Thailand with Amanda Zakri

Toast to an exciting adventure ahead! Your welcome dinner this evening is included at Nikita’s Beach Restaurant, or similar. Your meal will be a set menu with a non-alcoholic drink included. Additional food and drinks may be purchased at your own expense. Restaurants are subject to change based on availability.

Overnight in Phuket

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Breakfast is typically served continental, full/American, or buffet style, featuring a mix of Thai, American, and Intercontinental items. The exact breakfast selection will depend on your finalized hotel.

Midday, you'll be picked up from the hotel for a 20-minute private transfer to Chalong Pier, where you will board a shared catamaran to Koh Hae, or Hey Island, also known as "Coral Island." This island is popular for its majestic coral reefs, located almost immediately offshore, making Koh Hae an ideal snorkeling site. Swim among the plentiful aquatic life and discover an abundance of marine creatures like multicolored parrot fish and coral rock cod. The boat will then head towards two of the best viewpoints of the island at sunset: Phromthep Cape and Krating Cape. From there, you will take some amazing photos of the sunset and have dinner on board before returning back. Note that during rainy season (from May-October), dinner will be arranged at Coral Island instead of on the boat to avoid rough sea conditions. Provided gear: snorkel, mask, and life jacket. Once you're back at the pier, you will take a 20-minute private transfer back to the hotel.

Enjoy an included dinner aboard the catamaran cruise. Dinner is typically a set menu of Thai cuisine. Water and soft drinks are included.

Overnight in Phuket

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Breakfast is typically served continental, full/American, or buffet style, featuring a mix of Thai, American, and Intercontinental items. The exact breakfast selection will depend on your finalized hotel.

Your day begins with a visit to Wat Chalong, Phuket's most revered Buddhist temple.
But first, just 10 minutes into your journey, you'll make a scenic stop at Karon Viewpoint, also known as "Three Beaches Hill." From this elevated vantage point, take in breathtaking panoramic views of Kata Noi, Kata, and Karon Beaches—a perfect spot to snap photos and enjoy the refreshing sea breeze. From there, continue about 15 minutes to Wat Chalong, where locals and visitors alike come to pay their respects to some of Phuket's most venerated monks, including Luang Pho Champ and Luang Pho Chuang. The temple grounds are peaceful and rich with cultural significance, offering a deeper glimpse into Thai spiritual life. After your temple visit, you'll make your way back toward your hotel, with one final stop at the Phuket Art Village. Here, you can browse a collection of unique arts and crafts created by local artists—a lovely way to experience Phuket's creative side. Today's activities involve mostly walking on flat, city streets, so regular comfortable shoes are sufficient. Please remember to dress respectfully for the temple visit—avoid wearing shorts or skirts.

From the hotel, you'll take a 30-minute private transfer to experience one of the highlights of Phuket's nightlife: a show at Phuket Simon Cabaret, a magnificent spectacle at the island's most renowned entertainment venue. As one of Southeast Asia's most outstanding entertainment attractions, the cabaret draws over a thousand enthusiastic visitors from around the world each evening, delivering a memorable performance that showcases musical theatre from various cultures. Enjoy the extravagant costumes, dazzling stage design, glittering lights, and majestic sounds as the show comes to life with you in the audience. After the show, you'll take a 30-minute private transfer back to the hotel.

Overnight in Phuket

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Breakfast is typically served continental, full/American, or buffet style, featuring a mix of Thai, American, and Intercontinental items. The exact breakfast selection will depend on your finalized hotel.

In the morning, you will be picked up from the hotel for a 20-minute private transfer to today's Thai cooking class. You'll first visit the local market where you will choose the ingredients. Once back in the kitchen, you'll learn the theories and techniques behind Thai cooking. Each of you will have your own wok and stove to learn how to make a four-course meal that includes a curry, soup, stir fry, and a dessert. You will also receive a recipe book after the course to take home!

Enjoy your creations for lunch! Lunch is included as a part of the Thai Cooking Class. The menu consists of the dishes that were created during the cooking class.

