Customised holidayTRTH8S
Thailand SignatureThailand in 8 nights
- 9 Days · 8 Nights
- Thailand · 3 Cities
- Signature pace
- Any date you choose
Bangkok (2N)Chiang Mai (3N)Koh Samui (3N)
View day-wise itinerary →Holiday includes
- Hotel
- Meals
- Sightseeing
- Transport
- FlightsOptional
Private car and driver throughout, private airport transfers. Prafull plans and answers every message himself.
Holiday highlights
- Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun in Bangkok
- Wat Phra That Doi Suthep at sunset
- A day with rescued elephants: no riding, no shows
- Chiang Mai's old-city temples by tuk-tuk
- Kayaking in Ang Thong Marine Park
- Beach days on Koh Samui
Itinerary (day wise)
Our fullest Thailand: Bangkok's temples, three nights in the old walled city of Chiang Mai with a day at an ethical elephant sanctuary, then three on the beaches of Koh Samui with a boat day in Ang Thong Marine Park. Two short flights replace long drives, and the trip ends slowly on the beach. It suits couples, families and repeat visitors who have already seen Phuket.
Day 1Arrive Bangkok (2 Nights)
About 30 km · 45 minutes–1 hour from Suvarnabhumi airport
Welcome to Thailand. Your driver meets you at Suvarnabhumi arrivals for a private transfer to your hotel, about 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic. Check in and rest after the flight. In the evening your driver takes you to the riverside pier for a dinner cruise on the Chao Phraya river, a shared boat of about two hours that passes the floodlit spire of Wat Arun and the roofs of the Grand Palace. The buffet includes vegetarian dishes. Overnight in Bangkok.
- Chao Phraya river
- Wat Arun by night
- Grand Palace from the river
- Note: Tell us about Jain meals in advance; we will ask the cruise to prepare them.
Prafull’s tipFill in the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online within three days before you fly. It saves time at immigration.
Dinner
Day 2Bangkok
A temple day with a private English-speaking guide and car. You reach the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew, home of the Emerald Buddha, as the gates open at 8.30 am, before the heat and the tour groups. Then Wat Pho and its 46-metre reclining Buddha, covered in gold leaf, and a short ferry across the river to Wat Arun and its spire of porcelain mosaic. Lunch on your own. The evening is free; ICONSIAM and Asiatique on the river are easy outings. Overnight in Bangkok.
- Grand Palace
- Wat Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddha)
- Wat Pho
- Wat Arun
- Chao Phraya ferry
- Note: The Grand Palace sometimes closes at short notice for royal ceremonies; if so, we reorder your day.
Prafull’s tipWat Pho is also Thailand's best-known school of Thai massage. A short foot massage there is a good end to a long morning on your feet.
Breakfast
Day 3Bangkok – Chiang Mai (3 Nights)
About 1 hour 15 minutes by air, plus airport transfers
A private transfer to the airport after breakfast and a flight of a little over an hour north to Chiang Mai. Check in and rest; the north is noticeably cooler and calmer than Bangkok. In the late afternoon your driver takes you up the mountain to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, about 40 minutes from town, for the golden chedi and the view over the city at sunset. Climb the 300-odd steps of the naga staircase, or take the funicular. Overnight in Chiang Mai.
- Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
- Naga staircase
- Chiang Mai city view
- Note: The included flight has a checked-baggage allowance, usually 15–20 kg; excess baggage is charged at the airport.
Prafull’s tipDoi Suthep is cooler than the city. Carry a light layer and clothes that cover shoulders and knees.
Breakfast
Day 4Chiang Mai – Elephant Sanctuary Day
Pick-up at about 8 am for the drive of 1 to 1.5 hours into the hills. You spend the day in a small group at an ethical sanctuary that cares for elephants rescued from logging and tourist camps. You prepare their food and feed them, walk with them through the forest, and watch them bathe in the river. There is no riding and there are no shows. A vegetarian-friendly lunch is served at the camp. Back in Chiang Mai by about 5 pm. Overnight in Chiang Mai.
