Look forward to city life in Bangkok, a lively island vibe in Phuket and wind right down on the charming, peaceful island of Koh Yao Yai in Phang Nga Bay.
Look forward to city life in Bangkok, a lively island vibe in Phuket and wind right down on the charming, peaceful island of Koh Yao Yai in Phang Nga Bay.
Extensive excursion package:
This tour offers a wide variety of experiences in Bangkok and on the islands of Phuket and Koh Yao Yai.
Vibrant city life and wild contrasts await you in Bangkok. It’s a great city with pretty much everything a big city should have. It will also surprise you in a good way with its small, green breathing oases. We’ve included an exciting bike ride, which takes you away from the main roads and the crowds of visitors. You’ll experience another side to Bangkok and experience local life right up close. In the evening, you can explore all the fabulous street food stalls, and what better way to end the day than at a rooftop bar with a cold drink?
You travel on to Phuket, Thailand’s beach holiday destination No. 1, where lovely golden beaches and an exciting island tour, which takes you to the iconic Big Buddha statue watching over the island, await you. You’ll also experience the cosy, charming Phuket Old Town and finish off at Chillva Market, where you can enjoy local delicacies. In Phuket, you have the option of heading off on a whole host of exciting excursions, including to the Phi Phi Islands.
The tour ends on the quiet island of Koh Yao Yai, which possesses an authentic charm and exudes tranquillity. The island is the perfect refuge if you dream of experiencing quiet beaches away from the crowds. Instead, you get a tropical paradise where you can shift down into the lowest gear, relax and immerse yourself in the magnificent scenery. Koh Yao Yai’s lush landscapes provide a beautiful setting for the long, pristine sandy beaches, which are made for relaxation.
In other words, on this tour, you get big city life, a lively island atmosphere and the opportunity to wind right down.
Today’s the day you finally get to fly to Thailand. There will be connecting flight(s) along the way.
After a long flight, you land in the Thai capital, Bangkok. You go through immigration and collect your luggage. A guide will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall, holding up a TourCompass sign, and you will be driven from here to the hotel in central Bangkok.
Late afternoon, there will be a welcome meeting at the hotel, when your guide will tell you about Thailand; what to respect and what to be aware of. At the same time, any questions you may have will be answered and you’ll run through the itinerary. You’ll then go on a short walk in the area around the hotel, where the guide will show you where you can find a cash machine, pharmacy, etc.
After the meeting, you might be hungry and then you’re all set to head out into Bangkok’s lively streets, where outstanding culinary experiences await you, You can then look forward to a much-deserved night’s sleep.
You wake up to the lively and fascinating capital, Bangkok, which is home to some 12 million people.
There are no excursions planned, so you can set your own pace today. You also have the option to participate in one of our exciting optional excursions, which you can read more about below.
When it comes to getting about in Bangkok, you needn’t worry about the notorious traffic, as the city offers a wide range of transport options. A lot of people get around by tuktuk, but the river taxis are also popular and account for a significant portion of the city’s public transport, as they stop at many of the city’s sights. You can also take the Sky Train, which winds its way between the city’s high-rise buildings and is a good, fast and cheap way of travelling.
Bangkok is divided into east and west by the 372-km-long Chao Phraya River. The eastern part of the city is considered to be central Bangkok, with the popular areas of Silom and Sukhumvit and China Town, which offer a high concentration of shopping centres, local markets and good eateries. It is also on the eastern side that you’ll find the historic part of Bangkok, which is home to the city’s lavish royal palace, the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Phra Kaew.
After walking all over Bangkok in the tropical heat and bustling traffic, there will almost certainly be moments when you dream of greener, quieter places. Might we suggest a visit to Lumpini Park and Benjakitti Park? You can also choose to head over to the western side of the river, where you’ll find yourself in a completely different world without skyscrapers and tooting tuktuks. You’ll encounter a maze of canals, where houses stand on stilts and postmen make their deliveries by boat.
In the evening, it’s pretty much a must to visit one of the city’s sky bars, which is the perfect place to enjoy a cold drink and at the same time watch the sun setting over the metropolis. You could also visit the neon-lit China Town or the Asiatique The River Front shopping venue, which in addition to shops also offers restaurants and entertainment.
