If you’re short on time but want to see the sights north of Bangkok (and really, who doesn’t?), this is the express trip for you. Take seven days, pack them full of wonderment and reflection in Northern Thailand — Kanchanaburi, Ayutthaya, and Chiang Mai, and plenty of temples, palaces, and small villages to explore — and you’ve got a recipe for one of the most memorable weeks you’ll ever have. Toss in the ease of travel by trains and buses and there’s no way you’ll feel like you’re missing out on anything in this dynamic region.
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Our Price From
A$1,166 per person
Price shown based on twin share
Save up to $645 per person
Trip Length
7 Days
Trip Starts
Bangkok
Trip Ends
Chiang Mai
Departures
1 Trip Review
All-Inclusive Level
Budget
Affordable
Age Range
12-99 Years
Max. Group Size
15
Pace
Easy
Guide Style
Fully Guided
Tour Code
ATNR
Countries Visited:
Itinerary
Arrive at any time.
Accommodation:
Hotel Royal Bangkok @ Chinatown
Included Experiences
- Meet Your CEO and Group: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Enjoy a klong boat tour of Bangkok including a visit to Wat Pho. Travel to Kanchanaburi and head to your floating rafthouse accommodation.
Accommodation:
Pung-Waan Resort
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Dinner
Included Experiences
- Life along the canals: Travel by longtail boat on the busy Chao Phraya River and through the small canals of western Bangkok's Thonburi district. Observe colourful scenes of everyday life along the river banks.
- Wat Po Visit: This temple is known for its reclining Buddha, its feet covered with mother-of-pearl engravings of Buddhist symbols. Explore the large grounds and other compounds to see other Buddha figures, murals and the chedis that contain the ashes of Buddha. This is also the birthplace of traditional Thai massage.
- Overnight Rafthouse Excursion: Enjoy a unique experience aboard a floating rafthouse on the famous River Kwai.
Enjoy a day of sightseeing at Erawan Falls and the Bridge on the River Kwai.
Accommodation:
Good Times Resort
Included Meals:
Breakfast
Included Experiences
- Erawan Waterfall: Seven tiers of turquoise: Visit one of the world’s most beautiful waterfalls. Its seven tiers offer a unique experience at every climb, reaching up to 1,500m (4921 ft). Swim in the turquoise pools, snap photos from the top tier, and opt to hike in the jungle to spot monkeys.
- Echoes of the River Kwai: Take in a piece of World War II history on this visit. We're sure you've seen or at least heard of the famous movie "Bridge on the River Kwai." Well, now you can tour the real thing. It stands as a massive, solemn reminder of the region's past, offering expansive views of the river below.
Explore Experiences
River Kwai Bridge
Explore the Allied War Cemetery and the Thai-Burmese Railway Centre to learn more about the area's history. Travel to Ayutthaya and visit the historical sites of the old capital city. In the evening board an overnight train to Chiang Mai.
Included Meals:
Breakfast
Included Experiences
- Thai/Burma Railway Centre and Allied War Cemetery Visit: Visit the Thai-Burmese Railway Museum to learn about the Death Railway's dark history, and the Allied War Cemetery where more than 6,000 prisoners are buried.
- Temple Ruins Tour: Visit the ruins of Ayutthaya, which served as Thailand’s capital from the 14th to 18th centuries, when it ranked as one of the most magnificent cities in the world. Located 86km (53 mi) north of Bangkok, the ruins of this UNESCO World Heritage Site include stunning pagodas and Buddha images.
- Basic Overnight Train (beds): Experience overnight travel like a local. Sit back and get some well-earned (and likely much-needed) rest en route to your next stop.
Explore Experiences
Ayutthaya
Arrive in Chiang Mai and explore the city. Visit Doi Suthep in the afternoon. Chiang Mai is a vibrant city with heaps to see and do. Famous for its night market and cooking classes, it's a feat to fit it all in. Experience the flavours and scents of traditional northern Thai cuisine by pre-booking the Northern Thai Cooking Class.
Accommodation:
Chiang Mai Gate Hotel
Included Experiences
- Chiang Mai Old Town Orientation Walk: Walk the inner Old Town of Chiang Mai with your CEO who will point out the basic landmarks and points of interest.
- Chiang Mai Street Food Crawl: Bring your appetite and your wallet. The CEO will bring the group to the best spots to eat and teach everyone about the local street food. Yum!
- Free Time: Use free time here to make the most of your time in Chiang Mai.
- Doi Suthep Temple Visit: Visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a golden Buddhist temple outside of Chiang Mai on the Mt Doi Suthep. Climb 300 steps to reach the temple and be rewarded with an unforgettable view. Admire the many Buddhist relics at this sacred temple and visit the white elephant shrine. Legend has it that the location of the temple was chosen after a white elephant carried a relic to the mountain and trumpeted three times before dying on the spot. Also, with a little luck, you may witness the chanting of the monks.
