Set out in the morning for a 4-5 hour drive to Phayao, widely regarded as one of the most scenic driving routes in northern Thailand. The road winds through forested ridges, mountain valleys, and small rural villages with a series of viewpoints along the way worth stopping for. Lunch is at a local restaurant en route for a simple northern Thai meal before the drive continues into the afternoon. Continue onto Phayao, a relaxed lakeside town.

After breakfast, you’ll set out on the 2-3 hour drive to Chiang Mai, arriving in the afternoon. This iconic Thailand city sits in a broad valley ringed by mountains and is known for its well-preserved old town, hundreds of temples, night markets, and a food scene that many consider the best in the country. The rest of the day is yours to explore the city at your own pace or simply settle in at the hotel.

Head out of Chiang Mai to Ban Mae Sa Mai, the largest H’mong community in northern Thailand. The morning begins with a visit to a small local museum covering H’mong heritage and a taste of traditional snacks before setting out on a one to two hour guided trek with a H’mong guide through the surrounding hills and down into the Mae Sa Valley. The afternoon takes you to the Nong Hoi Royal Project in the nearby H’mong village of Nong Hai, an agricultural research center established in 1986 that focuses on temperate crops – plums, grapes, strawberries, Cape gooseberries, and herbs – as part of a broader effort to develop sustainable livelihoods in highland communities. A walk through the village rounds out the day before the drive back to Chiang Mai.

Head south of Chiang Mai to the village of Bandoo in Hangdong to spend the morning with the Raunkaew-Yanon family, who have lived in their traditional Lanna home for nearly 150 years. Have a tour on their farm and enjoy a northern Thai meal alongside your hosts.

The afternoon moves to Doi Suthep mountain and Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, one of northern Thailand’s most revered temples. You can climb the 308-step Naga serpent staircase or take the cable car to the top, where golden pagodas, active shrines, and wide views over Chiang Mai await. On the way back down, a stop at Wat Pha Lat – a forest temple set into the hillside above the city – offers a calm end to the afternoon.

The drive south to Sukhothai includes a stop in the Chae Hom District for a choice between two very different experiences: a visit to the Thai Elephant Conservation Center, one of Thailand’s most respected elephant welfare organizations, or a 4WD drive and short hike up to Wat Chalermprakiat, a hidden temple of white pagodas perched on rocky cliffs with sweeping views over the surrounding mountains.

From there, the route continues to Lampang, a town known for its well-preserved Lanna architecture and horse-drawn carriages that still serve as local transport. A stop for lunch takes in some of the old town’s character before the drive continues south to Sukhothai, the capital of the first Kingdom of Siam and one of Thailand’s most historically significant cities. If time allows, a detour to Si Satchanalai Historical Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site that predates and rivals Sukhothai in scale — is worth making before arriving at the hotel.

The day begins in Ban Khuai, a village on the outskirts of Sukhothai, where you’ll set out by bike along a dirt road through rice paddies with Kao Luang Mountain as a backdrop. The route passes a wood furniture factory and meanders along rural irrigation canals before arriving at the Eastern Gate of Sukhothai Historical Park. Inside, you’ll explore Wat Chang Lom, Wat Si Chum, and Wat Mahathat — some of the finest surviving examples of 13th and 14th-century Thai Buddhist and Hindu architecture from the kingdom’s golden era. After lunch at a local restaurant, the cycling route continues into the park’s southern zone.

This morning, transfer to Phitsanulok Station for the daytime train to Ayutthaya, one of the more scenic and relaxed ways to travel through central Thailand. On arrival, a short transfer brings you to your hotel before an afternoon tuk-tuk tour of the city’s most significant temple ruins.

Ayutthaya served as the capital of the Thai kingdom for over 400 years before its destruction by the Burmese in 1767, and the scale of what remains is striking. The tour covers Wat Mahathat, where a stone Buddha head sits famously entwined in the roots of a banyan tree; Wat Ratchaburana, where steep stairs inside the prang reward the climb with wide views over the ruins; Wat Phra Si Sanphet, originally built as a royal residence before becoming a monastery; Wat Lokkayasutha and its enormous reclining Buddha; and Wat Chai Wattanaram, a grand Khmer-style complex of chedis on the riverside that is best seen in the late afternoon light.

Today your driver will collect you from the hotel for the transfer to Don Mueang Airport for your flight south to Surat Thani. On arrival, a private transfer takes you to Cheow Lan Lake Pier, where a boat will carry you across the lake’s jade-green water to your accommodation.

Cheow Lan Lake sits within Khao Sok National Park, surrounded by limestone karst formations rising from the water and one of the oldest rainforests in the world. After checking in and lunch at the restaurant, the afternoon is yours to swim, kayak, or simply take in the surroundings. As the day winds down, a boat trip around the lake is followed by dinner under an open sky.

An early morning boat safari takes you out on the lake at sunrise, with limestone peaks emerging from the mist and the forest coming to life around you. After breakfast, the late morning is yours to enjoy the surroundings at your own pace before setting out in the afternoon for Prakarang coral cave.

The excursion involves a jungle trek to an emerald lagoon, followed by a bamboo boat journey through the cave’s interior, where coral formations and diverse wildlife make for an otherworldly setting. Enjoy the rest of the evening on your own to relax and take in the stunning surroundings.

After a final breakfast on the lake, you’ll board the longtail boat for the return crossing to the pier, with the karst formations and morning mist providing a fitting send-off. From there, a private transfer takes you to Khao Lak on the Andaman Coast, where the final leg of the itinerary begins.

Less developed than Phuket to the south, Khao Lak is a quieter stretch of coastline known for its long sandy beaches, clear water, and proximity to the Similan Islands. Upon arrival at your resort, settle in and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Enjoy two full days to explore Khao Lak at your own pace. Choose from a range of activities on offer from your resort, including snorkeling or scuba diving, guided jungle treks, mountain biking, and rock climbing on the limestone formations of Phang Nga Bay. Sea canoeing and sunset cruises through Phang Nga Bay’s mangrove estuaries provide a quieter alternative on the water.

Say goodbye to Thailand and head to the airport to catch your departing flight.