Bangkok - Chiang Mai - Phi Phi Islands (EN)

Welcome to an exclusive journey that will take you through the wonders of Chiang Mai, the beating heart of Bangkok, and the stunning Phi Phi Islands. Leave stress behind, pack your suitcase, and dive into an adventure that will make you fall in love with Thailand! 🏞️ Day 1-4: Chiang Mai, the Queen of the North 🏞️ Day 1: Greetings from Chiang Mai! Arrival: Hop on a mini-van to reach your hotel. It costs a bit more than the bus, but think of comfort and convenience! PS: Grab is your friend here; it does practically everything. Where to sleep: In the heart of the Old City! Personally, I loved Lamphu House Chiang Mai, chic and affordable. Dinner tip: At "Dash", the coconut chicken soup will envelop you with its exotic flavor. 🏞️ Day 2: A Walk Among the Temples Breakfast: Experience gourmet at the "Blue Diamond Breakfast Club". Must-visit: Wat Rajamontean, Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang. Lunch: At "Aum Vegetarian Food", prepare for a burst of local flavors. Afternoon: Become a Thai chef and master the art of Pad Thai! And if you're feeling energetic, explore the temple city at your leisure. Note: Tomorrow, I would recommend visiting an elephant sanctuary. I still have a wonderful memory of that day; it was beautiful, a complete immersion in nature that will enrich your soul and body (in every sense... I won't spoil anything; you'll experience it, and then tell me ; )...). For this reason, make a reservation during today's tour! The places I recommend are where I've ensured animals are treated with love, respect, and within the law. Remember: DO NOT ride the elephants; you can only caress and feed them with food prepared by the sanctuary members. Chiang Mai Elephant Home (Office) (I had my experience with them, and they were excellent). They offer various packages, in addition to elephants, you can visit waterfalls, quad biking in the jungle, bamboo rafting... Elephant Nature Park (Office) Elephant Rescue Park (office) Chiang Mai-Karen Tribe Native Elephant (Office) 🏞️ Day 3: Elephantastic Day! The day: Dive into nature with elephants and the jungle. Dinner: Savor the delights of street food at the Wualai night market. 🏞️ Day 4: Zen Break Morning: Visit one of the most beautiful temples I've ever seen: Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. To get there, take a red taxi. I spoke with the guys who took us to the elephant sanctuary, and they kindly booked the taxi for us and negotiated a better price! Well, I recommend you do the same! Afternoon: Traditional Thai massages. You'll leave floating. Dinner: "Khao Soi Mae Sai". Try the Northern curry. 🌆 Day 5-9: Bangkok, the City of Angels 🌆 Day 5: Greeting the capital! 🌆 Arrival in Bangkok. Accommodation: Sukhumvit area for a mix of culture and modernity. I stayed at the Miami Hotel in Soi Sukhumvit 13. Great value for money and perfect location. Dinner: "Cabbages & Condoms". The setting will amaze you! Drink at Above Eleven. To enjoy an exceptional view of Bangkok. 🌆 Day 6: Religion and Royalty Breakfast at the Marriott. Guys, my favorite breakfast! The pancakes are insane. Not to mention the Bowls... Then head to the Grand Palace but make a stop at the Giant Swing first. You can get there by taking the metro from Asok to Sam Yot. On foot, we then reach the Grand Palace. Inside the Royal Palace complex, don't miss the Wat Phra Kaew, or Temple of the Emerald Buddha. This temple houses a revered Buddha statue, carved from a single block of jade. Proceed to the famous Wat Phra, and then take a boat for 50 Bath (= 1.2 euros) to stop at Iconsiam, where you can finally have lunch (a plethora of delicious places to choose from, my absolute favorite is IPPUDO Icon Siam). Then take the Skytrain and get off at Sant Louis. Get a bird's eye view of Bangkok at King Power Mahanakhon. (buy tickets on the spot; they're around 350 bath each; don't buy from others who might charge you up to 1000). Take a stroll in Lumpini Park and end the day with a beautiful massage at Plant Day Spa. Dinner at Kagonoya. 