About this trip
This 13-day trip takes you from the noise of Bangkok up through Northern Thailand's hills and rivers to the Golden Triangle, covering a lot of ground and a lot of contrasts along the way.
You'll trek to hilltribe villages and stay in simple house accommodation, drift down the River Kwai in Kanchanaburi, and take in the old temples of the Siam Kingdom, alongside local markets and mountain scenery.
It's a long-running route for a reason — a mix of culture, nature and rural homestays that gives you a genuine cross-section of the country rather than just its highlights reel.
What you'll do
- Explore Bangkok's markets and city life
- Trek between hillside villages and stay in a local house
- Drift down the River Kwai in Kanchanaburi
- Visit historic temples of the former Siam Kingdom
- Travel through the Golden Triangle region
- Take the overnight sleeper train between Bangkok and Chiang Mai
- Hilltribe village stays are simple and multi-share, with mattresses, bedding and mosquito nets provided — some hot water isn't guaranteed
- Expect long travel days, including an overnight train in a shared soft sleeper compartment with bunk beds
- Trekking can mean high heat and humidity with little shade, so bring sun protection and expect regular drink breaks
Worth it if you value exceptional guides and varied activities. Think twice if primitive homestay conditions and plastic waste concern you.
- Guides consistently went above and beyond: translating at doctors, rearranging plans for weather, ensuring everyone felt looked after.
- Daily itinerary genuinely varied—jungle trekking, temple visits, farm stays, waterfall walks, banana-leaf cooking fires kept energy high.
- Homestays lacked basics: no toilet paper, broken bathroom doors, one was dirty. Pre-trip communication from operator was vague on what to expect.
- Sustainability messaging clashed with reality: tour generated excessive plastic waste via bottled water despite 'say no to plastics' welcome bag.
Distilled from real traveller reviews on TourRadar — we don't edit out the bad bits.
The same-vibe trips, side by side — price, value per day, and how each is moving. Only we can lay two operators' trips out honestly.
Sorted by fit — never by who paid. Price moves and availability come from our own daily tracking.
Departing in Oct is cheapest — from £840, about 68% below the priciest month (Jan).
Getting there
Opens Trip.com, pre-filled — one-way so you can book your return whenever. Prices & booking shown there.
Where to stay
A night before your tour in Bangkok · 3 Oct – 4 Oct
Booked on their own sites, separate from your tour. We may earn a commission — it never changes your price.
Sort the essentials
Partner offersWe may earn a commission from partner offers. It never changes your price or our ranking.
More trips like this
Ranked on real fit — in case this one isn't quite yours.
Booked with the operator via TourRadar · we may earn a commission.
Want longer in Thailand?
Working holidays, volunteering & more — £50 off with code 18TO35TRAVEL.
Powered by Global Work & Travel · we may earn a commission on bookings.