Explore Bangkok’s waterways

Bangkok has culture by the bucketload to appreciate, and little-known areas waiting to be explored with the help of expert guides. We’ll pair you with a local who will help you hop on the commuter boat, taking you up the river past shiny skyscrapers and houses precariously balanced on stilts along the river’s edge. You can explore the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, before hopping on a tuk tuk through quieter city streets to visit a family-run workshop that produces monks’ alms bowls. See how these artisans work and learn about their work – and the lives of the local Buddhist monks. We can also take you along the Bangkok Noi canal, a residential section with shophouses and local temples, stopping to see the beautiful barges used by the royal family on state occasions.

Sip coffee in the secret coffee shops of Talad Noi

We love creating bespoke itineraries, so everything is created around what you want to see and do. One of the optional experiences is a visit to the alleys of the Talad Noi district, where a guide can take you along small lanes to see some of the best street art and explain the stories behind the images. You’ll also get time to meet with local residents and hear about their family history, work, and artisanal trades that have remained in this area for centuries. One of the highlights is the coffee shops – hard to find if you’re not with a local.

Join locals in a lantern-making workshop in Chiang Mai

To experience the culture of Chiang Mai, we’ll introduce you to a “7 Saonoi” group. ‘Saonoi’ means ‘young lady’ in Thai, a little tongue-in-cheek name for this group who are all over 70 years old and very much young at heart. You can join them in a paper lantern-making lesson at their workshop, learning the delicate techniques used to master your own lantern. Hang your creation on the trees in the grounds of Wat Don Chan, before a private blessing with a monk at the temple.

Learn about the mountainous region of Doi Tung

Doi Tung is a mountainous region in Chiang Rai Province, 2,000 metres above sea level. The views go on for days, but there is more to see and learn than can be ticked off with a quick photo stop.This area has an infamous past and was the centre of Asia’s opium trade. We’ll arrange a guide to introduce you to the Doi Tung Development Project, set up to help eradicate the cultivation of opium by encouraging farmers to use sustainable practices to make a living. You can watch local worshippers walking to Doi Tung Temple on the hillside, a serene place of worship built in 911; or travel down to the lowlands on the Thai-Myanmar border to explore the market and shop among vendors and shoppers from both Thailand and Myanmar.

Suggested itinerary

This 14-night adventure encompasses all of our recommendations above, helping you go beyond the tourist hot spots and get to know Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Pai. In Bangkok, we can help you see diverse architecture and take you on an optional foodie tour before cocktails at one of the city’s best sky bars. Expert guides can help you see remote areas and float through Tham Lod cave system on a bamboo raft. You’ll see waterfalls and lookout points, learn to cook Thai dishes at Grandma’s Home in Chiang Mai and explore the art scene in Chiang Rai.

Travel Style

Developed with the support of The Travel Foundation, this is part of our exclusive Enriching Escapes collection of itineraries, designed to reduce carbon emissions and boost positive impacts for destinations. Each trip has passed an assessment process to reduce environmental impact, support local economies, and protect cultural heritage while providing meaningful, memory-filled experiences. We’ve considered sustainable options wherever possible, so you’ll be skimming along the river in a solar-powered boat or navigating back streets in an e-tuk-tuk.