Summer in Thailand: from North to South

After being welcomed and helped through customs and immigration, private transfer and four-night stay in a hotel located between the airport and Wat Umong. The hotel is made up of 19th-century houses from central Thailand. Their original designs have been meticulously respected and suitably adapted to modern requirements; teak and tiles, stilts, beautiful Italian marble bathrooms and cosmopolitan furniture make for a charming and comfortable home, where the owners' collections of artwork finds a natural outlet. Your house has its own terrace opening onto the garden. In the garden, there's an elegant slate pool. From modern Thai cuisine and flawless international dishes to quaint afternoon tea, the kitchens create fine food with panache and professionalism. The spa treatments modernise Thailand's wellness heritage, and yoga classes complement the extremely charming setting.

In the itinerary - An off-the-beaten-track tour of Chiang Mai. You'll start the day with a stroll through the rice paddies with your guide. They may not be as spectacular as the rice paddies in China or the Philippines, but they do have a rustic and green charm that will leave an impression on you. You'll then head to the villages, where farmers' lives still depend on their trade and skills. Today's farmers produce and export Thai rice around the world. Villagers here are still carefully maintain traditional houses. You'll take a trip to the market, then the Darabhirom Forest Monastery, whose statues allude to a surprising Sulpician Buddhism. Back in Chiang Mai, you'll take a little tour of the city's art district to throw a bit of variety into the mix and to broaden your experience of Thailand as the locals see it.

The city still boasts the nobility of an ancient capital, but it also exudes a special relaxed way of life. There are nearly 300 temples here; the Wat Chiang Man is the oldest (13th century) and the Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, which is about nine miles away out in the countryside, is the most famous (14th century). The latter has a beautiful view of the city. The night bazaar to the east of the city, contains a whole host of things from the most well-made crafts, to street food and electronics. Perhaps you'll have a Khantoke dinner at a small wicker table, with sticky rice and plenty of delicious food. The tuk tuk is the main means of transport as it goes everywhere in town. Nimmanhaemin's Beer Lab brings together lovers of craft beer.

In the itinerary - Chiang Mai's fine craftsmanship. Thailand has a rich tradition of craftsmanship. Accompanied by a guide, and depending on what you like, you can visit the workshop of Naï Phet Wiriya, who is well-known for his elephantine sculptures; he carves realistic elephants, large and small, out of scrap wood or teak. Or you might like to visit a ceramist, who boasts varied styles and techniques, including the famous celadon. Perhaps you'd prefer to visit a weaver, who makes beautiful creations out of silk and cotton. And then there's the goldsmiths, who use both traditional styles and contemporary minimalism in their silver jewellery.

Private transfer to the airport and flight to Bangkok. Another transfer and four-night stay by the Chao Phraya river. With its tall and narrow door frames, the hotel's white facade is stylish. The interior is set around a spectacular courtyard under a canopy. In general, the style is inspired by art deco. The well-appointed rooms have the same style, with antiques, beautiful bedding and a freestanding bathtub in the bathroom. The main restaurant occupies a teak house, where chef Damri creates masterpieces. At the bistro, delicious dishes are whipped up in no time. The pool bar, which is especially pleasant, adjoins a long swimming pool that runs alongside the river. The peace distilled by the gardens is a pleasant surprise in Bangkok. The Ayurvedic spa treatments enrich the body and soul. With this, you can also take a class in Thai cuisine or Muay Thai, a full-contact discipline of boxing.

In the itinerary - See Bangkok with a local. Bangkok may be lively and hyperactive, but it is also artistic and creative. You will see this for yourself in the company of a local resident, who is a keen connoisseur of the city's rituals and rhythms. Apart from this principle, and the idea of doing things the Thai way, nothing is planned. You'll meet up and causally decide what takes your fancy. You'll come up with a plan relatively quickly. Then off you go, visiting workshops, galleries or museums, depending on what you decided with the guide. The capital's culture reflects the intensity of the hustle and bustle. This outing is an excellent introduction to your two days of independent exploration (there's lots of first-hand information to collect from your guide).

There are two major historical complexes for you to explore: the Royal Palace, with the Wat Phra Kaeo (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), and the Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha). In the royal chapel, the Emerald Buddha, carved in 15th century green jade, symbolises the ruling Chakri dynasty. The Wat Pho, undoubtedly the oldest temple in Bangkok (late 18th century), houses a monumental statue of a reclining Buddha covered in gold leaf: 150ft long and 50ft high. Siddharta Gautama has the soles of its feet inlaid with mother-of-pearl. Enjoy a little stroll through the charming market, or take a tour of Chinatown. Buddha himself seems to have dedicated this place to gold: the Wat Traimit, a temple in Chinatown, houses the world's largest golden statue, a Sukhothai-style Buddha measuring almost 10ft and weighing it at an astonishing 5 tonnes. Naturally, Chinese jewellers are having a field day here. Behind their red shop fronts, gold piles up and multiplies, and is available in all forms.
Option - Historic city of Ayutthaya.

Private transfer to the airport and flight to Koh Samui. Another transfer and four-night stay on the north-eastern tip of the island. The hotel blends into its natural surroundings perfectly. The contrast between the lush vegetation and the glittering sea of the Gulf of Thailand inspired the architects, who staged it perfectly with its terraces, bays, balconies, and infinity pool. Your sharply-designed villa, which balances wood and light, has its own swimming pool and indoor/outdoor bathroom. Here, the spa is more than just a spa: it's a multifaceted experience, with choices ranging from yoga and restoring your chakras, to Thai massage and seaweed wraps or reiki to hot stones. The cuisine is in tune with it all; healthy, fusion cuisine that does not lose sight of Siamese traditions. Meals are served in the dining room, in your villa or outside on one of the terraces poised on the rocks.

Here, it's all about going with the flow. Relax by the pool or visit Chaweng or Lamai beach, two of the hotel's beaches. There's plenty to do, such as trips out to sea, go snorkelling (admire the reefs, fusiliers, angelfish, squirrelfish, parrotfish, platax and groupers, which are all within arm's reach), kayaking and fishing, but you can go out on your motorcycle, go around the markets, such as Laem Din Market in Chaweng, and live to the pace of life in the south. Among the island's curiosities, there's the mummified monk of Wat Khunaram Temple; the waterfalls of Na Muang and Hin Lad, which are a great place to cool down; the Butterfly Garden with its lovely, elusive and colourful creatures; and the night parties that shake things up. Koh Samui is no longer a wild island, but it has retained a strong personality; its mountainous core also remains impenetrable for now.
Option - Private tour of Koh Tan.