Discover Thailand – with me your Thailand Expert

Thailand is one of those places that just gets under your skin. The food, the people, the pace of life, the beaches, the buzz… it has something for everyone! And memories you will make that will last a lifetime!

It is also a country I know really well, I spent three months backpacking around Thailand in my younger days, exploring the country by bus, trains and small ferries, Also have been back on holiday since for a more luxurious escape!

These days I am more suited to putting together tailor‑made trips for my clients than sleeping in night buses, but that first‑hand experience is still at the heart of how I plan your holidays..

Whether you are a family looking for a summer adventure, a couple planning a three‑week escape, or you want to revisit Thailand in a more comfortable way, I can help you find your own tailormade trip.  I have put together many trips and helped customers with weddings and honeymoons too – a month-long escape to a multi destination trip to include other countries such as Cambodia or Vietnam - No itinerary I have put together has been the same as unique to the customers own pace and requirements.  I book at least one Thai trip a month it’s been really popular in the last few years, and I now have really good relationships with my suppliers on the ground in resort.

Thailand

Thailand is incredibly varied. In one trip you can go from sky‑scraping city views and golden temples to misty mountains and jungle, to toes‑in‑the‑sand beach time on a little island – we have larger well-known islands to some lesser known more authentic quiet islands for a more laid-back feel..

That is why I love designing multi‑centre holidays here. You are not stuck in one place for two weeks, and you do not have to pick between culture, nature and beach. We can mix and match all three, at a pace that actually feels like a holiday.

Bangkok City Bangkok Area

Your big, bold, buzzing starting point – it’s definitely a place to go for a couple of nights to see the main sights it’s an eye opener for sure!

Most trips start in Bangkok, and I always encourage clients to stay a couple of nights rather than rushing straight out again. Yes, it is busy and full‑on, but it is also fascinating and genuinely good fun when you see it in the right way.

What I love to include:

• A private tour of the Grand Palace and Wat Pho so you can really appreciate the history without feeling lost in the crowds.
• A long‑tail boat ride through the canals, which gives you a peek at traditional riverside life behind the skyscrapers.
• A relaxed evening food tour or night market visit where you can taste your way through proper Thai street food (I will always steer you towards good, safe options)
• visit the floating market & railway market 
• If you would like to get out of the bustling city then you can also do some tours outside of the city and take in Bangkok from a completely different quieter view with a more authentic look into the Thai life in the local smaller neighbourhoods.

My must‑do tip:
Take at least one journey on the river boats or SkyTrain. It sounds simple, but it is such an easy way to see more of the city and feel like you have really arrived in Asia.

Chiang Mai Northern Thailand

Temples, mountains and a quieter vibe is what you can expect here - I went off hiking whilst I was there and stayed in a basic hut in the jungle and then visited the hilltribes and saw first hand how they live -they are usually making crafts or weaving we visited them all as we were on a trek but some are much higher in the mountains than others.

Chiang Mai is the place I recommend when a client say, “we want culture, but we also want to relax”. It is cooler, greener and far more laid‑back than Bangkok, with mountains all around and a real creative, local feel – great temples and lots to see and do ..

Here, I like to slow things down:

• Spend at least three or four nights so you are not trying to cram everything into a single day.
• Visit Doi Suthep for that amazing view over the city and the golden temple at the top – if mobility is a problem due to over 300 steps there is a cable car!
• Wander the old city and its temples, then reward yourself with coffee in a little café.

For many of my clients, Chiang Mai becomes their favourite stop on the trip.

My must‑do tips:

• If your dates line up, the Sunday Walking Street Market is brilliant for picking up handmade bits and pieces and soaking up the atmosphere.
• Book a Thai cooking class. It is fun, relaxed and you go home with skills as well as memories – this is one of my top requested add on at the moment and lots of great feedback on return!

Soft jungle adventures & ethical wildlife

If you want a touch of adventure, I often suggest adding a rainforest stay into your itinerary. Think dramatic limestone cliffs, lakes, jungle trails and the sound of nature when you fall asleep.

This works beautifully for:

• Families who want a sense of “we are really in the jungle” without roughing it.
• Couples who like the idea of tented camps with real beds, hot showers and good food.
• Anyone who loves wildlife and dramatic scenery but does not want anything too high‑octane.

I always work with ethical elephant and wildlife experiences that focus on observation, not riding or bathing, so you can enjoy these encounters in a responsible way – there are lots of options round Thailand, but Chiang Mai is a good option ..if not elephant hills in Kho Sok – we have lots of active hikes and jungle tours and kayaking that we can add in for those active families/couples.

Khao Lak Southern Thailand

Easy, restful beach time that still feels Thai – much quieter than Phuket which can be very busy so depends on the type of vibe your after.

