Rails And Rivers of Thailand and Laos

Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, is a vibrant, sprawling city of contrasts – monks in saffron robes pass luxury malls, and quiet canals hide behind neon-lit streets. Home to over 8 million people, the city pulses with energy, accommodating traditional markets, gleaming skyscrapers, and ancient temples side by side.

This morning after breakfast, we’ll start our day with a unique private blessing ritual at a local Buddhist temple, before exploring some of Bangkok’s iconic historical sites, including the famous Wat Pho with its impressive 46 metre long gilded reclining Buddha statue, and the nearby Grand Palace, the former royal residence built in 1782, renowned for its intricate architecture and the revered Emerald Buddha – the origin of which we’ll visit later in the tour. Our morning will wrap up with a short ferry ride across the Chao Phraya River to Wat Arun, known as the Temple of Dawn, notable for its stunning riverside location and intricately decorated spires.

After returning to the hotel, enjoy lunch at leisure and a few hours downtime before regrouping for a visit to the fascinating Jim Thompson House and Art Centre, a cultural gem showcasing the legacy of James H.W. Thompson, an American entrepreneur known as the “Thai Silk King.” Thompson revived Thailand’s silk industry post-World War II, and his home, completed in 1959, was both a residence and a showcase for his staggering art collection. The House Museum offers a glimpse into Thompson’s life, fascination with Thai culture, and his mysterious disappearance, which fuels intrigue (theories range from kidnapping to CIA involvement). 

We’ll conclude our visit with dinner in the iconic on site restaurant, named after the former owner. 

Overnight: The Salil Hotel Riverside, Bangkok or similar (B,D)

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast this morning before embarking on a solar-powered boat tour exploring Bangkok’s historic Khlongs, the intricate network of canals that have earned the city the nickname “Venice of the East.” Bangkok was founded in 1782 around a network of man-made and natural canals along the Chao Phraya River. By the 19th century, over 100,000 people lived in floating homes or stilt houses along khlongs, with floating markets as commercial hubs. Today, about 1,600 km of canals remain, reflecting Bangkok’s blend of old and new – you’ll likely see wooden homes alongside modern condos, monks on boats, and vendors selling noodles from floating kitchens. Lunch awaits us at a renowned local eatery, celebrated for its crispy noodles.

After lunch, we’ll spend the afternoon further exploring Thailand’s history, first exploring Talad Phlu, a vibrant market neighbourhood known for its canal-side setting and the charming Talat Phlu Railway Station – a historic gem from King Chulalongkorn’s era, with trains passing through the market. We’ll then visit Wat Nang Museum, focussing on the local history of Chom Thong, including the temple’s role and the canal-based lifestyle; and the nearby Wat Ratcha Orasaram Ratchaworawihan, dating back to the Ayutthaya period and known for its beautiful fusion of Thai and Chinese architectural styles. 

From here, we’ll enjoy a walking ‘foodie tour’ of the Chinatown Area, known as “Old Bangkok”, to sample local delicacies and stock up on snacks before heading back to the hotel to check out and freshen up and transferring to the train station to board our first class berths on the Special Express overnight train to Nong Khai. 

Overnight: Overnight train (B,L)

After an early breakfast on the train, we’ll arrive in Nong Khai early this morning and be met by our private coach for the short journey to the Laos border. Upon arrival, we’ll be stamped out of Thailand and cross the famous Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge across the Mekong River for our entry into Laos. After completing immigration formalities, our coach will transfer us directly to our hotel in Vientiane, where early check-in has been arranged. 

After ‘second breakfast’ at the hotel, visit the Lao Textile Museum for a guided tour and a genuinely personal, educational encounter with Laos’ weaving heritage. This charming privately-owned museum, housed in a lush, tranquil compound of traditional Lao wooden houses, is dedicated to preserving and promoting Laos’ rich textile heritage, particularly its renowned silk weaving, much of which has been passed down through generations. 

We’ll continue on to a nearby local market for an authentic taste of Vientiane daily life and lunch at leisure, before returning to the hotel for a few hours to relax or explore your surroundings at your own pace. 