- Ethical elephant sanctuary
- Feeding and forest walk
- River bathing
- Note: Sanctuary days are small-group and shared; a private programme can be arranged at extra cost.
Prafull’s tipWear clothes you don't mind getting muddy and bring a change. Sanctuaries usually lend a top to wear over your own.
Breakfast & Lunch
Day 5Chiang Mai
A morning in the old city by tuk-tuk with a guide. You see the ruined great chedi of Wat Chedi Luang, the gilded halls of Wat Phra Singh, and Wat Chiang Man, the oldest temple inside the moat. The afternoon is free to rest, browse the craft shops of Nimmanhaemin Road or book a Thai massage. In the evening, the Night Bazaar on Chang Klan Road; on a Sunday, the walking street along Ratchadamnoen Road inside the old city is even better. Overnight in Chiang Mai.
- Wat Chedi Luang
- Wat Phra Singh
- Wat Chiang Man
- Nimmanhaemin Road
- Chiang Mai Night Bazaar
- Sunday Walking Street (Sundays)
- Note: Optional: a Thai cooking class with a market visit, on request; vegetarian menus are easy.
Prafull’s tipChiang Mai has good vegetarian food everywhere, and a few Indian restaurants near the Night Bazaar.
Breakfast
Day 6Chiang Mai – Koh Samui (3 Nights)
About 1.5–2 hours by air, plus airport transfers
A private transfer to the airport and a direct flight south to Koh Samui. You walk through Samui's small open-air terminal to meet your driver for the drive of about 15 minutes to your hotel on Chaweng or Bophut beach. The rest of the day is for the sea. In the evening, walk along the sand, or on a Friday visit the walking street market at Bophut's Fisherman's Village, with its old wooden shophouses facing the sea. Overnight in Koh Samui.
- Chaweng beach
- Bophut beach
- Fisherman's Village, Bophut
- Note: Direct Chiang Mai–Samui flights are limited; on some dates we route you through Bangkok.
Prafull’s tipCheck the baggage allowance on your Samui flight before you pack the Chiang Mai shopping; excess baggage is charged at the airport.
Breakfast
Day 7Koh Samui – Ang Thong Marine Park
Hotel pick-up at about 7.30 am for a shared boat to Ang Thong Marine National Park, a group of about 40 limestone islands west of Samui. You kayak around the islands with a guide, snorkel in clear water, and climb the steps on Koh Mae Ko to look down on Thale Nai, the enclosed emerald lake. Lunch is served on board or on the islands, with vegetarian options. Back at your hotel by about 5 pm. Overnight in Koh Samui.
- Ang Thong Marine National Park
- Emerald lake (Thale Nai), Koh Mae Ko
- Koh Wua Talab
- Sea kayaking
- Note: Ang Thong park fee approx. THB 300 per adult, usually collected by the operator.
- Note: Trips are often cancelled from about October to December, Samui's rainy season.
Prafull’s tipTake the climb to the emerald lake viewpoint slowly; it is short but steep. Parents can stay with the boat and swim instead.
Breakfast & Lunch
Day 8Koh Samui
A free day on the beach, with no car booked. Swim in the morning while the sea is calm, book a Thai massage under the palms, or simply read by the pool. If you would like to explore, we can add a car for the afternoon to the Big Buddha temple, Wat Plai Laem with its many-armed Guanyin statue on a lake, and the Hin Ta and Hin Yai rocks at Lamai. In the evening, dinner on the sand at Chaweng or Bophut. Overnight in Koh Samui.
- Big Buddha temple (Wat Phra Yai)
- Wat Plai Laem
- Hin Ta and Hin Yai rocks
- Lamai beach
- Note: Optional: an island tour by private car for the afternoon, on request.
Prafull’s tipSamui's sea is calmest from January to August. From October to December, expect rain.
