The Ultimate Luxury Adventure in Thailand
Thailand. A land of spectacular temples, forested mountains, remote hilltop villages and a thriving arts and culture scene. Spend 15 luxurious days exploring this Southeast Asian country’s best bits. Delve into the fascinating and varied history that gives Thailand its distinctive culture and meet the modern artisans who shape it today. Join your expert guides on mountain hikes, beach excursions and city canal tours in four incredible destinations across Thailand’s northern reaches and along it’s palm-fringed islands in the south.
Trip highlights
- Meet vendors at a fruit stall and taste seasonal Thai produce
- Tour the lively waterways that keep Bangkok thriving
- See some of Southeast Asia’s most spectacular temples
- Get creative with traditional Thai crafts
- Savour the finest Thai flavours with farm-to-fork cuisine
- Relax on the pristine beaches on an idyllic island
Bespoke trips with Jacada
We design one-of-a-kind journeys incorporating luxury in all its forms. Our bespoke trips include:
- Luxury accommodation throughout
- Privately guided tours
- Private transfers
- Meticulously selected experiences
- Expertise and support from your Jacada Concierge
Itinerary in detail
Every Jacada trip is tailored to your personal preferences and interests. Below you’ll find a sample itinerary to inspire your own custom-designed journey.
Days 1–4
Explore the Venice of the East
Welcome to Bangkok, Thailand’s frenetic and fantastic capital. Home to a vast network of canals, or khlongs, that keep the city moving. Spend your time here exploring the waterways by boat where small wooden homes and shops fringe the waterside. See Bangkok’s landmarks, including the reclining Buddha at temple complex Wat Pho and the magnificent, shimmering golden stupas of the Grand Palace, before heading beyond the beaten track to meet locals and see artisans at work.
Make it mine
Taste luxury
Adventure by boat
Khlong tour
Elegant afternoon tea
Step inside Siri Sala for an impeccable afternoon tea. This waterfront villa on the banks of the Bangkok Noi khlong is a fine example of modern Thai living. Dine on traditional Thai snacks and sweets and make your own flower garland as an offering to the villa’s spirit – a good luck charm.
Get out on the water
One of Thailand’s major waterways, the Chao Phraya river gives life to the country’s central plains before it empties into the Gulf of Thailand just south of Bangkok. Step aboard a retro riverboat for a private cruise of this busy waterway. See striking Thai temples from the water like Wat Nang Rachavora Viharn and stop in interesting museums and markets to learn about life in this area. The Wat Nang Museum is a highlight, with exhibitions on traditional Thai medicine and farming tools used throughout history.
Cruise the canals
Explore the labyrinthine network of khlongs lined by traditional teak houses and modern mansions. Wander through busy markets in Thonburi and seek out traditional noodle shops or stalls serving refreshing coconut drinks before you strike out beyond the city and into rural rice paddies and fruit orchards.
Days 4–7
Get creative in Chiang Mai
Set amid the mountains of northern Thailand, Chiang Mai can feel wonderfully slow and sedate to travellers who are visiting; a great city to spend a few days. Beloved by many for its markets, it’s the place to try Thai street food and shop for souvenirs after dark. See stalls selling fresh flowers and others laden with Indian fabrics and products made by the hill tribes that live in the rural, mountain villages beyond. Or wander the city streets in the morning to enjoy a cup of Chiang Mai’s own single origin coffee, a strong brew that’s grown and roasted locally.
Temples abound here, but the most sacred, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, sits atop a mountain peak looking down on the city. Inside, monks meditate and perform the rituals of Thailand’s most prevalent religion.
Highlights of Chiang Mai
Go for gold
Local life
Master a new skill
You might feel like gold is everywhere in Thailand: thread shimmers in its traditional dress, its temple stupas are clad in iridescent gold paint and it adds a glimmer of light to many artistic creations. At Baan Thongjaya, a beautiful yellow home built for a former Lieutenant Colonel, you will meet the talented Mr. Luengvilai to learn about the craft of gold lacquering and gilding – a high art in Thai society. Create your own piece to take home as a memento.
A day in the life of a local
Spend a day living like a local with a Thai family, learning the art of basket weaving – a practice that has remained unchanged for centuries – and getting hands-on in the kitchen as you learn to cook northern Thai cuisine made with fresh, local ingredients. Small cottage industries can be seen all over the neighbourhood, so don’t miss a stroll to see others at work.
