Botanical Journey Through Thailand with Summer Rayne Oakes

Welcome dinner at Ton Makok 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 with a combination of Thai, American, and Intercontinental breakfast. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.

Any gardener worth their salt visiting Bangkok should visit the weekly flower and plant market held at the same place as the world-famous Chatuchak Weekend Market. The flower market is smaller than the main market but with several hundred stalls, it’s still huge by most people’s standards. It only sells plants and flowers, with some areas being wholesale only. In the publicly accessible areas, you’ll find floral bunches and wreaths in profusion alongside orchid sprays and huge tropical blooms. All sorts of plants and blooms from the whimsical to the wondrous are on display.

Take a private transfer to Damnoen Floating Market.

On the way to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market you'll make a brief stop to a sugar palm farm for 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.

Dinner at Blue Elephant 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 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 to Ayutthaya station.

You will take an overnight train in a 2nd class sleeper with air conditioning from Ayutthaya 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 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 Chiang Mai to Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden.

SBG was the first international standard botanical garden established in Thailand. Situated on the foothills of the mist-shrouded Doi Suthep-Pui mountains of Chiang Mai, Thailand, QSBG offers a mix of natural beauty along with curated gardens and glasshouses showcasing the richness of Thai, and other flora, for visitors to explore. Moreover, QSBG is home to a great number of valuable Thai plants, with a focus on rare, endemic, and endangered species. Although the main focus is on the Northern Thai flora and surrounding regions, QSBG has an integrated program of research, education and amenity at a global perspective.

Lunch at The Ironwood. Your meal will be a set menu served family style with water included, subject to change.

Private transfer from The Ironwood Restaurant to hotel in Chiang Mai.

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.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Breakfast at the hotel is included. Typical hotel breakfasts are continental full/America, or buffet style with a combination of Thai, American, and Intercontinental 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.

Ang Ka Nature Trail is located on top of Doi Inthanon and is the highest peak of Thailand. This area is considered a Cloud Forest where it is moist and cool all year round (usually between 9-15 C all day) and one of the most untouched nature in Thailand. Get to know this 1.0-km out-and-back trail near Doi Lo, Chiang Mai. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 20 min to complete. This is a very popular area for birding, hiking, and walking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring.

It is the most impressive of all the waterfalls in Chiang Mai. The cool and clear water of the Wachirathan Waterfall is a perfect respite from the hot and humid weather. The majestic waterfall has many layers and cascades from a height of 80 metres. Due to the incredible height, the waterfall creates a mist in the surrounding, making it a picturesque sight. The water falling from the Wachirathan waterfall creates a huge basin or pool where you can swim with family and friends. However, the rock around the waterfall can be very slippery, so be careful. You should only wear sturdy footwear, preferably shoes, to avoid slipping.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

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

Private transfer from hotel to Chom Cafe.

Lunch at CHOM Cafe is included. Your meal will be a set menu served family style with water included, subject to change.

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 with a combination of Thai, American, and Intercontinental breakfast. The exact breakfast offered will be determined by your finalized hotel.