The Duo: Bangkok & Koh Samui - Nomadays

Thailand

The Duo: Bangkok & Koh Samui

This 2-week itinerary will first allow you to explore Bangkok, the lively and sometimes chaotic capital of Thailand. The city is a vibrant tapestry illustrating the incredible cultural diversity of Thailand, and you will have the opportunity to explore its surroundings and discover other Thai flavors: floating markets, railway markets, the River Kwai, and the ancient capital of the Lanna Kingdom, Ayutthaya.

In the second week, you will head to Koh Samui, the pearl of the Gulf of Thailand, for 7 ...

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Day 1Welcome and free visit of Bangkok

Day 1Welcome and free visit of Bangkok

  • Welcome by our team, then transfer to your hotel. Rooms available from 2:00 pm.

    The rest of the day is free.

  • We are staying for 6 nights in a Deluxe room at the Arte Hotel in the modern Asoke district. This modern 4-star hotel will charm you with its rooftop infinity pool.

Day 2The "Venice of the East"

Day 2The "Venice of the East"

  • Departure in the morning to reach the pier and take the public boat-buses to the center, on the right bank and the Pak Klong Talad flower market district.

  • We start our day with a visit to the Grand Palace of Bangkok, built in 1782, which includes several magnificent buildings, including the Wat Phra Kaeo (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), which houses a beautiful Emerald Buddha dating back to the 14th century.

  • Our morning continues. We go to Wat Benchamabophit. Often called the "Marble Temple," this architectural gem showcases a beautiful image of Buddha, a copy of the highly revered Phra Buddhajinaraja, as well as a magnificent ceiling of dark red and gold beams.

  • Then, we walk to Wat Pho, one of the oldest temples in Bangkok, to see its reclining Buddha.

  • We then cross the river by a small boat to visit Wat Arun, the "Temple of Dawn," located on the right bank.

    Day accompanied by an English-speaking guide
    
  • In the evening, dinner on a cruise boat on the .

50m-30km
2h-80km

Day 3Market Day

Day 3Market Day

  • We are heading towards Amphawa.

  • This morning, we head to the outskirts of Bangkok for our first stop at Mae Klong Railway Market, where four times a day, the fruit and vegetable stalls hastily fold away as the train passes through the market.

  • Then, a half-day of discovering life in the mangroves. By boat, we explore this fragile ecosystem. During our excursion, we discover the way of life of the fishermen (here clam fishing is done from a surfboard) and visit a shellfish farm.

    Lunch of specialties.

  • After lunch, we head to the vibrant, lively, and flavorful floating market of Damnoen Saduak. By boat, along the narrow canals of the market, we discover stalls of goods cheerfully balanced on the water. We negotiate for fresh fruits, clothing, or Thai masks on a wooden boat with vendors proudly wearing straw hats and brightly colored dresses.

    Finally, we return to Bangkok after a rich day spent at Thailand's markets.

    Day accompanied by an English-speaking guide.
    
Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Arte Hotel

Lunch: Homestay

Accommodation: Arte Hotel

Day 4Bangkok in depth

Day 4Bangkok in depth

  • Take a bike tour into the heart of the capital to the extraordinary Bang Krachao district - a true jungle in the middle of the city. At the entrance, you can rent bicycles to explore the park. You can also visit an incense stick-making workshop, several small temples, and see old houses in the neighborhood.

  • Next to Chinatown lies the remarkable neighborhood of Talat Noi, one of the oldest in Bangkok. Rich in Chinese culture, this place is full of all kinds of curiosities, from street art to unique houses and age-old temples. A true discovery of authentic Bangkok.

  • Visit the Temple of the Golden Buddha - Wat Traimitr, and the small yet very interesting Yaowarat Chinatown Heritage Museum, which traces the history of Chinese immigration in Bangkok.

    Day accompanied by an English-speaking guide
    
  • In the evening, you can freely stroll through the Chinatown district, wander the alleys overflowing with all kinds of shops. In the early evening, the night market sets up on Yaowarat Road and its illuminated side streets, bringing new life to the neighborhood. You will find all kinds of Thai and Chinese specialties for dinner there.

1h-65km
Bang Pa-In
1h-25km
1h 30m-85km

Day 5Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of the kingdom

Day 5Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of the kingdom

  • This morning, we set off to explore the Bang Pa-in Palace, built in the 17th century and left abandoned after the destruction of Ayutthaya. The palace was restored and expanded in the mid-19th century by the King, who made it his summer residence.

  • From the palace, we will travel to Ayutthaya by traditional boat on the river. Along the way, we will discover the Thai way of life along the water, the wooden stilt houses, the rice barge convoys towed to Bangkok warehouses, and the temple spires pointing towards the sky.

    We will arrive in Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Siam.

  • After lunch, we will explore the historic center of the city, including the Wat Mahathat temple, dating back to the late 14th century. We will then continue to the Wat Phra Sri Sanphet temple, formerly used as a royal temple and thus the largest in the city. Finally, we'll visit the Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, renowned for its reclining Buddha.

