Snapshot of Thailand - Small Group - Bangkok to Chiang Mai

Big energy, bold flavours and a whole lot of colour. Bangkok wastes no time making an entrance. Settle in, soak up the city buzz and get ready for the adventure ahead. Later, you’ll meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers, then get the lowdown on what’s in store as you make your way through Thailand.

Bangkok is coming in hot today. First up, Wat Pho, home to the city’s seriously impressive Reclining Buddha. Then it’s on to the Grand Palace, where golden rooftops, glittering details and royal history compete for your attention. This afternoon, you call the shots. Chase down the perfect pad Thai or find a rooftop spot and toast the skyline. Still hungry for more? Join a Choice Experience through Thonburi’s klongs. Zip past stilted homes and riverside neighbourhoods by long-tail boat before finishing at Wat Arun, the dazzling Temple of Dawn.

• Bangkok City Tour

Today is completely yours, so get out there and make Bangkok your own. Browse boutiques and mega-malls around Siam, hunt down colourful street art in Talat Noi, wander through leafy Lumphini Park or hop on a river ferry for a fresh view of the city. Ready to go bigger? Choose a Choice Experience to Ayutthaya for palaces, ancient temples and a scenic cruise back to Bangkok, or wait until sunset and choose to zip through Chinatown by tuk-tuk, sampling street food before raising a rooftop cocktail to knockout views of Wat Arun and Wat Pho.

Bangkok isn’t done with you yet. Use your final hours to tick off any last must-sees, stock up on souvenirs or squeeze in one more plate of something delicious. This morning, pick your kind of Choice Experience: uncover silk, secrets and serious style at Jim Thompson House or head beyond the city for railway market thrills, floating market action and countryside scenes. This afternoon, another Choice Experience turns the tempo right down with a restorative Thai massage. Then it’s all aboard the overnight train to Chiang Mai. Grab dinner in Bangkok first or make tracks for the onboard dining carriage.

Wake up in Chiang Mai and hit the ground sightseeing. First up is hilltop Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, where golden details and big views make the early start worth it. Then it’s on to Wat Suan Dok and Wat Phra Singh for more intricate architecture, local stories and camera-roll gold. Later, check into your hotel and take things easy or choose a Choice Experience at a 160-year-old Lanna family home, cooking Northern Thai favourites from recipes passed down through generations. This evening, join your Travel Director for a stroll to Chiang Mai Night Bazaar, where street food, souvenirs and buzzing market stalls keep the energy going.

Today is yours to play with. Wander through Chiang Mai’s old city, browse colourful markets, stop for coffee in a cool local cafe or track down a bowl of khao soi worth writing home about. Temple-hop, shop for handmade finds or simply take things at your own pace. Or choose the Elephant Nature Park Choice Experience and spend the morning watching rescued elephants roam, splash and socialise. This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience brings you closer to the herd while expert staff share their stories. Back in town, keep exploring, eating and making Chiang Mai completely your own.

It’s your final full day in Thailand, so make it count. Keep things easy in Chiang Mai with a café stop, a wander through the old city or a final souvenir hunt, or choose a Choice Experience to Doi Inthanon National Park for waterfalls, forest trails and sky-high views from Thailand’s tallest peak. Tonight, go out with a flourish on Choice Experience for a Khantoke dinner, where Northern Thai dishes, folk dancing and colourful performances bring the evening to life. One last feast, one last big night and plenty to remember Thailand by.

That’s a wrap on your Thai adventure. Check out of your hotel and say goodbye to your Travel Director and fellow small group travellers, with plenty of stories, photos and favourite moments packed in alongside the souvenirs.