This comprehensive Thailand itinerary has been designed by Thailand Online's specialists, combining all of our favourite elements. You'll spend the night in floating hotels, with a colourful mountain tribe, and your trip ends on the idyllic palm tree beaches of Ko Hai.

You'll begin in Bangkok, taking a wide-eyed cycle tour of the cosmopolitan city and its surroundings. Accompanied by an enthusiastic Thai, you'll peddle across local markets, elevated bike paths and the narrow city streets of China Town. Then you'll head over to the famous Bridge Over the River Kwai, where you'll spend the night on a quirky floating river hotel. Your evenings here are filled with flickering oil lamps, looking up at the stars and listening to the sloshing waters of the River Kwai. After a sunset tuk-tuk tour of temple-strewn Ayutthaya, you'll take the sleeper train to Chiang Mai, the cultural capital of the North. You'll embark on a short trek to the hill tribes, crossing part of the jungle on a majestic elephant. In Southern Thailand you'll sail a longtail boat through a clear blue lake to your floating bamboo cabin, surrounded by towering rock formations. You'll hear Gibbon monkeys whoop and howl and you'll hear indigenous songbirds singing. Then you'll venture into the virgin rainforests of Khao Sok National where a guide will help you spot monkeys swinging through trees and gigantic iguanas. Finally, you'll end your trip on the tropical island of Ko Hai surrounded by a turquoise sea, swaying palm trees and dreamy beaches.

Today your morning is free to explore Bangkok - the City of Angels, with its temples, pagodas and street stalls. Don't miss the Royal Palace, and the awe-inspiring temple of Wat Phra Kaew. These can both be reached easily and quickly by express boat. Remember to dress modestly - knees and shoulders must covered. You can reach Chinatown via the incredible marble temple Wat Benjaabopit, amd stop off for a quick bowl of tasty noodles.

Your cycle trip through the suburbs of Bangkok begins at 1pm. Along with 2 guides and a several other travellers, you'll cycle through narrow alleyways, past traditional houses in the suburbs and past traditional workshops. You'll also take a walk through a pungent food market, where locals do their everyday shopping. This community is typical of Thailand- no air conditioning, no shopping centres and no traffic jams. After this, you'll cross the Chao Phraya River in a longtail boat. Soon, you'll find yourself in a green oasis that seems a world away from the bright lights of the city. Even the most important thoroughfares here are only small paths above the Khlongs (canals). You'll return from the trip around 6pm, surprised at the huge contrast between the centre and the outskirts. For dinner, you’ll be taken by taxi to one of Bangkok’s most colourful and quirky restaurants- Cabbages and Condoms.

You'll make an early start this morning. After a bite of breakfast, you’ll be collected by air-conditioned minibus and head for the River Kwai with your English-speaking guide. On the way, you'll stop for an hour at the famous floating market to watch the rowdy traders in action. After this, you'll travel to the famous ‘Bridge over the River Kwai’. Here, you'll start your train journey over the remaining stretch of the infamous Burma Death Railway. If you sit on the left side of the train you'll have the best view during the trip. The train will take you across a spectacular viaduct made up from the original building matirial (wood).

On arrival at the small station, a tasty lunch will be served and you'll step into a longtail boat. This boat will drift along the River Kwai, deep into the thick evergreen jungle. Just 40 minutes later, you'll arrive at your floating bamboo bungalows on the river. You'll have your own room with a swimming ladder and hammock. There is no electricity in these bungalows, and you'll eat an ambient dinner by the light of flickering oil lamps. Seated at long tables, you'll share the meal with your fellow travellers and discuss your experiences so far, as the jungle around you breathes with life.

After a night in the midst of the jungle, you'll climb back into the boat. You'll then travel back along the river, reaching the fairytale Erawan Waterfalls an hour later (400 Baht, approx $18 entrance fee paid locally). The waterfall cascades over seven different levels, with a staggering total height of 1500m. You'll reach the top of the falls, depending upon your walking speed, in about 1½ hours. Your efforts will be instantly rewarded, as you take in your enchanting location. You'll see sparkling waterpools in light blue basins against a backdrop of limestone rocks, in which the water has carved out a sort of cave. You'll have 3 hours of free time by the waterfall to wander around wide-eyed or take a plunge in the shimmering pool.