🌆 Day 7: Art and Culture Breakfast: "Rocket Coffeebar". Morning: Take the metro and head to Bang Sue, from there take the train and in 3 stops (8-minute ride) you'll arrive at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA BANGKOK). Afternoon: Visit the Chatuchak Weekend Market. If it's closed, you can opt for shopping at the MBK Center or the Platinum Fashion Mall. These are must-visit spots, even if you're not a shopping enthusiast, as they are quintessential places in Thailand that the locals are proud of. Dinner: Chinatown. Explore, smell, and taste. 🌆 Day 8: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market + Maeklong Railway Market Booked today's trip with GetYourGuide. Wake up at 7:00 AM -> it takes 1 hour by metro to reach the starting point. Breakfast at The Coffee Club. You're expected to return in the afternoon. Enjoy a well-deserved relaxation in the hotel pool after these intense days and get ready for a fantastic dinner at Bayoke Sky. Book in advance! You can book through Google Maps, GetYourGuide, TripAdvisor, or the restaurant itself. Head over around 7:15 PM, see the city from above, and then dine. You'll have 2 hours in total; after that, you need to leave. It closes around 10 PM. 🌆 Day 9: The Old Capital: Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Ayutthaya is a city in Thailand, about 80 kilometers north of Bangkok. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Siam. You have two options: book an organized tour with GetYourGuide ($35) or go on your own. To save money, I preferred to arrange it myself. Take the van from the company 12go. If you choose to do the same, head to Mo Chit and then walk to the van station. Take the 10:00 AM van and arrive around 11:30 AM at Ayutthaya Win. Make sure when booking from the 12go website to pay attention to the final destination of the van, there are 3 - 2 outside the city and one in the center. You need to get to Ayutthaya Win. Once there, here's what to visit: Wat Maha That (where you'll find the Buddha's head embedded in a tree trunk) Lunch Wat Phra Si Sanphet Wat Lokkayasutha Wat Chaiwatthanaram Head back to where the van dropped you off; it's time to return to Bangkok. Dinner: Khaosan Road, Talat Yot, Phra Nakhon + Massages. Choose the place that inspires you most; they're all very good and affordable. 🌴 Day 10-14: Phi Phi Islands, Earthly Paradise 🌴 Day 10: Welcome to Paradise! Arrive at Phi Phi Islands. Accommodation: Phi Phi Island Cabana, budget-friendly without many expectations. Dinner on the beach. Alternatively, another good restaurant is called Atom restaurant. 🌴 Day 11: Underwater Exploration Stroll around the island, wake up at dawn, meditate, and after a good breakfast, set out to enjoy the most beautiful beaches like Shark Point. In the afternoon, delve into the jungle. 🌴 Day 12: Island Adventure Snorkeling and diving. It's a diving paradise, there are many diving centers, choose the one that attracts you the most (they all have the same price), and dedicate the day to diving. Among the most beautiful spots are certainly Bida Nok and the Wreck. Seeing sharks is almost a guarantee; I saw 3 while diving and two snorkeling (They are blacktip sharks, totally harmless, don't worry). Explore Maya Bay, where "The Beach" was filmed. Feel like Leonardo DiCaprio. Dinner: "Tonsai Seafood". Fresh shrimp under the stars. 🌴 Day 13: Total Relaxation Today, take a boat tour. In the narrow streets, you can find many stands offering boat tours (with their typical boat called "Long Tail") through which you can visit the most beautiful places on the Phi Phi Islands. It's an absolute must-do. Make sure to include Monkey Beach and Maya Bay in your tour. If you have time, also visit Bamboo Island. It's your last evening; a beachside massage is more than deserved! 🌴 Day 14: Farewell (or see you later?) Enjoy one last swim and take the ferry back home. Don't take the last one; you never know what unexpected events might happen. Have a great trip and may Thailand leave you with unforgettable memories! 🌴🌆🏞️