In the evening, we’ll enjoy a special dinner accompanied by a traditional cultural performance, offering a warm introduction to Laos’ heritage through music and dance.

Overnight: Crowne Plaza, Vientiane (B,D)

After breakfast this morning, we’ll head to explore one of Laos’ most distinctive landmarks – Buddha Park – an open-air sculpture park located along the Mekong River. Created in 1958 by Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat, a priest-shaman sculptor who blended Buddhist and Hindu philosophies, the park is a quirky, mystical attraction featuring over 200 concrete statues. Our guide will be on hand as you wander among the giant reclining Buddha, fantastical creatures, and ornate deities. Here, you’ll have time to enjoy lunch at leisure in the park’s peaceful surroundings.

We’ll return to the city after lunch for a guided visit to Pha That Luang, the national symbol of Laos and a site of deep spiritual significance. Said to contain a relic of the Buddha, this striking golden stupa dates back to the 16th century and has undergone numerous restorations, most recently in the 20th century. There’ll be time to also explore nearby Wat That Luang Neua, a serene temple offering a quieter, reflective atmosphere away from the main pilgrimage site.

On our return to the hotel, you’ll have some downtime to rest or keep exploring your surroundings. This evening, we’ll take a short walk to Villa Opera, a refined French-Laotian restaurant set in a historic villa, for dinner.

Overnight: Crowne Plaza, Vientiane (B,D)

Following breakfast and check-out, your luggage will be handed over to our private courier to be transported separately, and we’ll transfer to the Vientiane Railway Station and board our First Class seats on the modern high-speed train bound for Luang Prabang. Cutting through the mountainous heart of Laos, this rail journey features stunning views of Laos’ countryside, including mountains, forested hills, and karst landscapes.

Upon arrival in Luang Prabang in the late morning, we’ll enjoy lunch at a local riverside restaurant near the revered Wat Xieng Thong, which we’ll also visit this afternoon. One of the most important temples in Laos, Wat Xieng Thong is known for its sweeping rooflines and intricate gold-stencilled carvings—an exceptional example of traditional Lao architecture. On our way to the hotel, we’ll stop off for a privately guided tour of the Royal Palace Museum, once home to the Lao royal family and now preserving artefacts that trace the country’s regal and colonial past. The throne room’s vibrant mosaics and royal artifacts are a must-see for their craftsmanship and historical value.

We’ll then transfer to our hotel to be reunited with our luggage and check in. Dinner tonight is at leisure. 

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Luang Prabang was the royal capital of Laos until 1975, and is renowned for its blend of traditional Lao culture, well-preserved colonial architecture, and vibrant Buddhist heritage. The old town features a mix of traditional Lao wooden houses on stilts and French colonial buildings, with colorful shutters and verandas, reflecting its history under French rule, and the city’s riverside setting, framed by limestone karsts and lush greenery, is famous around the world.

Overnight: Homm Souvannaphoum, Luang Prabang (B,L)

Early risers may wish to witness the serene morning ritual of almsgiving, as lines of saffron-robed monks collect offerings from local residents in a practice that has taken place for centuries. After breakfast we’ll visit Ban Phanom, a nearby village famed for its traditional handwoven textiles. Historically a key supplier of cotton and silk textiles for the Lao royal family until the monarchy’s end in 1975, the village’s weavers, primarily from the Lue ethnic group, continue to use traditional techniques and patterns, preserving an ancient art form that dates back to the 11th century. You’ll have the opportunity to buy amazing silk pieces here but it is a cash only environment.

We’ll return to Luang Prabang and stroll through the central market, where locals gather daily to buy fresh produce, household goods, and regional snacks. Here, we’ll enjoy lunch at leisure before visiting the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre. This small but engaging museum provides insight into the diverse ethnic groups of Laos, showcasing traditional clothing, tools, and customs in thoughtful detail. The remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. 

In the evening, join the group for dinner at a heritage restaurant set in a restored colonial house along the Mekong River, offering a menu inspired by classic Laotian cuisine.

