Classic Thailand with a Culinary Twist

Day 1 Depart the UK  

Depart the UK on your flight to Bangkok.  

Day 2-4 Bangkok  

After checking into your boutique hotel, it’s time to get acquainted with the “Big Mango”, and what better way to do so in the city’s trademark transport, the tuk-tuk? Your morning will be spent zipping through the city, exploring the sights and sampling local delicacies. 

Late afternoon, your guide will return to take you through the busy streets for a journey through the city’s culinary spectrum. The first course of the evening - sunset cocktails at a rooftop bar with incredible views of Lumpini Park. Arguably the best sunset spot in town! Once darkness has fallen and you’ve drained your glasses, it’s back to the streets for an authentic Thai dinner followed by a walk around the buzzing Silom night market. Your evening will end at one of Bangkok’s original sky bars, sipping your favourite drink and marvelling at the city lights from your vantage point on the 61st floor.  

Spend another day in the city, taking in the bustling Flower Market and off-the-beaten-track temples before taking a solar boat to a hidden garden restaurant. Here, take a delicious lunch from the organic garden before having a lesson in making coconut desserts.  

Day 5 Train to Chiang Mai 

Before boarding the overnight train to Chiang Mai, spend the last day in Bangkok.  

Day 6-8 Chiang Mai

Same Same But Different as they say in Thailand. The food of Northern Thailand is bolder than that in the South, featuring spicier curries, fermented rice noodles (khanom jeen), herbal soups (gaeng om), and dishes like khao soi (curry noodle soup). On an electric tuk-tuk tour of the street-food scene, you’ll have a chance to sample some of the best traditional northern dishes. Though the setting may not be one of fine dining, some of the hawkers you’ll visit hold Bib Gourmand awards and are noted in the Michelin Guide.  

In contrast to the busy atmosphere of street eating, we also recommend a hosted evening in an intricately decorated dining hall with a multi-course dinner prepared by a local chef.  

Beyond your gourmet adventures - explore local sights and meet elephants in the countryside.   

Day 9-13 Phuket  

Fly south directly to Phuket and check in at your hotel - a great spot to relax with plenty of local restaurants in easy reach.  

With an abundance of seafood and influence from down the road in Malaysia, the food in the South is subtly different again. Southern Thai dishes include spicy curries like massaman and gaeng som, grilled fish with spicy dipping sauces, and roti with curry.  

There’s more to Phuket than beaches, as you’ll discover with a full-day tour of the island. Visit Phuket Old Town and explore the cafes and restaurants in the Sino-Portuguese townhouses that line the streets. The last stop will be at the Chalong Distillery to see how the local run is brewed using sustainably grown sugarcane before sampling some of the products in your chosen cocktail.  

Your last few days are yours to enjoy on the island. On the final night, a table is reserved at Black Ginger restaurant, as artistically impressive as it is gastronomically satisfying—a truly unique dining experience to end your holiday.  

Day 14 Fly Home  

Transfer to Phuket Airport, where you will board your flight back to the UK  

 

Your bespoke proposal with Experience Travel Group will include:

• International Flights (we can omit if you prefer)
• Accommodation as described
• Privately guided tours and transfers
• Tips for guides and drivers
• Original Experience Travel Group "signature" experiences 
• Full financial protection (ABTA and ATOL bonding.) 
• 24-hour in-country backup while away
• Your dedicated travel expert in the UK