Thailand and Laos

Arrive at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport and meet a representative at the arrival gate for assistance with carry-on luggage. You follow your guide through exclusive fast-track immigration counters to bypass standard queues and save time. If a Visa on Arrival is required, staff assist with all necessary documentation and forms before you collect your bags and head through customs. A private vehicle waits just outside the Arrival Hall to transport you into the city. Upon arrival, settle into your hotel in Bangkok to rest or explore at your leisure.

Spend the morning on foot in Bangkok's Old Quarter with an expert guide who brings the city's past to life, uncovering hidden gems, local artisans, and centuries-old Buddhist temples. Begin at the iconic Giant Swing and learn about its significance in Brahmanic ceremonies and religious traditions, then continue to the historical Prison Park, now a peaceful space that reflects the city's evolving landscape, and the City Pillar Shrine, a sacred site of deep cultural meaning. Navigate narrow alleys and a bustling fresh market, observing traditional wooden houses adorned with guardian spirit signs, before pausing at the Amulet Market to chat with stallholders and explore the ancient superstitions that still influence Thai daily life.

The afternoon shifts to a personalized Muay Thai session with a professional trainer, an introduction to the ancient martial art also known as Thai Boxing and its close ties to Thai culture. You pick up fundamental skills and combat-style techniques, learning how practitioners use the entire body as both a weapon and a shield. Witness the rituals performed before a Muay Thai match and gain insight into the significance of the armband, shorts, and headpiece worn by fighters. The session goes beyond physical training, leaving you with a real appreciation for the heritage and artistry behind the discipline. After training, return to your hotel in Bangkok to rest or explore at your leisure.

Colors of Bangkok by Bike (Half Day - Join-in)

See a side of Bangkok few visitors find on a half-day cycling tour. After a quick bike fitting, pedal along Rama III Road past the Bhumibol Bridges I and II, then cross the Chao Phraya River to Bangkrachao, known as Bangkok's Green Lung for its dense vegetation and coconut palms. Explore the 700-year-old Wat Bang Krasop temple, stop in at a Muay Thai boxing gym to learn about the national sport, ride through a lively local market when it is open, and pause at peaceful Srinakonkhenkan Park and a shrine to Ganesh, the Hindu god adopted by Thai Buddhists.

Sit down to a Thai lunch at a local restaurant, sampling dishes like pad Thai or kao pad, before a scenic ferry ride carries you back to the city center. The riding is easy-grade and suited to moderate fitness.

Overnight in Bangkok.

Level: Easy
Fitness: Moderate

Leave the city behind and ride out to Khao Yai National Park, where your expert guide meets you for a full day in this lush natural haven. Start at the Khao Yai viewpoint, scanning the canopy for gibbons and pig-tailed macaques, then visit the park's museum headquarters for an introduction to its biodiversity. Set out on foot along forest trails, break for lunch, and finish at Haew Suwat Waterfall, a scenic spot to relax and take photos before heading to your accommodation.

Overnight in Khao Yai.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to Chiang Mai, the cultural capital of northern Thailand. Ride to the airport with your English-speaking guide and fly north. On arrival, collect your luggage and meet your driver and guide outside, then transfer about 30 minutes into town to your accommodation. The rest of the day is yours.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Set off on a private full-day trip from Chiang Mai to Sri Lanna National Park, combining the best of land and water. Your guide collects you from your hotel and heads first to the limestone Bua Tong waterfall, known as the sticky waterfall, where the rock's unique texture lets you climb straight up against the current without slipping. At the top, take in panoramic views over dense hills and forests, and seek out the waterfall's natural sacred source hidden in the greenery. Afterward, settle into a shaded spot for a picnic of local Thai snacks prepared by your guide.

Hop on a bicycle and pedal local roads through dense nature, fruit orchards, and vast rice fields, stopping along the way for photos or simply to take in the landscape. The ride ends at the Mae Ngat Dam reservoir, where you switch to a longtail boat for a scenic 20-minute sail across clear water ringed by hills. Pull up to a local floating restaurant for a relaxed lunch, then cool off in the water and explore further by kayak. In the afternoon, sail back to the quay and return to Chiang Mai by van.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Elephant Sanctuary Chiang Mai (Full Day - Join-in)