Breakfast
Day 9Koh Samui – Departure
About 8 km · 15 minutes to the airport
Breakfast and a last swim. Check-out is usually at noon; ask us about a late check-out if your flight is in the afternoon or evening. Your driver collects you about two hours before your flight for the short drive to Samui airport, one of the prettiest in Asia, with thatched open-air pavilions and gardens. Most journeys home to Mumbai connect through Bangkok on Bangkok Airways or Thai, so allow plenty of time between flights there, and keep your liquids and shopping within the baggage allowance. Your holiday ends here.
- Chaweng or Bophut beach
- Samui International Airport
Prafull’s tipLeave at least three hours between flights in Bangkok, and more if you change between Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang.
Breakfast
Tour details
Accommodation
Choose the hotel category. The same route and sightseeing in every category.
| City | Standard hotels |
|---|---|
| Bangkok2 nights | Ibis Bangkok Riverside / Holiday Inn Express Bangkok Siam / Novotel Bangkok Platinum Pratunam / or similarDeluxe room |
| Chiang Mai3 nights | Ibis Styles Chiang Mai / Holiday Inn Chiang Mai / or similarDeluxe room |
| Koh Samui3 nights | Ibis Samui Bophut / Novotel Samui Resort Chaweng Beach Kandaburi / Holiday Inn Resort Samui Bophut Beach / or similarDeluxe room |
| City | Deluxe hotels |
|---|---|
| Bangkok2 nights | Avani+ Riverside Bangkok Hotel / Chatrium Hotel Riverside Bangkok / Pullman Bangkok King Power / or similar |
| Chiang Mai3 nights | U Nimman Chiang Mai / Tamarind Village / Le Méridien Chiang Mai / or similar |
| Koh Samui3 nights | Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui / Hansar Samui Resort / Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort / or similar |
| City | Premium hotels |
|---|---|
| Bangkok2 nights | Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok / The Peninsula Bangkok / Shangri-La Bangkok / or similar |
| Chiang Mai3 nights | Anantara Chiang Mai Resort / 137 Pillars House / Shangri-La Chiang Mai / or similar |
| Koh Samui3 nights | Banyan Tree Samui / W Koh Samui / Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui / or similar |
Hotels are confirmed when you book. If a hotel is full, we give you one of the same category in the same area, and tell you before you pay.
Optional add-ons
Not in the price. Prafull can book them for you or you can pay locally.
| Experience | Approx. price |
|---|---|
| Chiang Rai White Temple day tripAbout 3 hours each way from Chiang Mai; Wat Rong Khun and the Golden Triangle. | On request |
| Doi Inthanon day tripThailand's highest mountain, with waterfalls and the twin royal pagodas. | On request |
| Thai cooking class in Chiang MaiHalf-day with a market visit; vegetarian menus easy. | On request |
| Koh Tao and Nang Yuan snorkelling dayBy shared speedboat from Samui; one of the best snorkelling days in the Gulf. | On request |
Tour information
Read this to prepare for your holiday.
Tour inclusions
- 8 nights in the hotels listed (2 in Bangkok, 3 in Chiang Mai, 3 on Koh Samui), twin sharing
- Daily breakfast at the hotel
- Buffet dinner on the Chao Phraya river cruise (shared), with transfers
- Lunch at the elephant sanctuary and on the Ang Thong tour
- Economy flights Bangkok–Chiang Mai and Chiang Mai–Koh Samui with checked baggage
- Private air-conditioned car with driver for all airport and intercity transfers: a sedan for 2 guests, a van for 3–8
- Bangkok temples day with a private guide and car, river ferry and entry tickets to the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun
- Doi Suthep at sunset by private car, with entry
- Small-group ethical elephant sanctuary day with transfers
- Chiang Mai old-city tour by tuk-tuk with a guide
- Ang Thong Marine Park day by shared boat, with kayaking, snorkelling gear and hotel transfers
- Prafull's day-by-day trip notes on WhatsApp before you fly
- 24/7 helpline while you travel
Tour exclusions
- International flights to and from Thailand
- GST (5%) and TCS on overseas tour packages, as applicable under Indian tax rules
- Visa fees, if the current visa-free rules for Indian passports change before you travel
- Ang Thong national park fee (approx. THB 300 per adult), if not collected by the operator
- Lunches and dinners not listed
- Car on the free Koh Samui day, unless added
- Excess baggage on domestic flights
- Cooking classes, spa treatments and optional tours
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Tips for drivers, guides and boat crews, porterage, laundry and personal expenses
- Anything not listed under inclusions, and extra costs from flight delays, weather or cancelled boat trips
Good to know
- Indian passports currently get visa-free short stays; we confirm the rules when you book. Passports need six months' validity. Fill in the Thailand Digital Arrival Card online before you fly.