Overnight: Homm Souvannaphoum, Luang Prabang (B,D)

Your day today is free to explore the tranquil surrounds of Luang Prabang at your own pace, wandering the compact, walkable peninsula, lined with temples, cafes, and boutique shops. For those seeking a moment of calm, Luang Prabang’s renowned spas offer soothing Lao massages and wellness treatments in peaceful garden settings. Art enthusiasts might enjoy browsing Luang Prabang’s small galleries and artisan workshops.

Alternatively, the UXO Laos Visitor Centre provides a moving and informative perspective on the country’s modern history and ongoing efforts to clear unexploded ordnance – a powerful and moving experience. 

As the sun begins to set, we’ll regroup and board a private boat for a sunset cruise along the Mekong, ending with a memorable dinner served on a quiet sandbank beneath the evening sky. 

Overnight: Homm Souvannaphoum, Luang Prabang (B,D)

This morning, after a cuppa in your room, we’ll check out of the hotel and transfer to the pier to board our private Shompoo riverboat for a memorable upstream journey along the upper Mekong to our next destination. Breakfast is served onboard as you cruise through remote mountain scenery, dense jungle, and quiet riverside villages, observing daily life unfold along the water’s edge.

We’ll stop en route for a guided visit at the sacred Pak Ou Caves, set in a dramatic limestone cliff at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Ou Rivers. These ancient caves house thousands of Buddha statues, placed here by pilgrims over the centuries. We’ll return to our boat and enjoy lunch as the journey continues through increasingly rural landscapes. This afternoon, you are welcome to enjoy a hands-on Lao snack cooking demonstration onboard – a lighthearted and flavourful introduction to regional cuisine. 

We’ll arrive in Pakbeng in the late afternoon and transfer to our hilltop resort overlooking the river. 

Dinner tonight is in the hotel.

Overnight: Le Grand Pakbeng Resort, Pakbeng (B,L,D)

This morning after breakfast, we’ll embark on a memorable day, beginning with a short cruise across the Mekong River and a gentle walk to a respected elephant sanctuary. Here, you’ll meet the resident elephants in a natural and ethical environment, learning about their stories and observing them as they roam freely. Follow the elephants on a short forest walk, experiencing their natural rhythm and behaviour, before witnessing a traditional elephant bathing session – a truly special moment – for them and you.

After lunch in a local restaurant, you’ll have the chance to participate in the sanctuary’s daily enrichment activity, which may include preparing food for the elephants, picking seasonal fruits and vegetables, or joining in an extended forest walk depending on the day’s conditions. Later, meet with local artisans such as a blacksmith and weaver, to learn about the traditional crafts that support this community. The afternoon offers more time to observe the elephants at rest or play, and witness an elephant ‘health check’ session. 

We’ll return to our hotel by boat and enjoy a relaxed dinner together.

Overnight: Le Grand Pakbeng Resort, Pakbeng (B,L,D)

After breakfast and check out this morning, we’ll return to the river for the final leg of your Mekong cruise. This stretch offers some of the most scenic and tranquil moments on the journey, with misty hills and bamboo villages passing by as the boat glides downstream. 

Along the way, we’ll visit Ban Pak Sith, a small riverside village inhabited primarily by the Khummu ethnic group, one of Laos’ largest indigenous minorities. Maintaining a semi-subsistence lifestyle deeply tied to the river and forest, the village offers visitors a glimpse into authentic village culture. Here you’ll have the opportunity to meet locals and observe aspects of their daily life as they engage in rice farming, fishing, foraging, and small-scale animal husbandry. The village is particularly noted for its production of lao lao (rice whiskey), distilled from fermented sticky rice using traditional stills. 

Back on board our boat, you’ll enjoy a freshly prepared lunch and a drink-making demonstration – an engaging and flavourful way to learn more about Lao ingredients before we arrive at Huay Xai, the border town on the Lao side. After completing Thai immigration formalities, we’ll transfer by road through lush northern Thailand to Chiang Rai.

After checking into our hotel, we’ll enjoy a relaxed evening with dinner served at the hotel. 