Today, head north of Chiang Mai after breakfast into rolling hills and farmland to spend the day at an elephant sanctuary caring for rescued elephants. Slip into traditional clothing and help prepare fruit for the herd, then spend the morning feeding, observing, and playing with these gentle giants. After lunch, learn about elephant care and behavior, craft sticky rice treats, and join the elephants for a refreshing river bath. Pause for tea and coffee before riding back to Chiang Mai, where you are dropped at your accommodation.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Meet your guide and ride by songthaew to a vibrant local market piled with fresh vegetables, spices, and produce, then continue on foot into Chiang Mai's historic old city. Visit Wat Chiang Man, the city's oldest temple, founded in 1297 by King Mengrai, first ruler of the Lanna Kingdom. Stop at the Three Kings Monument honoring the city's founding fathers, then browse the Lanna Folk Life Museum's exhibits on the region's culture and history.

After lunch, visit the Chiang Mai Women's Correctional Institution, a rehabilitation facility where female inmates train in traditional Thai massage. Enjoy a relaxing foot massage while learning how the program creates new opportunities for the women. End the day at Wat Chedi Luang, a striking 14th-century temple and one of the city's architectural masterpieces.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Your driver meets you in the hotel lobby for the transfer to Chiang Mai's airport and your flight to Laos. Long isolated from modern development, this landlocked country between China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia holds four UNESCO World Heritage sites, 50 distinct ethnic groups, and endless cruising on the Mekong River.

On arrival in Luang Prabang, clear immigration (staff at the counter process visas on arrival and verify e-visas), collect your luggage, and meet your local guide in the main arrival hall. Transfer to your hotel, then enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. An optional VIP fast-track arrival service, which includes the Lao visa fee, is available for USD 85 per person.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, set out on a walking tour of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage city. Start at Wat Xieng Thong, an exquisite 400-year-old royal monastic complex on the banks of the Mekong, shaded by banyan trees nearly as old as the monastery itself. From there, wander side streets and back alleys past some of the town's more than 30 temples and monasteries, chatting with locals through your guide as they go about their day. Continue up the peninsula, stopping at the National Museum in the former Royal Palace if you wish, or climbing Phousi Mountain for sweeping views over the town. You also visit the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Center, a nonprofit museum dedicated to the ethnic cultures of Laos.

In the afternoon, ride out to Kuang Si Waterfall, where crystal-clear water cascades into turquoise pools. Bring a bathing suit if you would like to swim, and stop by the nearby sun bear refuge to learn about the poaching that threatens these endangered animals. On the way back to town, visit the Buffalo Dairy, a farm known for its sustainable approach to local agriculture. Tour the farm, feed and bathe the buffalo, watch a milking demonstration, bottle-feed calves, and feed the chickens, pigs, and rabbits, then relax in the cafe with the cake of the day, ice cream, and tea or coffee.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Drive through the Lao countryside toward the Pak Ou Caves, a pilgrimage site perched high above the Mekong River 27 miles (43 km) outside Luang Prabang. Along the way, stop in local villages including Ban Sang Khong, a silk-weaving community where techniques dating back centuries produce some of Asia's most prized textiles, and where some families also make traditional sa paper.

At Ban Pak Ou, board a boat to reach the caves. As your eyes adjust to the dim light, more than 3,000 Buddha images emerge from the shadows, some inlaid with semiprecious stones, left undisturbed in this remote spot as a testament to local devotion. Cruise back to Luang Prabang along the Mekong, sipping a drink and tasting Lao snacks as river life drifts past. The afternoon is free at leisure.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Enjoy your breakfast at your hotel. The entire day is free for you to spend at your leisure.

Optional: The Small Chili Mountain Bike Ride
Set off on an exhilarating ride through rural Laos, trading the beaten path for local villages and scenic countryside. Size up your quality mountain bike in the early morning and ride north out of town along the Mekong, crossing the old communist-era bridge to Xieng Lek Village, known for its mulberry paper and weaving. Turn up the Nam Xuang River and head off-road over hills and through rice paddies and jungle dotted with Lao Loum, Hmong, and Khmu villages, where locals go about the daily work of farm life. Follow the Nam Khan River on the final leg and stop at Wat Phon Phao, whose huge golden stupa offers panoramic views over Luang Prabang, before descending back into the city. This 50 km (31 mile) circuit mixes on- and off-road riding at a medium grade for an unforgettable day out. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Enjoy a final morning at leisure in Luang Prabang before your guide accompanies you for departure. Safe travels home, or onward to your next adventure.