The flexibility I have experience while traveling In Style is one of a kind. The staff is there to help you accomplish every whim or fancy, and they never make you feel like you have inconvenienced them...
Click here to view our sample collection of real tailor-made trips prepared for real people who travelled with us.
Hotels & Villas
From chic city hotels to hip beach villas, to rural house rafts and tree houses to soothing wellness sanctuaries; our accomodations have been selected for their stunning location, their attention to detail and service, their eclectic oriental style, their original dining experiences and their design-led interiors.
A small coffee table book full of ideas, insider tips, hotel reviews and clues to make your next trip to Indochina an amazing experience.
Family bliss in Thailand
A lifetime of memories for the whole family
15 days / 14 nights
New sights, new smells, a palette-full of color and locals with beaming smiles who generally dote on kids combine to make Thailand am amazing destination for families... This 2 week holiday was designed for a family of with 3 kids, ages ranging from 6 to 12, and two well travelled parents who wanted to be on the road with their kids for a week, stress free, and let the kids take in all the powerful and rich new experiences of a journey into the heart of Asia culminating with a week of sheer barefoot relaxation on the beach In Style in the most family friendly beach resort in Thailand.
Highlights
+ Take the family on a fun overnight train journey
+ Expose the kids to age old traditions and cultures
+ Learn the secrets of rice cultivation
+ Explore 3 countries in one fun filled day, Laos, Burma and Thailand.
+ Bathe with elephants
+ Relax in one of Thailands best beach locations for kids
Day by day
Chapter 1. River of Kings and Klongs
Day 1
After a long flight to Thailand it makes sense to spend the first few days in Bangkok so both the parents the kids can acclimatize.
We will make arrangements for someone to whiz you through immigration. We will drive with you to Bangkok in a spacious and comfortable van. During this time we will tell you a little bit about Bangkok and address any questions you have. The drive takes approximately 45 minutes to one hour.
You will be staying in the most family friendly hotel in Bangkok, on the banks of the Chao Prahya River. We will reserve two interconnecting rooms, one triple and one double. Younger fans are very important people and the hotel makes sure they are cared for with special gifts, tailored menus, and lots to do.
The hotel boasts a great day care centre with fun, supervised activities for kids of all ages. There are two swimming pools, including a wading pool that is ideal for children. Babysitting is provided by experienced caregivers. There are also tennis courts and tennis coaches.
Day 2
What can be more of an adventure than travelling by boat, looking out at glittering temples and palaces and sailing right through vibrant life along the waterways? The combination of boat and water is always a winner with kids.
The day starts with a morning walk through Pak Klong Talaat, the flower market where you will see many of Thailand’s exotic flowers and flora including many species of orchids. We experience the hustle and bustle of the busy working market (best in the morning) before heading deep into the Klongs of Bangkok on a long tail boat where you will see temples and people living alongside Bangkok’s waterways. We takes you away from the busy tourist channels to the edges of Bangkok.
Upon the return to the city, we stop and visit Wat Arun, the temple of dawn.
Chapter 2. The train to Chiang Mai
Your overnight train to Chiang Mai departs Bangkok’s Hua Lampong Station at 7.30PM. We will arrange a late check-out from the Oriental.
A vehicle will be ready to take you to the train station at 6.00pm. We have reserved two first class cabins for you. Dinner is provided on board the train.
The train heads north towards Sukothai and Chiang Mai through Thai countryside. The scenery on the last third of the trip up into the mountains approaching Chiang Mai is particularly good, and even on the sleeper, watching the sunrise from the train in the morning is a great experience.
Invariably the train arrives in its own 'Thai time', which is usually up to an hour late. Food and drinks are freely available on board. However, there's no harm in picking up snacks beforehand on the station concourse. There is adequate luggage storage and safety on the trains is good.
Chapter 3. Rural Chiang Mai
Day 3
The train arrives at Chiang Mai station around 9.00am. We will meet you at the station and drive with you into town. During this time we can talk a little about Chiang Mai and your plans for the rest of the day and the day.
