September 14 – 28, 2026
Eleven nights across Thailand: two islands in the Gulf of Thailand, the old city of Chiang Mai, the Golden Triangle in the far north, and a final evening in Bangkok.
Where they are
Getting There
An evening departure from the US East Coast on the first long-haul leg to Doha.
A connection in Doha, then on across the Indian Ocean. Crossing eleven time zones means most of Tuesday passes in the air, with arrival in Bangkok early Wednesday morning.
Koh Phangan & Koh Samui
A short morning flight from Bangkok to Koh Samui, then a 40-minute speedboat to Thong Nai Pan Noi, a quiet, curved bay on Koh Phangan's northeast coast. The afternoon is for settling in, with a massage at the resort spa and dinner on the sand at Red Hot Chili Peppers, a local Thai restaurant on the beach.
A Southern Thai cooking class at the resort, working with local herbs and fresh curry pastes and ending with lunch. The rest of the day is open for the pool and the beach. The small Than Prawet cascades are a short walk inland, and Thong Nai Pan Yai, the neighboring bay, is a headland walk away.
A jungle trail from near the resort climbs to the Bottle Beach viewpoint, with a rope-assisted section near the top and one of the widest views on the island. It descends to Bottle Beach, a small bay reachable only on foot or by boat, for a swim and lunch.
A last morning on the bay, then the afternoon speedboat to Koh Samui. The evening is in Fisherman's Village, Bophut's old harbor strip of wooden shophouses: dinner at ZOI, a Mediterranean restaurant on the beach, then Coco Tam's, a beach bar known for its nightly fire show. Big Buddha and Wat Plai Laem, two of Samui's best-known temples, are nearby.
Chiang Mai
A morning flight from Koh Samui to Chiang Mai, the former capital of the Lanna kingdom. The afternoon covers the walled old city and Wat Chedi Luang, a vast 14th-century temple ruin. Dinner at The House by Ginger, which serves northern Thai dishes in a 1930s house, then the Sunday Walking Street, a night market that fills the old city's main street once a week.
An early hike on the Monk's Trail, a forest path marked with saffron-wrapped trees, to Wat Pha Lat, a small monastery beside a waterfall, and on up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep on the mountain. Lunch is khao soi, Chiang Mai's signature curry noodle soup, at Khun Yai or Mae Sai. Late afternoon at Wat Umong, a forest temple with centuries-old meditation tunnels, then dinner at Blackitch, a small chef's-counter restaurant built around northern Thai ingredients.
A free morning, then an evening class at Zabb E Lee cooking school, beside the old city's North Gate. It starts with a market tour and ends with a five-dish dinner. North Gate Jazz Co-op, a few steps away, holds an open jam session on Tuesday nights.
No plans. Close to the hotel are the pool and spa, the cafés and small temples of the Wat Gate neighborhood, and Warorot Market, the city's oldest market. Dinner by the river.
The Golden Triangle
Breakfast at Forest Bake, a garden bakery near the hotel, before a drive of about four hours north through the mountains. The route stops at Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple, an ornate contemporary temple outside Chiang Rai. Arrival at the resort mid-afternoon, a massage at the spa, and sunset over the river.
The resort's elephant camp is home to a herd rescued from street work and logging, cared for through a conservation foundation. The morning program is a guided walk alongside the elephants through the forest, with no riding. The afternoon is free.
A morning yoga class at the resort, then the Hall of Opium, a museum nearby that traces the history of the opium trade in the region. Sunset from the hillside over the point where the Ruak River joins the Mekong, and a final dinner at the resort.
Bangkok
A transfer to Chiang Rai airport and a midday flight to Bangkok. The evening starts at a riverside rooftop facing Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, as it lights up at dusk. Then Yaowarat, Bangkok's Chinatown, at its busiest on weekend nights: curry at Jek Pui, grilled seafood at T&K Seafood, peppery rolled noodles at Nai Ek, and guay jub at Ouan Pochana.
An early-morning departure from Bangkok, a connection in Doha, and arrival back in the US the same afternoon.
For Friends and Family
The Weather
September is part of Thailand's rainy season. Most days start clear and warm, with clouds building through the afternoon and a heavy shower that usually passes within an hour or two. All-day rain is less common. The Gulf islands follow a different pattern from the rest of the country, with their wettest months arriving later, from late October through December.
It is also the greenest time of year. Waterfalls run at their fullest, the countryside is lush, and temples and beaches are quieter than in peak season. Hikes on this trip are scheduled for mornings, ahead of the afternoon rain.