Thailand Beaches: Bangkok to Ko Samui

Sa-wat dee! Welcome to Thailand. Bangkok mixes ancient traditions and modernity, where the bazaars and world-class cuisine are only the beginning. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, why not acquaint yourself with the city of tuk tuks, street food and traditional khlong boats winding down the Chao Phraya River. Tonight, you might want to experience the unique tourist haven of Khao San Road.

You’ll 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 optional activities – maybe head next door to the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha or visit Wat Pho, home to the country's largest reclining Buddha and keeper of the magic behind Thai massage. Maybe take a riverboat to Chinatown and explore the crowded streets, or travel by longtail boat down the Chao Phraya River to explore the famous 'khlongs' (canals) of Bangkok. Tonight, you’ll board an overnight train southbound for Langsuan.

Notes: Sleeper trains are clean and air-conditioned, and beds are multi-share compartments with bunk bed padded berths with sheets, pillow and blanket provided (although some people prefer to bring their own sleeping sheet). Please note that you may be sharing compartments with locals of the same or opposite gender. Your baggage will travel in the carriage with you. There's also a food and drink service available on board. Some may find the air conditioning on the train quite cold overnight so best to pack a jumper and some long pants.

After disembarking early this morning, try a local-style breakfast in Luangsuan market before heading to the pier for your ferry to Ko Pitak – a small island and tonight's homestay. Head out for an orientation walk around the village with your leader when you arrive. Your homestay tonight will include lunch, dinner and breakfast tomorrow morning. Most meals will be typical local southern fare with fresh local seafood. (L/D)

Say goodbye to your hosts and travel back to the mainland on a short boat trip. Then make the journey to Chumphon by private minivan (approximately 1.5 hours) and check into your resort. Your accommodation is beautifully located, right on the beachfront at Thung Wua Lan Beach (located about 16 kilometres away from the main town). You'll join the rest of the group to travel to a local lookout point, Khao Matsee, to take in some nice views and perhaps grab a cup of coffee. Back at the beach, spend free time stolling along the white sands of this pristine, uncrowded strip of coast. (B)

Embark on a full-day snorkelling adventure. You’ll start at around 9 am and finish up at around 3 pm. The trip covers three different snorkelling spots, which gives you a nice variety of underwater scenery. See how many different kinds of tropical fish you can spot. The snorkelling will take place in the open water, so there will be no beach stops. Lunch is included, and you will arrive back at base at around 5 pm for a free evening to watch the sunset. (B/L)

Hop from one beach paradise to another, travelling to Ko Tao – famous for its spectacular coral reefs, the little island of Ko Tao is popular not only among divers but also those looking for palm-fringed beaches like Sairee. Here, you can relax or take up some optional diving. Cooking classes, aromatherapy sessions or local spa visits are also great options. Ko Tao also has a small but lively nightlife for those looking for some dancing on the beach or kicking back a cocktail in one of the local bars. (B)

Today you’ll experience the underwater world that surrounds Ko Tao with an exploratory snorkelling trip. With coral and fish aplenty and the chance of seeing timid reef sharks among the coral formations, Ko Tao is undeniably one of the jewels in southern Thailand. Sail south from Mae Haad Pier, navigating around the southern tip of the island until you reach Shark Island. You might see 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 Nang Yuan Island – a privately owned 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)

Jump on another boat today and cruise over to Ko Samui. The island is more vibrant compared to its sister islands. Known simply as Samui by locals, Thailand's third largest island is rich with white sandy beaches, coral reefs and coconut trees. There's also the Big Buddha, waterfalls, markets, temples, a mummified monk, shopping opportunities, Michelin star restaurants, luxury spas and a lively nightlife. Today, you can take an optional sightseeing tour around the island or brush up on your cooking techniques with a Thai cooking class. (B)

It’s up to you what you want to do today! If you feel like getting active, take an optional day trip to Ang Thong Marine National Park – an archipelago of around 40 islands (many uninhabited). If you choose this option, you’ll take a speedboat to the Marine Park with the island of Ko Wao or Ko Tai Plow as your first stop. There, you can snorkel in the turquoise waters filled with ever changing colours of coral and fish. Sail around the steep limestone cliffs to an inland saltwater lagoon called Emerald Lake (Talay Nai), which is fed by an underground cave. Take a short walk up pathways and a wooden staircase to reach a hilltop lake viewpoint, then have lunch on the island that houses the park headquarters. Chill out on the beach, climb up for a panorama of the Marine Park or get out on to the bay for some kayaking. You’ll head back to Ko Samui mid-afternoon. 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. (B)

With no further activities planned after breakfast, your beach adventure comes to an end and you can depart the accommodation at any time. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time. (B)