Day 1: Bangkok
Bangkok is the kind of town where it’s best to hit the ground running, so check in, unpack and slip on some comfy shoes.End the day with an elegant dinner at the Issaya Siamese Club, a beautiful old teak house with an ultra-mod Thai menu, and drinks at Maggie Choo’s, an old-Shanghai style, noodle-selling speakeasy in Silom.
Day 2: Bangkok to Chiang Mai
Board your flights to the ancient Lanna land of Chiang Mai. Explore the golden temple spires, swanky spas and bars, hip galleries and a sprawling night bazaar. Visit the age-old temples Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chiang Man and Wat Suan Dok. Overnight stay in Chiang Mai.
Day 3: Chiang Mai
Elephants, elephants, elephants. Spend the day hanging out with Chiang Mai’s most popular residents. The Thai Elephant Conservation Centre cares for more than 50 of the great beasts and allows visitors to interact with them in an ellie-friendly forest environment. Overnight stay in Chiang Mai.
Day 4: Chiang Mai to Phuket
Start the day the Chiang Mai way, with some early morning yoga and meditation. Check out the Yoga Tree, a friendly sanctuary set within the old city walls that offers everything from calming classes and stretch-yourself-to-the-limit yoga sessions. Fully recharged and raring to go, take the two-hour flight to the seductive southern island of Phuket. Make your way over to the neon-blue hued Catch Beach Club in fashionable Surin to watch the sun set while sipping on some potent Chalong Bay Rum cocktails. Overnight stay in Chiang Mai.
Day 5: Island Hop
Phuket’s natural attractions are simply stunning and it’s worth dedicating a full day to exploring the hundreds of hollowed-out islands – known as hongs – that decorate the surrounding Andaman Sea. Try the Hong by Starlight tour with John Gray Sea Canoe’s, which sweeps around Phang Nga bay taking in secluded beaches, secret cave systems and a late-night splash in bioluminescent waters.
Day 6: Hit the Beach
It’s time to relax. Pull on a stylish sarong and bag a hot-pink cabana at Xana Beach Club. Lounging on the powder white sands of Bang Tao beach, with a 100-foot pool bar surrounded by palm trees, it’s the epitome of Phuket’s happening new beach scene. Take to the city after dark, for dinner at Rendez-Vous, a smart little restaurant housed in a historic Sino-Portuguese shophouse in the heart of the old town. Follow with drinks and a live band at the chic nightspot Sanaeha.
Day 7: Phuket to Bangkok
Wake up and have a rub down. Inexpensive massage parlours staffed by flocks of freakishly strong Thai girls are everywhere in Phuket. And these places are fine for a quick foot massage or back rub. If you’re looking for a more holistic experience though, visit Thanyapura, a sophisticated sports training center which also offers everything from anti-stress massages to stem-cell facials and Muay Thai exercise classes to ensure you’ll be as loose as a ribbon for the flight back to Bangkok.
