Luxury Thailand holidays
Yonder’s Thailand is like an unpredictable old friend. Ever reliable, full of surprises and fascinating to catch up with. A luxury Thailand holiday with Yonder is about so much more than a tropical paradise. Thailand a country with spectacular culture, a long and distinguished history of independence and monarchy.
It’s also home to one of the world’s oldest rainforests, the legendary golden triangle where the mighty Mekong River runs wild, and some of the most beautiful beaches imaginable.
Of course, it would be a mistake to suggest that some parts of Thailand have not suffered from the explosion of mass tourism there.
But for Yonder, it is still a country that richly rewards those prepared to venture along the road less travelled. The country is home to a dazzling array of hotels. The secret is knowing which Thailand luxury hotels to choose.
At heart, we at Yonder still have an affinity with those 1970s hippies who pioneered many of Thailand’s most idyllic destinations. Secretly, there’s a part of us that would still like to wear a beard and some beads and dwell in a beach shack beside an untrodden crescent of exquisite palm-fringed sand.
But of course as we have matured and become more sophisticated (that’s what you love about us, after all!), so have our tastes. And because we know this country better than most, having travelled its diverse regions for decades, we will transport you to a Thailand that still retains the fresh, unspoiled wonder of those early backpacker days – but with lashings of sophisticated refinements on the side.
With Yonder, you won’t risk falling foul of the awful mediocrity that is rife in so many mass tourism destinations. Instead, on your luxury Thailand travels, you will discover the dazzling tropical tranquility that first drew those happy hippies back in the 1970s, coupled with an elegant and dedicated approach to life’s refined pleasures that still makes Thailand special.
And of course we are not only taking about beaches, glorious though some of them undoubtedly are. Bangkok is a frenetic capital that has a distinctive vibe and is home to some of Thailand’s greatest cultural treasures. As part of your Thailand luxury holiday with Yondr, perhaps jump on a plane and go north to reach the stunning hill country that characterises the Golden Triangle, where Laos, Myanmar and Thailand meet at the confluence of the Ruak and Mekong rivers. The little city of Chiang Rai, with its relaxed atmosphere, good-value accommodation and great local food, is pure Yonder territory.
And turning south again we head to Surat Thani province, where a number of Yonders’ greatest gems can be found. The jaw-dropping Khao Sok rainforest, the oldest parts dating back 160 million years, has only recently made it onto the tourist trail but remains largely untrammelled. Listen to the song of the gibbons as your relax afloat upon a vast lake within the national park.
A couple of hours drive further south, and you’ll reach the all but unknown beaches of Khanom with their A-list residents, the endangered pink dolphins.
To the east, is the Yonder string of Thailand luxury travel pearls: The islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Whilst parts of Samui have now been sullied by commercialisation, it is also the setting for some of the most superlative luxury designer hotels we have ever enjoyed, while Koh Phangan and Koh Tao still retain the castaway credentials that make them paradise Thailand holiday islands.
Thailand: The Gallery
So much to explore in Thailand
In each of Yonder’s main destinations, we have selected a range of highlights you might like to include in your personalised Yonder trip.
Whether they are fabled regions, resorts or cities, single destinations or entire itineraries, these are the Yonder ingredients we know will help you begin to piece together the ideal trip…
Where to go in Thailand
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Chiang Mai and the Golden Triangle
Chiang Mai, Thailand’s northern hub, is contemporary Southeast Asia in miniature: confident, youthful, on the move and yet deeply reverential towards its diverse heritage and long history.
- Get out onto the Ruak and Mekong in a longtail boat. You’ll get a different perspective of the Golden Triangle and encounter scenes that can only be appreciated from water level.
- Explore Chiang Mai at night. Don’t miss the sprawling night bazaar where you’ll find great food and frenetic nightlife.
- Chiang Rai’s Hall of Opium museum is an absolute must visit. Unquestionably one of the best museums in Thailand. it is brilliantly curated, with fascinating insights into the opium trade.
The Golden Triangle was truly exhilarating. We went from being mahouts to explorers in a single day. Pampered beyond belief, we ate food with flavours so intense we thought we were hallucinating (no, there wasn't any opium involved).
Phuket and the West coast
Phuket, the most famous of all of the Thai islands, has been enjoying a sun-filled renaissance and we at Yonder have been basking in its renewed glory. We’ve gone out exploring, rediscovering little corners of this picture-perfect paradise - and we are putting it back on our secret map.
