Exploring Eastern Thailand: Journey to the Heart of Isan

Discover the iconic sites of Bangkok and the ancient city of Ayutthaya, before venturing across the rarely visited region of Isan, a diverse melting pot of Thai music, food, culture and tradition. Discover eastern Thailand’s most remote corners and join in the time-honored “Festival of Lights” (Loy Krathong) celebrations at the exclusive invitation of these local communities. 

When to go
Oct-Mar
 
From Price
$42,700 PP*
(excl international flights)
Ideal Length
10 Nights
 



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Experience Highlights

  • Visit the key landmarks of Bangkok and cycle through ancient Ayutthaya, before discovering Isan, exploring this lesser-known region on a multi-day helicopter tour.
  • Immerse into rural life in eastern Thailand, learning skills like fishing, weaving, Thai cooking and craft-making, with an exclusive invitation to join the Loy Krathong festival celebrations.
  • Stay in private tented camps, traditional homestays and luxury hotels and villas, with each unique property placing you at the heart of each location.
  • Specialist guides ensure private access and intimate experiences, sharing their knowledge and bringing out the best of every new historical, natural and cultural destination.

Go beyond the ordinary with Pelorus on this unique exploration of Thailand, combining iconic Bangkok and the temples of Ayutthaya with the lesser-known and rarely visited region of Isan. Immerse into rural life and be invited to join in the Loy Krathong festival by the Chiang Khan community, where Pelorus’s relationships provides exclusive access to the celebrations.  

Bangkok: An Introduction to Modern Thailand

Touching down in Bangkok, spend an evening in Yaowarat, Bangkok’s Chinatown, which will open your senses to the smells and sights of this cultural mosaic of a city. With your expert guide at hand, speed through the streets on a tuk tuk to Saphan Put Night Market and wander through the fragrant flower and spice markets, taking in the exotic ambience. Cut through the city on a water taxi or glide on a longtail boat through “Little Bangkok”, gazing upon the city’s oldest temple, Wat Pho, complete with its renowned reclining Buddha. Visit the Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew, Rattanakosin Royal Island, and the canals of Bangkok Nio for an unmatched introduction to the city’s iconic sites, setting the tone for the incredible days to come.  

Travel Back in time to Ayutthaya

Journey to the ancient Siamese capital of Ayutthaya, flying by helicopter or gliding up the river aboard a restored rice barge, complete with its own bar and kitchen. Whizz around the ruins by bicycle, as a historian brings the story of the former Thai capital vividly to life. Today, Ayutthaya is a strange and alluring blend of the ancient and modern, as newer buildings mingle with centuries-old ruins. Stroll through temples, markets and museums, many of which are accessible from the original city moat, and visit the Bang Pa-In summer palace, once a residence of the Thai royal family. This evening, sample delicious river prawns and unique sweet treats, including roti sai mai, on a private food tour.  

An Aerial Exploration Across Isan

Fly to Loei, the gateway to Thailand’s remote Isan region, admiring the impressive Huai Krathing Reservoir before venturing into the mountains of Phu Kradueng National Park. Hike through tropical rainforest to reach the summit, keeping watch for deer and elephants. Reach your private tented camp, sipping champagne and watching the sunset from Mak Dook cliff, soaking in the atmosphere before a night sleeping under the stars. Watch as the sun rises over a sea of clouds, then board your private helicopter to soar over Isan’s vast plateau toward its most iconic sites. 

Touch down in Nakhon Phanom, the rural heart and rice cradle of the northeast, perfect to explore by bicycle. Dine beside the mighty Mekong in Bueng Lom, before boarding a longtail boat back to "Thailand's Happiest Town" as Nakhon Phanom is known. Go off-grid for a bohemian homestay experience, dining on a simple country barbecue beneath a million-star sky. Continue your adventure with a flight to the forests of Bueng Kan, blessed with surreal temples and geological formations. Stop at the Two-Coloured River in historic Chaiburi and visit Three Whale Rock, before tackling the 500-step ascent to Wat Phu Tok. Dine privately with jaw-dropping views all around, before hopping back aboard your helicopter to travel onward to Sri Chiang Mai. 

Experience the Mekong's Markets, Music and Magic

Arriving at the ancient Lanna-Isaan village of Wang Nam Mok, embark on a walk through a 150-year-old community, devoted to preserving its heritage through blending nature conservation with cultural preservation. Visit the local museum to discover traditional crafts and customs, then join a special ceremony hosted by village elders - donning traditional attire to take part in a ritual passed down through generations. Continue to Pak Chom town for an evening alive with music, where folksy Mo Lam and Luk Thung country performers take the stage in a celebration of Isaan’s musical heritage, accompanied by costumed dancers. 

Walk along the glass-bottomed skywalk at the confluence of the Mekong and Hueang Rivers, savor lunch with a local ethnic community, then go shopping for local handicrafts or indulge in a relaxing Thai massage in Chiang Khan. Rise early for almsgiving with the monks, and test your bartering skills at the market, seeing how people carry out their daily tasks as they have for centuries, including weaving silk, growing rice and trading with their Laotian neighbours. Try your hand at fishing aboard a local boat, dining on your fresh catch for lunch. As evening falls, join the local Chiang Khan community as they prepare for the Loy Krathong Festival. Craft your own floating krathong and release it into the river, giving thanks and making wishes for a good year ahead while marking your final night in Thailand with this timeless and exclusive celebration. 

Where to Stay

Capella Bangkok

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