About This Trip
Sa-wat dee kha! (Hello) We’re excited to invite you to our Thailand Festival of Lights Tour! During this Thailand tour, you’ll visit the city, the beach, and the mountains with our Editor-in-Chief, Annette from November 9-19, 2024. This 11-day private tour was created and curated by the Fat Girls Traveling team.
After years of traveling around Thailand Annette wants to introduce you to some of her favorite places, customs, and activities. Which include; massages, delicious foods, and celebrating Loy Krathong, Thailand’s ‘Festival of Lights’.
During this extended tour, you’ll get to visit Bangkok’s temples, receive a Thai massage, explore Thailand’s infamous Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, and so much more. You’ll catch some sun on the beaches in Pattaya before visiting the historic cities of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai. This tour begins in Bangkok and ends in Chiang Mai after a private Thai cooking class and a visit to an ethical animal sanctuary.
Our Thailand’s ‘Festival of Lights’ Tour is just one of five stops on our Fat Girls World Tour 2024.
This fat-positive tour is open to travelers of all sizes and gender identities.
Inclusions
- Arrival and departure transfers are included on an individual basis.
- Some meals: 10 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 3 Dinners
- Transportation: Private vehicle, public transport, Day train, Long-tail boat, Paddle boat, Electric vehicle
- All activities including entrance fees listed in the itinerary
- 1 English-speaking Tour Leader and Local Guides
- All hotel accommodations
Exclusions
- You are responsible for airport transfers, International airport departure tax, local city taxes unless mentioned, late-check out at hotels, and any costs related to visas, insurance, and flights.
- You are responsible for meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary, drinks with included lunches and dinners.
- You are responsible for personal expenses, optional activities, and any services not mentioned in the itinerary.
- You are responsible for tips for our Tour Leader, Guides, and Driver.
Itinerary
Day 1: November 9, 2024
Destination: Arrival – Bangkok
Welcome to Thailand’s capital, Bangkok – famous for its tuk-tuks, and street vendors serving up delicious Thai dishes. Upon arrival, you’ll be picked up at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Tonight you’ll meet the group and local guide at our Welcome Dinner. We’ll call it an early night since it’s a travel day.
Included Meals: Dinner
Included Activities:
- Individual Arrival Transfer
Day 2: November 10, 2024
Destination: Bangkok
Today our Thailand tour officially begins as we travel by longtail boat down the Chao Phraya River and explore the famous khlongs (canals) of Bangkok. Disembark at Wat Arun or the Dawn Temple, one of Thailand’s most important religious sites. Explore some of Thailand’s most famous temples today, including; the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, and Wat Pho. Before ending the tour with an hour-long massage at Wat Pho, the national headquarters for the preservation and teaching of traditional Thai medicine.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Included Activities:
- Bangkok – Khlong boat canal tour
- Bangkok – Wat Pho (incl. 1 hr. massage)
- Bangkok – Wat Arun
- Bangkok – Grand Palace
Day 3: November 11, 2024
Destination: Bangkok – Ratchaburi
Start the day with an early breakfast, then head to the Maeklong Railway Market where you’ll see stalls quickly pulled to one side when the train passes through the center of the market. Later, we’ll see how the locals make coconut sugar, one of the famous products of the province. Followed by taking a paddle boat ride to explore Thailand’s infamous Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and the local community which still maintains the traditional way of life along the canal.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Included Activities:
- Mae Klong Railway market tour
- Palm Sugar demonstration
- Damnoen Saduak floating market
Day 4: 12 November 2024
Destination: Bangkok – Pattaya
Today we’ll move to the eastern part of Thailand to experience a bit of the beach life in Pattaya. Pattaya is a popular Beach destination known for its nightlife and is just a two-hour drive from Bangkok. Tonight we’ll enjoy dinner on the beach as we watch the sunset.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Beach Dinner
Included Activities:
- Beach Dinner
Day 5: 13 November 2024
Destination: Pattaya
Pattaya is always buzzing with activity and is an extremely popular destination for beach lovers and party animals. This is a free day to rest and relax, shop, or soak up the sun with an optional day trip to Koh Lan.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Optional Activities:
- Day Trip to Koh Lan
Day 6: November 14, 2024
Destination: Pattaya – Ayutthaya
This morning, drive north toward Ayutthaya, the second capital of Siam after Sukhothai. Visit some of the key temples and the remains and reminders of its golden age with a guided tour of the picturesque ruins and temples spread across the town.
Visit the Million Toys Museum, founded by Krirk Yoonpun, a children’s literature professor and author of children’s books. On his return from Japan to Thailand, he started to collect toys and it took about two decades for the museum to take shape.