The guide will then leave you at your hotel in Kanchanburi, which has a swimming pool in case you fancy a dip. You'll have enough time to visit the JEATH War Museum and the moving memorial dedicated to the victims of the infamous Burma Death Railway.
 

This morning, you'll take a minibus transfer to atmospheric Ayutthaya. You'll be collected at your hotel and 3 hours later will arrive in Ayutthaya. Your friendly driver will drop you at your lovely bungalow with verands, where you’ll stay for the night. The afternoon is free, allowing you to explore the historical city at your own pace.

Ayutthaya is a fascinatingly beautiful World Heritage Site. In the 12th century, this was one of the most important kingdoms in Southeast Asia- a huge network of palaces, temples, spectacular junks and royal elephants eating from gold bowls. Eventually, the city lost its power and the temples were ransacked during the war with Burma. In the evening we'll arrange for you a sunset tuk-tuk tour around the city, watch as the sun sets over the temples and ruins of this magnificent city. You won't have a guide accompany you for this tour. The tuk-tuk will stop off at the temple entrance so that you can take pictures if you like. As you visit the last temples, it will start to get dark and the temples will be lit up. You'll see the remnants of the Khmer dynasty in a very spooky atmosphere. This tuk-tuk tour will give you a good first impression of the temples to help you decide which temples you would like to visit more fully tomorrow.

Today, you can spend a few hours wandering wistfully amongst the mystical Khmer temples strewn around Ayutthaya. Wat Phra Si Samphet, Wat Mahatat and Wat Mongkol Bophit are some of the best known ruins, and are draped in history and heavy with mystery.You will often find yourself completely alone with plenty of time and space to daydream in these enthralling surroundings.

At about 5pm, you'll collect your luggage from the hotel and make your way to the railway station. You'll spend the night in a couchette on the overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai. You'll sit in spacious seats across from one another, that can be transformed into bed in no time. The couchette is comfortable and there is a good restaurant car onboard for your evening meal. There are many international travellers onboard, as well as Thai. It's a great mix of cultures and nationalities and it won't be long till you've found someone to talk to. Be sure to bring along ear plugs and before long you'll be gently rocked to sleep by the motion of the train as it weaves its way through the hills towardsa Chiang Mai. One of the train stewards will wake you an hour before arrival.

This morning you arrive in Chiang Mai, the cultural capital of the North. You'll stay in a hotel with a swimming close to the city gates. It's not difficult to find something to do in Chiang Mai- there are plenty of options available. We can highly recommend a trip to Doi Suthep, a striking Buddhist temple 15km outside the city. It sits on the top of a 1600m mountain, towering over the landscape below. From here, you'll have a fantastic panorama of Chiang Mai and the surrounding mountains. The old temple is a sacred pilgrimage site and radiates with peaceful spirituality.

In the evening, you can take a walk to the lively night bazaar. The atmosphere is usually electric, and there is a huge amount of trading going on. You’ll also find massage salons, restaurants, and even karaoke bars- a little something for everyone.
 

With a bit of luck the chickens scratching around the village will have laid some eggs for your breakfast. Afterwards you'll climb on your elephant for a 1½-hour journey through thick jungle, valleys and river crossings. Step by step, these impressive beasts negotiate their way on the difficult paths. High on their back you have a great view of the countryside, but keep an eye out for stray branches… you don’t want a slap in the face!

The elephants will bring you to a riverside camp where a bamboo raft is prepared for you. You'll take your place on the raft and the helmsman, armed with a long pole, will float you peacefully down the river. On the way back to Chiang Mai you'll stop to visit an orchid farm, arriving back into Chiang Mai at about 4pm.

