Thailand Beaches: Bangkok to Ko Samui

Sa-wat dee! Welcome to Thailand. Your adventure begins in Thailand’s bustling capital, Bangkok with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. Bangkok is famous for its tuk tuks, khlong boats and street vendors who serve delicious Thai food. If you arrive early, maybe visit the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, wander down the tourist mecca of Khao San Road or relax with in a Thai massage. After the meeting tonight, maybe gather your fellow travellers together and tuck into some world-famous street food.

Start today with a visit to Wat Arun – the Temple of the Dawn. Named after the Indian God of Dawn, Aruna, this impressive landmark sits on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore at your own pace. Maybe visit Wat Pho, home to the country's largest reclining Buddha, take a riverboat to Chinatown and wander its crowded streets or travel by longtail boat down the Chao Phraya River to explore Bangkok's famous 'khlongs' (canals). Tonight, you’ll board an overnight train southbound for Surat Thani.

Arrive at Surat Thani in the morning, then travel by minivan to Khao Sok. Set amid hectares of thick jungle, waterfalls, limestone cliffs and an island-studded lake, the Khao Sok National Park is a nature lover's paradise. Here, you’ll hop in a traditional longtail boat for a calm sail to your accommodation on the water. Keep your eyes out for wild bull elephants, gibbons and spectacled langur (dusky leaf monkeys). Khao Sok National Park is the wettest spot in Thailand with some of the oldest jungles in the world. Your accommodation tonight will be in a traditional raft house, surrounded by turquoise waters of the lake in the front and one of the oldest jungles at the back. (L/D)

This morning, you’ll wake up in the oldest evergreen rainforest in the world. Your raft house sits right inside the park, so you’ll have time this morning to catch the mist drifting along the lake as you search for wildlife in the jungle on a longtail boat. Before lunch, take a jungle hike around the park, and depending on the season, maybe see waterfalls or head up high to a panoramic viewpoint. If you're lucky, you might catch a glimpse of an elephant, hornbill or langur monkey. After, make your way to Koh Tao. Best known for its vibrant coral reefs, tis little island is popular with divers and those just looking for beautiful, palm-fringed beaches like Sairee. Soak up some free time to relax or maybe join a cooking class, visit a local spa or go swimming. Koh Tao also has a small but lively nightlife for those looking for a dance on the beach. (B/L)

Today, you’ll discover the underwater world that surrounds Koh Tao with an exploratory snorkelling trip. With abundant coral and tropical fish, this is undeniably one of the jewels in southern Thailand – and you might even see a timid reef shark among the corals!. Sail south from Mae Haad Pier, navigating around the southern tip of the island until you reach Shark Island. Look out for the occasional leopard shark! Drop by Luek Bay for one of the best swimming beaches on the island, with fish-filled reefs on either side, then stop at Hin Wong Bay for lunch aboard the boat. Then, head to the privately-owned Nang Yuan Island and take a short hike up to a viewpoint, relax on the beach, snorkel through schools of parrotfish or chill out on the boat. (B/L)

After breakfast, jump on another boat and cruise over to Koh Samui. Known simply as Samui by locals, this spot has beautiful white sandy beaches, coral reefs and coconut trees. In the afternoon, visit Khum Sa-ke Village – an organisation working to improve the eco-environment of the village. Walk along their birdwatching route and rice paddies and learn about their waste management and organic gardens. Wrap it all up with a hearty home-cooked dinner full of southern Thailand flavours and see how important coconuts are to this delicious cuisine. (B/D)

It’s up to you what you’d like to do today! If you feel like getting active, maybe set off on a daytrip to Ang Thong Marine National Park – an archipelago of around 40 islands (many uninhabited). If you choose this option, you’ll sail around the steep limestone cliffs to an inland saltwater lagoon called Emerald Lake (Talay Nai), which is fed by an underground cave. If you prefer to stay on land today, maybe check out the Samui Elephant Sanctuary and see the gentle giants as they roam, socialise and bathe. Or simply relax on the beach with a good book. (B)

As there are no further activities, your Thailand adventure comes to an end this morning. This doesn’t mean you have to go home! If you’d like to stay longer, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time. (B)