Highlights of Thailand & Laos

This tour features in-depth cultural touring in Bangkok, northern Thailand, and Luang Prabang. Accommodation is at the most luxurious hotels in each location. Private touring is with expert local guides who provide exceptional insight and connection to the local people and culture.

Begin with city touring in Bangkok. Enjoy a fascinating, private long-tail boat tour through Bangkok's canals. Visit the most important temples. Learn about Buddhist practices and influences on daily life. Hear monks chanting at a morning ceremony. Explore colorful markets selling textiles, flowers, food and crafts. Visit small museums and interesting local neighborhoods. There will also be time to enjoy the world’s leading spa, shop for exquisite Thai silks and decorative goods, and dine on some of Southeast Asia’s best cuisine.

Continue to Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed town along the Mekong River in northern Laos. With your own expert guide and driver, experience the best of the town and the surrounding region. Explore streets lined with a unique blend of traditional Lao and French colonial architecture. Visit cultural attractions, including museums and important temples. Learn about Buddhism and its central role in Lao culture. Explore markets, visit hill tribe villages, meet silk weavers and contemporary textile designers, and take a memorable cruise on the Mekong, visiting craft villages and caves filled with Buddha statues. Upon request, we are also happy to incorporate special touring such as hiking, a cooking class, a visit to a private home, photography excursions, attending alms processions, and more.

Next, spend several days in Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand, at one of Asia’s most luxurious and atmospheric resorts, surrounded by mountains and lush fields of terraced rice paddies. Browse craft districts specializing in celadon ceramics, silver, teak furniture, paper umbrellas, and beautiful silk weavings. Visit revered mountaintop temples, the royal family’s Winter Palace, and visit an elephant camp and local hill tribe villages. A day will be at leisure to enjoy the resort's spa, cooking school, golf, or pool. Additional cultural excursions are also available.