Thailand for Food Lovers: Complete Gastronomic Itinerary

Thai Cuisine

What to expect on this itinerary

Thai food is celebrated worldwide and for good reasons. Years of tradition and meticulous attention to invigorating all flavor profiles have culminated into a sensory cuisine that is unlike any other. Using a range of aromatic spices and locally-sourced ingredients, Thai chefs create beloved dishes for both traditional tastes and finer palates. On this immersive, 21-day tour of Thailand, you will travel to pivotal destinations that bring timeless recipes to life in perfect fashion. From authentic ethnic hill tribe meals to opulent recreations of classic meals at award-winning restaurants, you will experience much of the best of Thailand’s gastronomic scene.

Countries Visited

Thailand

Places Visited

Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Bangkok, Hua Hin, Phuket, Krabi, Koh Lanta

Suggested Duration

21 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1 - 4

Chiang Mai – A Blend of Tradition and Sophistication

Nestled beneath the striking Doi Suthep Mountain lies the thriving city of Chiang Mai. It is often referred to as the Northern capital of Thailand as it holds significant importance to the Thai people. The city is a booming metropolitan paradise that is set amongst a sprawling and unspoiled landscape. The destination is steeped in rich history, and you will explore this heritage through enchanting experiences during your stay.

Beyond the alluring sights that await, Chiang Mai boasts the most authentic Northern Thai cuisine. The country’s food culture is no better expressed than on the plate of a traditional Chiang Mai Gaeng Hang Lay, which is a Burmese-inspired, sweet yellow curry. You will dabble in the delectable, northern flavors shortly after you have arrived and checked-in to your exceptional 5-star resort beneath Doi Suthep Mountain. You will witness surreal vistas of the surrounding scenery from the splendor of your private suite. Afterward, you can visit distinguished, local markets for wholesome Thai food experiences. The stalls spread spirited energy throughout the vibrant markets, and locals swarm the busy vendors as they fry timeless dishes in their works. You will become pleasantly lost in the exuberant bustle as you move from stall to stall and tuck into delightful delicacies along the way.

Though native chefs are revered for their traditional creations, Chiang Mai boasts a selection of prestigious restaurants for a modern twist on the classics. You can venture out on a guided food tour to the foremost restaurants in the city, where you will dine alongside the upper-class and enjoy award-winning dishes that are paired with elegant glasses of wine. You will depart Chiang Mai feeling inspired by the unique blend of tradition and sophistication that prevails in this sought-after, culinary-centered city.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Tour
Breakfast
Day 5 - 6

Chiang Rai – Feast Like a Local

Day 7 - 10

Bangkok – Thailand’s Celebrated Culinary Scene

Day 11 - 12

Hua Hin – Fresh Seafood with Sunset Views

Day 13 - 16

Phuket – Treasured Meals in the Tropics

Day 17 - 19

Krabi – A Taste of Stylish Seclusion

Day 20 - 21

Koh Lanta – Opulent Bites within Paradise

Trip Highlights

  • Discover the complex flavors of Lanna food, which is Northern Thai food, at Chiang Mai’s authentic eateries and stylish restaurants
  • Delight in a family-style meal with a local ethnic hill tribe of Chiang Rai and connect with their timeless culinary traditions
  • Indulge in a tour the bustling city of Bangkok in search of the most delectable gourmet meals Thailand has to offer
  • Bask in the sumptuous flavors of freshly caught seafood against a stunning backdrop of the Gulf of Thailand in Hua Hin
  • Cruise to hideaway beaches across Phuket’s sprawling coastline and encounter treasured cuisine at leading restaurants
  • Learn more about the culinary culture at a prestigious cooking school in Krabi and try your hand at preparing your own fashionable Thai food
  • Luxuriate in seclusion among the secret, snorkeling beaches of Koh Lanta and enjoy the delightful tastes of Thailand in style

Starting Price

$23,900 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 57 reviews

Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam Vacation Review: Elephant Sanctuary, Private Tours, Local Culture, Cuisine, Angkor Wat, Cu Chi Tunnels, Trekking, Biking, Boating, 10-Night Trip

Our Zicasso travel agent did a wonderful job taking our requests and styling a complex, detailed itinerary. Everything worked perfectly. The guides all communicated with each other and the drivers were always at the expected locations. All accommodations were awesome and well-located. 

Beginning in Chiang Mai, Thailand, we visited Doi Inthanon National Park, the Doi Suthep mountain temple, and had an absolutely awesome time visiting with elephants at the elephant sanctuary, among other things. We even got to play with a two-week-old elephant. All our dining recommendations were awesome and we particularly enjoyed our time with the guides.

Next, we flew to Krabi for unforgettable views and relaxing beach time. Again, the resort was awesome. We even went mountain climbing on Railay Beach. My son got engaged at the New Year's gala at our hotel, which was spectacular; an unbelievable stay. We particularly enjoyed our time with the guide!

Next, we finished in Bangkok, where the highlight was riding in the tuk-tuks and doing a city food tour. Our guide was so awesome and knowledgeable.