Overnight: Riva Vista Resort, Chiang Rai (B,L,D)

After breakfast and check-out we’ll begin the scenic overland journey to Chiang Mai, pausing en route to visit some of northern Thailand’s most compelling contemporary landmarks, a break from the traditional. 

Our first stop will be at Wat Rong Khun, the iconic White Temple – an otherworldly, contemporary masterpiece. It’s not your typical ancient Thai temple; instead, it blends traditional Lanna architecture with surreal, pop-culture-inspired elements. The temple’s gleaming white exterior, embedded with mirrored glass that sparkles like ice or porcelain in the sunlight stands out dramatically against the lush northern Thai landscape.

We’ll continue to the nearby Bandaam Museum, often referred to as the Black House, an enigmatic collection of buildings housing artist Thawan Duchanee’s provocative and eclectic works, deeply influenced by Thai tribal aesthetics, Buddhism, and animism, often exploring themes of life, death, and the spiritual world. Spanning a lush, tree-shaded 10-acre plot, the museum features around 40 distinct structures, ranging from grand wooden halls to smaller brick, concrete, and glass pavilions inspired by northern Thai Lanna style but twisted into surreal forms. 

Our last stop is at Wat Rong Suea Ten, the Blue Temple, also known as “Temple of the Dancing Tiger”. Unlike the golden hues of traditional Thai wats, this artist-driven temple dazzles with its vivid sapphire blue exterior, indigo tones and intricate glass mosaics. A real highlight is the Main with vibrant murals depicting Buddha’s life with surreal, psychedelic twists – think mythical creatures and cosmic scenes – framing a stunning white seated Buddha statue under a golden dome. Visitors report the effect is both meditative and visually hypnotic.

We’ll enjoy a relaxed lunch at a local eatery along the way before arriving at our hotel nestled in the heart of Chiang Mai. After checking in and having some time to relax, we’ll regroup for dinner together in the hotel restaurant. 

Overnight: The Empress Premier Hotel, Chiang Mai (B,L,D)

This morning after breakfast, we’ll pay a visit to a lively local market, where vibrant flower stalls and fragrant food vendors capture the sensory spirit of Chiang Mai. After this captivating immersion into Chiang Mai life, we’ll continue to Wat Suan Dok, a peaceful temple complex dating back to the Lanna Dynasty in the 14th century. Originally a royal flower garden, the temple, built in 1371, served as a royal monastery and burial ground for Chiang Mai’s Mengrai dynasty, and blends royal history, spiritual practice, and architectural beauty. 

Later in the morning, we’ll ascend the forested slopes of Doi Suthep to visit one of northern Thailand’s most sacred and breathtaking sites – Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, built in 1383. Perched high above the city, the temple is reached via a grand staircase flanked by intricately detailed naga (serpent) balustrades, each one spanning more than 300 steps. For those who prefer not to climb, a funicular tram provides an easy alternative. At the top, take in sweeping views of the valley below and admire the temple’s golden chedi, said to enshrine relics of the Buddha.

After a light lunch together at a local café, the afternoon is yours to enjoy at leisure before we regroup in the early evening and embark on a night market food tour sampling regional street food favourites and experiencing the buzz of Chiang Mai after dark.

Overnight: The Empress Premier Hotel, Chiang Mai (B,L,D)

This morning after breakfast, while it’s still relatively cool, we’ll set out on a walking tour of Chiang Mai’s storied Old City – a living museum of Lanna heritage in the heart of the city – founded in 1296 and surrounded by a moat and remnants of ancient brick walls. We’ll end the walking tour at one of Chiang Mai’s most iconic landmarks – the Tha Phae Gate, the eastern entrance to the historic Old City, constructed during the founding of Chiang Mai.

The rest of the day and evening is yours to explore what interests you in your own time. You may wish so stay in the Old City and visit some of its revered temples, such as Wat Phra Singh, with its classic architecture, Wat Chedi Luang showcasing Chiang Mai’s former glory and Wat Chian Man, the city’s oldest temple and believed to date to the city’s founding. 

