Thailand for Two

In the evening, set off on a romantic cruise on the Chao Phraya River, with dinner included.

The three hour cruise will take you through the heart of Bangkok, past the Royal Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which is always beautifully lit up at night, to the Temple of Dawn, where you disembark—the best possible introduction to the city!

After marvelling at Wat Pho's huge reclining Buddha, continue to visit the Royal Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, or Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand's most iconic religious site.

From the Royal Palace, take a tuk tuk to Wat Saket (the Golden Mount), another of Bangkok's great religious symbols, and also a fantastic spot for photos of the city skyline. After the climb, stop for lunch and a rest at a traditional Thai restaurant close to Wat Saket.

In the afternoon, take a tuk tuk to the Khlong Saen Saeb, one of Bangkok's busiest canals, where you'll board a river taxi to Ratchathewi, west Bangkok, for a stroll around the boat station.

As this is one of Bangkok's liveliest shopping districts, you might also like to visit one of the nearby shopping centres – just ask your guide.

When you're ready, take the sky train back to your hotel.

The rest of the evening is at leisure.

You'll travel to Samut Songkhram on the famous Maeklong Railway, disembarking at Talat Rom Hoop, a fruit and vegetable market that has developed around the railway tracks. In a remarkable display, the vendors at the market dexterously pack their stalls away minutes before the train approaches, only to unload them again once it's passed.

From Samut Songkhram, board a long-tail boat and journey through a complex network of canals to Thailand's most famous floating market, Damnoen Saduak. This vibrant market is a delight to explore, constantly bustling with vendors selling a huge variety of goods.

Return to Bangkok by train late this afternoon. The rest of the day is at leisure.

In the afternoon, explore Chiang Mai's old quarter on foot, visiting Wat Chiang Man, the city's oldest temple (1297), and Wat Chedi Luang, its most dramatic.

Return to your hotel at the end of the walking tour. The evening is at leisure. You might like to take a trip into town to visit Chiang Mai's famous night bazaar.

Arriving early means you can take part in the daily ceremony of alms giving, in which monks from the temple travel barefoot through the city in an orderly procession collecting alms (you can buy offerings at the site to give the monks or, if you prefer, just watch from a distance).

After the ceremony, climb to the temple at the top of the mountain via the 'Golden Naga' staircase. It's a steep climb, but worth it for the tremendous views of the city from the top of the mount. Also near Doi Suthep is Wat Umong, a forested temple hidden away behind the trees at the base of the hill, with its foundation underground (a network of tunnels connects the different sites of the temple). After exploring its intriguing tunnels, head to the heart of the temple where you will experience your own blessing ceremony.

For lunch, stop at Wat Palad, one of Chiang Mai's most sacred temples, located a short distance from Doi Suthep. Wonderfully peaceful, it's the perfect spot for a picnic lunch. Return to your hotel in the afternoon.

This evening, visit one of the very best spas in the city, Fah Lanna, in Chiang Mai's old town, for a traditional Thai massage.

The rest of the evening is at leisure.

Though only a short distance from the city, there are a number of beautiful country trails in the park, which is home to a wide variety of flora and birdlife (though few large mammals).

Koh Samui is Thailand's premier beach retreat, boasting some of most beautiful beaches to be found in South-East Asia. The next three days are at leisure. Relax on the beach, enjoy Samui's busy nightlife, or visit the Ang Thong Marine Park.

In the evening, you have the option of a sunset boat cruise around Koh Som, a small island in the Samui archipelago, departing late afternoon.

For your last evening in Thailand, we'll arrange for a candlelit dinner on the beach at one of Koh Samui's most romantic resorts, Outrigger Koh Samui.