Taste of Thailand

Arrive at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, where a representative will assist with fast-track immigration and your luggage before introducing your EXO Travel guide. Transfer by private air-conditioned vehicle to your hotel, with insights into Bangkok's history and Thai culture shared along the way. Overnight in Bangkok.

Enjoy breakfast and a morning at leisure. In the afternoon, visit the Grand Palace, seat of Thailand's Royal Family for more than two centuries, exploring its temples, throne halls and the revered Emerald Buddha. For a closer look, a curator from the Queen Sirikit Museum can lead a personal tour through its exhibits of royal fashion and state history. Break for coffee at an authentic cafe en route to Wat Pho, one of Bangkok's most enchanting temples, home to a 45-metre reclining Buddha and an intricate collection of religious treasures. Round out the afternoon by witnessing the monks' chanting ritual, a deeply spiritual close to the day's temple visits. This evening, dine at Nahm, awarded a Michelin star and set within COMO Metropolitan Bangkok. Overnight in Bangkok.

Board a private solar-powered boat from the banks of the Chao Phraya River for a tour through Bangkok's historic khlongs, once major trading routes and now lined with wooden shop houses and local temples. Stop at Wat Ratcha Orasaram, known for its Chinese-style artwork, and Wat Nang Rachavora Viharn, built in the Ayutthaya style, before visiting the Wat Nang Museum for a closer look at the history of Thonburi Khlong. Disembark at Talad Phlu, one of Bangkok's hidden neighbourhood markets, and stop for lunch at the Michelin Bib Gourmand favourite Tek Heng Mee Krob Jeen Lee to sample mee krob, a classic Thai-Chinese dish. This evening, explore the flavours of the historic Bangrak neighbourhood, the city's so-called Village of Love, on a guided food-tasting walk through its back streets, with dishes hand-picked by local experts. Finish the night by tuk tuk at Opium Bar by Restaurant Potong, a hidden bar from a Michelin-starred chef. Overnight in Bangkok.

After breakfast, check out and drive around 1.5 hours to Ayutthaya. Explore the former capital by tuk tuk, learning about its founding in the 14th century through to its fall to Burmese invaders in the 1700s. Visit the temple-studded ruins of Wat Yai Chaimongkol and Wat Mahathat, home to the iconic Buddha head entwined in tree roots, with a stop for candy floss roti, a local dessert speciality, along the way. Enjoy lunch at The Artisan Ayutthaya, an elevated Thai dining experience set in surroundings with deep ties to the Ayutthaya period. Finish at the Arts of the Kingdom museum, home to handcrafted golden thrones and intricately handwoven artworks celebrating Royal Thai craftsmanship (closed Mondays and Tuesdays), with the option to also visit the Khon Museum, dedicated to one of Thailand's oldest narrative dance forms. Check in to a boutique hotel in Ayutthaya this evening. Overnight in Ayutthaya.

After breakfast, check out and drive around 2 hours to Khao Yai. Before lunch, take a walk through Khao Yai National Park, keeping an eye out for local birdlife and, with some luck, larger wildlife too. Lunch is at Kua Kampan Khao Yai, another Michelin Bib Gourmand favourite serving a wide range of local Thai delicacies. Afterward, continue to InterContinental Khao Yai, a hotel unlike any other in Thailand, designed around a railway theme and built to evoke the golden age of train travel. Spend a free afternoon exploring the resort on your own, walking the tracks that wind through the woods and discovering the series of railcar-inspired structures that make up the property, piece by piece. Overnight in Khao Yai.

This morning, visit GranMonte Vineyard, a family-owned estate, for a tour through the vines, an introduction to winemaking, and a wine tasting followed by a Thai set lunch. Return to the hotel with a stop at a local mango farm for grilled mango and ice cream, a sweet local speciality, before an afternoon at leisure. This evening, dinner is at Poirot Restaurant, a French dining experience set in an upcycled railcar, evoking the golden age of first-class train travel and one of the most stylish tables in Khao Yai. Overnight in Khao Yai.

After breakfast, check out and drive to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport for your flight to Chiang Mai. On arrival, transfer privately to Howie's Homestay, an exclusively booked villa nestled in the serene Mae Rim Valley, the perfect base for the days ahead. Your host, Howie, will welcome you personally and show you around the property, before an authentic home-cooked Thai dinner, prepared to Michelin-star quality, is served at the homestay. Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Enjoy a free day to relax at Howie's Homestay, unwinding or exploring on your own with optional experiences recommended by your host. Lunch and dinner are both authentic, home-cooked Thai meals prepared to Michelin-star quality and served at the homestay. Overnight in Chiang Mai.

After breakfast, transfer to the Mae Tang District and the evergreen Araksa Tea Garden, known for its high-quality Assam tea. Receive a warm welcome from the local guide, who explains how the tea plants are cultivated and the seeds selected, before joining in the harvest with a bamboo basket of your own. Move to the roasting station to try your hand at kneading and roasting the leaves, then enjoy a tea tasting alongside Thai snacks. A Thai set lunch is served at the tea garden restaurant before returning to Chiang Mai for a free afternoon at leisure. Dinner is another home-cooked Thai meal at the homestay, prepared to Michelin-star quality. Overnight in Chiang Mai.

After breakfast, check out in the late morning and transfer to Chiang Rai, heading straight for Pa Sak Tong, a secluded retreat set among lush gardens, mountains and rice paddy fields, offering complete privacy and space to unwind. On arrival, receive an exclusive welcome gift, a copy of the VERY Thai Book, signed by its author. A special Thai dinner is served at the resort this evening. Overnight in Chiang Rai.

After breakfast, transfer to the Elephant Peace Project in the Mae Yao District, the final stretch by local pickup truck along a rough path past rice paddies and mountain scenery. One of the region's ethical elephant sanctuaries, the project is deeply tied to Karen hill tribe culture and its long relationship with Thailand's elephant population, treating them as family rather than simply a royal symbol. Learn about the history of the Karen people and how the elephants are cared for, then prepare food for the elephants and join their feeding session. Bathe with them in the natural water, or simply observe, and pick up a few Karen mahout commands to try communicating yourself, before trekking alongside them through the mountains and jungle to observe their natural behaviour. Lunch is served at a local hut overlooking the jungle, with elephants and buffaloes roaming freely below. The program wraps up in the late afternoon, with the rest of the day free at leisure. This evening, enjoy a Chef's Table dining experience at Locus Native Food Lab, where Chef Kong showcases his own food concepts, with the option to pair the tasting menu with fine wines. Overnight in Chiang Rai.

After breakfast, check out and transfer to Chiang Rai Airport for your onward flight.