Exploration from Bangkok to Chiang Mai

Welcome! Please be prepared to meet in the lobby at 5:30 P.M. to depart for your welcome dinner. The dinner reservation time will be finalized closer to your trip date. If you plan on arriving today, we recommend flying into BKK.

You'll start off the day with a private transfer to Mae Klong Railway Market for a unique experience of vendors swiftly clearing their tracks for the passing train—an extraordinary display of local life and commerce. After soaking in the vibrant market atmosphere, continue for a short ride to a local Sugar Palm farm for a brief insight into sugar production. The journey finally takes you to the bustling Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, where you can explore boats laden with an array of goods and experience traditional market interactions. Opt for a paddle boat ride for a closer view of the market activities. On your way back from the market, you'll enjoy a local lunch featuring dishes like stir-fried razor clams and salted Thai mackerel before taking a private transfer back to the hotel. Cap the evening with the Bangkok Street Eats tour by tuk-tuk, sampling street food favorites and visiting iconic sites, making for a full and memorable day. For today's activities, you'll want to bring extra cash with you to buy any additional food or beverages at the markets.

• Mae Klong Railway Market

  Begin your half-day tour with a scenic drive in a private transfer towards southwest Bangkok, to the charming Ratchaburi Province. On the way to Damnoern Saduak Floating Market, take a fascinating detour to the Mae Klong Railway Market - also affectionately known as Talad Rom Hoop - which translates to "closing an umbrella or awning." This unique name reflects the market's extraordinary setup, where vendors swiftly close their awnings to make way for the passing trains right on the tracks. Experience the thrilling spectacle of the train maneuvering through the tightly-packed stalls, a perfect blend of daily commerce and local life. You'll spend around 40 minutes at the market, giving you ample time to explore the stalls, soak up the vibrant atmosphere, and watch the train glide through, making for an unforgettable experience.

  08:30· 30 min· Mae Klong Railway Market
• Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

  From the bustling Mae Klong Railway Market, continue with a quick 15-minute drive to a local Sugar Palm farm situated conveniently along your route. This visit offers an insightful look into the production of sugar, demonstrating how the sap from sugar palms is turned into crystalline sugar, a vital ingredient in local cuisine. You’ll then arrive at the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. This celebrated market is a vibrant display of local culture and history, reminiscent of a time when rivers and canals were the main transport routes. Explore a variety of boats filled with fresh fruits, flowers, colorful clothing, and assorted souvenirs floating along the waterways. Then, make your way to the historic Lao Tuk Luk Market, also known as the old Damnoen Saduak Market. Operating for over a century, this market maintains its traditional appeal with wooden houses and offers insights into the age-old methods of trading food, snacks, and other items. To fully appreciate this market's atmosphere, consider renting a paddle boat at your own expense. This allows you to weave through the vendor boats and experience the vibrant market scene from the water, providing a unique perspective on this lively trading hub. It is advised to bring cash with you to purchase food and beverages at your own expense.

  09:20· 150 min· Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
• Bangkok Street Eats by Tuk Tuk

  In the late afternoon, you will be picked up for a 40-minute transfer to the meeting point to start your Bangkok Street Eats by Tuk-Tuk adventure. You'll hop on a tuk tuk and make about 5 stops along the way. Get a glimpse of an important Bangkokian landmarks – the Democracy Monument before arriving a Michelin-guide Pad Thai restaurant and enjoy the explosion of spicy and savory flavors as well as the amazing variety of textures from the delicate noodles to the crunchy peanuts. Hop back into the iconic vehicle and continue this culinary excursion of the city’s hidden eateries. But first, lets have a photo break at the Giant Swing. Next stop would be a local night market. Wander the rows of bustling stalls, learn about local delicacies and sample from the vast array of street food. There will be plenty of options to test your umami and sweet taste buds namely: suckling Thai-style grilled meat, khao kha mu (stewed pork leg), coconut pudding, Bua Loi Khai Waan (glutinous rice balls with egg), etc. Take a short break from eating and stroll through Pak Klong Talat, Thailand’s largest flower market, which only operates overnight. Let's try to fold some fresh lotus here while getting to know how important this kind of flower is in Thai worshiping culture. Next up, getting to know Thai wedding tradition from a local store selling special desserts just for this occasion. Take away some Thong Yip and Thong Yod to try at the final stop. Conclude the night at a laid-back riverside rooftop bar. Sip on a refreshing beer or your choice of drink whilst taking in the splendid views of the Chao Phraya River and the twinkling buildings along the riverbanks. Later you'll take a 40-minute transfer back to the hotel after a fun evening out!

  17:00· 240 min· Bangkok
• Transfer · Bangkok → Mae Klong Railway Market

  Take a private transfer from the hotel to Mae Kong Railway Market as your first stop en route to Damnoern Saduak Floating Market.

  private · 80 min
• Transfer · Lunch → Bangkok

  After lunch, take a private transfer back to the hotel.

  private · 80 min

This morning, you will take a transfer out to Kok Na Sai Farm for a traditional rice farm visit. Afterwards, you'll head to a community kitchen for a hands-on cooking class to prepare a delicious lunch with locally sourced ingredients. After lunch, you'll transfer back to the hotel to relax and freshen up before transferring to dinner.

• Kok Na Sai Farm Visit and Cooking Class

  Welcome to a local Thai rice farm! Today you will visit and learn about the local community and their work on the rice farm. They'll demonstrate the traditional method of rice production, and then you will get the chance to make a Thai rice pancake. From there, you will begin a cooking class, where you will be taught how to prepare 3-4 Thai dishes using locally sourced ingredients. You'll also have the chance to learn Thai cooking methods on a charcoal stove. Enjoy your lunch before heading back to Bangkok!