In Chiang Mai the entire family will enjoy staying in a wonderful hotel ideal for families. We have reserved a two room family suite for you. This particular hotel offers a unique program of activities, arts and crafts that allow children the chance to touch and experience the rich culture and traditions of northern Thailand. The activities include drawing and painting classes, northern Thai paper cutting and molding and painting buffalo and elephants with clay. The art of folding lotus flowers, learning how to write one’s name with Thai letters and simple Thai greetings and phrases are all ways to introduce children to Thai culture firsthand. Thai dance classes and the chance to dress up in Lanna-style costume also makes for a memorable experience. All the activities are complementary.
This afternoon, relax at the hotel. Spread over 60 acres of lush landscape with towering trees, flowering plants, rice fields and lotus ponds, it is a natural playground for children to learn about and discover.
Day 4
We pick you up in the morning we travel to a local farmhouse in Mae Rim on the outskirts of Chiang Mai to take a leisurely stroll around the grounds. We then board a long-tail boat and enjoy a 30 minute river ride along the rural Mae Ping River. Along the river banks you will see traditional wooden houses and modern residences. Arrive at a boat landing and walk for about 10 minutes from the landing to Waroros fresh food Market for a visit and a bit of shopping for exotic fruits and vegetables. From the market we take a trishaw ride along Tapae Road past the city walls and along Rajdamnern Road to Wat Phra Singh.
Lunch is served in a family friendly local restaurant in town. In the afternoon the kids will enjoy swimming in the hotel’s great pools.
Chapter 4. The story of rice cultivation.
Day 5
Today we travel north, to the valley of Phrao. We will stay in a traditional Thai country house, in the heart of the ancient Lanna Kingdom. On arrival at Khum Lanna you will be greeted by the local Lanna people running the house.
Lanna was the name of a prosperous self-ruling kingdom that occupied the whole of Northern Thailand and parts of present day Myanmar and Laos. Founded in the 13th century, the name means 'Land of a million rice fields'.
This is an opportunity to discover the rural charms of traditional Northern Thai life. This is an opportunity to discover the rural charms of traditional Northern Thai life.
With emerald-green rice fields and lush orchards, this is a luxury home-stay experience - a celebration of heritage, food and lifestyle, ideal for families.
We will arrive at lunch time. Every day at Khum Lanna there is an early evening cooking class ideal for everyone, after which a full 4-course sit-down Thai dinner is served. This is entirely optional, but fun and interesting.
Day 6
Today we will go on a bike ride to the local market in the village. We will cycle through rice paddies and learn about rice production and cultivation.
On route we see the incredible accumulation of beehives on the sacred tree at Ban Nam Phrae and get information about the need for bees and the reasons for local conservation.
The afternoon and evening at leisure so the kids can explore the herb gardens and play.
Chapter 5. Bathing with Elephants
Day 7
We head even further north. The trip from Phrao to the Golden Triangle takes approximately 4 hours by road.
We depart just after lunch.
We have reserved two double deluxe interconnecting rooms in a wonderful hotel in the Golden Triangle. Perched on a ridge overlooking the hills of Myanmar and Laos, this hotel is enchanting as the region in which it is located. All rooms have with unparalleled views. From your balcony sofa you can look out over three countries or down to the infinity-edge swimming pool and luxuriant gardens below.
Day 8
Located less than 0.5km from the border with Myanmar and Laos, you are in the perfect location from which to visit three countries in one day.
The day starts in the Burmese border town of Tachilek, a melting pot of people and cultures and a fervent trading post. Visit the bustling market just across the Friendship Bridge from the northern Thai town of Mae Sai (remembering to put your watch back just half an hour - Myanmar is half an hour behind Thailand), walk through an ethnic Shan village and visit a replica of Rangoon's famous Shwedagon Pagoda.
Crossing back into Thailand, stop for a picnic lunch before driving to Sop Ruak also known as Golden Triangle village where a golden Buddha statue stands on a hilltop on the site of a 14th Century chedi (pagoda) with views up the Mekong to the point where the three countries meet.
Half an hour's drive away is the ancient northern Thai capital of Chiang Saen whose status as the sometime capital of the Lanna kingdom ensured that the town was richly endowed with religious buildings. A visit to the food market is an eye-opener; local foods, sweets and gossip are all available - the market even has its own forgotten' ruin at the very back.
