Discover the highlights of Thailand on this 14 night holiday taking you from Bangkok to the north where you’ll explore Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai before soaking up the delights of Khao Lak beach.

Days 1 to 3 -  Bangkok

Fly nonstop from the UK and enjoy a private transfer to your hotel, the Sukhothai, your base for three nights.

Teeming with temples (wats) as well as bargain shopping (silks, tailoring and fake watches), night markets, superb food and luxurious yet affordable hotels, South East Asia’s liveliest city will leave you breathless.

Since many of the main sights are found along the Chao Phraya river, you can explore the city by boat as well as by the air conditioned, efficient Skytrain. Or, you may like to join an organised guided half day tour of the Grand Palace, which includes the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, carved from a single piece of jade. Or, a guided temple tour that includes Wat Trimitr, home of the solid Gold Buddha, the reclining Buddha at Wat Po, and the magnificent marble temple of Wat Benchamabophit.

One favourite trip is to zip along the Chao Phraya River and then weave through the labyrinth of canals by boat, with time to see fascinating life along the banks.

You can also travel by boat all the way to Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Thailand, a place of temples and palaces that lies around 50 miles from the new capital.

Other organized activities include a Thai cookery class and a trip to see the Bridge on the River Kwai, the latter easily combined with a visit to Bangkok’s floating market. Our consultants can incorporate these and other tours into your itinerary.

Days 4 and 5 - Chiang Rai

Fly direct to Chiang Rai where you’ll stay for 2 nights at the Anantara (or you can choose the Four Seasons Tented Camp for an additional £1149 pp for 2 nights including all meals). Chiang Rai is a gateway to arguably the most culturally unique pocket of the entire Orient. In the so-called Golden Triangle, where the borders of Thailand, Burma and Laos meet, are the homes of several hill tribes. These ethnic minorities, nomadic tribes who have taken root in the densely forested highlands of Thailand from Burma, Tibet, China and Laos, have each retained a language, distinct customs and costumes and a blend of beliefs that draws on Buddhism, missionary Christianity and jungle animism. You’ll also be able to visit Chiang Saen, home to ancient ruins and temples, as well as the Opium Museum.

Other excursions that can be arranged before you travel are to the old Chinese refugee settlement of Doi Mae Salong, combined with a visit to the village of the famous long neck Karen hill tribe, a boat trip on the Mekong and an elephant trek.

Days 6 to 8 - Chiang Mai

Travel by road to the country’s second city, Chiang Mai, which means ‘new town’ but it’s anything but new. The 700-year-old-city, which still has its original moat and chunks of medieval walls, has some three dozen temples within the old city walls, including the oldest, Wat Chiang Man, built at the end of the 13th century, and Doi Suthep, perched on the top of a mountain, its golden chedi said to contain a relic from the Buddha himself.

Top of the more frivolous pursuits is the fun and festive Night Bazaar, a bargain source of lacquered boxes, celadon ceramics, textiles, wood carvings, parchment brollies and silver hidden amongst the terrible tourist tat.

You’ll spend your three nights at the Chedi hotel, or you can upgrade to Four Seasons (for an additional £267 pp for 3 nights).

On your third day in town you might want to consider spending it on an elephant jungle trek to the Lisu hill tribe who originally came from Tibet, combined with rafting on the river Ping (some 60kms north of Chiang Mai). There’s also a dedicated half day temples’ tour.

Days 9 to 14  - The Beach

The choice of resort is yours.

You can fly directly from Chiang Mai to Krabi, Koh Samui or, the one we’ve singled out for this particular itinerary is the Sarojin, on Khao Lak beach, near Phuket for 6 nights.

If you get tired of loafing on the sunbed there are a number of sidetrips you can take. Among the best is the Phang Nga Eco Tour, exploring by boat the unique bay studded with limestone islets, cliffs and caves, and made famous by 007 in ‘The Man With The Golden Gun.’ Lunch is served in a Sea Gypsy village on Panyi island and there’s an en route stop for swimming.

Day 15 - Fly home