Classic Thailand

Today enjoy a private guided tour of Bangkok visiting the capital's key attractions: the Grand Palace, Wat Po (home to the reclining Buddha) and Jim Thompson's house. Try out Bangkok's different forms of public transport — the Skytrain which winds its way through the skyscrapers and shopping malls, the public taxi boat, a long-tail boat and of course the ubiquitous Thai tuk-tuk. This is a fun activity that gives you a fantastic insight into the capital as well as the people that call Bangkok home.

Today you will take a tour of Bangkok's rivers and canals with your guide. You will be picked up in the morning and board a long-tail boat heading north to Nonthaburi. Bangkok has reputation of being called the 'Venice of the East' and you will spend the day visiting some of the off the beaten track areas of Bangkok often overlooked by many tourists. You have the afternoon at leisure to relax before your guide picks you up in the early evening to take you for a dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya River. Owned by the Banyan Tree hotel this 24 m (79 ft) long boat incorporates traditional Thai architecture and design. Throughout your evening cruise, you will wine and dine on the peaceful sanctuary of the Chao Phraya River, leaving the hustle and bustle of the Bangkok streets closely behind for a few hours.

This morning you will leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and head northwest into the province of Kanchanaburi. Once you have arrived in the town you will visit an interactive war museum, military cemetery and the famous Bridge on the River Kwai, learning about the POW's during the World War II. Afterwards you will take a ride across the bridge on the death railway and head to Hellfire Pass before checking in at your resort.

Today you will visit Elephants World, a sanctuary for sick, old, disabled, abused, illegally held and street elephants. You will spend the day learning about the elephants, gathering, preparing and feeding these magnificent creatures. In the afternoon you will learn about the elephant mahouts and help to bathe the elephants in a local river. Elephants World provides a great eco tourism option to many of the commercial elephant camps in Thailand and regularly gets excellent feedback from our clients.

Return to Bangkok today for your internal flight to the historical and vibrant city of Chiang Mai, located in the north of Thailand. Your driver is waiting for you at the airport to take you by private car to your hotel. You have three nights to explore and enjoy Thailand's northern capital.

Today explore the main sights of Chiang Mai including the lost city of Wiang Kum Kam and the trading community of Wat Gatekaram — all with your private guide. Through narrow alleyways and winding pathways, best accessed with two-wheel transport, you'll pass markets, temples and a vast array of unique 'street life'. Lunch is taken at a traditional noodle café. The afternoon is free to relax, you might like to try out your hotel pool.

Today, you will experience a typical day in the life of a Thai family and experience home cooking in a real Thai neighbourhood. Stroll around the small, family orchard and select fresh ingredients to add to your traditional dishes. You will learn to cook authentic Northern Thai flavours, very different from the standard dishes offered in commercial cooking classes. You will be welcome guests in a local Thai family home and enjoy a delicious home cooked lunch with your family (cooked together). In the afternoon, go for a stroll around the neighbourhood to see some cottage industry goods being made before returning to Chiang Mai.

The beach part of your holiday starts today. After a morning at leisure, your private driver collects you from your hotel to take you to the local airport for your internal flight to Phuket, a journey of around two hours. At Phuket Airport our driver will be waiting to take you to your lovely beach accommodation on the white sands of Khao Lak, a journey of about one and a half hours. The Ramada has a fantastic location along the beach away from local restaurants, bars and markets.

Day at leisure to relax at your hotel, or explore the surrounding area. Your hotel has a lovely infinity pool, a spa and offers open-air Thai cooking classes. Bicycles to explore the area can be rented from the hotel and for young families there is a Kids' Club.

Another day free to explore today. In addition to the beach there is plenty to do on Khao Lak and your time can be as busy or as relaxed as you like. The nearby Similan Islands are one of the world's top dive sites and there are great snorkeling trips out to the Surin Islands which can be booked by your hotel.

Your driver collects you from the hotel this morning for your private transfer to Phuket Airport in time for your onward flights home.