Today, you take the first step on your Thailand adventure. Departure is from your chosen airport, and the flight is with connecting flight(s) along the way.

You land in the Thai capital, Bangkok. Here, you have to go through immigration, pick up your luggage and head towards the arrivals hall, where your guide will be waiting with a TourCompass sign. From here, you will be driven to your hotel in central Bangkok.

You soon get a sense of Bangkok’s size and its vibrant streets on the way to your hotel. When you arrive, you might just have time to take a dip in the hotel’s pool to cool down in the warmth before attending a welcome meeting at the hotel in the late afternoon. Here, your guide will tell you about Thailand, including the things that you need to be aware of and respect. The guide will go through the programme for the tour, and answer any questions you might have. Your guide will then take you on a short walk in the area around the hotel, and point out the nearest ATM, pharmacy etc.

In the evening, it makes sense to explore the bustling streets and throw yourself into the hubbub, which has its very own charm, before finding a seat at one of the countless eateries. Be happy, because Bangkok offers unique culinary experiences ranging from small local street kitchens to state-of-the-art fusion restaurants. Here, there is something for everyone!

You wake up in Thailand’s vibrant, colourful and fascinating capital, Bangkok, which counts well over 12 million inhabitants. There are no excursions planned, so you can take the day at your own pace.

When moving around Bangkok, you don’t have to worry about the traffic, because several different means of transport are available for exploring the city. Many people use tuktuks, but the river taxis are also popular, and they account for a significant part of public transport as they dock at many of the city’s sights. In addition, you can also use the Bangkok Mass Transit System, or BTS Skytrain, which winds between the city’s high-rise buildings, and which is a good, fast and cheap way to get around.

Bangkok is divided into east and west, with the 372 km long Chao Phraya River separating the two halves. The eastern part of the city is considered central Bangkok, with popular areas such as Sukhumvit, Silom, and Chinatown having a high concentration of shopping malls, good eateries and local markets. It is also on the eastern side that you will find the historic part of Bangkok, which is home to the famous royal palace, the Grand Palace, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Phra Kaew.

After exploring Bangkok inside out in the tropical heat and busy traffic, there will probably be moments when you dream of greener and quieter places. Here, you can visit the green lungs of the city, the parks Lumpini or Benjakiti. You can also choose to explore the west side of Bangkok, where you will find a completely different environment without skyscrapers and honking tuktuks. This is the more traditional and authentic Bangkok, with its maze of canals, houses standing on stilts and postmen who come sailing along the river.

In the evening, you can visit one of the city’s many sky bars, and which are the obvious place to have a cool drink while watching the sun set over the metropolis. You can also visit the neon-lit Chinatown or the Asiatique The Riverfront shopping area, which in addition to shops also has a wide variety of restaurants and entertainment venues. It is also possible to join one of our exciting optional tours, which you can read about below.

No matter what you decide to do during the day, we guarantee that you won’t have a dull moment.

The day begins calmly, where you can enjoy your breakfast before embarking on the 3½-hour drive southeast to Chanthaburi Province, otherwise known as the city of gems. Along the way, experience the lush vegetation and sometimes undulating landscape before arriving in the main town, which visitors often overlook on their way to one of the countless beach destinations in the northern Gulf of Siam. Here, you stop to see Chanthaburi, which with its low-key atmosphere stands in stark contrast to Bangkok’s towering skyline. It gives you a good insight into an exciting part of Thailand’s diverse culture and the more traditional way of life of Thais.

On arrival, there is time to stretch your legs and join a guided tour on foot along the riverbank at Chanthaburi’s historic centre, Chantaboon. Here, a diverse community of Thais, Chinese and Vietnamese has lived for centuries and preserved their unique culture and traditions. Along the streets there are a wealth of charming small shops, cafés and restaurants, all offering something different, while many of the wooden houses are finely decorated with impressive wood carvings and polishing techniques that are unique to Chanthaburi Province. When you start feeling peckish, the guide will find a small local restaurant where you can enjoy an authentic Thai lunch.

The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore Chanthaburi’s other sights. You can visit the Gothic cathedral with its tall spires or visit the town’s many family-owned shops and perhaps find a souvenir to take home as a memento.

After breakfast, you will be driven to the small fishing village of Baan Hua Laem on the outskirts of Chanthaburi Province. On a cliff overlooking the sea, you will find a pagoda that extends 50 metres into the water and ends with Chedi Klang Nam, a Buddhist monument that rises from the water with its golden spire. Enjoy breathtaking views across the sea or follow the charming wooden walkway towards the monument for a closer look.

The tour continues to the Laem Singh district, where you visit the historic Khuk Khi Kai cell, a brutal reminder of the French colonial era. The so-called ‘prison’ got its name because of the terrible conditions the inmates lived in when the floor above was used as a chicken run. The cell’s worn and holey ceiling meant that chicken excrement constantly dropped down on the inmates, thereby exposing them to the suffocating smell of ammonia.

Finally, you will visit the historic Red Building, a learning centre at the Phikat Panjamitr Fortress, which offers a deeper insight into the area’s colonial past.