Whatever you decide to do, we guarantee that you won’t get bored!
Today, an exciting bike ride awaits you when you’ll experience another side to Bangkok, away from the busy main roads and crowds of visitors.
You’ll be picked up from the hotel and driven to the start line of today’s bike ride. After a short briefing and adjustment of your bicycle, you’ll set off together with a skilled and experienced guide. The route is flat and easy, making it suitable for most people. You’ll cycle through the popular backpacker area, Khaosan Road, which is located in the old town, and on through small alleyways and past small canals. You’ll continue along the Chao Phraya River to the Rama VIII Bridge, where you cross the river into western Bangkok, where you’ll visit lovely ancient temples and experience local life right up close. The excursion continues along the large canal, Bangkok Noi, through small, quiet streets and past a local village, where the locals will send happy smiles and waves your way. You’ll cross a small bridge, taking you over to the other side of the canal, where you’ll cycle past Buddhist temples and Thonburi’s train depot. You’ll then take the ferry back to lively, eastern Bangkok, where you’ll cycle past the Grand Palace. You’ll park your bike and go for a walk in the lovely nearby Saranrom Park, which was once only used by the royal family. Back in the saddle, you’ll cycle past a fragrant food market. You arrive at the 27-metre-high Giant Swing, which is one of Bangkok’s popular landmarks and the last stop of the tour.
You’ll then be driven back to your hotel, where you have the rest of the day to yourself.
Today, you’ll be flying to Southern Thailand. You’ll be picked up from your hotel and driven to the airport, from which you’ll fly to Thailand’s holiday destination no. 1: Phuket.
On your arrival, you’ll pick up your luggage, and your driver will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall, ready to drive you to the hotel. After check-in, the rest of the day is yours to do as you please. Perhaps you fancy a dip in the waves? Or how about a stroll along the beach where you can enjoy the sun’s rays, the gentle lapping of the waves and the relaxing atmosphere?
You’ll be based at Kata Beach, which is on the south-western coast of Phuket and one of the most famous beaches on the whole island. Kata Beach actually consists of two beaches: Kata Yai, the “big” beach, and Kata Noi, the “small” beach. Both beaches have fine, golden sand. The water is clear, calm and relatively shallow – ideal beach for children and adults alike. Kata Beach is considerably quieter than the famous Patong Beach, but it still offers a good selection of nice restaurants, pleasant bars and shops.
You can also choose to stay at Kamala Beach, a good 20 km north of Kata Beach. Kamala Beach consists of a 2 km long sandy beach with fine sand and calm water. It is the epitome of relaxation, and time passes slowly here. The area exudes a unique sense of calm, particularly at the northern end, where there are only a few hotels and plenty of space on the beach. On the southern end of the beach is the town of Kamala itself, where you’ll find good restaurants and cosy cafés.
The day is yours to do as you please until the afternoon, when you’ll be going on an exciting guided tour of the island. Phuket has been nicknamed the “Pearl of the Andeman”, and for good reason.
You will be picked up from the hotel by a driver and guide. The first stop is Phuket’s landmark, the 45-metre-tall white Big Buddha statue that watches over the island from the top of the Nakkerd Hills, from which you’ll have an amazing view of Kata, Karon and Chalong Bay. The statue depicts Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, in a sitting position. It is made of concrete and clad in Burmese white marble. Its enormous size makes it the third largest statue in all of Thailand. It’s really impressive! There are small temples under the Buddha statue, where you’ll hear the monks’ prayers and chants – a truly unique sensory experience. You can even be blessed by one of the monks, and you’ll receive an armband, known as a sai sin, which is said to provide protection and promote good health.
From here, you are driven to the cosy and charming Phuket Old Town, located north-east of the Big Buddha. In the early days, the town was an important hub for trade between China, India and Europe, and the Chinese and Portuguese in particular have left their mark on the town. Discover the fascinating architecture with its colourful Sino-Portuguese houses and learn more about the town and the exciting history of the island. Phuket Old Town also offers trendy shops and art galleries alongside cosy cafés and restaurants.