After lunch, take a 30-minute private transfer to Old Town Phuket. This will be your time to explore freely around Phuket Old Town, or ask for recommendations from your guide. You will meet back with the guide at a designated spot. Phuket Old Town is a picturesque and culturally rich district located in the heart of Phuket, Thailand. This historic area is renowned for its well-preserved Sino-Portuguese architecture, which reflects a blend of Chinese and European influences from the late 19th century. Visitors to Phuket Old Town can walk down narrow streets adorned with colorful, colonial-style buildings, intricate facades, and charming shuttered windows. The area is a treasure trove for photographers, offering unique and captivating photo opportunities at every turn. In addition to its architectural beauty, Phuket Old Town boasts a vibrant arts and culture scene. You'll find art galleries showcasing local talent, street art that adds a contemporary flair to the historic streets, and quaint cafes where you can enjoy a cup of coffee or a meal. After your visit, take a 40-minute transfer back to the hotel.

This afternoon, enjoy a 1-hour Thai massage included at the hotel spa -- a rejuvenating and therapeutic bodywork session that combines acupressure, gentle stretching, and deep tissue massage techniques. Please note that this will be done in sessions, as there are not enough masseuse/masseurs for everyone to get their massage at the same time.

Overnight in Phuket

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Breakfast is typically served continental, full/American, or buffet style, featuring a mix of Thai, American, and Intercontinental items. The exact breakfast selection will depend on your finalized hotel.

On this full-day optional excursion, you'll be picked up from the hotel in the morning for a shared speedboat trip around the stunning Phi Phi Islands, spending the day basking in the sunshine. The tour includes a stop at Maya Bay—featured in the Leonardo DiCaprio movie "The Beach"—now reopened after long-term conservation efforts. Please note, swimming is not permitted here, but don't worry -- there will be other swimming opportunities! You'll snorkel at Monkey Beach, then swim in the world-famous and crystal-clear Pileh Lagoon, and have a chance to explore Viking Cave. After working up an appetite, you'll enjoy an included lunch at a restaurant on Phi Phi Don. The excursion ends with a stop at Bamboo Island, where you can swim and relax on its white sand beach. So sit back, relax, and soak up the sun on this unforgettable journey through the Phi Phi Islands. Please note: The routing of this trip is subject to change without prior notice, depending on daily sea levels. Life jackets, snorkeling equipment (snorkel and mask -- not fins), and two non-alcoholic soft drinks are included. Be sure to pack swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and your camera!

Overnight in Phuket

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Breakfast is typically served continental, full/American, or buffet style, featuring a mix of Thai, American, and Intercontinental items. The exact breakfast selection will depend on your finalized hotel.

After a 30-minute transfer, you will arrive at Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve. Here, you'll have the rare opportunity to connect with rescued elephants while supporting award-winning conservation efforts. Meet these magnificent animals and hear their incredible rescue stories! Then, take a peaceful walk through a lush jungle sanctuary, where they roam freely in their natural habitat. Watch in awe as they bathe, play, and socialize in mud pools and natural ponds—just as nature intended. Guided by experienced experts, you'll gain deep insights into elephant behavior and welfare. You'll have the chance to participate in making nutritious vitamin balls, learn about elephant dung recycling, and discovering the specialized veterinary care that keeps them healthy and thriving. For ethical and animal welfare reasons, you are not permitted to ride, touch, or hand-feed the elephants. After touring the reserve, you'll enjoy a brief cooking demonstration and be served lunch on the premises.

Enjoy an included lunch at the Phuket Elephant Nature Reserve. Your meal will be a two course meal with water included, subject to change.

Cheers to an amazing trip with your new friends! Your farewell dinner this evening is included at Three Monkeys Restaurant, or similar. Your meal is typically a set menu of Thai cuisine including an appetizer, a main entree, and a dessert. Additional food and drinks may be purchased at your own expense. Restaurants are subject to change based on availability.

I’ll be honored to hold a Reiki healing session, creating a gentle space for rest, renewal, and alignment. By then I will be a certified Reiki Master, and I look forward to sharing this practice with those of you who are interested. Reiki is a Japanese energy-healing practice that promotes relaxation, balance, and overall well-being.

Overnight in Phuket

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Breakfast is typically served continental, full/American, or buffet style, featuring a mix of Thai, American, and Intercontinental items. The exact breakfast selection will depend on your finalized hotel.