Days 7–10
Spend time in the mountains of Chiang Rai
As you venture further north to Chiang Rai, your education and connection to culture continues with a stop in tiny and remote Mae Kampong. Meet the people who live in this isolated place, growing coffee amid the mountains. Take a stroll by the picturesque stream that flows through the village.
In Chiang Rai, you will discover a destination of majestic temples, mountain peaks and traditional Thai cuisine. You will spend two full days exploring this beautiful province. Enjoy guided hikes on quiet mountainside trails and visit temples and historic towns to hear stories of former kingdoms and intricate histories.
Make it mine
Traditional festivities
Hiking
A very Thai night out
Embrace Thai culture during an evening of traditional feasting and dancing. Indulge in a private dinner of northern Thai dishes before performances of local music and movement by talented regional dancers. The evening ends with a traditional Thai good luck ritual to send you on your way.
Set out into the mountains on foot
Connect with Thailand’s natural habitats on a hike with guides from the Lisu hill tribe. Explore woodland, grassy plains and rainforest all while learning about the Lisu life and customs from the tribe elder. End the hike at a towering bamboo forest where serene ponds offer a place for contemplation.
Highlights of Chiang Rai
White Temple
Golden Triangle
See spectacular Wat Rong Khun
This is a Thai temple with a difference. Wat Rong Khun, built in 1997, is a striking white-washed Buddhist temple clad with mirrored glass shards that create a mesmerising glowing effect. Its exterior is dramatic, with a bridge that crosses a pool of cement cast hands reaching upwards and a pair of horns rising out of the ground. The interior, created by artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, has eschewed the traditional Thai scenes for murals depicting a modern version of good and evil.
See a different side of Thailand
Chiang Rai is located in the lush green north of Thailand, near the borders with both Myanmar and Laos. The three countries meet at the ‘Golden Triangle’, formerly the centre of opium production and trade. Today, it’s home to the fascinating Hall of Opium museum where you can learn about the industry’s past and its impact on the communities here. And, nearby in Chiang Sean you will visit the Thai National Museum where the Lanna Kingdom began some 1400 years ago.
Days 10–15
An island escape in the Andaman Sea
Get off the beaten track on Phuket island and find peaceful, tropical beaches of strikingly white sand, quiet coves with hidden caves and secret lagoons. Set amid the balmy waters of the Andaman Sea, this island has ocean life aplenty, with elegant manta rays and enormous whale sharks calling its crystalline waters home. Equipped with snorkelling gear you will be able to explore the natural wonders beneath the surface. You will spend your days here in complete luxury, delving into the island’s unique heritage that blends Thai and Chinese culture and feasting on some of the region’s best local cuisine.
Where you could stay
Iniala Beach House Villas & Suites
Make it mine
Fine food
Beach day
Heritage tour
Farm-to-fork dining experience
Fine dining is reimagined at Jampa. Cooking local ingredients and fighting food waste is the modus operandi. Set amid a verdant garden, this elegant dining concept is a fabulous place to celebrate your final days in Thailand. Organic produce is harvested locally every day to serve its ever-changing menus; before you dine, take a tour of the gardens with a cocktail in hand to see where your meal was grown.
Embrace luxury at a floating beach club
Enjoy luxurious exclusivity at the world’s first floating beach club. Lounge on the pool decks, chic daybeds beneath the sun, or sample the cocktails crafted by mixologists behind the bar. As evening draws closer, the skies will turn to shades of pink, red, orange and yellow, and you will have the best seat in the sea to watch the sun set over the ocean.
Take a cultural journey across Phuket
With your private guide explore Phuket’s historic quarter. Chinese influences shaped much of this island’s identity and on this tour you will see Phuket’s oldest Chinese shrine alongside Sino-Portuguese buildings that tell a story of the region’s diverse history. Sample tropical fruits in a local market before dinner and cocktails is served to round off the day.
Our trip to Thailand and Indonesia was beyond our expectations. We saw temples, had a private cooking lesson from local grandmas, experienced intimate moments with rescued elephants, walked across the bridge at the River Kwai, rode a Vespa through the countryside of Chang Mai, looked out over the Golden Triangle, snorkeled with sea turtles and giant manta rays, walked among…
Why book with Jacada
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your personal interests, tastes and preferences, providing honest advice based on first-hand knowledge.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant Concierges are hand-picked for their ability to bring your destination to life with care and passion.
Positive impact
We seek out unforgettable experiences that benefit both local communities and the environment.
