Thailand Tour November, 2025
Arrival day in Phuket. You fly from the USA or UK or other location to Phuket in the south of Thailand. We land and stay overnight in Phuket. A driver or one of our guides will meet you at the airport to transfer to our hotel, the Patong Bay Residence in the Patong district near to lots of night life action. Orientation dinner 6 pm. (B)
The following 4 nights we explore two remote islands each with only a few hotels and restaurants. Definitely off the normal tour routes. The first island is less developed than the second. You will have a chance to see how tourism grows and progresses as you journey from Phuket to these islands that are off the beaten path. You will see and experience 3 stages of tourism development.
Today we travel to Koh Phra Thong Island roughly 100 miles from our second island destination at Koh Payam Island. Wle leave the tourist hordes behind and travel to a remote and relatively undiscovered island. This is the less traveled island getaway. Prepare yourself for two wonderful nights glamping along the shore. A luxurious island shipwreck-like getaway before returning to the bustling city of Bangkok. We’re booked into the Seafari Eco lodge in nice glamping style canvas tents. We’re on the edge of the sea, in the cool Thai season, so we will all be comfortable without air conditioning for these two nights. (B)<b>DAY 4 & 5</b> – November 13 & 14 | Meals: B <b>Travel to Our third island Koh Payam</b>
We travel to a different island for two nights, Koh Payam. An island where snorkeling and bird watching are the common activities. We’re booked into the Nitiporn Resort on the beach. This is a step up in the evolution of tourism on Thai islands between undiscovered and overwhelmed by tourists. (B)
We leave Payam Island and travel to Bangkok. There we transfer to the New Siam Riverside Hotel. The late afternoon is left aside as free time for each group member to relax or explore nearby shops and streets. We meet for dinner at 6:00 pm.
Special: A local university history/political science professor will join us for dinner to discuss Thai history and current events. It’s nice to have a basic understanding of the country you are traveling through. This dinner discussion will focus on history vs. current events.
Today we explore the waterways of Bangkok. From the floating market to the sometimes flooded Koh Kret pottery village you will discover a side of Bangkok not commonly explored by foreign travelers. (B)
Very Special: Sometime today we will squeeze a 2-3 hour cooking class into the schedule. There are dozens of cooking classes, but this is the only Thai cooking class that will be hosted by a Thai Iron Chef.
Special: Tonight those who want to learn more about Thai and Bangkok nightlife can join one of us to visit a well known bar street. We will decide last minute, but the likely location is Soi Cowboy.
8:30 a.m. Following breakfast we take a boat ride on the Chao Phraya river to the Khlong Lat Mayom floating market. This is a great time to discover some of the tasty Thai street food. Next we travel by public fast ferry to the pottery making village island of Kho Kret. Then if our timing works out we end the afternoon with a riverside massage at the Wat Warashanywas riverside temple massage school. This temple is seldom visited by tour groups. To read a bit more about this ask Keith for his article “In Search of the Cheapest Massage in Thailand”. (B)
Today is set aside for local sightseeing in Bangkok. On the agenda for today are The Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun. A walk through the flower market and through Chinatown will fill the day. Bring your walking shoes! This is a sightseeing day to some of the best known Bangkok tourist sites. (B)
Special: A Buddhist monk has agreed to speak with our group about Karma. Karma is often mentioned by Americans, but seldom really understood. We hope this informal discussion will enlighten all of us in just how Thai Buddhists view Karma.
Special: We have arranged for a Thai police colonel to join us for lunch. A personal friend for 20+ years, the Colonel is joining us as a friend and not in any official capacity or role.
We fly from BKK to Chiang Mai today. Chiang Mai is a town full of interesting sights and places to see. It is home to Thailand’s largest night market. Our accommodations will be near the central city. Today the group will have some free time upon arrival. In the afternoon we will walk to the night market for dinner. If you are thinking of having clothing made at a tailor shop, this is the day and place to do it. They can measure, then do initial fitting on the 20th and have your clothes ready for you on the 22nd. Bespoke suits for men or women, really nice dress shirts and some beautiful feminine clothes. Talk to us before the trip so we can give you some prep suggestions. (B)
We fly from BKK to Chiang Mai today. Chiang Mai is a town full of interesting sights and places to see. It is home to Thailand’s largest night market. Our accommodations will be near the central city. Today the group will have some free time upon arrival. In the afternoon we will walk to the night market for dinner. If you are thinking of having clothing made at a tailor shop, this is the day and place to do it. They can measure, then do initial fitting on the 20th and have your clothes ready for you on the 22nd. Bespoke suits for men or women, really nice dress shirts and some beautiful feminine clothes. Talk to us before the trip so we can give you some prep suggestions. (B)
Overnight visit to the Mai Mai mountain village. This is a visit to a real Thai village in the mountains. Activities here vary depending on the year and season. Past projects by the King’s Foundation helped bring change to the villagers, to move from opium farming to other less objectionable farming and tourist activities. On past visits we have enjoyed a terrific Thai jungle sauna, a hike to a school only accessible by hiking 30 minutes along a small stream and where the students must live during the week. Meeting school students is always a delightful experience. The village women will prepare our meals from local products. If weather and road conditions preclude doing this village stay, we will stay overnight near the Chiang Dao cave. (B,L, D)
Today is departure day. We will arrange your transport to the airport. If your air ticket was a round trip ticket from Phuket, you will need to get a flight from Chiang Mai to Phuket. There is a direct flight and several with stopovers in Don Muang. There are several flights from Chiang Mai to the USA requiring one stopover such as in Taiwan or Singapore to connect to the flight to the USA. (B)