Khao Lak is my go‑to recommendation when someone says, “we want a quiet beach with a few nice places to eat, nothing too hectic”.

It is perfect for:

• Retired couples and slower‑paced travellers, including those with mobility issues. A lot of hotels here are low‑rise, spread out and feel very calm.
• People who are happy to stay put for a week or more, with occasional day trips rather than lots of moving around.
• Those who prefer the sound of waves and birds rather than the  pumping nightlife like Phuket ..
• Depending on the tim of year also depends on my recommendations I spent a lot of time in Thailand in the rainy season and when back backing you can avoid rain or move at short notice – but with a summer break I would still recommend going in the wet season as the downpour is short and you still have great weather and often lower prices!  But otherwise, Koh Samui is a good choice – I spent a month here and there is a livelier part but we can also locate you away from the busy side of the island.

I recently put together a three‑week holiday for a retired couple where they did Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Khao Lak, with plenty of nights in each place and carefully chosen tours. The feedback was that they loved the variety but never felt rushed, which is exactly what I aim for with this style of trip.

My must‑do tips:

• Take a day trip out to the Similan or Surin Islands in season, for incredible snorkelling and that classic turquoise‑water, white‑sand scenery – this is available in dry season and not rainy season as closed.
• also visit James Bond island and other islands such as Phi Phi 
• Book a Thai cookery lesson 
• Have at least one Thai massage on the beach/ or your hotel - Nothing quite beats relaxing on the beach and hearing the sound of the sea while you completely switch off to really appreciate your Thailand holiday – I had a few massages while backpacking and these were reasonably priced and a great massage!

Family favourites: Thailand with kids

Thailand is brilliant for the children: the people are welcoming, the food can be as mild or adventurous as you like, and there is always something interesting going on.

A family‑friendly option I often recommend is:

• Bangkok for the tuk tuks, temples and markets.
• A couple of nights in the jungle for the wow factor.
• Elephant tours – Visit one of the ethical elephant sanctuaries or even stay at elephant hills elephant camp ..
• Then a gentle, family‑friendly beach such as Koh Samui or a laid‑back part of the mainland coast to finish.

I make sure transfers, ferries and internal flights are all joined up, and I choose tours and activities that fit your children’s ages and energy levels and budget level.

My must‑do tip:
Try a street‑food food tour with the kids, even if it is just at a market with stalls rather than by the roadside. I will point you towards good, clean options so it feels like an adventure, not a worry.

Islands: not just the famous known ones.

Thailand’s islands get a lot of attention, and with good reason. Islands like Phuket and Koh Samui are great if you want plenty of choice of restaurants and activities, but they are not the only option.

Depending on the time of year and what you are after, we can look at:

• Busier islands with lots going on, ideal if you do not like things too quiet.
• Calmer, more authentic spots, where you can still wander along a fairly empty beach and find a little bar for a sunset drink.
• Combinations of two different islands so you get a bit of contrast.

Because I know Thailand’s seasons and routes so well, I can also help you avoid awkward, back‑and‑forth journeys and make sure your ferries and flights make sense - also going out of season (rainy season) is still ok - in fact some people prefer it as its quiet - and low prices with some short downpours but still hot weather - or we can also locate you away from the rain over in Koh Samui where there is less rainfall.

My must‑do tip:
Give yourself at least five to seven days on the beach at the end. Once you slow down, you will not want to move again after just two or three nights.

Off‑the‑beaten‑track Thailand.

For some of my clients, the ideal Thailand trip is less about ticking off the obvious places and more about getting under the skin of the country.

In those cases, I can suggest:

• Smaller islands and coastal towns where there are fewer big resorts and more authentic – generally reached by small ferry
• Less touristy markets and neighbourhoods, where you are very much in “real Thailand”.
• Boutique hideaways in inland or coastal areas that still feel like a discovery.

These trips are always shaped around your comfort level. We can keep it as gentle or as adventurous as you like.

How I build your Perfect Thailand trip -

The beauty of Thailand is that we can shape it completely around you & your pace

• I will ask how you like to travel, how adventurous you would like to be, and what your must‑haves are.
• I will then suggest a route that flows properly, so you are not doubling back or facing marathon transfer days.
• I can book your ferries, local flights, transfers, hotels and tours so the whole trip is joined up and stress‑free.
• If you have mobility needs or want to take things slowly, I will build that into the itinerary and the style of accommodation.
• We can do luxury or good comfortable accommodation
• Small group tours or private tours

If Thailand is on your bucket list, or you have been before and want to do it differently this time, I would love to chat through some ideas with you

Message me and let’s start planning your own tailor‑made Thailand adventure and then all you need to do is count down the days!