Thailand with Christian Zajicek

Welcome dinner at a local restaurant is included. Your meal will be a set menu shared family style with water included. Additional food and drinks will be at your own expense. Restaurants are subject to change based on availability.

Overnight in Bangkok.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental full/America, or buffet style. The Theatre Residence Hotel offers a buffet with a combination of Thai, American, and Intercontinental breakfast. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

Take a private transfer from the hotel to Mae Kong Railway Market as your first stop en route to Damnoern Saduak Floating Market.

Begin your half-day tour with a scenic drive in a private transfer towards southwest Bangkok to the charming Ratchaburi Province. On the way to Damnoern Saduak Floating Market, take a fascinating detour to the Mae Klong Railway Market, also affectionately known as Talad Rom Hoop, which translates to "closing an umbrella or awning." This unique name reflects the market's extraordinary setup, where vendors swiftly close their awnings to make way for the passing trains right on the tracks. Experience the thrilling spectacle of the train maneuvering through the tightly-packed stalls, a perfect blend of daily commerce and local life. You'll spend around 40 minutes at the market, giving you ample time to explore the stalls, soak up the vibrant atmosphere, and watch the train glide through, making for an unforgettable experience.

From the bustling Mae Klong Railway Market, continue with a quick 15-minute drive to a local Sugar Palm farm situated conveniently along your route. This visit offers an insightful look into the production of sugar, demonstrating how the sap from sugar palms is turned into crystalline sugar, a vital ingredient in local cuisine. You’ll then arrive at the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. This celebrated market is a vibrant display of local culture and history, reminiscent of a time when rivers and canals were the main transport routes. Explore a variety of boats filled with fresh fruits, flowers, colorful clothing, and assorted souvenirs floating along the waterways. Then, make your way to the historic Lao Tuk Luk Market, also known as the old Damnoen Saduak Market. Operating for over a century, this market maintains its traditional appeal with wooden houses and offers insights into the age-old methods of trading food, snacks, and other items. To fully appreciate this market's atmosphere, consider renting a paddle boat at your own expense. This allows you to weave through the vendor boats and experience the vibrant market scene from the water, providing a unique perspective on this lively trading hub. It is advised to bring cash with you to purchase food and beverages at your own expense.

On the way back to Bangkok, lunch will be included at local restaurant in the Samut Songkram / Amphawa area which is roughly a 30 minute transfer from Damnoern Saduak Floating Market. The meal will typically be a la carte menu shared with water included. Some examples of local Thai dishes you will be having is stir-fried razor clams and boiled salted Thai mackerel. 

From lunch you'll take a private transfer back to the hotel in Bangkok.

In the late afternoon, you’ll be picked up for a 40 minute transfer to the meeting point to start your Bangkok Street Eats adventure. Embark on an exhilarating tuk-tuk ride through the vibrant streets of Bangkok, starting at the Democracy Monument. Arrive at the Michelin Bib Gourmand-listed Pad Thai Restaurant to savor the explosion of spicy and savory flavors, experiencing a delightful variety of textures, from delicate noodles to crunchy peanuts. Continue the culinary journey with a photo break at the Giant Swing before exploring hidden eateries across the city. The next stop is a local night market, where you'll wander among bustling stalls, discovering local delicacies such as Thai-style grilled meat, khao kha mu (stewed pork leg), coconut pudding, and Bua Loi Khai Waan (glutinous rice balls with egg). Take a short break to stroll through Pak Klong Talat, Thailand's largest flower market, learning to fold fresh lotus flowers and understanding their significance in Thai worshiping culture. Explore Thai wedding traditions at a local store offering special desserts for such occasions, and take away Thong Yip and Thong Yod to try later. Conclude the night at a laid-back riverside rooftop bar, sipping on a refreshing drink and enjoying splendid views of the Chao Phraya River and twinkling buildings along the riverbanks, before bidding farewell to the friendly tuk-tuk driver at the nearest MRT station. Then you’ll take a 40 minute transfer back to the hotel after a fun evening out.

Dinner is included as a part of the Bangkok Street Eats Tour. You will be trying out a variety of street foods. Please be sure to bring extra cash if you would like to purchase additional food and beverages at your own expense.

Overnight in Bangkok.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental full/America, or buffet style. The Theatre Residence Hotel offers a buffet with a combination of Thai, American, and Intercontinental breakfast. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

Private transfer from the hotel in Bangkok to Kok Na Sai Farm.

Welcome to a Thai rice farm! Today you will visit and learn about the local community and their work on the rice farm. They’ll demonstrate the traditional method of rice production, and then you will get a chance to make a Thai rice pancake. From there, you will begin a cooking class where you’ll be taught to prepare 3-4 Thai dishes using locally sourced ingredients. You’ll also have the chance to learn Thai cooking methods on a charcoal stove. Enjoy your lunch before heading back to Bangkok.