- Kick back on the glorious West coast tropical beaches. They are amongst the best in the world.
- Follow in illustrious footsteps on her Majesty’s Secret Service and head to the stunning Phang Nga Bay, featured in the 1974 film The Man with the Golden Gun.
- Embrace the heavenly cocoon of your hand-picked hotel
There is something truly magical about Phuket. We’ve returned countless times and on each occasion have been able to luxuriate in exquisite hotels that have gone from perfect to out of this world
Khao Sok
Sometimes we’re in such a hurry to get to where we think we want to go, we miss out on new and memorable experiences. So it was for us with Khao Sok. Because this stunning national park is within easy striking distance of the likes of Koh Samui and Phuket, you can easily pass it by. Oh what a mistake! Until we took the road less travelled.
- Go exploring in the rainforest with an expert guide. Believe us, hiking through this ancient forest is no mere walk in the woods.
- A thrilling way to experience the magic of Khao Sok is tubing down the Sok River.
- Canoeing on Cheow Lan lake is an easy way of exploring the national park
Koh Tao
It’s a tiny island but Koh Tao sure is big on experience. And that starts with the journey there, as this far-flung gem is quite a ride across the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Siam, taking around two hours by ferry from Koh Samui. But let’s face it, when you’re journeying down the road less travelled, that’s a short hop in the grand scheme of things!
- Go on a night dive – you’ll be awed as the underwater world goes about its night time business.
- The picture postcard islands of Koh Nang Yuan are just 10 minutes by longtail boat.
- Fall into a beanbag at a beach bar as the sun sets and cradle a Singha beer.
Koh Phangan
Ah, Koh Phangan! It is an emerald casually cast into the Bay of Siam, exquisite but rough-hewn. And it will always have a special place in our hearts as the setting for one of the most exquisite beaches we have ever had the delight of discovering.
- Take a hiking trip through the jungle to visit Koh Phangan’s beautiful waterfalls.
- Explore the many idyllic bays and beaches on an all-day boat trip.
- Visit Ko Maa off the northwest coast. It offers some of the best snorkeling on the island.
Koh Samui
Once a remote tropical island, with a couple of thatched pavilions as its airport terminal, Koh Samui is now a colossus on the Thai beach scene. The backpackers who first put the island on the map, have long since been replaced by wheelie pullers. And the bamboo beach shacks have given way to some phenomenal Koh Samui luxury hotels.
- Choeng Mon beach is amongst the finest on the island, with perfect white powdery sand.
- No trip is complete without a visit to Big Buddha. The golden statue seated on a 12m plinth is the island’s most revered site.
- You’ll have a giggle at Hin Ta and Yin Ya. It’s a rock formation that is decidedly phallic.
Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai is a name, that can make the hairs on the back of the neck stand on end. It is the frontier to the Golden Triangle, the legendary intersection between Thailand, Laos and Burma where the mighty Mekong river flows. It's super remote, intensely mysterious and achingly beautiful.
- Experience the Ruak and Mekong in a longtail boat to get a different perspective of the Golden Triangle.
- The Hall of Opium museum is an absolute must visit.
- Go into the spectacular countryside to mingle with local tribes, encounter the wildlife and experience the rugged terrain.
Bangkok
Bangkok is bursting with energy and bubbling with diverse culture. It’s one of those extraordinary and evocative global cities that surprises you at every turn. Within the frenetic comings and goings and amongst the towering infrastructure you’ll find charming night markets, tiny Buddhist shrines and an authentic daily life.
- Get up early, brave the crowds and visit the Grand Palace.
- Go to Chatuchak market. It’s a never ending maze of booths, stalls and shops.
- Take a private longtail on the klongs (canals) that run off the sides of the Chao Phraya river.
An itinerary designed just for you!
Here at Yonder we have devised some exciting itineraries that will illustrate just what amazing journeys you could enjoy through Yonder’s exciting far-away destinations.
Of course every one of Yonder’s clients is a unique individual and we only create personalised itineraries that reflect those personal desires and wishes. So your Yonder journey will be as individual as you are. But to help you envisage just what amazing adventures might be possible, we have devised sample itineraries that we are confident will inspire you. You only have to pick up the phone to explore how any one of these ideas might be adapted to create your own perfect journey Yonder.