Unfortunately, eight of the 10 of us then flew home, while my wife and I continued to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Our guide was such a good travel companion and we left Cambodia with a true knowledge of Cambodian life/history/temples. He was very forthcoming about his life growing up under the Khmer Rouge. Although a long day, the temple tour was unbelievable, culminating in Angkor Wat. Our hotel was awesome and blocks from the nightlife on Pub Street. It was such a great stay.

Next, we flew to Saigon. We were met by our guide, who noticed we were hungry and immediately stopped at a local street food vendor for our first foray into bun bo. It was so good. The mix of history, countryside visits, and city tours with our guide was awesome and she even left us with a customized pictorial of our visit. The other excursion that needs mention is the Vespa city and food tour. Our main guide was delightful, giving us a true taste of Saigon culture and food. The drivers were so great.  This tour finished with a surprise visit to a local bar/club, where we had front-row seats to an awesome Latin band for a nightcap. It was truly unforgettable. Also, we cannot forget our visit to the Cu Chi tunnels, where our guide did a great job educating and touring us through this unbelievable history.

Then, we flew to Hanoi to another awesome location. Highlights in Hanoi would be visiting the Hoa Lo prison, having dinner in a local family's home, and especially the Minsk backstreet tour. Our tour drivers were so awesome. This excursion really gave us a feel for the city/backstreets, as well as an idea of the frightening life of riding a motorbike through the city and back alleys of Hanoi. It was truly unforgettable. This tour finished with my knees about a foot away from the speeding train at Hanoi train station, another can't-miss site!

Next, we visited Ninh Binh for trekking, biking, and bamboo boating. The scenery was awesome and it was definitely a nice break from the busy city.

The trip finished with a two-night, three-day cruise on Hạ Long Bay. The scenery was unbelievable and the staff were excellent; so attentive and informative.

This trip truly was spectacular and we are so happy that Zicasso connected us with our agent to make all of this happen. We couldn't be happier with the entire trip!

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Cambodia, Thailand Vacation Review: Bangkok, Siem Reap, Phuket, Khao Sok, Angkor Wat, 3-Week Trip

During the trip, our Zicasso travel agent promptly responded to issues/inconveniences. Our guides in Bangkok and in Siem Reap were the best tour guides of them all, as were the foodie tour guides in Bangkok and Phuket. We truly enjoyed this trip.

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Thailand Trip Review: Chiang Mai, Trekking, Homestay, 1 Week
"I had an amazing trip to Chiang Mai! My itinerary was perfectly tailored to my needs and Zicasso’s trip planner provided such excellent support."

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Thailand Travel Review: Bangkok, Koh Samui, Temples, Elephant Experience, Cooking Class, Scenery, Markets, Boat Ride, 9 Days

We had a great trip to Thailand with our Zicasso trip planner. They set us up with a very helpful guide in Bangkok, who made it easy from the time we stepped off the plane, through all the temples, activities, night markets, tuk-tuks, and boats. 

Our hotel in Bangkok was great, with nice views and a nice breakfast buffet. We took the free hotel ferry to the shopping mall and it was a lot of fun. 

Our resort in Koh Samui was incredible. It had a great beach and pool. The elephant sanctuary and the cooking class were highlights. We would probably pass on Pig Island next time as it was very dirty and we saw pigs getting attacked.

Overall, we had a great time and the tour guide took care of us completely, from start to finish. 

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Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore Tour Review: Khmer Cooking Class, History, Geography, Culture, Rural Areas, Private Guides, Boutique Hotels, 3 Weeks

Zicasso’s travel agency worked patiently with us over several months to organize a perfect four-country tour through Indochina, doing exactly what we asked, including a Khmer cooking class with a local chef.  

We were met on arrival in each county by an experienced English-speaking guide who was well-versed in the history, geography, and culture of each location, and they were just delightful people too. They took us to rural villages and through urban mazes to get a close look at the daily life of the citizens. We chatted with farmers in the field and had meals in local homes. Our agency booked amazing hotels for each stop, from an eco-lodge in the mountains of Vietnam to a spectacular seaside resort in Thailand. 

We had contact names and numbers for agency representatives in each country. They were incredibly responsive, even after hours, when we had a small medical issue. They gave us a completely seamless experience from arrival to departure, with no wasted time. Vacation time is very precious, so we prefer to work with professionals who know the area intimately and take the time to understand our objectives rather than pushing a canned itinerary.

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Thailand Trip Review: Chiang Mai, 8 Nights

Zicasso's travel expert addressed our one issue with our bed instantly and helped with navigating having to potentially go home because of health issues. Aside from that, our tour guide in Chiang Mai was the best we have ever had and to top it, he was a photographer, so took the most amazing photos for us.

I felt Bangkok was tough to rate because it was a very busy, dirty city, but we had an amazing guide one evening. We had issues with the driver showing up at the right time a few times, but mostly in Bangkok. Our agent was the best at addressing our needs.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

30,000+ Verified Traveler Reviews