Overnight: The Empress Premier Hotel, Chiang Mai (B)

After breakfast, check-out and handing our luggage to our private courier, we’ll transfer to Chiang Mai Railway Station to take our seats in our air conditioned carriage on the Special Express Train No. 8 for a full-day rail journey south to Ayutthaya. There’ll be plenty of time to stock up on lunch goodies for the journey – on board snacks and refreshments are available but the choice can sometimes be limited.

Our train follows Thailand’s Northern Line, a historic route stretching about 670 kilometres southward through diverse landscapes, transitioning from misty mountains to endless rice paddies, and is considered one of the country’s most rewarding rail experiences. In the first few hours, expect dense jungle canopies, misty valleys, and dramatic viaducts cutting through rugged terrain, with hill tribe villages perched on slopes. 

In the next stage, as you descend toward Lampang, the hills soften into undulating farmland, giving way to expansive rice paddies that shimmer like green mirrors, especially post-monsoon when they’re flooded. You’ll pass sleepy villages with stilted wooden houses, banana groves, and roadside spirit houses adorned with offerings. This is prime territory for spotting everyday Thai life – kids waving at the train, monks in saffron robes, and motorbikes laden with produce. The final stage of the journey opens to vast, flat floodplains crisscrossed by the Chao Phraya River system, an area known as Thailand’s “rice bowl.” As you near Ayutthaya, the scenery gains a historical patina – ruined chedis and brick stupas peek through the foliage, hinting at the ancient capital’s Khmer-influenced glory. 

Upon our early evening arrival in Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Siam and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, we’ll transfer to our hotel, check in and enjoy a relaxing dinner together.

Overnight: Kantary Hotel, Ayutthaya (B,D)

After breakfast this morning, we’ll transfer back to the station to board the much-anticipated “Floating Train” for a unique morning of rail travel across the Pasak Jolasid Dam. 

As the train rolls out, enjoy views of farmland and rural villages before reaching the dam’s iconic viaduct, when the train hugs the dam’s crest, with water lapping just metres below the tracks on both sides with crystal-clear reflections of the sky and distant hills creating a surreal, mirror-like world. At high-tide, the train appears to glide directly over the water, hence its name. Watch out for egrets, kingfishers, and water buffalo grazing on the fringes, and marvel at the viaducts and spillways, remnants of King Bhumibol’s bold flood-control vision. After arriving at Pasak Jolasid Dam Station late morning, we’ll continue to a nearby local restaurant for lunch, returning to Ayutthaya directly by coach for a few hours of leisure time.

Later this afternoon we’ll set out on a guided evening tour of Ayutthaya’s historic UNESCO World Heritage core, renowned for its evocative temple ruins, which take on a mystical ambiance at night. These temples – crumbling chedis, prangs, and Buddha statues – are often illuminated, casting dramatic shadows against the tropical night sky. Visit the famous Buddha head entwined in banyan tree roots in the eerie ruins of Wat Mahathat, see the three iconic bell-shaped chedis of Wat Phra Si Sanphet shimmering in the light, experience the cinematic reflections of the river at Wat Chaiwatthanaram, and the other-wordly effect of the illumination on the intricate stucco work of Wat Ratchaburana.

We’ll end our tour with dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight: Kantary Hotel, Ayutthaya (B,L,D)

The morning after breakfast and check out is yours to explore more of this ancient city at leisure. 

In the early afternoon, we’ll transfer to Ayutthaya Railway Station and board Express Train No. 72 for the short journey back to Bangkok, just an hour away. Upon arrival, we’ll transfer directly to our familiar hotel and check in. There’ll be a few hours to relax before we gather together for a farewell dinner at one of Bangkok’s famous rooftop restaurants, enjoying panoramic views of Bangkok while toasting new found friends and the end of your journey through South East Asia’s Golden Triangle.

Overnight: The Salil Hotel Riverside, or similar (B,D)

Our tour ends after breakfast this morning. Transfers to the airport are included and will be scheduled to accommodate your flight booking.

(B)