Lunch is included as part of the cooking class. The menu consists of 3-4 dishes that were created during the cooking class. Water is included.

Private transfer from Kok Na Sai Farm back to the hotel in Bangkok.

Private transfer from hotel in Bangkok to the restaurant (Blue Elephant)

Dinner at a local restaurant is included. Dinner is typically a set menu consisting of an appetizer, side dish, main, and dessert. A non-alcohol drink is included (juice, mocktail, herbal drink, soft drink). Additional food and beverages at your own expense. Note that you’ll need to dress smart casual for this dining experience. Restaurants are subject to change based on availability.

Overnight in Bangkok.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental full/America, or buffet style. The Theatre Residence Hotel offers a buffet with a combination of Thai, American, and Intercontinental breakfast. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

Take a private transfer from your hotel in Bangkok to the Bangkok train station.

You will take an overnight train in a 2nd class sleeper with air conditioning from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. Seats will be transformed into bunk beds in the evening by the train officers. Bathrooms will be available on the train.

Overnight on the sleeper train to from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental full/America, or buffet style. Away Chiang Mai Thapae Resort offers a vegan buffet breakfast. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

In the early evening, you’ll take a 20 minute private transfer to the Chiang Mai night market. Embark on a culinary journey through Chiang Mai, starting at the South Gate, where a diverse array of local foods awaits. The local guide will help pick out different street foods to try. Then you’ll move on to a local restaurant for a taste of Khao Soi, a traditional Thai Northern Noodle dish. After, you’ll refresh at the Chang Peuk Gate (north gate) with a choice of a fruit shake or Thai dessert. Explore the Flower Market, where, once again, the local guide will assist in selecting delectable local foods. Continue the cultural experience with a visit to Wat Chedi Luang Temple. Conclude the evening at a local bar by the Ping River, sipping on one local beer or a soft drink, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere of Chiang Mai's culinary and cultural scene. Take a 20 minute private transfer back to the hotel.

Dinner is included as part of the Chiang Mai Night Market Street Eats Tour. You will be trying out a variety of street foods. Please be sure to bring extra cash if you would like to purchase additional food and beverages at your own expense.

If you have opted in for an afternoon Thai massage, you’ll get a 15-30 minute private transfer to the spa (subject to traffic). Once at the spa, you’ll have a choice to enjoy a either a 2 hour full body massage or a 2 hour head, back, shoulder & foot massage. Then you’ll take a 15-30 minute transfer back to the hotel.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental full/America, or buffet style. Away Chiang Mai Thapae Resort offers a vegan buffet breakfast. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

You’ll be picked up for a private transfer from the hotel to Doi Inthanon National Park. There will be bathroom breaks along the way or upon request.

Upon arriving to the mountain village you'll experience another side of Northern Thai Culture. The locals here are almost entirely from the Karen ethnic minority, and lead rural lifestyles that have remained largely unchanged for decades. After getting to know your village hosts, roll up your sleeves for a hands-on lesson in the village's specialty: coffee making! Follow the lead of your local host and guide through each step of the production process - from roasting, to winnowing and grinding - before sitting down for a tasting. After enjoying a few cups of the local brew, head off next on a gentle, two-hour trek along nature trails flanked by stretches of emerald paddy fields and verdant rice terraces.

A short 10 minute drive will take you to begin your hike. Embark on a leisure 2 miles hike through the forest and make a stop at Pha Dok Seaw Waterfall - a perfect place for a refreshing swim during the dry season. Then continue onward and reach the Royal Project Restaurant where you'll enjoy a rewarding meal! The trail is a mix of flat paths through the forest with some downhill sections. *Please note that is it only safe to swim at Pha Dok Seio during the dry season - condition dependent.

Lunch at a local restaurant is included. Your meal will be a set menu served family style with water included.

Take return transfer back to Chiang Mai. About an hour in, you'll stop at Mae Ya Waterfall. Then continue another hour and a half back to your hotel.

On your way back to Chiang Mai you'll stop to admire the Mae Ya Waterfall. Considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Inthanon National Park, you'll want to make sure to snap some photos during your final stop of the afternoon before heading back to Chiang Mai.

Farewell dinner at a local restaurant is included. Your meal will be a set menu of Thai cuisine consisting of an appetizer, main, and dessert with water included. Additional food and drinks will be at your own expense. Restaurants are subject to change based on availability.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental full/America, or buffet style. Away Chiang Mai Thapae Resort offers a vegan buffet breakfast. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.