THAILAND

IN SHORT:

• Day 1,2 & 3: Bangkok
• Day 4 & 5: Mekong River
• Day 6 & 7: Chiang Mai
• Day 8 & 9: Andaman Sea Private Cruise
• Day 10,11 & 12: Koh Samui

AN OVERVIEW

Thailand is the perfect place for your first Asia experience! Few countries in the world offer pristine beaches, lush jungles, mountain resorts and bustling cities, all within a few hours of flying time. Thailand is food, azure waters, hill tribes, elephants and saffron robed monks. Thailand is the thrill of driving to an amazing restaurant on the back of a tuk-tuk in downtown Bangkok, sailing amongst limestone rock formations on deserted islands, hiking in the jungle on the back of an elephant or floating down the Mekong river for an afternoon shopping spree in Laos. Our Boutique Itinerary starts with 3 nights in the capital, then takes you up north for 4 nights along the Mekong River and in Chiang Mai before heading down south to explore Thailand's incredible coastline for 5 nights, including a private cruise and your final 3 nights on the magic island of Koh Samui.

You will meet people who will share with you their love of Thailand, visit private homes, enjoy amazing spas and fantastic golfing.  Accommodation is in some of the world's most exclusive boutique resorts. All your breakfasts are inclusive, lunches and dinners can be pre-arranged or left at your discretion. Your transfers are done aboard executive cars or vans (depending on group size) with our local guides and we can also include a national guide who will escort you along the whole trip and be at your complete disposal to look after all details and arrangements along with providing an overall perspective of Thailand during your travel. Luggage transfers and VIP fast track customs and immigration procedures are obviously included.

COST:

All depends on group size and accommodation level and if the boat charter option is selected. We include Thai domestic airfares in business class, transfers in limousines or luxury vans, accommodation in exclusive resorts with breakfasts, all taxes and service charges are included. Optional special events and exclusive tours are discussed at time of trip booking and costed separately. Our guiding options include standard local guides to having your whole trip hosted by a national guide. Airport VIP procedures are always included and involves airport officials meeting you at the bridge and allowing fast track services through customs & immigration. We also assist with private jets in all Thai airports and our ground handler is based in Bangkok. Contact us at info@sifangexpeditions.com for more information and a preliminary itinerary!

Day 1, 2 & 3 BANGKOK (3 nights)

Bangkok is a huge city, more than 600 square miles, twice the size of New York! Split in two by the Chao Phraya River and covered with canals, the city was once called the Venice of the East. Venice it is not anymore but the energy and vitality of the capital is infectious. We start our Thai adventure with a 3-day stop to get rid of jet lag, you will be met at the gate upon stepping off the plane and escorted through Immigration and Customs departments. Our preferred hotel in Bangkok is an oasis of peace and quietness, serene pool and one of the best spas in Thailand and your suite reflects Thai architecture with the latest modern amenities. The program for the following two days include a wide range of options to be confirmed with you depending on your interests, such as a gentle biking excursion on the outskirts of the capital through canals and national parks, a private demonstration of Thai kick boxing, a canal boat trip to see the morning floating markets, a tour of the latest art galleries and sipping champagne looking at the Chao Phraya river at sunset from a 52 story high rooftop bar. At night we can take you on a guided walk of the city's largest wholesale flower market with teeming flower stalls (Thailand is home to more than a 1,000 orchid varieties) and where one can buy 10 stems of birds of paradise for less than $2! If your holiday includes children, they will love the tuk-tuk taxis, the long tailed boats and our unique Thai historian who sings his way across the Royal Palace visit. We can organise all your meals from local lunches to Michelin starred chefs who have recently opened top restaurants in the city (one of our special Thai dinners is offered to you on a very private terrace alongside the Chao Phraya River and a stunning Buddhist temple).  Or you may want to have complete flexibility to select your own meals, in which case we will look after your transfers and bookings.

Day 4 & 5, CHIANG SAEN (2 nights)

From Bangkok, we head North for a complete change of scenery. Your mid afternoon flight takes you to the northern most airport in the country followed by a short land transfer to the famous Golden Triangle where Laos, Myanmar and Thailand face each other across the Mekong River. The area is spectacular for the mountains and your resort for the following two nights is on the Mekong River and is accessible by riverboat only! Luxurious air conditioned tents with large outdoor decks offer spectacular views over the river and the resort includes a superb spa and al fresco restaurant. We go all the way north to travel on the Mekong River and learn about elephants, a very important symbol in Thai history. Our resident expert will spend exclusive time with you and you will have the chance to feed, bathe and "drive" your very own elephant during a whole morning, this is part of a program to reha bilitate elephants taken off the streets of Bangkok and hopefully bring them back to a more suitable life. The afternoon is left free to explore the Golden Triangle (we can take you across the Mekong to Laos for a quick afternoon shopping session) or hike amongst the hills near the resort.