- Chiang Mai is best from November to February, when it is cool and clear. February to April can bring smoky haze from crop burning.
- Koh Samui is at its best from January to August; October to December is its rainy season, when Ang Thong trips may be cancelled.
- Temples need covered shoulders and knees. Wear easy slip-on shoes; you take them off often.
- Thailand is 1.5 hours ahead of India. Vegetarian food is easy in all three places; Jain meals need notice.
- Domestic flights have tighter baggage limits than international ones. Pack light, or ask us to add extra baggage in advance.
When to go
November to April. Dry season on the Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi). Koh Samui is at its best from January to August. May to October brings rain to the west coast.
Our favourite months
Cancellation policy & payment terms
Payment terms
| To confirm your holiday | 25% of the package cost, or ₹25,000 per person, whichever is higher |
|---|---|
| 30 days before travel | Balance payment |
| Booking within 30 days of travel | Full payment at booking |
| Flights, trains and visa fees | Paid in full at booking, as the airline or authority requires |
Cancellation charges
| 45 days or more before travel | 10% of the package cost |
|---|---|
| 30–44 days before travel | 25% of the package cost |
| 15–29 days before travel | 50% of the package cost |
| 7–14 days before travel | 75% of the package cost |
| Less than 7 days, or no-show | 100% of the package cost |
- Cancellations must be sent in writing, on email or WhatsApp; the date we receive it is the cancellation date.
- Flights, trains, visa fees and non-refundable hotel or activity bookings are refunded only as their own rules allow.
- Date changes are free when made 30 days or more before travel, subject to hotel availability and any difference in price.
- Refunds are paid within 14 working days of us receiving them from the hotels and suppliers.
- No refund is possible for services not used during the holiday.
- Hotels may ask for a refundable security deposit at check-in, paid directly to the hotel.
Questions about this holiday
How much does the Thailand Signature trip cost?
The 8-night Thailand Signature journey starts at ₹52,000 per person on twin sharing in Standard hotels (about ₹70,000 in Deluxe and ₹99,000 in Premium hotels), land only. Flights are extra and quoted for your dates.
What is the best time for this Thailand trip?
November to April. Dry season on the Andaman coast (Phuket, Krabi). Koh Samui is at its best from January to August. May to October brings rain to the west coast.
Can this itinerary be changed?
Yes. Every TripRoutes trip is private, so we can add or remove nights, swap Bangkok or any other stop, change hotels, or adjust the pace.
Do Indians need a visa for Thailand?
At present Indian passport holders can visit visa-free for short stays. The rules have changed several times, so we confirm the current requirement when you book.
Phuket or Krabi — which is better?
Phuket has more beaches, nightlife and restaurants; Krabi is quieter, with dramatic limestone scenery. Our journeys include both.
Thailand
Other ways to see Thailand
5 nightsEasyPhuket & Krabi
- Phi Phi islands and Maya Bay by speedboat
- Krabi's four-island tour
- Beach hotels in Phuket and Krabi
6 nightsClassicBangkok, Phuket & Krabi
- Bangkok's temples and river
- Phi Phi islands from Phuket
- Krabi's four-island tour
Plan with Prafull
Make this holiday yours
Tell Prafull your dates and who is coming. He will send a revised plan and an exact price, usually within a few hours.
- WhatsApp +91 74800 66666
- Call +91 74800 66666
- prafull.pitale@triproutes.in
- 304, Kailash Plaza Business Park, Ghatkopar East