12-Day Highlights of Thailand Tour

What to expect on this itinerary
Pearl-white beaches line crystal clear waters, magnificent mountains tower up from the earth, golden palaces glimmer under the sun, and grand temples share a wealth of insight. Award-winning restaurants cover the vibrant city streets, and coral reefs yearn to be explored. Thailand boasts many enchanting experiences across its diverse and tropical landscape. On this specially-curated, 12-day tour, you will explore some of the best sights and attractions that this country has to offer. Journey to the Land of Smiles and create memories that will last a lifetime as you uncover what makes this destination truly special and unique.
Customizable Itinerary
Chiang Mai – A Tranquil Arrival Amidst Nature
Thailand’s secluded beauty is best experienced in the Northern capital of Chiang Mai. The diverse landscape and isolated experiences make for an incredibly immersive and captivating stay. Upon your arrival, you will comfortably transfer to your lavish boutique resort that will be nestled at the base of Doi Suthep Mountain. Built into the mountain, your private will villa offer exceptional tranquility within nature. Picture-perfect vistas of the greater Chiang Mai area and first-class amenities make this your ideal destination to rest your head after your long flight into Thailand. You can relax in the private pool before fine dining at the distinguished resort restaurant to let the afternoon slowly slip into the evening.
What's Included:
Chiang Mai – A Soaring Tour in a Private Hot-Air Balloon
Chiang Mai – Share Stories with the Locals
Bangkok – Rise to the Clouds
Bangkok – Delve into a Cuisine of Tremendous Depth
Bangkok – Trace Back Thailand’s Cultural Roots
Koh Samui – Experience Luxury on Sand and Sea
Koh Samui – Island Hop to Idyllic Hideaway Spots
Koh Samui – Absorb an Island Steeped in Heritage
Phuket – Cherish an Evening Supper on the Lagoon
Phuket – Glide Across Phuket Island as a VIP
Phuket – The Best of Phuket’s Allure
Trip Highlights
- Uncover the country’s iconic landscapes from the unique perspectives of a private hot-air balloon flight over Chiang Mai and a VIP helicopter tour over Phuket
- Immerse yourself into the culture of an ethnic hill tribe in the less-traveled city of Chiang Rai to uncover the age-old traditions of Thailand’s local inhabitants
- Learn more about the country’s diverse wildlife and sustainable eco-practices while caring for elephants and an ethical sanctuary
- Discover the tastes of Thailand as you sample dishes prepared by award-winning chefs and revered local cooks on an exclusive food tour of Bangkok
- Craft and master Thai cuisine yourselves as you learn the secrets behind their most coveted dishes at a prestigious culinary school
- Indulge in visits to premier landmarks and ancient temples in Bangkok to learn more about the country’s rich heritage
- Experience a luxurious island-hop to immaculate seaside destinations off the coast of Koh Samui
- Luxuriate at Phuket’s best-kept beach secrets as you traverse the Andaman Sea via the comfort of a lavish private vessel
Detailed Description
Chiang Mai, the first destination on your Thailand highlights tour, is a wonderfully rugged region that is complete with striking mountain ranges and sprawling jungles. Nestled at the base of the renowned Doi Suthep Mountain lies an immaculate resort that you will have the luxury of calling home for a few days. With some time to unwind, you can enjoy the first-class amenities and divine Thai cuisine before your adventurous exploits begin the following day. During your stay, you will check off iconic experiences in the Land of Smiles. A sunrise spectacle from the unique perspective of a private hot-air balloon will take your breath away. Shortly after landing, you will journey to an ethical elephant sanctuary that is set amid a luscious, jungle setting. You will enjoy more of Northern Thailand’s diverse cultural heritage and landscape the following day as you are accompanied by a knowledgeable guide who will help you discover the traditional living of an ethnic hill tribe before visiting the magnificent temple atop the Doi Suthep cave complex.
