Thailand in Three Acts: Bangkok, Chiang Mai & an Unforgettable Bush Camp

Getting there: a multi‑stop flight journey

Our routing worked really well:

• London Heathrow – Doha – Bangkok with Qatar Airways, Economy Class
• Bangkok – Chiang Mai with Thai Airways, Economy
• Chiang Mai – Bangkok with Bangkok Airways, Economy
• Bangkok – Doha with Qatar Airways, Economy
• Doha – London Heathrow with British Airways, Economy

The connections through Doha were straightforward, and the internal Thai flights made hopping between regions quick and easy.

Stop 1: Sky‑high luxury at Banyan Tree Bangkok

We started in Bangkok, staying at the Banyan Tree Bangkok for 2 nights from 6 September.

Room & first impressions

• Room type booked: Horizon City View King Room
• On arrival: Complimentary upgrade to a Panorama Club City View King Room
• Room number: 4401 on the 44th floor

The upgrade was a fantastic surprise. From our room we enjoyed:

• Spectacular panoramic views over the Bangkok skyline
• A lovely, modern bathroom
• A calm, elegant space high above the city

The hotel staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, and the overall service felt polished from the moment we arrived.

Breakfast, location & getting around

Breakfast at Banyan Tree was outstanding:

• Excellent choice of hot and cold dishes
• Plenty of juices and fresh options
• A really generous spread whether you prefer Western or Asian breakfasts

The hotel also offers a complimentary tuk tuk service during the day to the MRT or BTS stations, which makes getting around Bangkok much easier and avoids some of the traffic.

Exploring Bangkok

With just two nights we focused on a couple of key spots:

• MBK Centre for shopping, people‑watching and that classic Bangkok mall experience
• A night market in Patpong, where we soaked up the neon lights, stalls and evening atmosphere

Banyan Tree was the perfect base: central, comfortable and with one of the best city views we have ever had from a hotel room.

Stop 2: Chiang Mai city base at Dusit Princess

Next, we flew up to Chiang Mai with Thai Airways and checked into Dusit Princess Chiang Mai.

Stay details

• Check‑in: 8 September 2026
• Check‑out: 10 September 2026
• Guests: Mr Daryl Glean & Mrs Rebekah Glean
• Room Type: Deluxe Room
• Bed Preference: One King/Double
• Board: Bed and breakfast

Dusit Princess gave us exactly what we needed for a Chiang Mai city stay:

• A comfortable Deluxe Room with a good bed and everything we needed
• A convenient location for exploring the old city, temples and night markets
• A noticeably more relaxed pace than Bangkok, with that gentle northern Thai atmosphere

It was the ideal stepping stone before heading out into nature for the final part of the trip.

Stop 3: The Bush Camp Chiang Mai – 3‑day immersion with elephants & mountains

Our final stay was at The Bush Camp Chiang Mai for 2 nights from 10 September, in Tent 11, on a full board basis.

The Bush Camp offers a 3‑Day Bush Camp Experience in tailormade luxury glamping tents overlooking the Ping River. It feels wonderfully remote and close to nature but still very comfortable.

The camp, food & happy hour

Our tent had that perfect mix of:

• “Glamping” atmosphere with canvas, river and mountain views
• Enough comfort to feel properly pampered, not like rough camping

The stay included:

• Full board with excellent Thai and Western dishes
• A nightly happy hour from 17:30–18:30, with free drinks including cocktails, which became our favourite time of day as the light started to soften over the river

The food and staff were brilliant throughout, and we cannot say enough about how well we were looked after.

A special mention goes to our fantastic tour guides, Jay and Da, who really made the experience. They were knowledgeable, gentle with the animals and very attentive to guests.

Day‑by‑day at The Bush Camp

Day 1: Arrival & the “Amazing Bush Camp” experience

• Transfer from Chiang Mai (airport or hotel) to The Bush Camp, taking around 2 hours.
• Arrive late morning and enjoy a delicious Thai lunch, then check into Tent 11 and get ready for the afternoon.

Elephants & Karen mahout culture

The first day focuses on The Bush Camp’s Elephant and Karen Mahout Experience:

• Visit the “free‑roaming, chain‑free” elephant park, where you help prepare food and interact with the elephants in a natural setting.
• Learn about the lives of the Karen mahouts, who live closely with their elephants.
• Spend time in the local community:
• Help pound rice
• See traditional weaving of handmade clothes
• Sample some of their cooking
• Watch daily life in the village

This felt like a genuine cultural exchange rather than a show, and the welfare‑focused, chain‑free environment for the elephants was very reassuring.

Sunset views & dinner

• In the late afternoon, enjoy a sundowner at a mountain‑top viewpoint overlooking the Ping River, the lifeblood of northern Thailand.
• Sample local delicacies and a drink while watching the sun dip behind the mountains.
• After freshening up, return for a buffet dinner of freshly prepared Thai and Western dishes with beautiful mountain vistas as the backdrop.

Day 2: Morning rituals & time to slow down

Mahouts’ morning & forest time

• Start with a fresh buffet breakfast at your leisure.
• Head to the “Free Roaming Forest”, where you:
• Learn how to make paper from elephant dung
• Try “kafee boran” and “kanom krok”, the traditional coffee and snack enjoyed by the mahouts
• Observe how the elephants are cared for, including their morning wash and daily routines

This is a wonderful way to understand more about how The Bush Camp works with elephants, and to see that their welfare is clearly a priority.

Lunch & afternoon at leisure

• Enjoy a Thai buffet lunch with more stunning mountain and river views.
• The afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure:
• Relax by the pool overlooking the Ping River
• Sit outside your tent and listen to the sounds of nature
• Take some quiet time simply to soak everything in

Sundowner & dinner

• In the early evening, enjoy another sundowner by the pool, once again with local snacks and beautiful views of the sunset over the mountains.
• After freshening up, head back for another buffet dinner of Thai and Western dishes served with those same sweeping vistas.

Day 3: Elephant Valley & farewell lunch

Elephant Valley

• After a relaxed buffet breakfast, you head to the “Elephant Valley”.
• Here you:
• See more elephants roaming freely
• Learn about good animal husbandry and how veterinary care is provided
• Prepare supplement balls for the elephants and watch them enjoy their treats

It is a lovely final chance to spend time with these incredible animals and to understand how carefully they are looked after.

Check‑out & return

• After a full morning of activities, head back to your tent to check out.
• Enjoy one last lunch overlooking the mountains and the Ping River, then transfer back to your hotel or the airport in Chiang Mai.

Final reflections

This trip to Thailand felt like three holidays in one:

• Bangkok at Banyan Tree for five‑star city luxury, incredible views and easy access to shopping and nightlife
• Chiang Mai at Dusit Princess for a comfortable city base, ideal for temples, markets and local culture
• The Bush Camp for a memorable, ethical and immersive stay with elephants, Karen culture, and those beautiful Ping River views

The flights, hotels and experiences all came together perfectly, and the 3‑Day Bush Camp Experience in particular is something we will remember for a very long time.

If you are looking to combine city, culture and nature in Thailand, this kind of itinerary works brilliantly and gives you a genuine feel for different sides of the country.

A special thank you to:

• Chadapat Charoentrephob at Dusit Princess Hotel Chiang Mai
• Ms Treeporn and Ms Nhoi at Banyan Tree Bangkok
• Nanny at The Bush Camp

for helping to make this trip so special for Becky and me