Day 6 & 7, CHIANG MAI (2 nights)

From Chiang Saen, we make our way south to Chiang Mai. In the 13th century, King Mengrai chose this area to be the capital of the Lanna Kingdom and Chiang Mai is known in Thailand for it's high density of ancient temples and rich history. The area offers great shopping for silk, jewellery, celadon pottery, lacquer ware and painted umbrellas. Children can enjoy visits to butterfly farms, rafting and great bike rides in the Mae Rim valley. Combined with superb antique stores, a fun night market and the town's reputation for being the artistic centre of Thailand, Chiang Mai is a must stop. Our hotel for the next two nights is located one block away from the night market, right downtown. Your Club Suites face the Ping River with exclusive access to the lounge and the resort's spa is unique in the area for it's therapeutic massages. A full day of options is on offer, from exploring the old city's gilded temples and art galleries to venturing in the countryside, walking in a hill tribe village, you let us know what you would like to do and we will arrange it for you.

Day 8 & 9, PHUKET (2 nights)

From Northern Thailand, we take a direct morning flight to Phuket near the Andaman Sea. Thailand's largest island, Phuket, is touristy. Very touristy! Everybody seems to be converging to sun drenched beaches packed with resorts of all sizes and budgets and a very busy nightlife. Most of the Thailand Tourism images of spectacular beaches and islands were taken in nearby Phang Nga Bay. The area is huge, over 400 sq. km in the Andaman Sea with 42 islands, spectacular limestone cliffs, caves and narrow channels. The whole bay is a protected Marine National Park and daily tour boat excursions from Phuket bring in hundreds of kayakers, snorkelers and beach goers to some of the nearby islands.  
 
Here, Si Fang's itinerary is different. Upon arrival at Phuket airport, you are immediately transferred to a local marina by private car. Your private yacht charter awaits, complete with crew and chef and, for the following two days, you will explore some of the islands in Phang Nga Bay, you can snorkel, kayak in mangroves and even bike on quiet island roads through rubber tree plantations. Your exclusive boat charter allows you to avoid the crowds and comes equipped with gorgeous cabins, en suite bathrooms and air conditioned living rooms with all the modern amenities provided. A menu and list of inclusive drinks and alcohols are discussed with you prior to your booking and our inventory of charters include impeccably maintained cabin cruisers to sail boats. Each night you will moor in a secluded area allowing you to see incredible sunsets.

Day 10, 11, 12 KOH SAMUI (3 nights)

Your final stop is on the island of Koh Samui, one of Thailand's most stunning islands. Samui is what Phuket was 15 years ago. Half the length of Phuket, just 25 km long, Samui has a more intimate and casual feel.  Despite the many who come to indulge the island's famous beaches, the new tendency is now private villas, golfing and spa retreat. The flight from Phuket to Samui is less than one hour and immediately upon landing you will be transferred to your amazing jungle retreat. Your villas come with a choice, either right on the beach or on a cliffside, and both styles include infinity pools, sundecks, separate living and bedroom areas and all the modern amenities one may whish. The views over the Gulf of Siam are incredible and the resort has an outstanding spa plus two stunning restaurants. Samui is a stunning island and if you whish to leave the resort, we will arrange visits to local temples and shop at the nearby village market or hike in the forest with our nature guide and have lunch at a waterfall. This is a perfect way to end a Thai experience and why we are recommending 3 nights so can actually do...nothing.  Breakfasts are included, all your transfers and we will discuss with you available meal options.

Day 13, BANGKOK

Your final day in Thailand sees you taking the short one-hour flight back to Bangkok where our staff will meet you at the domestic terminal and assist you to transfer to the international departure lounge where we will once again escort you through the VIP channel.

SOME COUTURE TRIP IDEAS:

• One couple on their way to Europe asked for a 48-hour layover in Phuket to enjoy sun and beach. We booked an exclusive villa and their very own private butler on the island's most incredible boutique resort and arranged a romantic dinner on a secluded beach as a surprise.
• We designed a Spa Trip in Thailand for 7 nights, guided by your very own Thai therapist who will manage individual treatments at each one of the three resorts we have selected for their world-renowned spa centres.
• A group of Chinese golf-mad enthusiasts booked a private trip to include the kingdom's top five golf courses and managed to loose quite a few golf balls along the way.