You will journey to Bangkok after your immersive stay in Northern Thailand. Here, you will delve into the rich tastes of Thailand with an enthralling food tour of the most authentic and luxurious culinary destinations that the country has to offer. You will further your knowledge of Thai cuisine at a prestigious culinary school, where you will learn the age-old traditions of their most coveted meals. The following day, you will revel in revered landmarks and uncover the sheer beauty of the glimmering golden temples. A stop at the Jim Thompson House will conclude your inspiring stay in Bangkok. Then, you will then make your way to Koh Samui, which is a magical island that shares tranquil experiences for a truly pleasurable stay. A private speed boat will transfer you to the pivotal neighboring islands as you hop your way around this paradise. You will dine on world-class cuisine and visit immaculate cultural destinations throughout your serene exploration.
Next, you will make your way to the tropical island of Phuket. Boasting a collection of pristine white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters, you will be whisked away to paradise, where you will stay in an ultra-luxurious resort that will provide you with an enchanting spa treatment at its leading wellness center. The next day, you will capture unforgettable vistas of the greater Phuket region as you soar across the sky in a VIP helicopter. You will witness more of the picturesque seascape from the comfort of a luxurious private speed boat as you tour hideaway beaches and snorkel the vibrant coral reefs. Your Thailand trip will culminate with a private tour of Phuket’s most significant cultural and heritage sites. If the beautiful sights and attractions were not enough, you will share in exquisite, award-winning meals alongside marvelous sunset views to finish off your vacation in absolute style. Consider learning more about our travelers’ best Thailand travel experiences by reading their Thailand travel reviews.
Starting Price
$3,500 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
- Accommodations
- In-country transportation
- Some or all activities and tours
- Expert trip planning
- 24x7 support during your trip
Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.
Verified Traveler Reviews
Based on 149 reviews
The trip covered a lot of ground, with four cities in Thailand and Siem Reap in Cambodia. The details and the logistics of the trip were timely and well communicated by Zicasso's travel company. The guides were punctual, well-informed, and passionate about the countries' histories.
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The Zicasso travel team made my birthday "bucket-list" trip incredible! Every detail of my trip was expertly taken care of. All my scheduled tours were on time despite a little "liquid sunshine".
Our trip entailed visits to three areas in Thailand (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Koh Samui). In each location, our tour guides were amazing!
In Bangkok, we were greeted and expertly ushered to the various incredible sights and activities by two guides. In Chiang Mai, we were greeted and introduced to the sights and history by another guide. Everyone was very knowledge and made each tour interesting and engaging,
We could not have asked for more on this incredible trip! Without a doubt, I will be seeing Thailand again in my very near future and with no other than the team from Zicasso's travel company! Thank you to our agent and his team.
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Everything was very well arranged by Zicasso's travel specialists. It was a smooth and pleasant experience. The tour guides were always on time. Airport pick-ups and drop-offs were very helpful. The hotels where we stayed were amazing. It was a great experience!
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A huge shout-out to Zicasso's trip coordinator, who orchestrated this incredible trip for us. Each outing was better than the previous one; our guides were awesome, both fun and informative; the hotel selections were just what we wanted, intimate and special. And everything was scheduled like clockwork.
Despite epic rainfall (which led to flash flooding in areas of Chiang Rai and, in fact, prevented normal access to the Black House Museum), they carried on, delivering every bit of our planned itinerary on time and to a tee. This type A control freak (me) never felt the need to “manage” a thing, which speaks volumes about this tour operator's extraordinarily high level of organization, communication, and coordination.
Thank you to everyone involved. It was clearly a team effort. We are most grateful for the magical, once-in-a-lifetime experience you made possible for us.
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Zicasso’s travel specialist planned the tour perfectly. Every detail was handled and there were no hiccups. All of the tour guides and drivers were excellent, and the hotels we stayed in were excellent. The itinerary was paced as we wanted it. We highly recommend using this travel specialist for travel in Southeast Asia!
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We recently returned from a 10-day trip to Bangkok, Krabi, and Chiang Mai. The trip was expertly planned by Zicasso's travel designer and their team, and it was nothing short of amazing. From the moment we stepped out from the jetway, we were warmly greeted by one of the travel company's team members. We were taken care of from the point of arrival to the point of departure and everywhere in between. They planned an unforgettable vacation to celebrate our daughter's college graduation and she was "wowed" with the elephants, the food tour, the beach, and, most importantly, the people.
I wholeheartedly recommend this travel company to plan your next dream vacation. It was nothing short of amazing and we look forward to returning.
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