Stay at the country’s most elegant hotels with top-notch service, surrounded by beauty
A journey to the North of Thailand would not be complete without visiting the laidback city of Chiang Mai, known as ”the rose of the North”.
Founded in 1296, Chiang Mai is now an amalgam of the old walled city and the new metropolis which has grown around it. ‘It’s a city of contrasts; more than 300 revered temples, with a mixture of Lanna Thai, Burmese and Sri Lankan styles, take their place next to the fast-paced, traffic-ridden streets and modern buildings. Over the last twenty years, tourism has become ubiquitous in this once sleepy area, though it still retains much of its charm. While it may be continuing to modernise, it is still possible to get a feel for Chiang ‘Mai’s Thai roots and traditions.
In the city, you could easily spend plenty of time meandering through the streets, shopping in boutiques and eating your way through the lively markets and street food stalls. For a memorable cultural experience, at dawn, you can watch as monks clad in saffron robes emerge from their monasteries to collect alms. Nowhere is this sense of spirituality as potent as at the sacred Doi Suthep Mountain just outside of Chiang Mai. Here you can witness the serene procession of monks before ascending the 309 steps to reach the golden pagodas at the top.
There is much to do, see and experience within the city limits and amongst the lush countryside and rainforest surrounding it. One of the most popular experiences is a visit to an elephant experience. We’d urge extreme caution in this: they vary hugely in their approach to elephant welfare. Our consultants would be happy to guide you here. While in the countryside, you can also get off-the-beaten-track on our cycling tour as you explore farming life, the vibrant market trade and Buddhist traditions between pedalling through rice fields and plantations.
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Thailand
Saffron & Silk: Elegant Thailand
It’s all about refined, luxurious discovery: gorgeous locations, elegant boutique hotels, wining, dining, beach reclining. And a dash of adventure!
Highlights
Bangkok
Sail down the Chao Phraya River and explore life along smaller klongs (canals)
Chiang Mai
Connect with villages at a community project in Northern Thailand as you spend a day learning about Thai cuisine in a local home
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Thailand
Elephant Encounters in Thailand
A glorious itinerary for genuinely ethical and immersive elephant encounters and off-the-beaten-track cultural and wildlife experiences.
Highlights
Mae Sot
Trek to see rescue elephants thriving in their natural habitat
Experience life alongside the Karen people in the hills of northern Thailand
Krabi
Get your dose of tropical beach time
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Thailand
Countryside, Rivers & Reef by Train
An overland exploration of North and Central Thailand. Snake through rural communities by rail, stay in riverside lodges in jungles, and relax on pristine beaches.
Highlights
Phrae
Snake through the northern hills towards Phrae Muang Pi Forest Park
Bangkok
Going behind the scenes on Bangkok’s backstreets, including a cooking class in a hidden garden restaurant
Koh Kood
Relaxing on the tropical jungle island, close to the Cambodian border
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Thailand
Classic Family Thailand Adventure
A little bit of everything in ‘The Land of Smiles’: from Bangkok’s sizzling street food and countryside cycles to off-the-beaten-track idyllic beaches of warm water and golden sands.
Highlights
Bangkok
Sample sizzling street food with a fun foodie guide
Chiang Mai
Meet free-roaming elephants and learn about how they’re protected
Koh Yao Noi
Glorious beach time on an unspoilt island with great snorkelling
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