Thailand: From Temples to Beaches: A Two Week Family Adventure

Upon arriving in Bangkok, you will likely be pretty tired from the long journey (especially from the US) If booking through an agent, such as myself, you will find arrival easy, with fast-track service and transportation to your accommodations in the city. Relax, unpack and grab a bite to eat, after a long trip to Thailand. Rest up for lots of activity the next day.

Today, you can take a guided tour of Wat Pho early in the morning (chanting starts at 9 am). Here you can watch the monks in action. This is one of the oldest temples in Bangkok and is famous for its 45-meter reclining Buddha. You can also visit the Grand Palace. Here you will experience all the palaces utilized for different occasions, such as the Funeral and Reception Palace and the Throne and Coronation Hall. You will also be able to see the most revered Buddha in Thailand, the Emerald Buddha. Just make sure that you are dressed modestly when you visit these sacred sites. Women need to cover their legs and arms, and men must wear pants.

Have lunch along the riverside and experience the canals on a guided longboat ride along what is coined the "Venice of the East". Visit the traditional side of Bangkok by boat. Bidding farewell to the skyscrapers and modern businesses, and experiencing old wooden structures along the water, floating kitchens and bright, golden temples.

Done by mid-afternoon, relax at your hotel, get cleaned up, and ready for an adventurous after-dark experience. Hop on a tuk-tuk with your city guide and head towards the excitement of Thailand's capital at night. See the temples from a new perspective, lit up and glittering in the night sky. Tour the 24-hour flower market, and sample all kinds of new delicacies along the streets from food vendors. Visit Chinatown and sample the foods there as well. End the evening at a rooftop bar, overlooking the lit pagodas along the water.

About an hour outside of Bangkok lies the Mae Klong Railway Market (or Hoop Rom Market). Taking their lives into their own hands, vendors set up stalls filled with delicious goods along the train tracks, waiting for potential customers coming from near and far. As soon as the train approaches, parasols are closed, awnings taken down and whistles blown, telling people to stay away from the tracks. As soon as the train stops, everything is brought back out. Chaotic and frantic, and probably very usual for all the locals. This is a site to see for all the visitors who come to walk the tracks and sample delicious, unusual foods.

Next, you will want to stop by the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Visited for centuries, this market is unique in that all purchases of goods take place by boat. You travel slowly through canals, get "pulled into" someone's "shop" by a hook, if they are eager to sell to you and the best part is haggling on the price! From food to souvenirs, this market has everything you could want for both a unique lunch and gifts to bring home.

Transfer from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by plane, meet your new local guide, check into your hotel and relax.

Early evening time, jump in a local Song Teaw or "Red Truck Taxi" to discover new gastronomy in the city of Chiang Mai. These taxis can be found everywhere you go, and you can jump into its open back, after negotiating a price, and share the ride with others along the way (or not). Ours was set up with our local guide in advance so, we were not sharing that evening. Tour the local parks at sunset and see people exercising and playing local sports under the spotlights. Visit the Chaing Mai Gate Market, popular with both locals and visitors, sampling local delicacies and finishing with Thai desserts.

Travel back to your accommodations and prepare for an amazing dinner experience. In the evening, you can drive about 20 minutes south of the city to a Thai family, of Lanna descent, who has lived on the same land for six generations. There, you will learn about the family's culture and history, tour the family farm and partake in a homemade traditional Thai meal — which is fabulous!

See Chiang Mai from a different perspective with a guided bike tour. Travel through the city to the Wat Sri Suphan area, known for the Silver Temple. Both intricate and beautiful, this area also offers classes to those who want to learn the art of being a silversmith. People come from all over to literally bang out gorgeous designs in metal throughout the day. Note that women are not allowed to enter the temple, so they will need to admire it from outside.

Visit the Thippanet Market, famous for the trade of amulets and buddhas. Many locals visit here and sift through thousands of amulets to find what they consider the jewel worthy of bringing home. If you continue south through the city, you will pass through the slums, where the hill-tribe people live. In stark contrast to the luxury hotels, this area has recently been revitalized by the community and is quite lovely to see. They have made great improvements that make it quite a charming place to visit.

The last part of the bike tour takes you to the famous Muang Mai Market. This is Chaing Mai's biggest open-air market, brimming with more fruits and vegetables than you can imagine. Fresh meats and fish cover the area, and locals come from all over to buy their goods here.

Travel back to your accommodations and prepare for an amazing experience. In the evening, you can drive about 20 minutes south of the city to a Thai family who are of Lanna decent and have lived six generations on the same land. There you will learn about the culture, history of the family, tour the family farm and partake in a homemade traditional Thai meal. Which is fabulous!

Travel outside the city to an Elephant Sanctuary where you will experience an unforgettable encounter with these majestic, amazing animals. Here you will hike to local waterfalls, have a local lunch prepared for you and spend time feeding and bathing these animals. You will also be watching them forage in the forest for food. It is something not to be missed, and I encourage you to make sure to book with a reputable sanctuary where the elephants are well cared for. This is a full-day activity so you will return to your hotel in the early evening.

Go and see a Muay Thai fight in the evening. You will be thoroughly entertained as you watch these thrilling matches. Apparently, blind Muay Thai is a thing! You have to see it to believe it, as blindfolded youngsters trip over each other and miss-landing punches. It had us laughing for a long time. Choreographed to traditional music at times, you will see that cultural influences are present even in their fights.

Day 7, 8, 9: Khao Sok National Park

Head to the Chiang Mai airport and transfer to Khao Sok National Park. After arriving at the park, take a 1-hour longboat ride to 500 Rai, a fabulous floating resort in the middle of the 50-square-mile Lake Chiew Larn. Clear waters surround you as you kayak, swim and rock your way into relaxation. This is truly a destination for nature lovers and a great combination of luxury and rustic accommodations. There, they have many activities you can partake in throughout your entire stay. We chose to go on an evening wildlife safari by boat, where we saw and learned about various birds and water buffalo. We also chose to experience Pa Ka Rang Cave. Here we hiked for a good bit, before taking a bamboo raft across the river. There we enter the cave site and see the structures within, and learn from a guide about when and how it was discovered. We even met the man who discovered it in the not-too-distant past!

Of course, this experience would not be complete without a relaxing massage in our villa before heading out the next day to our new location.

Day 10: Khao Sok to Phuket

Drive from Khao Sok to Phuket (about three hours). Relax and have some dinner at a fabulous local restaurant.

Day 11: Beach and explore

Roam the streets, relax on the beach and just explore. This area is bustling with tourists, so I would suggest staying in more isolated accommodations. Check out the outdoor food markets, filled with amazing smells and lots of people. The beaches are calm and clear, and you could spend hours just standing in the warm, tranquil water.

Day 12: Phang Nga Bay's Marine Park

Take an escort boat tour of Phang Nga Bay's Marine Park for the day. Enjoy food aboard the boat, while you spend time sea-cave exploring via kayak in several of the caves and lagoons John Gray found in 1989. See creatures big and small, from the walking fish (who knew) to primates who might just join you on your kayak! Watch the gorgeous sunset as you feast on dinner, and learn about the custom of making a Kratong, or traditional flower lantern, and floating it in the dark waters at night. After this long, full day, you will want to return to your accommodations and rest.

Day 13: Depart

Take another free day of leisure. Spend time at your resort's pools, try another beach, shop for souvenirs and relax. You likely have a long trip home ahead of you!