You can also choose to go on a more rigorous 3-day jungle trek instead of this 2-day trek. During the 3-day trek you'll spend 2 nights with the colourful Karen and Akha mountain tribes. You'll also go on an elephant trek and bamboo raft ride during the trek. Anyone with a reasonable level of physical fitness can participate.
 

When you arrive, you'll be met at the railway station and driven to Racha Praba Lake. Any luggage that you don't need for the lake will be taken straight to the lodge where you'll stay tomorrow. You'll need only an overnight pack for your floating cabin stay. Your Khao Sok trip includes all meals, and you'll have an English-speaking guide to lead you through the park. From the lakeside, a longtail boat will take you past spectacular rock formations that thrust up from the lake. An hour later, you’ll arrive at your floating bamboo cabins in an idyllic location far from modernity as we know it. Sleeping mats, sheets, blankets, and towels will be provided. The lake is also your bath, so simply shampoo your hair and jump in! You'll have your own inflatable tube to float lazily about on the water. After lunch, you'll take a walk through the thick jungle, alongside bamboo shoots and giant trees. Then, you'll sit back and enjoy the sunset from the jetty by your floating bungalow. A wonderful dinner will be waiting for you.

This morning, you'll wake up to the exotic sounds of the jungle. Each bungalow has its own canoe, and after breakfast you'll paddle along the jungly shores in search of monkeys and other animals. Lunch will be served after your canoe trip. After lunch, you can either take a walk further into the rainforest or head for a hidden lagoon. The choice will depend largely upon the weather. From the dense greenery you'll hear the rising calls of monkeys and toucans. Later in the afternoon, you'll be taken deeper into the Khao Sok National Park by longtail boat. This will take about an hour. You'll be met on the shore and taken even further into the tropical wilderness. You'll soon come across the jungle bungalows, where the rest of your baggage awaits you. There is plenty of time to get settled into your bungalow, which has a private bathroom. There's no hot water, but in such high temperatures a hot shower will be the last thing you'll want. You can spend a while taking in your fabulously remote setting. Later you’ll dine by the river, surrounded by lush mountains and the manifold sounds of the forest.

After breakfast you'll set off with your guide on a fascinating walk with a banana leaf packed lunch in your daypack. Together you will explore the tropical rainforest, and your guide will tell you all about the surrounding vegetation and wildlife. He'll point out any monkeys swinging through trees you may have missed. On the way, you'll enjoy a hearty lunch (included), served in a beautiful spot next to a river a waterfall. In the early evening, you'll return to your hut, weary but happy. On your peaceful veranda, you can mull over your experiences against a background of jungle murmurs. Find a good place to watch the sunset and make sure you have that camera handy…

Today you are completely free to enjoy the carefree atmosphere of the beach. If you are eager to explore, you can grab a snorkel and discover the vast terraces of coral right off the coast. You could also hire a boat with other travellers and go for a day of snorkelling near one of the other islands. As the islands of the Trang archipelago are far from the tourist trail, the coral here is unspoilt and vividly coloured. If you’ve never snorkelled before, you’ll be amazed at the beauty you'll see just under the surface. The rainbow myriads of exotic fish and the stillness of their environment make this an absolutely unforgettable experience. The water temperature is around a lovely 27°C. Don't forget to use plenty of sunscreen when snorkelling, or even better wear a t-shirt.

Alternatively, you can follow in the footsteps of a near forgotten people- the sea nomads. In bygone days, the sea nomads were the largest group of people in this region. They earned their living by harvesting and selling valuable swallow nests found locally in the hidden lagoons. They still collect the nests today, using exactly the same fishing and boat building techniques. They spend less time at sea these days, and can be found in the villages. It is fascinating to hear about their heritage.

Today, you'll make your own way back to the mainland and take a taxi to the airport at Trang. The short flight back to Bangkok takes around 1½ hours, and marks the end of this fantastic itinerary.

As most intercontinental flights leave Bangkok in the afternoon or evening, we'll try to arrange your connecting flight home on the same day (day 18). However, if this connection is not possible, we can easily arrange an extra night in Bangkok for you (additional cost), where you can indulge in some last minute shopping.