In the evening we’ll take a dinner cruise around Ayutthaya and take in the sights of the old capital. We’ll have an opportunity to discover some of the magnificent sites along the river, as well as observe the day-to-day activities of the people living along the riverbanks.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities:
- Ayutthaya – Temples visit
- Roti Saimai (Local cotton candy) making demonstration.
- Million Toys Museum
- Rice barge dinner cruise
Day 7: November 15, 2024
Destination: Ayutthaya – Phitsanulok – Sukhothai
After check out, we’ll be brought to the train station. On the day train to Pitsanulok we’ll have approximately 4-5 hours to enjoy the view of Thailand’s countryside. Upon arrival, we’ll be transferred to Sukhothai by private minivan.
Sukhothai means the ‘Dawn of Happiness’ and was established in the 13th century as one of the first ancient capitals of Siam (now known as Thailand). Sukhothai is one of the places where Thailand’s ‘Festival of Lights’ is extra special.
Tonight you have the option of attending the light and sound show in Sukhothai (including round-trip transfers to/from the event.)
Included Meals: Breakfast
Included Activities:
- Day train Ayutthaya – Sukhothai
- Roundtrip transfers to/from Loy Krathong event
Optional Activities:
- Loy Krathong Night Show entrance fee
Day 8: November 16, 2024
Destination: Sukhothai – Chiang Mai
Today we’ll explore Sukhothai Historical Park by electric vehicle and enjoy a few leisurely hours feeling the breeze in your hair and learning about the history of this fascinating place.
Head out to the historical ruins of Old Sukhothai, set amid beautiful lakes and gardens. After lunch, before driving north to Chiang Mai we’ll stop in Sawankhalok, Sukhothai to enjoy some street art. In 2019, several artists were invited to Sawankhalok to create murals along a stretch of road near the town center.
Included Meals: Breakfast
Included Activities:
- Sukhothai Historical Park by electric vehicle
- Sawankhalok Street Art
Day 9: November 17, 2024
Destination: Chiang Mai
After an early breakfast head to a hands-on Thai cooking class filled with authenticity and fun! In the evening we’ll explore the Chiang Mai Night Market. This is where you’ll find the best shopping options and snacks in Chiang Mai.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities:
- Thai Cooking class – Morning incl. lunch (Join activity/Private transfers)
- Chiang Mai Night Market
Day 10: November 18, 2024
Destination: Chiang Mai
Today we’ll head north to visit an ethical animal sanctuary and enjoy the Chang Chill elephant experience. We’ll learn how this organization supports the protection, conservation, and lifestyle of free-roaming elephants in the region.
On the way back to Chiang Mai we’ll stop by Kaomai Estate 1955 cafe for a coffee. This eclectic tobacco factory-turned-cafe holds a Cultural Heritage Conservation for New Design accreditation from UNESCO. We’ll end the night with our final group dinner and celebrate our unforgettable experiences.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities:
- Chang Chill Elephant Sanctuary Half Day morning (Join activity/private transfers)
- Kao Mai Lanna – Coffee at Kaomai Estate 1955
Day 11: November 19, 2024
Destination: Chiang Mai Departure
Today our Thailand tour comes to an end. There are no activities planned for the final day and you are free to depart at any time following check-out. Our driver is waiting for you and will transfer you to the Chiang Mai airport.
Included Meals:
Included Activities:
- Individual Departure Transfer
Cost of the Trip
To keep costs as low as possible we’re offering tiered pricing. This means that pricing will depend on how many people join us. A minimum of 7 travelers will need to join for the Thailand tour to move forward. We’ll have a maximum of 13 travelers. All pricing is based on double occupancy but a single supplement is available if you want a private room.
Cost Per Person
7 Travelers $3,165
8 Travelers $3,120
9 Travelers $2,835
10 Travelers $2,830
11 Travelers $2,740
12 Travelers $2,730
13 Travelers $2,595
A non-refundable deposit of $400 is required at the time of booking to secure your spot. The final payment will be due 90 days before departure. A private room is available for an additional fee of $815 per person.
All payments are handled by Intrepid Travel.
How to Book
This Thailand tour is a fat-positive adventure for travelers of all sizes and gender identities. Bring your bestie, your partner, or your parent, or arrive solo and leave with a group of new friends! Register here if you want to join our Festival of Lights in Northern Thailand Tour.
A few months before the trip we will create a private Facebook page for our group members to connect before the tour. A few weeks before the trip we will host a Virtual Happy Hour so that everyone can connect and ask any last-minute questions.
Bangkok is a second home to Annette and she can’t wait to share some of her favorite places and adventures with you. This is going to be the trip of a lifetime! Join now, while space is still available.
Our Thailand’s ‘Festival of Lights’ Tour is just one of five stops on our Fat Girls World Tour 2024.