Thailand · 9 nights
River, Hills, Long Tail
The journey.
Day 1 · Bangkok · Into the heat
Landing late with nothing scheduled. Bangkok is best met after a night's sleep, and the first tuk tuk teaches you that traffic here is a negotiation.
Day 2 · Bangkok · The river and the palaces
The Grand Palace at opening before the coaches arrive, then Wat Pho and the canals by long tail rather than by road, which is faster and far more pleasant.
Day 3 · Bangkok · Markets, or nothing
A free day. Chatuchak on a Saturday, or a rooftop at the exact moment the light goes. Bangkok rewards wandering more than any checklist.
Day 4 · Chiang Mai · North, into the hills
A short flight, and the pace changes entirely. The first temple in the hills has almost nobody else in it.
Day 5 · Chiang Mai · Elephants, done properly
A genuine sanctuary where they are neither ridden nor made to bathe on command. We are particular about which one, and it is not the one on the billboards.
Day 6 · Chiang Mai · Cooking, or the temples
A class in the morning that starts at the market, then Doi Suthep at sunset with the city laid out below.
Day 7 · The Andaman coast · South to the sea
A flight south, then three nights where the trip stops moving and the limestone stacks come out of the water.
Day 8 · The Andaman coast · Out to the islands
Your own long tail and captain rather than a shared tour, which means reaching the good bays before and after the fleet.
Day 9 · The Andaman coast · Nothing at all
A completely free day. The sea at seven in the morning, with the boats still moored.
Day 10 · The Andaman coast · Home
A last plate of something with too much chilli in it, and a private transfer timed to your flight.
What a journey like this includes
• Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, Four Seasons Chiang Mai and Trisara among the choices
• Both internal flights and every airport transfer, private
• The Grand Palace and canals with a private guide, entrance fees included
• A full day at an ethical elephant sanctuary
• A private long tail island day with lunch aboard
• Visa paperwork, breakfast every morning and a local SIM
Build this journey your way
Every day and every hotel here has alternatives, with live pricing as you choose: https://packages.tripn.in/thailand-river-hills-long-tail
Make this journey yoursQuestions people ask about River, Hills, Long Tail
- How many days do you need for River, Hills, Long Tail?
- We build it as 9 nights, 10 days. That is the length that lets the route breathe without adding a night nobody needed.
- How much does River, Hills, Long Tail cost from India?
- From ₹2.5L for two people, land only. That is our starting price for the whole journey rather than a per night rate, and international flights are quoted separately at cost.
- When is the best time to go?
- November to February is the cool dry season. The north around Chiang Mai is best before the March burning season begins.
- What visa do Indian travellers need?
- Indian passport holders currently travel visa free for short stays, which makes Thailand the easiest booking in the region. Rules change, so we confirm the current requirement for your passport when we plan the trip.
- How long is the flight from India?
- About four hours non stop from Delhi to Bangkok.
- Is this a private trip or a group tour?
- Private. The itinerary, the guide and the vehicle are yours alone, and every date is set around you rather than a fixed departure.
- Can the itinerary be changed?
- Yes. River, Hills, Long Tail is a starting shape, not a fixed package. Add nights, swap a city, change the hotel standard, or tell us what you would rather do with a day and we rebuild it.