    Return to Bangkok in the late afternoon.

    Day accompanied by an English-speaking guide

2h-125km
2h 45m-175km

Day 6Discovering Kanchanaburi and its surroundings

Day 6Discovering Kanchanaburi and its surroundings

  • Meet at your hotel in Bangkok and depart for Kanchanaburi, where we board the famous 'Death Railway' train at 10:40 AM. This railway became renowned through the story depicted in the film "The Bridge on the River Kwai", and the journey takes about 1 hour westward towards the Sai Yok region, situated 70 km west at the end of the train line.

  • Transfer to Elephant Haven where we have lunch.

    Meet your guide and the Mahouts. Together, you will prepare food for the elephants before getting to know them while feeding them. We then go for a walk in the surrounding forest with the pachyderms, our guide taking this opportunity to teach us more about the animal.

    Then, we will have the chance to observe them during mud games before accompanying them to the river to give them a bath.

    In the end, we return to the camp where we can capture one last time our meeting with the pachyderms.

    Day accompanied by an English-speaking guide.
    
Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Arte Hotel

Lunch: Elephant Haven

Accommodation: Arte Hotel

1h 30m-755km

Day 7Flight to the Gulf of Thailand

Day 7Flight to the Gulf of Thailand

  • In the morning, transfer to Bangkok airport where you will board your flight to Koh Samui Island in the Gulf of Thailand. As the third largest island in the country, Samui offers some of the most pleasant accommodations in the country and a relaxed atmosphere that is easy to surrender to, making it all the more welcoming. With its numerous bays sheltering beaches with crystalline waters, it is a delightful place to stay.

    The island also boasts the luxury of having a very unique cuisine, based on the omnipresent coconut, which remains the main resource of the Samui locals.

  • Upon arrival, you will meet your driver who will take you to your hotel.

  • We will be staying for 7 nights at Peace Resort in a Deluxe Bungalow.

Day 8Relaxation on Koh Samui Island

Day 8Relaxation on Koh Samui Island

  • We enjoy a first free day on the beautiful Koh Samui Island. On-site, take the opportunity to explore the island's interior and its many beaches. Attend a cooking class or enjoy a relaxing massage in one of the many spas on the island.

    Of course, it can be just as pleasant to simply lounge by your pool or on the white sandy beach.

Day 9Excursion to Pig Island

Day 9Excursion to Pig Island

  • Pig Island is a small island off the southern coast of Thailand, known for its abundant marine life and pristine white sandy beaches, and of course, its pigs that roam the beach.

    This morning, we board our boat with a first stop for snorkeling at Koh Tan.

    We then head to Madsum Island, nicknamed Pig Island. On the beach, we can play with the pigs, walk to the viewpoint, and go kayaking. We have lunch there before returning to Samui in the early afternoon. Transfer to our hotel, and the rest of the day is free.

Day 10-11Rest and relaxation

Day 10-11Rest and relaxation

  • Your free stay continues on Koh Samui.

Day 12Excursion to Ang Thong National Marine Park

Day 12Excursion to Ang Thong National Marine Park

  • Today we are going on an excursion to Ang Thong National Marine Park, a protected archipelago of 42 wild and uninhabited islands. Famous for its natural beauty with its islets covered in lush vegetation and beautiful white sandy beaches, its landscape is often compared to that of Halong Bay in Vietnam.

    The boat leaves from Thong Sala pier around 9:00 am and heads towards the national park, which we will reach after about 1.5 hours of navigation. Arriving at the first islands of Koh Wao and Koh Tai, we can swim and especially explore the marine life while snorkeling.

    After lunch, we arrive at Koh Wua Ta Lap, and its white sandy beach, Ao Ka. From there, relax in the crystal-clear waters of the area, or take a hike that will offer you a breathtaking view of the surroundings.

    The last stop of our day is the island of Mae Ko, or Mother Island, which has a superb beach and an inland lagoon with emerald green waters aptly named Emerald Lake (Thale Nai).

    Return around 6:00 pm to Koh Phangan.

    Group activity with an English-speaking guide.
    
Meal and accommodations

Lunch: Buffet on the Boat

Day 13Feeling good?

Day 13Feeling good?

  • As our stay on Koh Samui gently comes to an end, take the opportunity for one last massage and enjoy the gentle Thai hospitality and exceptional cuisine.

1h 15m-750km

Day 14See you soon in Thailand!

Day 14See you soon in Thailand!

  • Free morning to enjoy the beach and the facilities of your hotel.

    Transfer to Samui airport where we board our return flight to Bangkok. Arrival at Bangkok airport where you can have a leisurely dinner while waiting for your international return flight.

    In case of an international return flight in the morning, it will be necessary to spend the previous night in Bangkok. The program will be adjusted accordingly.