Compare Beijing, Bangkok & Phuket 13 Days 11 Nights by Affordable World vs Sublime Southern Thailand by Culture Trip

Days 1 & 2: USA - Beijing, China

Accommodation: The Great Wall Hotel Beijing or similar

Our Asia vacation starts as we board an international flight bound for Beijing. Enjoy inflight meals, beverages, and entertainment. *Thailand entry visa and China entry visa are not required for USA passport holders. For passports other than US passport, please get the entry visa on your own.

Arrive in Beijing, the capital city of China. Meet your local guide at Beijing International Airport, and transfer to your hotel, with the rest of the day free to enjoy at your leisure. Make the most of the hotel amenities, or head out for your first taste of this fascinating city.

Day 3: Beijing

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: The Great Wall Hotel Beijing or similar

Optional Tours: Forbidden City (only available for purchase prior to trip departure date**) $28 pp

After breakfast, enjoy a morning tour of China’s incredible capital. Hectic yet historic, Beijing is an intoxicating blend of 21st-century modernity, imperial treasures and imposing Mao-era monuments, and offers much to delight and interest visitors. Absorb the huge expanse of Tiananmen Square, the world’s largest city square, and famous for being overlooked by a giant portrait of Chairman Mao and the Forbidden City, the former seat of China’s imperial rulers. Check out Qianmen Street, Beijing’s oldest shopping street, and enjoy photo stops at the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube stadiums, built for the 2008 Olympics, and the stunning National Center for the Performing Arts.  Afterward, enjoy the afternoon free or join us for an optional tour of the Forbidden City, the majestic palace of 24 Chinese emperors from the 1400s to the early 20th century.

**For those purchasing the Forbidden City optional tour - your passport is required for entry.  Please note if your passport does not match the passport on file for your reservation, you will be denied entry at the Forbidden City and your ticket will be nonrefundable**

Day 4: Beijing

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: The Great Wall Hotel Beijing or similar

Optional Tours: Great Wall & Sacred Way $49 pp

Enjoy a day to explore Beijing at your own pace, perhaps visiting more of the city’s highlights, dipping into countless restaurants, or shopping at the malls and markets.

Alternatively, seize the opportunity to visit the Great Wall of China, listed as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. Stretching for thousands of miles across northern China, this extraordinary edifice has origins in the 3rd century BC and was built to protect China from northern marauders.  After walking along the ramparts and admiring the far-reaching views, continue to the Sacred Way. This 14th-century pathway was believed to lead China’s emperors to heaven, and is lined with extraordinary statues of animals and human figures.

Day 5: Beijing - Bangkok

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Pullman Bangkok Hotel G or Similar

After breakfast, catch a flight to Bangkok, Thailand’s lively capital. Meet your local guide at Bangkok International Airport, and enjoy a transfer to your hotel. Check in, and after settling in, enjoy the evening free to relax, dine and perhaps dip into this sprawling city, home to 9 million people and crowded with skyscrapers, malls, street markets and temples.

Upgrades available: Pullman Bangkok Hotel G or Similar (Executive Suite - King Bed) 4 nights

Day 6: Bangkok

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Pullman Bangkok Hotel G or Similar

Depart on a half-day tour after breakfast to witness some of Bangkok’s most interesting sights. Visit the Temple of the Golden Buddha (Wat Trimitr) to see its solid-gold Buddha, and peek inside the Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho), known for its monumental horizontal Buddha. Stroll through the Paklong Talat flower market, a whirlwind of stalls selling masses of perfumed orchids, marigolds and roses.  After a buffet lunch at a local restaurant, enjoy the afternoon independently, or explore Bangkok’s must-sees on our optional Landmark of Bangkok tour. Tour the splendid Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha, see the riverside Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun), and ride a motorboat along the Chao Phraya River.

*Men and women must have their shoulders, arms and legs covered when visiting the Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha Temple*

Optional Tours: The Landmark of Bangkok Tour with Boat Ride $45 pp

Day 7: Bangkok

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Pullman Bangkok Hotel G or Similar

Following breakfast, depart Bangkok for Damnoen Saduak, one of Thailand’s most famous floating markets. Ride a long-tail speedboat around the lively canals, passing boats and stalls laden with fresh produce, spices, and handicrafts. Continue to a local gem workshop and silk factory to see how these precious items are produced for sale, and perhaps purchase some as souvenirs. After returning to Bangkok, spend the evening as you wish or enjoy our optional dinner cruise on the Grand Pearl ship along the Chao Phraya River.

