Christmas in Thailand
This Christmas, journey through the magic of Thailand. A traditionally Buddhist country, there is no shortage of celebration and cheer no matter the time of year. When better to explore the marvels of this visually breathtaking place than December, with hot sunny days and balmy nights?
Arriving In Bangkok, explore the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Chinatown, then sail the Chao Phraya River on a Long Tail Boat. Travel to Kanchanaburi province, where we'll see the historic Bridge over the River Kwai and learn about the Death Railway built by Allied POWs during WWII. Next, fly north to Chiang Rai, famous for its beautiful tea plantations and rolling hills. After exploring the Golden Triangle, head west to Mae Rim and relax in an eco-lodge nestled in the northern highlands, where you'll experience a warm welcome with a local dinner and Hmong Hilltribe folklore.
Come Christmas Eve, head to Chiang Mai, our home for the festive celebrations. Spend Christmas Day morning at an elephant rescue sanctuary in Chiang Mai, fostering memories with these majestic creatures before sitting down to Christmas dinner in a beautiful colonial mansion. Finally, enjoy a light-hearted Boxing Day cooking class to round the trip off before your return home.
Visit Maeklong Railway Market - Visit Maeklong Railway market, famous for being along a railway line – witness the fascinating bustle of activity by the stallholders to move their wares out of the way as a train comes through!
Boxing Day Cooking Class - Spend Boxing Day morning at a cooking class, learning to cook traditional Thai cuisine and enjoy your creations for lunch.
Hmong Hilltribe Lodge - Venture deep into the northern highlands and spend the night with nature at the Hmong Hilltribe Lodge, where you'll enjoy a barbecue dinner and Hmong cultural show.
Christmas with Elephants - Spend Christmas morning getting to know the elephants at a local sanctuary, hearing about their stories, quirks and charms.
Bangkok (2N+1N) - Kanchanaburi (1N) - Chiang Rai (3N) - Hmong Hilltribe Lodge (1N) - Chiang Mai (3N)
- International flights and current taxes (prices may vary depending on departure city)
- All Meals (refer to itinerary)
- Breakfasts: 11 /Lunches: 10 /Dinners: 11
- Domestic transportation
- Touring with guides and entrance fees
- 3 – 4 star accommodation and eco-lodge
Your fare excludes:
- Travel insurance
Day 1: Fly To Bangkok
Fly to the vibrant city of Bangkok and be transferred transfer approximately 1 hour to your hotel. Depending on your time of arrival the rest of the day is yours to start soaking up the local culture.
Includes: Dinner
Day 2: Bangkok
Bangkok's dazzling neon signs, charming architecture, Thai cuisine and lively markets make for an exciting introduction to this fascinating country. Enjoy a Bangkok city tour. Tour the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Chinatown before cruising down Chao Phraya River on a longboat to Pak Khlong Talaat Flower Market, whilst enjoying an alternative view of the city.
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3: Floating Market & The Bridge On The River Kwai
Begin at the Maeklong Railway Market in Samut Songkram, and enjoy the spectacle as vendors quickly pack up their stalls to let trains pass directly through the market. Continue to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, where you'll hop in small boats to explore the market's bustling canals. Continue to Kanchanaburi, made famous by 'The Bridge on the River Kwai'. During the Japanese occupation of Thailand in WWII, tens of thousands of Allied POWs and Southeast Asian indentured labourers were forced to build the Thai-Burma Railway, often called the Death Railway; many of the prisoners died under the brutal conditions. Learn about their tragic story at the Thai-Burma Railway Museum, then pay respects to the victims at the Allied War Cemetery before checking in at your hotel.
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4: Kanchanaburi - Death Railway- Bangkok
Visit Hellfire Pass, a dramatic part of the railway that literally cuts through mountain. Begin at the Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum, which tells the stories of human suffering at the hands of this engineering feat, before a 3 kilometre walk through the pass. Finally, take a short train journey on the Death Railway and see more of this beautiful valley before driving back to Bangkok.
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Ayutthaya – Chiang Rai
Drive 90 minutes east out of Bangkok to discover the historic ruins of Ayutthaya, the historic capital of Siam from 1350 until its destruction by Burmese invaders in 1767. Explore its gilded palaces, pavilions and gardens, together with its ruined stupas, reminiscent of a smaller Angkor. Enjoy lunch at the local restaurant and take the road trip back to Bangkok. This afternoon, return to Bangkok for your 80-minute flight to Chiang Rai.
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Chiang Rai & The Golden Triangle
This morning, head out to admire the area known as the 'Golden Triangle'; the point where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet. This area was once a hub of opium production, but since the 1970s, Thailand has been promoting local initiatives to enable locals to switch to other sources of income, such as tea, coffee and tourism. Continue to Mae Sai, the northernmost point of Thailand and an important trading town on the Myanmar border. Return to Chiang Rai for dinner; afterwards, you may wish to explore the colourful night market.
