Grand Thailand Family Adventure

Arrive into Bangkok, where a local guide will assist with your transfer to the hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free to relax. Overnight in Bangkok.

After breakfast, set out on a full day of sightseeing using Bangkok's own public transport network. Walk to the nearest BTS Skytrain station for a short ride to Saphan Taksin, then continue by public boat along the Chao Phraya River to Tha Thien Pier. Disembark to visit Wat Pho, home of Thai massage and the reclining Buddha, then continue to the Grand Palace, Thailand's most revered royal monument and home to the sacred Emerald Buddha (appropriate dress is required; depending on crowds, your guide may adjust timing or suggest an alternative temple such as Wat Saket or Wat Suthat). Break for lunch at a local restaurant near the palace, then walk or tuk tuk to Museum Siam, an engaging look at the history of Siam, its people and its relationships with neighbouring countries. Return to the hotel by MRT or private transfer. Overnight in Bangkok.

Early this morning, drive south to Samut Songkhram in the Mae Klong River delta, stopping at a market that runs along active railway tracks before continuing to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, its canals bustling with boats selling tropical fruit and local delights. Continue to Kanchanaburi to visit the famous Bridge over the River Kwai, built by Allied prisoners of war during the Second World War, with a short train ride and lunch at a local restaurant nearby. From there, board a longtail boat to your hotel. Overnight in Kanchanaburi.

After breakfast, head to Elephant Haven in the Sai Yok District for a safety briefing before preparing food and meeting the elephants during feeding time. Take a walk into the forest alongside them to learn about their natural behaviour, followed by a local-style lunch at the project before transferring back to your hotel. Overnight in Kanchanaburi.

After breakfast, leave Kanchanaburi for historic Ayutthaya, stopping to explore some of the ruined temples within its historical park along the way, with lunch en route. Continue to Bang Pa-In Summer Palace, a 17th-century royal complex blending Chinese, Swiss, Khmer, Thai and European architectural styles across beautifully landscaped grounds. In the evening, board a river cruiser for a dinner cruise along the Chao Phraya, taking in Ayutthaya's riverside heritage and everyday life over a set menu of traditional Thai cuisine. Overnight in Ayutthaya.

Early this morning, there's the option to make merit by offering alms to local Buddhist monks, either riverside or in front of the hotel. Arrive in Sukhothai in the late afternoon and explore Sukhothai Historical Park, once a walled city surrounded by a moat, touring its main sites by electric tuk-tuk. Overnight in Sukhothai.

After breakfast, drive north toward Lampang, stopping at the village of Baan Na Ton Chan in Sri Satchanalai for an immersive look at rural Thai life rarely seen by visitors: pick fruit alongside locals, get a feel for work in the rice paddies, and learn how the community has adopted sustainable practices, along with visits to a wooden toy maker and a local silk weaver. Enjoy a Sukhothai-style noodle lunch in the village. Continue to Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, one of Thailand's most spectacular temples, dating to 1486, with the option of a horse cart ride through town at your own expense, and Wat Pong Sanook, a UNESCO-recognised model of community-led Lanna temple preservation. Continue driving to Chiang Mai. Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Depart early, taking a breakfast box from the hotel, for the foot of Doi Suthep Mountain in time to join the daily alms-giving ceremony as monks walk barefoot through the streets. Climb the 309 steps of the Golden Naga staircase to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep's golden pagodas, then continue to Wat Umong, a moss-covered 14th-century forest temple with mysterious tunnels and a private blessing ceremony at its viharn. Enjoy your breakfast box, or a bowl of Khao Soi, Northern Thailand's famous coconut curry noodle dish, along the way. Continue on to Lisu Lodge, welcomed with a drink on arrival, with time to explore the nearby Lisu village, a local temple, vegetable plantations and the Himmapaan Nursery before a Thai dinner at leisure. Overnight at Lisu Lodge.

Depart Lisu Lodge with a stop at an orchid nursery home to more than 50 varieties in year-round bloom, along with a chance to spot colourful, rare butterflies. After lunch, transfer to a pick-up truck for the drive along hilly roads through hilltribe villages to a lodge set among jungle and rice terraces. Enjoy a barbecue dinner with cultural performances this evening. Overnight at Hmong Hilltribe Lodge.

After breakfast, drive back to Chiang Mai and check in to the hotel, with the rest of the day free at leisure (with the option of a half-day street art and community tour through a hidden Chiang Mai neighbourhood with local artist Dr. Cas, including a hands-on art workshop). Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Transfer to Chiang Mai Airport for a direct flight to Phuket, then continue by road to Khao Sok, the heart of Thailand's rainforest, arriving at the pier by 11am for a scenic boat ride across Chiew-Larn Lake to a floating resort in time for lunch. Spend the afternoon at leisure: swim, explore by kayak, or simply take in the surroundings. Late in the afternoon, enjoy a boat trip along Little Halong Bay, followed by dinner at the resort. Overnight at the floating resort, Khao Sok.

Rise early for a morning safari along the lake at sunrise, as mist drifts across the water against a backdrop of limestone mountains, followed by breakfast and a free morning at leisure. After lunch at the resort, set out on a jungle trek to the Emerald Lagoon, then ride a bamboo boat to Prakarang Coral Cave, its stalagmites resembling coral formations, spotting rainforest wildlife and rare plants along the way. Dinner at the resort this evening. Overnight at the floating resort, Khao Sok.

Wake to the morning mist over the lake and enjoy breakfast, then check out and board a long-tail boat back to the pier, taking in panoramic views often likened to the Guilin of Thailand. Transfer onward to Phuket for your departing flight.