Optional Tours: Amazing Dinner Cruise by Grand Pearl $50 pp

Day 8: Bangkok

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Pullman Bangkok Hotel G or Similar

A free day beckons, giving you the opportunity to explore and enjoy Bangkok on your own. Alternatively, make the most of your time with our optional full-day Elephant World Sanctuary and River Kwai excursion. After an early start, travel into scenic Kanchanaburi province and visit the Elephant World Sanctuary for rescued elephants. Admire, feed and help bathe these incredible animals in the river before enjoying lunch at the camp. Later, visit the Bridge over the River Kwai, famously connected to the ‘Death Railway’ of World War II, and the poignant Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, home to 9,000 Allied war graves.

Optional Tours: Elephant World Sanctuary & the Bridge over River Kwai w/ Lunch $90 pp

Day 9: Bangkok - Phuket

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Holiday Inn Resort Phuket Mai Khao Beach or simila

This morning, transfer to Bangkok airport for your short flight to Phuket, the biggest of Thailand’s islands. Measuring 30 miles long and 13 wide, this island in the Andaman Sea is famed for its white sands, crystal-clear seas and lush rainforests. Check in to your hotel, relax and soak in the gorgeous tropical setting.  Enhance your Phuket stay further by upgrading your hotel to the Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket's and stay in one of their timeless rooms facing the breathtaking Andaman Sea.  Enjoy the rest of your evening free at leisure or perhaps join our optional excursion to the Patong Night Market.

Upgrades available: Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket or similar (Deluxe Lagoon View) 4 nights

Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket or similar (Dusit Club Room) 4 nights

Optional Tours: Patong Night Market with Dinner (min 8 pax) $45 pp

Day 10: Phuket

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Holiday Inn Resort Phuket Mai Khao Beach or simila

Enjoy the day at leisure today, perhaps luxuriating in your hotel’s beaches, pool or other amenities. Alternatively, you may fancy our full-day trip to Phang Nga Bay, an idyllic area of limestone islands, caves and mangroves.   The tour starts with a visit to Phang Nga province where we will visit the Buddha Cave Temple (Suwannakuha), also known as Monkey Temple.  Our jouney continues with a visit to Ao Phang Nga National Park   This scenic area covers over 40 limestone islands, caves, rock formations and evergreen mangroves.  Ride a long-tail boat around the bays, admire the famous James Bond Island, where parts of the movie ‘The Man with a Golden Gun’ was filmed. Enjoy lunch at the stilted Sea Gypsy Village before returning to Phuket

Optional Tours: Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island with Lunch (Min. 4 participants) $50 pp

Day 11: Phuket

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Holiday Inn Resort Phuket Mai Khao Beach or simila

Spend today as you wish or delight in the stunning scenery of the Andaman Sea by taking our optional tour to Phi Phi Island. Catch a speedboat to this exquisite island and enjoy its sandy white beaches, turquoise seas and endless scenic gems. Sightseeing includes stops at Pileh Lagoon or Rantee Bay*, Loh Samah Bay, Pi Leh Cave, Viking Cave, Camel Rock, Monkey Beach and Khai Island. 

*Please note as of October 2nd, Maya Bay will be closed indefinitely.  A vist to either Pileh Lagoon or Rantee Bay will replace Maya Bay until further notice.

Optional Tours:

Phi Phi Island by Speed Boat (with Lunch) $95 pp

Day 12: Phuket

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Holiday Inn Resort Phuket Mai Khao Beach or similar

Start today with a morning sightseeing tour of Phuket. Admire the island’s porcelain-white beaches and take a drive to the Old Town to view its historic Sino-Portuguese architecture. Stop to take in the spectacular views of the local coastline and nearby islands from Promthrep Cape, and explore other scenic and cultural highlights.

Day 13: Phuket – USA

Meals: Breakfast

Today we have the full day to relax before we depart for the airport later in the evening.   Late check-outs are available for purchase if you wish to enjoy your hotel room until our evening departure.  Otherwise, the hotel standard check-out time will be at 12 noon today.

Day 1: Arrive in Phuket and enjoy the local nightlife

Accommodation: Deevana Patong Resort and Spa

Activities Included: Welcome dinner, Patong night tour

Touch down at Phuket International Airport – whether you’re arriving from home or joining from our Welcome to the Jungle: Exploring Northern Thailand trip. At the hotel, you’ll be greeted by our local insider who will accompany the group throughout the trip. Meet your fellow travellers at 6pm. A welcome dinner at the beachfront is the perfect way to get your first night started before venturing out on a night tour of Patong. Take to the dancefloor or grab a beer in one of the many bars on Bangla Road – but be sure to bear in mind tomorrow’s early start!

