Christmas in Thailand

Fly to the vibrant city of Bangkok and be transferred transfer approximately 1 hour to your hotel. Depending on your time of arrival the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.

Bangkok's dazzling neon signs, charming architecture, Thai cuisine and lively markets make for an exciting introduction to this fascinating country. Enjoy a Bangkok city tour. Tour the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Chinatown before cruising down Chao Phraya River on a longboat to Pak Khlong Talaat Flower Market, whilst enjoying an alternative view of the city.

Begin at the Maeklong Railway Market in Samut Songkram, and enjoy the spectacle as vendors quickly pack up their stalls to let trains pass directly through the market. Continue to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, where you'll hop in small boats to explore the market's bustling canals. Continue to Kanchanaburi, made famous by 'The Bridge on the River Kwai'. During the Japanese occupation of Thailand in WWII, tens of thousands of Allied POWs and Southeast Asian indentured labourers were forced to build the Thai-Burma Railway, often called the Death Railway; many of the prisoners died under the brutal conditions. Learn about their tragic story at the Thai-Burma Railway Museum, then pay respects to the victims at the Allied War Cemetery before checking in at your hotel.

Visit Hellfire Pass, a dramatic part of the railway that literally cuts through mountain. Begin at the Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum, which tells the stories of human suffering at the hands of this engineering feat, before a 3 kilometre walk through the pass. Finally, take a short train journey on the Death Railway and see more of this beautiful valley before driving back to Bangkok.

Drive 90 minutes east out of Bangkok to discover the historic ruins of Ayutthaya, the historic capital of Siam from 1350 until its destruction by Burmese invaders in 1767. Explore its gilded palaces, pavilions and gardens, together with its ruined stupas, reminiscent of a smaller Angkor. Enjoy lunch at the local restaurant and take the road trip back to Bangkok. This afternoon, return to Bangkok for your 80-minute flight to Chiang Rai.

This morning, head out to admire the area known as the 'Golden Triangle'; the point where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet. This area was once a hub of opium production, but since the 1970s, Thailand has been promoting local initiatives to enable locals to switch to other sources of income, such as tea, coffee and tourism. Continue to Mae Sai, the northernmost point of Thailand and an important trading town on the Myanmar border. Return to Chiang Rai for dinner; afterwards, you may wish to explore the colourful night market.

Drive 90 minutes through rolling countryside to Mae Salong Mountain, renowned for its hill tribes and tea plantations. From the base of the mountain, travel by truck to a plantation, where you will have an opportunity to sample the local tea. Enjoy lunch at a mountaintop restaurant before an excursion to Mae Salong, visiting a tea plantation, a Yao Tribe and an Akha village known as Ban Lorcha. Sightseeing today will include approximately 3 hours on foot.

Depart Chiang Rai and take a short 30-minute drive to explore Wat Rong Khun, the bizarre and fascinating 'White Temple'. Stop at a local market before lunch. This afternoon is spent crossing the countryside, passing forests, farms and villages to reach the Hmong Hilltribe Lodge, where you will be guests of the Hmong community. The Hmong Hilltribe Lodge is made up of ten individual houses, each comprising of four separate rooms with private bathrooms, arranged around a central communal area. This evening, enjoy a barbecue dinner and cultural show.

Depart the lodge and drive an hour north to Mae Daeng to enjoy a relaxed bamboo rafting trip on the Mae Daang River. Sit back and enjoy the passing scenery as your boatman steers you along the river. Afterwards, head to Chiang Mai and visit a social enterprise café. This little restaurant offers life-changing vocational training to reformed women from Chiang Mai's Correctional Institution. The skills they learn here enable them to reintegrate into society with the skills for a new career. This afternoon, visit two of Chiang Mai's most important temples, Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh.

Enjoy a wonderful start to Christmas Day – a visit to an elephant sanctuary! The centre is located in the beautiful Mesa valley and offers a peaceful retirement home for elephants rescued from illegal logging camps and elephant shows. Meet one of their caretakers, who will guide you through the centre, explaining about the centre and its inhabitants. Return to Chiang Mai and freshen up at the hotel before this afternoon's Thai Christmas dinner at the lovely House by Ginger. This 1930s colonial mansion has been preserved as a stylish restaurant with a luxurious yet homely atmosphere.

Spend Boxing Day morning at a cooking class, learning to cook traditional Thai cuisine and enjoy your creations for lunch. Later, drive to Wat Doi Suthep, a beautiful hilltop temple with panoramic views across the countryside. You will have the choice of climbing the Naga staircase (300 steps) or catching the cable car to visit the exquisite golden pagoda. This evening, enjoy a typical Khantoke dinner while watching a performance of traditional song and dance from Northern Thailand by various hill tribes.

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight. Late checkout is bookable in advance for those who have chosen a later flight option. If you wish to extend your stay in Southeast Asia, please talk to our team about our various private extension packages before your departure. We have options for hiking in Sapa, beach breaks in Mui Ne, Phuket or Hua Hin, city stays in Singapore, and more.