standing partnerships and network of specialist local guides, we can really help you under the skin of the country and discover her secret sides.
Over the years, we’ve developed enriching experiences that bring together cultural depth and give you the freedom to explore. Think hands-on food adventures in Bangkok’s backstreets, access to peaceful beaches, countryside stays where local life still ticks to its own rhythm, or journeys into the mountainous north to meet the hill tribes – all bespoke to you.
With our expert planning and on-the-ground support, you can get into holiday mode knowing everything’s covered – while still having the freedom to discover Thailand your way. We don’t do cookie-cutter trips. Every holiday is personal, every route considered, and every detail designed to show you a side of Thailand that most visitors miss.
So come with us, to the Thailand we know and love.
In general, November to April is the most popular time, with warm, dry weather across most of the country – ideal for both exploring and beach time. But Thailand’s seasons aren’t as simple as they look, and with a little know-how, there’s somewhere worth visiting year-round.
The Andaman Coast (Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta) is at its sunniest between November and April, while the Gulf of Thailand (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao) comes into its own from February to August when the west coast monsoon winds bring in rain to the west coast. With its mountains and cooler breezes, Northern Thailand is best for trekking and outdoor adventures from November to February.
Travelling during the “green season” (roughly May to October) can be rewarding: fewer crowds, greener landscapes, and lower hotel rates. Rain tends to arrive in short, heavy bursts rather than all day, leaving plenty of sunshine in between. National parks are glorious at this time, with waterfalls in full flow. During late August and September, Thailand often experiences flooding, so this time is usually best avoided, though even then, you can still visit many of the beach destinations very happily.
The months of April and October are the turning points worth considering for great-value travel, with fairly reliable weather. In April, the Songkran New Year festival is a joy to be part of, if you don’t mind getting a soaking from a water pistol (or water blaster!). The rates fall dramatically compared with March. While Songkran marks the start of the rainy season, it has not fully kicked in. It can be a good time to travel throughout the country for those who can put up with some serious heat and humidity. In October, the rains tend to fall away as Thailand returns towards the settled November weather.
So while November to March might be the sweet spot for most of Thailand, there’s always a way to plan a Thailand holiday that fits your timing – and often, going slightly against the grain can mean quieter beaches, great value and a richer experience.
Every ETG holiday is designed to feel seamless, immersive and stress free. We’ll arrange international flights (if you’d like us to), your drivers and guides, and stays in characterful hotels we know and trust.
You’ll experience the country in a way that’s completely bespoke to you – from quiet moments to big adventures – all planned by our specialists. And while you’re away, our local team is on hand 24/7, so you’ll always feel well looked after.
The Curious Traveller’s Guide to Thailand
Tempted to discover the very best of Thailand, far from the tourist traps?
Our experts spill their secrets in The Curious Traveller’s Guide to Thailand.
Download your complimentary copy for an insight into the country’s highlights, hot hotels and unusual experiences to inspire your next great adventure.