Optional Experiences
- Half-Day Chiang Mai Cycling Tour: This half-day ride takes you on a memorable tour of the countryside's most interesting sights. Go beyond the city to see Buddhist temples, local markets and organic farms. Just off the beaten track, you'll get a sense of how the locals live and see Chiang Mai from a totally different view.
- Street Food Walk at Chiang Mai Night Market: Pick up a a souvenir at this shopper's paradise. Wander through the market to find music, food, and local artists selling handmade crafts.
Explore Experiences
Chiang Mai
Doi Suthep
Take a full free day to relax or explore the countryside of northern Thailand. Chiang Mai is a vibrant city with heaps to see and do. Famous for its night market, it's a feat to fit it all in. Experience the flavours and scents of traditional northern Thai cuisine by pre-booking the Northern Thai Cooking Class.
Accommodation:
Chiang Mai Gate Hotel
Included Meals:
Breakfast
Included Experiences
- Free Time: Use free time here to make the most of your time in Chiang Mai.
Optional Experiences
- Half-Day Chiang Mai Cycling Tour: This half-day ride takes you on a memorable tour of the countryside's most interesting sights. Go beyond the city to see Buddhist temples, local markets and organic farms. Just off the beaten track, you'll get a sense of how the locals live and see Chiang Mai from a totally different view.
- Northern Thai Cooking Class: Channel your inner chef with a home-style Thai cooking class. Take a trip to the market with your teacher and learn about regional flavours as you pick out fresh ingredients. Head back to the cozy kitchen for a hands-on lesson in whipping up delicious local favourites like hot and sour soup, green curry, and sticky rice.
- Street Food Walk at Chiang Mai Night Market: Pick up a a souvenir at this shopper's paradise. Wander through the market to find music, food, and local artists selling handmade crafts.
Depart at any time. With a little extra time in the area, hilltribe treks are easily accessible, as is the Golden Triangle.
Included Meals:
Breakfast
Trip Inclusions
- Explore magnificent temples.
- Sleep in a floating rafthouse.
- See the multi-tiered Erawan Falls.
- Visit the old capital city of Ayutthaya.
- Learn about the sombre history of Kanchanaburi.
- Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group
- Wat Pho visit
- Klong riverboat tour
- Erawan Falls and Bridge on the River Kwai visit (Kanchanaburi)
- Thai-Burma Railway Centre and Allied War Cemetery visit
- Temple ruins tour (Ayutthaya)
- Doi Suthep temple visit (Chiang Mai)
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
- Train, private van, walking
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides
- Hotels (4 Nights), Rafthouse (1 Night), Sleeper Train (1 Night)
- 5 breakfasts, 1 dinner
- Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included.
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Trip Reviews (1)
Easy way to see the highlights of Thailand 1
Casey, WA, Australia, Mar 2024
For those travellers who want somebody to do all the trip planning and admin for them, this trip is a great way to see all of the main highlights of Thailand. You’ll also get plenty of free time to do what you choose to do. Hotels and included meals were quite good too.
Dates & Pricing
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Saturday
07 Nov 2026
07 Nov 26
Bangkok
Friday
13 Nov 2026
13 Nov 26
Chiang Mai
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
A$1,799
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Monday
09 Nov 2026
09 Nov 26
Bangkok
Sunday
15 Nov 2026
15 Nov 26
Chiang Mai
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
A$1,799
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Wednesday
11 Nov 2026
11 Nov 26
Bangkok
Tuesday
17 Nov 2026
17 Nov 26
Chiang Mai
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
A$1,799
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Saturday
14 Nov 2026
14 Nov 26
Bangkok
Friday
20 Nov 2026
20 Nov 26
Chiang Mai
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
A$1,799
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Monday
16 Nov 2026
16 Nov 26
Bangkok
Sunday
22 Nov 2026
22 Nov 26
Chiang Mai
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
A$1,799
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Wednesday
18 Nov 2026
18 Nov 26
Bangkok
Tuesday
24 Nov 2026
24 Nov 26
Chiang Mai
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
A$1,799
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Saturday
21 Nov 2026
21 Nov 26
Bangkok
Friday
27 Nov 2026
27 Nov 26
Chiang Mai
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
A$1,799
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Monday
23 Nov 2026
23 Nov 26
Bangkok
Sunday
29 Nov 2026
29 Nov 26
Chiang Mai
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
A$1,799
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Wednesday
25 Nov 2026
25 Nov 26
Bangkok
Tuesday
01 Dec 2026
01 Dec 26
Chiang Mai
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
A$1,799
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Saturday
28 Nov 2026
28 Nov 26
Bangkok
Friday
04 Dec 2026
04 Dec 26
Chiang Mai
Details
Definite Departure
Our Price
A$1,799
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Sold Out
Note
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Enquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Enquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by G Adventures. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by G Adventures. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
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