Day 2: Discover Khao Sok Lake and stay in a floating raft house

Accommodation: Keeree Thara Floating Resort

Activities Included: Raft house boat trip, Guided Khao Sok Lake activity

Optional Activities: Kayaking

After breakfast, get ready for your transfer to Khao Sok Lake – a 165sqkm (64sqmi) body of emerald-green water, surrounded by dense rainforest and dramatic limestone formations. Upon arrival, you can store your luggage and take an overnight bag before setting off from the pier on a longtail boat for a scenic, guided journey to the raft house. Next, fuel up on lunch before hiking to a waterfall, underground cave or viewpoint, depending on the season. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure – swimming, kayaking or exploring the area’s rugged inlets.

Day 3: Spot local wildlife and kayak through mangrove forests

Accommodation: Pakasai Resort and Spa

Activities Included: Wildlife safari, Bor Thor Mangrove Forest Kayaking

Kick off day three with a wildlife safari by longtail boat. Keep a close eye out for hornbills and gibbons in particular; you may even be fortunate enough to spot a sun bear, too. Head back for breakfast and enjoy some free time before your minibus transfer to Krabi. En route, you’ll stop at Bor Thor mangrove forest for an unforgettable kayaking adventure. It's not strenuous, thanks to the lack of current here, and you can also explore caves that feature 3,000-year-old drawings. Come evening, watch the sun set on the beach and sample the delicious street food of Ao Nang.

Day 4: Explore Hong Island

Accommodation: Pakasai Resort and Spa

Activities Included: Hong Island day trip, Snorkelling

Optional Activities: Kayaking

Jump on a boat this morning for a day of island-hopping. You’ll start at Hong Island 6km (4mi) off the coast of Krabi; it’s actually an archipelago in the Than Bok Khorani National Park, characterised by sandy white beaches, limestone cliffs and a secluded turquoise lagoon. The calm, shallow water is ideal for swimming, snorkelling and kayaking among shoals of colourful fish. Follow the nature trail through the jungle to get a deeper feel for the islands before you head back to the mainland.

Day 5: Embark on a boat cruise and dine on deck at sunset

Accommodation: Pakasai Resort and Spa

Activities Included: Sunset cruise and barbecue

Following a laid-back morning at the hotel, you’ll be picked up and transported to the pier, where you’ll set off on a five-hour boat cruise. Enjoy Thai snacks and cold drinks, snorkel in the clear waters of the Andaman Sea and explore Chicken Island – named after the unusual chicken-shaped rock formation on its southern tip. Wrap up the day with a barbecue on deck served at sunset, featuring a variety of Thai delicacies.

Day 6: Kick back and relax in Koh Yao Yai

Accommodation: Koh Yao Yai Village Resort

Wave goodbye to the mainland once more as you take a two-hour boat transfer to Koh Yao Yai, a secluded island which sits halfway between Krabi and Phuket. Here, it’s all about relaxation. After checking into the hotel, why not make the most of the sea view from the infinity-edge swimming pool, sip on your favourite cocktail or book a soothing Thai massage at the spa. It’s time to switch off and recharge after an action-packed few days.

Day 7: Trek to the viewing point and enjoy a waterpark in the sea

Accommodation: Koh Yao Yai Village Resort

Optional Activities: Island exploration

Fancy taking it easy for another day? It’s your choice – but for those keen to explore Koh Yao Yai, there’s plenty to see and do. Trek to the north of the island for impressive vistas from the observation deck, visit the eye-catching sand formations jutting out into the sea at Laem Had Beach, or try the miniature inflatable waterpark at Coco Beach. Alternatively, lie back and catch some rays on the pristine white sand.

Day 8: Free time in Koh Yao Yai

Accommodation: Koh Yao Yai Village Resort

Indulge in a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, because how you spend the day today is entirely up to you. Get a taste for rural island life by visiting a paddy, rubber plantation or lobster farm, venture to a different beach such as Khlong Son, Loh Pared or Ao Sai for a sunbathe and swim, or you can simply lounge by the pool. There’s no shortage of options.

Day 9: Return to Phuket and share a farewell dinner with your fellow travellers

Accommodation: Bandara Phuket Beach Resort

Activities Included: Farewell dinner

Prepare for your transfer from Koh Yao Yai back to Phuket, where you’ll check into the hotel for your final stop of the trip. There are two beaches separated by a rocky headland in this peaceful corner of Phuket, called Ao Yon Bay, both of which tend to be much less crowded than other better-known beaches on the island. Take a gentle afternoon stroll along this unspoilt piece of coastline before toasting your fellow travellers during a final dinner on the beachfront.

Day 10: Depart from Phuket

After breakfast, it’s time to pack your bags and say farewell to the group. Head back to the airport via private transfer by approximately midday to begin your journey home. Alternatively, extend your stay in Thailand – there are plenty more beaches to discover.