Thailand Unwrapped
January 8–20, 2027 | 13 Days | Society Journey
Bangkok • Kanchanaburi • Sukhothai • Chiang Rai • Chiang Mai
This Is Thailand
Bangkok street food and glowing temples. A train running straight through the middle of a market. Waterfalls hidden in the jungle. Ancient cities, northern mountains, elephants, cooking, night markets and some of the best food you'll ever eat.
Thailand Unwrapped is a small-group Society Journey designed to experience the many different sides of a country I love.
We'll begin amid the energy of Bangkok and travel north through Kanchanaburi, Sukhothai and Chiang Rai before slowing things down in Chiang Mai.
Along the way, we'll experience Thailand's history and culture, get out into its incredible natural landscapes, cook Thai food, wander markets, spend time with elephants at a responsibly chosen sanctuary and leave room for some of the simple experiences that make Thailand so memorable.
This isn't about fitting as many attractions as possible into thirteen days.
There will be full days of exploring, but there will also be afternoons to rest, evenings with nothing planned and opportunities to wander, eat something delicious or simply enjoy where we are.
I'll be there hosting the experience from beginning to end.
This is Thailand Unwrapped.
Itinerary
Day 1 — Bangkok | Welcome to Thailand
Arrive in Bangkok, settle in and meet the group. Tonight we'll join our Costsaver Travel Director for our welcome and first dinner together.
Day 2 — Bangkok | Temples, Palaces & Street Food
Discover Bangkok's iconic Grand Palace and Wat Pho before having the afternoon to rest or explore. That evening, we'll head into the city for street food, lights and the energy of Bangkok after dark.
Day 3 — Bangkok | Floating & Railway Markets
Head beyond central Bangkok for two of Thailand's most memorable market experiences: the colourful Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and extraordinary Maeklong Railway Market, where vendors pull their stalls back as the train passes directly through.
The evening is yours to relax.
Day 4 — Kanchanaburi | History on the River Kwai
Travel to Kanchanaburi and explore an important and difficult chapter of Thailand's history through the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre, War Cemetery, Death Railway and Bridge on the River Kwai. Costsaver currently includes these experiences in its core itinerary.
Day 5 — Kanchanaburi | Into the Jungle
After yesterday's history, today changes pace completely. We're planning a day surrounded by the waterfalls and lush landscape of Erawan National Park, with time to walk, explore and enjoy another side of Thailand.
Day 6 — Sukhothai | Journey North
Continue north toward Sukhothai, stopping along the way before settling into Thailand's historic first capital.
Day 7 — Sukhothai | Ancient Thailand & Thai Cooking
Explore UNESCO-listed Sukhothai Historical Park before trading ancient ruins for Thai flavours with a hands-on cooking experience. Costsaver currently offers the Thai cooking class as one of its Choice Experiences.
Day 8 — Chiang Rai | Art, Culture & Northern Thailand
Continue into northern Thailand, stopping at Phayao Lake and Chiang Rai's extraordinary White Temple. The current Costsaver itinerary includes Wat Rong Khun among its core Chiang Rai sightseeing.
Day 9 — Chiang Rai | The Golden Triangle
Head toward the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet. Our planned experience explores this fascinating border region and its history, including the Hall of Opium.
Day 10 — Chiang Mai | Into the North
Travel through northern Thailand toward Chiang Mai, stopping at Mae Kachan Hot Springs along the way. In Chiang Mai, Costsaver's included sightseeing features Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang and the Night Market.
Day 11 — Chiang Mai | Elephants & Lanna Culture
One of the experiences I'm most excited about: a carefully selected responsible elephant sanctuary.
Afterwards we'll return to the hotel for some genuine downtime before exploring Chiang Mai's Old City and experiencing a traditional Khantoke dinner and cultural show.
Day 12 — Chiang Mai | Slow Down
Our final full day is deliberately slower.
Wander through Warorot Market. Shop. Eat. Explore. Stop somewhere for coffee. Have a Thai massage before the long journey home.
And tonight we'll gather for a relaxed mookata dinner, Thai barbecue cooked together around the table — and our final evening in Thailand.
Day 13 — Chiang Mai → Bangkok | Homeward Bound
It's time to say goodbye to Thailand. We'll fly from Chiang Mai to Bangkok for our onward journey home.
Flight arrangements and final departure logistics are currently being researched.
Your Thailand Unwrapped Experience
13-day hosted small-group experience
Bangkok to Chiang Mai
12 nights accommodation
Comfortable transportation throughout the Costsaver tour
Expert Costsaver Travel Director & professional driver
Daily breakfast during the core tour plus selected lunches and dinners
Grand Palace & Wat Pho
Maeklong Railway Market & Damnoen Saduak Floating Market*
Kanchanaburi & the Death Railway
Erawan National Park*
UNESCO-listed Sukhothai Historical Park
Thai cooking experience*
Chiang Rai & the White Temple
Golden Triangle experience*
Chiang Mai temples & Night Market
Responsible elephant sanctuary experience*
Khantoke dinner & cultural show*
Warorot Market
Thai massage*
Mookata farewell dinner*
Hosted throughout by The Milestone Society
*The Milestone Society additions marked above are currently being finalized. Final inclusions, suppliers and pricing will be confirmed before booking opens.
What Makes This a Society Journey?
This isn't simply a tour I'm accompanying.
I've taken Costsaver's Essential Thailand itinerary, which handles the hotels, transportation, Travel Director and many of Thailand's essential sights, and built a more personal experience around it.
I've added experiences I believe are worth making time for, deliberately left space where I think we'll need it and extended our time in Chiang Mai so that our final days don't become a race to fit everything in.
Some days will be busy. Others will be slow.
And there will always be room for the unexpected recommendation, food stall, café or little detour that sounds like a good idea when we're standing there.
Trip Details & Pricing Coming Soon
Thailand Unwrapped is currently being finalized for January 8–20, 2027, with space planned for a small group.
Final pricing, included experiences, flights and booking details are being researched now.
If Thailand has been sitting on your list for a while, you don't have to wait until everything is finalized to put your hand up.