Dinner is served at the hip Chillva Market, a short drive away, where, you can taste the market’s delicious local specialities, such as juicy satay skewers, grilled lobster, sushi, and the dessert sticky rice with mango. Sit yourself down on a plastic stool and enjoy the atmosphere, often with live music to complete the mood.
You’ll then be driven back to your hotel after an exciting, adventure-filled day.
There are no excursions planned for today, so you can enjoy Phuket at your own pace.
Thailand’s largest island, Phuket has more than 30 wonderful beaches. So you might be tempted to spend the days just lazing on the golden beaches and swimming in the warm water. But if you feel like heading out in search of adventure, Phuket actually has a lot to offer in the way of nature and cultural experiences.
We also recommend a snorkelling trip to one of the stunning coral reefs off the coast of Phuket, where you’ll see the most beautiful colourful fish?
East of Phuket is Phang Nga Bay, which is famous for its many islands and impressive limestone cliffs. Among other things, this is the bay where you can find the legendary “James Bond Island”, where some of the scenes in The Man with the Golden Gun were filmed in 1974.
Even further east are the heavenly Phi Phi Islands, which you can experience on a full-day excursion, giving you time to swim, snorkel, and relax on the white sandy beaches.
Be sure to spend at least one evening on a sunset excursion to Khao Rang Hill, one of Phuket’s most famous lookout points. It offers a beautiful panoramic view of the city, nearby islands, and the undulating landscape.
After breakfast and check-out, you’ll meet your driver in the lobby. He’ll drive you to Bang Rong pier, where you’ll take a speedboat to Koh Yao Yai, located off the coast of Phuket in the middle of Phang Nga Bay, along with the neighbouring island of Koh Yao Noi. After just 30 minutes, you’ll arrive at the beautiful, peaceful island, where a driver will be waiting to drive you to your hotel, which takes around 40 minutes.
Koh Yao Yai is the largest of the two Koh Yao islands, but despite being the largest, it’s the least developed and thus also the quietest. There are fewer local residents, but more visitors than on Koh Yao Noi. The infrastructure is not especially well developed, which is why you’ll not find many cars on the island. Scooters and bicycles are the most common means of transport here – and are easy to hire.
You’ll soon find that Koh Yao Yai possesses an authentic charm. It’s a tranquil and scenic gem – an idyllic retreat. Life is lived at a slow pace here. The local fishermen set out to sea at dawn to harvest the catch of the day, while farmers work in the fields under the baking sun. The local people are known for their kindness, and here on the island, you get right up close to Thai culture and traditions.
Koh Yao Yai also offers impressive landscapes with lush forests and rolling hills providing a scenic contrast to the long stretches of pristine sandy beaches. The best beaches are to be found on the west coast, while the beaches on the east coast are heavily influenced by the tides.
After check-in, you can pull on your swimwear and find your favourite new spot on the beach or by the hotel pool, where you can soak up the sun and the gentle breeze.
When hunger strikes, you should be aware that there are not oceans of dining options, but there are a good handful of family-run restaurants located around the island. Seafood is an integral part of the menu, which is dominated by noodle dishes and curry dishes.
In the evening, you can enjoy the beautiful sunset over Phang Nga Bay, which paints the sky in shades of red, orange and sometimes almost violet.
There are no excursions planned, so you can enjoy the next few days at your own pace. Laze on the beach with a view of the bay’s picturesque limestone karsts or stroll along the soft sand. While Koh Yao Yai is synonymous with peace and quiet and a laid-back atmosphere, there’s still plenty to do: snorkelling among tropical fish, walks and bike rides through the scenic countryside, as well as boat trips to nearby islands such as Koh Hong and the Phi Phi Islands.
Check out our exciting selection of optional excursions below.
Today, the time has come to say goodbye to Thailand. You’ll be picked up from your hotel and driven to the pier, from which you’ll sail back to Phuket. A driver will be waiting to drive you to the airport, which takes about 30 minutes, and you’ll fly back to Europe with connecting flights(s) along the way.
You land at the airport of your choice after an adventure-filled holiday with city life and island vibes.
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Laura loves to travel and is extremely passionate about helping others achieve their travel dreams.
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