  10:00· 180 min· Bangkok
• Transfer · Bangkok → Saraburi

  Take a private transfer from the hotel in Bangkok to Kok Na Sai Farm.

  private · 120 min
• Transfer · Saraburi → Bangkok

  Take a private transfer from Kok Na Sai Farm back to the hotel in Bangkok.

  private · 120 min

Today is free for you to explore on your own during your last day in Bangkok! In the late afternoon, you'll transfer to the train station to board an overnight train, then you will wake up in Chiang Mai! Please be sure to pack a small bag with you to have on the train with your toiletries and other necessities, as your main luggage will be stored elsewhere.

• Transfer · Bangkok → Bangkok

  Take a private transfer from your hotel in Bangkok to the Bangkok train station.

  private · 60 min
• Transfer · Bangkok → Chiang Mai

  You will take an overnight train in a second class sleeper, with air conditioning, from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Seats will be transformed into bunk beds in the evening by the train officers. Bathrooms are available on the train.

  train · 785 min

After a long journey, welcome to Chiang Mai! You'll take a brief transfer to the hotel for check-in and settle in, or perhaps indulge in an optional Thai massage to relax those muscles. Later in the early evening, take a short transfer to the market for the Chiang Mai Night Market Street Eats Tour, savoring a variety of Northern Thai street food. Conclude the evening with a short transfer back to the hotel. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes for the night market tour.

• Night Market Street Eats Tour

  In the early evening, take a 20-minute private transfer to the Chiang Mai night market. Embark on a culinary journey through Chiang Mai, starting at the South Gate, where a diverse array of local foods awaits. Your local Guide will help pick out different street foods to try. Then, you'll move on to a local restaurant for a taste of Khao Soi, a traditional Thai Northern Noodle dish. Afterwards, you'll grab a refreshment at the Chang Peuk Gate (north gate) with either a choice of a fruit shake or Thai dessert. Explore the Flower Market, where your local Guide will continue assisting in selecting delectable local foods. Continue the cultural experience with a visit to Wat Chedi Luang Temple. Conclude the evening at a local bar by the Ping River, sipping on 1 local beer or 1 soft drink, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere of Chiang Mai's culinary and cultural scene. Afterwards, take a 20-minute private transfer back to the hotel.

  17:30· 240 min· Chiang Mai

After breakfast, you'll be picked up to transfer to the Doi Inthanon National Park. You'll arrive at Ban Mae Klang Luang Village, where you will get acquainted with the locals and learn about the Karen culture. Then you'll participate in a hands on coffee making process and enjoy some fresh coffee. Afterwards, you'll embark on a leisure hike, stopping at Pha Dok Sieo Waterfall, where you can cool off in the pool below (dry season only). Continue onwards and stop to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. On your way back to Chiang Mai, you'll make a stop at Mae Ya Waterfall to snap some photos! You'll arrive in Chiang Mai in the late afternoon. Today you'll want to wear comfortable clothes, your swimsuit underneath (if you plan on swimming at Pha Dok Sieo waterfall, during the dry season only), comfortable walking shoes, and bring water, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and bug spray.

• Ban Mae Klang Luang Mountain Village Visit and Coffee Making

  Upon arriving to the mountain village, you'll experience another side of Northern Thai Culture. The locals here are almost entirely from the Karen ethnic minority, and lead rural lifestyles that have remained largely unchanged for decades. After getting to know your village hosts, roll up your sleeves for a hands-on lesson in the village's specialty: coffee making! Follow the lead of your local host and guide through each step of the production process - from roasting, to winnowing and grinding - before sitting down for a tasting. After enjoying a few cups of the local brew, head off next on a gentle, 2-hour trek along nature trails flanked by stretches of emerald paddy fields and verdant rice terraces.

  09:30· 60 min· Chiang Mai
• Leisure Hike and Pha Dok Sieo Waterfall Visit

  A short 10-minute drive will take you to where you will begin your hike. Embark on a leisure 2 mile hike through the forest and make a stop at Pha Dok Seaw Waterfall - a perfect place for a refreshing swim during the dry season! Then, continue onward and reach the Royal Project Restaurant, where you'll enjoy a rewarding meal! The trail is a mix of flat paths through the forest with some downhill sections. *Please note that is it only safe to swim at Pha Dok Seio during the dry season and is condition dependent.

  11:00· 120 min· Chiang Mai
• Mae Ya Waterfall Stop

  On your way back to Chiang Mai, you'll stop to admire the Mae Ya Waterfall. Considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Inthanon National Park, you'll want to make sure to snap some photos during your final stop of the afternoon before heading back to Chiang Mai!

  15:00· 30 min· Chiang Mai
• Transfer · Chiang Mai → Doi Inthanon National Park

  This morning, you will be picked up for a private transfer from the hotel to Doi Inthanon National Park. There will be restroom breaks along the way or upon request.

  private · 90 min
• Transfer · Royal Project Restaurant → Mae Ya Waterfall

  Take a return transfer back to Chiang Mai. About one hour in, you will stop at the Mae Ya Waterfall for a photo opportunity! Then, continue for another hour and a half back to your hotel.

  private · 60 min

All good things must come to an end, but only until your next adventure! Enjoy a final breakfast and then make your own way onward. If departing directly from the hotel, we recommend flying out of CNX.