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Tribes & Tea Plantations In Mae Salong
Travel to Mae Salong Mountain, an area well know for its tea plantation - you can sample some of the local brew whilst you are here. Enjoy la Yunnanese lunch before visiting Doi Tung Palace and Mae Fah Luang Garden.
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8: The White Temple & Hmong Hilltribe Lodge
Depart Chiang Rai and take a short 30-minute drive to explore Wat Rong Khun, the bizarre and fascinating 'White Temple'. Stop at a local market before lunch. This afternoon is spent crossing the countryside, passing forests, farms and villages to reach the Hmong Hilltribe Lodge, where you will be guests of the Hmong community. The Hmong Hilltribe Lodge is made up of ten individual houses, each comprising of four separate rooms with private bathrooms, arranged around a central communal area. This evening, enjoy a barbecue dinner and cultural show.
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: Bamboo Rafting & Chiang Mai (christmas Eve)
Depart the lodge and drive an hour north to Mae Daeng to enjoy a relaxed bamboo rafting trip on the Mae Daang River. Sit back and enjoy the passing scenery as your boatman steers you along the river. Afterwards, head to Chiang Mai and visit a social enterprise café. This little restaurant offers life-changing vocational training to reformed women from Chiang Mai's Correctional Institution. The skills they learn here enable them to reintegrate into society with the skills for a new career. This afternoon, visit two of Chiang Mai's most important temples, Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh.
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10: Elephant Rescue & Christmas Dinner (christmas Day)
Enjoy a wonderful start to Christmas Day – a visit to an elephant sanctuary! The centre is located in the beautiful Mesa valley and offers a peaceful retirement home for elephants rescued from illegal logging camps and elephant shows. Meet one of their caretakers, who will guide you through the centre, explaining about the centre and its inhabitants. Return to Chiang Mai and freshen up at the hotel before this afternoon's Thai Christmas dinner at the lovely House by Ginger. This 1930s colonial mansion has been preserved as a stylish restaurant with a luxurious yet homely atmosphere.
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11: Cooking Class & Wat Doi Suthep (boxing Day)
Spend Boxing Day morning at a cooking class, learning to cook traditional Thai cuisine and enjoy your creations for lunch. Later, drive to Wat Doi Suthep, a beautiful hilltop temple with panoramic views across the countryside. You will have the choice of climbing the Naga staircase (300 steps) or catching the cable car to visit the exquisite golden pagoda. This evening, enjoy a typical Khantoke dinner while watching a performance of traditional song and dance from Northern Thailand by various hill tribes.
Includes: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12-13: Departure
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight. Late checkout is bookable in advance for those who have chosen a later flight option. If you wish to extend your stay in Southeast Asia, please talk to our team about our various private extension packages before your departure. We have options for hiking in Sapa, beach breaks in Mui Ne, Phuket or Hua Hin, city stays in Singapore, and more.
Includes: Breakfast
* The above itinerary is subject to change.
- 16 Dec 2025 - 27 Dec 2025
from $8,590 pp twin share / $9,810 pp solo - 16 Dec 2026 - 27 Dec 2026
from $8,880 pp twin share / $10,170 pp solo
Advertised pricing subject to departure date and availability. Please call 1300 414 198 to confirm up-to-the-moment availability and pricing.
Laluna Hotel & Resort - Chiang Rai
Just minutes from the famous night bazaar, the Laluna offers cosy Thai-style bungalows tucked amongst lush, tropical gardens. The lagoon-style pool, Jacuzzi, massage service and deck makes the friendly, relaxed atmosphere even more pronounced. The bungalows are spacious and simple with large beds and an en suite bathroom and views over the gardens.
Hmong Hill Tribe Lodge - Chiang Mai
An hour outside of Chiang Mai, nestled amongst the hills that Hmong communities also call home, the Hmong Hill Tribe Lodge has a beautiful natural setting of lush vegetation and rice fields. This is the perfect place to experience tribal culture and the beauty of north Thailand’s highlands. Rooms are spread through 10 buildings with a communal area at their heart. Each has a balcony and ensuite bathroom but are made extra cosy with the addition of a colourful Hmong quilt. The pool overlooks the surrounding rice fields and a spa and massage treatments are available.
Golden Tulip Mandison Suites - Bangkok, Thailand
Stylish units with modern dark wood interiors, Golden Tulip features an outdoor pool with poolside dining and a bar. With free , the hotel provides free Wi-Fi and shuttles to BTS Skytrain Station should you wish to explore the city independently.
Travel at 60 and supplier booking conditions apply.
- Flight Inclusive rates only: These include airline fuel surcharge and taxes. Correct as of 1 June 2024. Please note supplements may apply if lead in economy rates are not available.
- Customary tipping amount of approximately US$75pp (AU$112pp) is paid locally in Thailand.
- Depending on airline schedules, you may depart and/or arrive on Day 2. Extra nights' accommodation (pre or post tour) or stopovers may be required at an additional cost.
- Flight Inclusive rates only: Based on departures from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide & Perth. Departures from other cities and flight upgrades available on request.
- Price subject to change.