In the afternoon, swap the historic for fresh air and greenery in Namtok Phlio National Park on the Sa Bap mountain range. In addition to being home to numerous plant species and animals, such as the Asian mongoose and the Asian black bear, the park also features the Namtok Phlio waterfall, which forms one of the national park’s many serene oases. Here you will have time to soak up the peace and enjoy the sight of the mighty waterfall. At the foot of the waterfall, the water collects in a natural pool, which is so clear that you can easily see the bottom and all the fish that thrive in it.

The day is rounded off with a visit to Wat Chak Yai, which was founded in 1955 as a Buddhist meditation centre. At the entrance to the adjoining park, a world of huge sculptures opens up, which tell the story of the Buddha’s life and work. You walk around among hundreds of monk figures who recreate the last ceremony before the Buddha transitioned to nirvana – a kind of mental paradise after death and the final goal for Buddhists. At first glance, the sculptures look exactly the same, but if you look closely, you realise that no two faces have the same expression. In the midst of the crowd of monks, a gigantic golden Buddha figure rises up towards the treetops, the final addition to the park’s spiritual atmosphere.

In the late afternoon, it’s time to return to your hotel, where you can reflect on the day’s impressions before it’s time to head off for one of Chanthaburi’s eateries.

Today, you say goodbye to the mainland and set course for the first part of your island adventure on scenic Koh Kood.

You will be collected from your hotel and driven to Laem Sok pier, from where you board the local ferry that will take you on a one-hour boat trip with beautiful views of the coastline and the many small islands. On arrival on Koh Kood, you will be picked up and driven to your hotel, which is located on the western part of the island among the best beaches.

Koh Kood, also known as Ko Kut, is an idyllic island that over the years has managed to remain something of a hidden gem. Here, you will find a nice relaxed atmosphere without many visitors in spite of the island’s paradisiacal beaches, lush rainforest and crystal-clear waters. Koh Kood is in every way the ideal island on which to spend a few days, and where you can immerse yourself in the peaceful atmosphere and the scenic experiences.

The days on Koh Kood are characterised by tranquillity and relaxation. There are no planned activities for your stay, so it’s entirely up to you how you want to spend your time.

You can spend your days exploring the island’s beautiful beaches, including Klong Chao Beach and Ao Tapao Beach, which both offer powdery white sand and calm waves.

Koh Kood has everything you could possibly want for a beach holiday. The island boasts impressive scenery which you can explore as a contrast to your lazy days on the beach. Head up to the roaring Khlong Chao Waterfall, where you can enjoy a refreshing swim in the cool pool at the foot of the waterfall, or be guided through the mangrove forest on the Klong Yai Kee River by kayak – an absolutely fantastic way to experience the island’s wildlife and ecosystem.

You can also rent a bicycle and pedal through rubber plantations and visit one of the small villages on the island like Ao Yai to get a glimpse of local life and perhaps buy handmade souvenirs to take home.

In the evening, don’t miss out on fresh seafood or Thai dishes at some of the many beach restaurants along the water’s edge. Round off the day with a drink while enjoying the last rays of the sun before it dips below the horizon.

In the afternoon, it’s time to move on from the quiet paradise on Koh Kood.

You will be picked up at your hotel and driven to the pier, where the local ferry will take you to Koh Chang, which takes about 1½ hours to reach by boat. On arrival, your driver will be ready and take you to your hotel, which is close to the best beach on the island, Klong Prao Beach.

Koh Chang, which translated from Thai means Elephant Island, is Thailand’s third-largest island. Despite the name, there are no wild elephants here, but rather a wide range of wonderful beaches and excellent snorkelling spots. Koh Chang’s size also means that there is a larger area to explore, where you will find a varied landscape with lush rainforests and waterfalls.

How you want to spend your days on Koh Chang is entirely up to you. There is plenty of time for you to find out what you want to do in the tropical surroundings.

In addition to all the fabulous beaches such as Klong Prao beach, which is within walking distance of your hotel, you can choose to explore the marine environment around the nearby small islands in Koh Rang National Marine Park, where a world of coral and colourful fish awaits – perhaps you’ll even be lucky enough to find the little clownfish, Nemo.

If you prefer adventure on dry land, you will find some of Southeast Asia’s best-preserved rainforests on Koh Chang, where animals such as monkeys, wild boars, snakes and a huge number of bird species thrive. There are also lots of hiking routes of varying degrees of difficulty, and which will take you to some of the many waterfalls on the island.

If you want to see how the locals live their lives, you can take a trip to the charming fishing village of Bang Bao, which is built on stilts in the water. Here, you can visit the small lighthouse and explore the narrow walkways and surrounding shops and restaurants.

In the evening, visit one of the island’s night markets to taste a selection of Thai street food and buy local souvenirs to take home.

Unfortunately, it’s time to say goodbye to Thailand, but once you are home, the trip will undoubtedly leave you with some lasting memories.

Well in advance of your flight, you will be picked up at your hotel and driven to the ferry that will take you back to the mainland – about a 45-minute boat trip.

At the pier, a driver is ready to take you to the airport, from where you fly to Europe with connecting flight(s) along the way.

You land at your chosen airport after a memorable journey.