A longtail speed boat on the river takes you to Don Sao Island in Laos. A treaty between France, Siam and the English ceded the thirty eight Islands in the Mekong to French-controlled Laos. The island of Don Sao - which means Island Twenty' (in the local dialect) - has a special dispensation which grants an easy route for the foreign visitor to set foot in Laos without the labyrinthine immigration processes found elsewhere along the border.
The day ends with a final trip upstream to Sop Ruak. Enroute a view of the nestled in the hills is visible and there's a trip around No Man's Land Island - a sandbank which belongs to no-one but is exactly where the three countries converge”
Day 9
Starts with a visit to the Elephant Camp which the kids will love. There is a mild trek through bamboo groves and rice paddy. Enjoy a rare glimpse at life in a traditional mahout's village. It’s all very relaxed, informative and fun.
Check out at your leisure around mid-morning and drive to Chiang Mai in time for your flight to Koh Samui.
On route a visit to the Hall of Opium is a must. The Hall of Opium is one of the most impressive museums in Thailand. A walk down a long, eerie tunnel. Walls carved with twisted human forms. A facsimile of poppy fields basking under sunshine from glass walls. This is how one first encounters Thailand's world-class museum, the Hall of Opium. This $10-million project took a decade to build and is backed by the royalty-sponsored Mae Fah Luang Foundation. Carved into a grassy hillside and a series of caves, it is near the town of Chiang Saen in the formerly drug-ravaged area known as the Golden Triangle. Exhibits span centuries and continents and use opium as a lens through which to view the last 300 years of Asian history. Scholarly displays examine the botanical aspects of the opium poppy flower, the Opium Wars and colonialism, the legal opium trade in old Siam, even antique smoking paraphernalia and a mock-up of an old British East India Clipper.
Chapter 6. Beach perfection..
Day 9-14
We will pick you up at the airport on arrival in Koh Samui and drive with you to your hotel which is located merely 20 minutes from the airport.
Koh Samui is an island well known for water sports, adventure activities, shopping and fine food. The weather is warm and sunny for much of the year.
You will be staying in one of the most family friendly beach resorts on the island, yet secluded with its own private beach. We have reserved a great two bedroom pool villa.
In Samui there are many attractions for kids. Butterfly gardens, snake farms, waterfalls and jungles, and fantastic swimming.
One ideal plan for a day is to visit Ang-thong national marine park,some of the world’s most scenic islands. Ang-thong national marine park, about an hour south of Samui by speedboat. From Samui it is easy to arrange a visit to unspoilt beaches and crystal-clear waters. There’s also an inland lake on one of the islands, as well as a cave, and enough mystery and adventure for any child to have a wonderful time. Children who are old enough will love to go kayaking here.
Day 15
Today we travel to the airport and head home.
Ballpark Cost:
The price of this trip varies depending on the accomodation, the category of toom, the type of vehicle, whether the guide is english speaking or any other language. Send us a mail and we will send you a detailed quotation.
Includes:
+ Accommodation mentioned in the itinerary
+ Cruise with stops and visits as mentioned in the itinerary
+ Transfers and tours by private minivan
+ Private trekking with local English speaking guide.
+ Meals as specified in the program
+ Baggage handling
Excludes:
+ All airfares as well as airport taxes
+ Other meals and services than mentioned
+ Personal expenses such as drinks, laundry etc.
What to bring on a trek:
1. Light comfortable clothes, loose-fitting shirts / light cotton T-shirts, sarong (or short pants) for eveningwear.
2. Comfortable walking shoes which are suitable for jungle streams or muddy trails.
3. Bathing suit (modest type).
4. Sun hat, sunglasses, sun block and long sleeve shirt.
5. Shampoo, toothpaste, personal hygiene items, etc.
6. Insect repellent.
7. Plastic bag to keep clothes and cameras dry in case of rain or during rafting.
8. Film, spare camera batteries.
9. Photo copy of passport: main page & Thai Visa page
NOTE: Ensure you always have something dry to change into. Wrap clothing and valuables in plastic when packing for trek.
