Duration: 14 nights
Best months: November–February
Country: Thailand
Region: Bangkok · Ayutthaya · Isaan · Loei · Phu Kradueng National Park · Chiang Khan · Mekong River · Udon Thani
A Journey into Thailand’s Water-and-Light Season—With Rural Depth
This 14-night itinerary pairs Bangkok’s iconic energy with the slower, rarely visited landscapes of Isaan in Eastern Thailand—finishing with a genuinely local celebration of Loy Krathong in Chiang Khan on the Mekong River. Expect private logistics, expert guiding, and a rhythm built for families: immersive days, breathing space, and meaningful moments that don’t feel staged.
Browse more inspiration: Thailand with Escape Xperts
Bangkok — Temples, Waterways, and Yaowarat After Dark
Arrive in Bangkok and check into The Peninsula Bangkok, your polished base for exploring the capital with ease.
One evening is dedicated to Yaowarat—Bangkok’s Chinatown—where your guide leads you by tuk-tuk to Saphan Put Night Market, then through the city’s fragrant flower market and spice market for a sensory, street-level introduction to Thailand.
By day, move like a local: hop on a water taxi, glide by longtail boat through ‘Little Bangkok’, and weave between neighborhoods by tuk-tuk. Your private guide brings clarity to the classics—Wat Pho, the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew, and Rattanakosin Royal Island—then rounds things out with the quieter charm of the canals of Bangkok Nio.
We can also arrange a Kantoke evening—an easy, family-friendly way to experience regional flavors and performance traditions before heading east.
One night, a thousand lights—Thailand’s most beautiful wish-making ritual
Ayutthaya — Cycling Through a Former Siamese Capital
Leaving Bangkok, travel north to Ayutthaya, the ancient Siamese capital, for a guided exploration on two wheels. Cycle between preserved ruins and temple silhouettes, learning the history in a way that feels intimate rather than tour-bus rushed. Mid-ride, pause for an authentic ‘Isaan’ lunch—a small, delicious bridge into the next chapter of the journey.
Isaan — Loei, Phu Kradueng National Park, and the Plateau Above the Clouds
In the morning, take a short flight northeast to Loei, then continue into Isaan—a region shaped by mountain ranges, the Mekong River, and distinct cultural traditions.
Your adventure peaks in Phu Kradueng National Park, where you’ll trek 5.5km up the southeastern flank of the mountain. The climb is steep but non-technical, passing through rainforest where you may spot deer—and, if luck is on your side, an elephant. At the top, you’ll cross the plateau at 1316m above sea level, finishing with a relaxed 3km walk over pine savanna landscapes to your evening camp and wide-open views.
Over the following days, explore the Plateau of Phu Kradueng at an unhurried pace: early starts for sunrise from a clifftop lookout with a sea of clouds, daytime hikes past cliffs, waterfalls, ponds, and streams, and a golden-hour finale at Mak Dook Cliff with chilled champagne as the landscape softens into dusk.
A Doi Angkhang Mountain, Chiang Mai-style vista is the feeling we chase here—cool air, layered horizons, and that rare sense of space that families remember long after the photos.
Chiang Khan — Loy Krathong with the Community, Then Mekong River Days
After a 3-hour descent back to ground level, drive through farming communities toward the river and arrive in Chiang Khan, a quiet Mekong-side town known for its rural charm. Settle into a traditional wooden hotel, look across the water to Laos, and ease into local life—markets, handicrafts, and the everyday rhythms of fishing, weaving silk, growing rice, and cross-river trade.
Then, the moment the journey is built around: Loy Krathong Festival. With special access into the community, you’ll join preparations and learn to make your own Krathong, then head to the river to float it with the locals—candles and joss sticks flickering as wishes are released into the current. It’s intimate, meaningful, and deeply rooted in tradition.
In your final days, stay along the banks of the Mekong River: take a gentle boat trip, try your hand at fishing (and enjoy your fresh catch for lunch), cycle the countryside, or venture farther to Phu Phra Bat Historical Park and archaeological site, or to Huai Krating Reservoir—a favorite place for locals to unwind. Transfer from Udon Thani to Bangkok to begin your journey home.
Ready for Something Extraordinary?
Share your dates, who’s traveling (and ages), and the balance you want between Bangkok buzz, mountain trekking, and Mekong downtime. We’ll curate the best guiding, private transfers, and the right pacing—then deliver a polished itinerary with checklists and on-trip support, so your Loy Krathong celebration feels seamless and deeply personal.
Signature Experiences
- Stay at The Peninsula Bangkok with private guiding
- Yaowarat evening: tuk-tuks, Saphan Put Night Market, flower and spice markets
- Bangkok classics with smart routing: Wat Pho, Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew, Rattanakosin Royal Island, canals of Bangkok Nio
- Guided cycling in Ayutthaya + authentic ‘Isaan’ lunch
- Fly to Loei and trek in Phu Kradueng National Park (plateau at 1316m)
- Sunrise “sea of clouds” and sunset at Mak Dook Cliff
- Loy Krathong in Chiang Khan: make and float your own Krathong with the community
- Slow days on the Mekong River + options for Phu Phra Bat Historical Park and Huai Krating Reservoir
Why Travel to Thailand with Escape Xperts
Loy Krathong is unforgettable—but doing it well requires the right access, timing, and a route that doesn’t exhaust your family before the main event. Escape Xperts designs this journey with privacy-first logistics (smooth flights, cars, and handoffs), trusted local guides, and a pace tailored to ages and energy—so kids stay engaged and adults stay relaxed. Your planning/design fee becomes tangible deliverables: a discovery session, curated options, thoughtful iterations, a final itinerary with practical checklists, and support for changes before and during travel. CREATE TRIP
