The Ultimate Luxury Adventure in Thailand

Enjoy an impeccable Thai afternoon tea experience at Siri Sala. This waterfront villa on the banks of the Bangkok Noi khlong offers a stylish take on modern Thai living. Dine on traditional Thai snacks and sweets, then join a flower garland workshop to make your own offering to the villa’s spirit for good luck.

One of Thailand’s major waterways, the Chao Phraya River brings life to the country’s central plains before emptying into the Gulf of Thailand just south of Bangkok. Step aboard a retro riverboat for a private Chao Phraya River cruise along this waterway. See striking Thai temples from the water, including Wat Nang Rachavora Viharn, and stop at fascinating museums and markets to learn more about life in this part of the city. A highlight is the Wat Nang Museum, where exhibitions explore traditional Thai medicine and historic farming tools.

Explore the labyrinthine network of khlongs on this Bangkok canal tour, lined with traditional teak houses and modern mansions. Wander through the busy markets of Thonburi and seek out traditional noodle shops or stalls serving refreshing coconut drinks. Then head beyond the city to rural rice paddies and fruit orchards.

You might feel like gold is everywhere in Thailand: thread shimmers in its traditional dress, its temple stupas are clad in iridescent gold paint and it adds a glimmer of light to many artistic creations. At Baan Thongjaya, a beautiful yellow home built for a former Lieutenant Colonel, you will meet the talented Mr. Luengvilai to learn about the traditional Thai craft of gold lacquering and gilding – a high art in Thai society. Create your own piece to take home as a memento.

Spend a day living like a local with a Thai family. You’ll learn the art of basket weaving – a practice that has remained unchanged for centuries – and getting hands-on in the kitchen as you cook northern Thai cuisine with fresh, local ingredients. Small cottage industries can be seen all over the neighbourhood, so don’t miss a stroll to see others at work.

This is a Thai temple with a difference. Wat Rong Khun, built in 1997, is a striking white-washed Buddhist temple clad with mirrored glass shards that create a mesmerising glowing effect. Its exterior is dramatic, with a bridge that crosses a pool of cement cast hands reaching upwards and a pair of horns rising out of the ground. The interior, created by artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, has eschewed the traditional Thai scenes for murals depicting a modern version of good and evil.

Chiang Rai is located in the lush green north of Thailand, near the borders with Myanmar and Laos. On this Golden Triangle Thailand tour, you will visit the point where the three countries meet, an area once known as the centre of opium production and trade. Today, it is home to the fascinating Hall of Opium museum, where you can learn about the industry’s past and its impact on the communities here. Nearby in Chiang Saen, you will also visit the Thai National Museum, where the Lanna Kingdom began some 1,400 years ago.

Fine dining is reimagined at Jampa, a Michelin Green Star Phuket restaurant where local ingredients and low-waste cooking are the modus operandi. Set amid a verdant garden, this elegant dining concept is a lovely place to celebrate your final days in Thailand. Organic produce is harvested locally each day for its ever-changing menus. Before you dine, take a tour of the gardens with a cocktail in hand to see where your meal was grown.

Enjoy luxurious exclusivity at the world’s first floating beach club. Lounge on the pool decks, relax on chic daybeds beneath the sun, or sample cocktails crafted by the mixologists at the bar. As evening draws in, the Andaman Sea becomes the setting for a spectacular sunset with the sky turning shades of pink, red, orange and yellow. From here, you will have one of the best seats on the water to take it all in.

With your private guide, set out on a Phuket Old Town tour through the island’s historic quarter. Chinese influences have shaped much of Phuket’s identity, and along the way you will see the island’s oldest Chinese shrine alongside Sino-Portuguese buildings that tell the story of its diverse past. Sample tropical fruits in a local market before rounding off the day with dinner and cocktails.

Board a private yacht in Phuket and set out to uncover some of the Andaman’s natural treasures. This Phuket island hopping yacht experience departs from Chalong Pier and can take you to spots such as Racha Yai, Coral Island, Maithon or Prom Thep. You can swim, snorkel, try handline fishing or simply stretch out on deck and take in the views. Lunch is a fresh-cooked Thai buffet served on board with dishes chosen from the menu, alongside seasonal fruit and drinks. Paddleboards, kayaks and even a Thai massage can also be arranged.