SGA Airlines is now offering flights between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son, Pai and Nan at affordable prices of less than 2000 THB per person for a one-way ticket. Flights are operated on 12-seater Cessna 208B Grand Caravan planes which come with large side-windows. Each flight lasts around 50 minutes and can be included into any Northern Thailand itinerary. Besides offering a faster mode of travel between two cities, a scenic flight also makes a fantastic and exciting experience, especially for those traveling with children. Please contact thailand@exotissimo.com for more information, route schedules and pricing details.

The four-day Unseen Bangkok City Break showcases the Thai capital from a variety of perspectives. The first day is free for guests to spend at their leisure. The second day explores different corners of the Old Bangkok, with activities such as observing monks’ chanting rituals at Wat Po, a tour of Wat Po and Grand Palace, and a longtail boat ride along hidden canals to a canal-side market. On the third day, guests are offered several touring options to discover Bangkok in greater depth. They can join a culinary excursion to discover street food, fresh markets and traditional cafes or opt for a more active cycling journey through Chinatown and its nearby neighborhoods. For those interested in Thailand’s rich past, they can join a walking tour through Bangkok’s historical areas with a visit to the Museum of Siam. Click here to view the program details.

Specially designed for families, the four-day Chiang Mai Family Adventure offers a mix of soft adventure and culture discovery. On the first day, guests will enjoy an orientation tour of the Chiang Mai town on a trishaw. They will then drive up the mountain by songtaew to Chang Khien Coffee Research Project and White Hmong village before taking part in a private blessing ceremony at Wat Prathat Doi Suthep temple at dusk. The second day will be spent in the great outdoors with activities such as a countryside cycling excursion, elephant trekking, jungle picnic lunch, rubber raft paddling down Mae Taeng River and tea with an Akha hill tribe family. The third day is spent in a homestay at Mae Kampong village in the mountains, where guests can enjoy guided treks and meals with their host family. There is time this afternoon for an optional activity – Flight of the Gibbon – a fun zip-line adventure over tree tops. On the final day, guests can tour the village to view handicrafts making before returning to Chiang Mai with an en-route stop at Sankampaeng Hot Springs. Click here to view the program details.

Our two-day Community Connection is ideal for those who wish to experience a community-based vacation in southern Thailand. A two-hour drive from Phuket to Khao Lak leads to Ban Talae Nok homestay, a village affected by the tsunami a few years ago. After meeting the host family, guests enjoy a local lunch before exploring the area’s mangrove forests by boat with a local guide. There will be some free time for relaxation or a game of football with the village kids before dinner with the family. The second morning, guests join the soap making workshop with Tsunami Soap Co-operative to make local handicrafts. Enjoy a traditional Thai lunch with the host family before driving back to Phuket. Click here to view the program details.

Taking place on 2-4 November, our Chiang Mai Loy Krathong tour is designed for travelers to experience one of Thailand’s most popular festivals. Setting krathong (banana leaf floats) adrift on the Mae Ping River, launching a khom loy (floating lantern) into the night sky and sampling northern Thai signature curry noodles are some of the exciting activities in this 3-day package. Click here to view the program details.

A perfect day trip for families, our new Doi Inthanon Waterfall Walk features an easy 2-hour trek through Chiang Mai’s lush mountain scenery. Travelers will pass through a Karen hilltribe village and a local market as they hike up to Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s highest peak. More program details can be viewed here.

Designed for Asian food fans, ‘Culinary Delight of Bangkok’ is a full day trip that introduces travelers to the unique flavors of Thai cuisine. Transferring by local transportation, the guided excursion explores Bangkok’s fresh markets, roadside stalls and specialty restaurants with plenty of opportunities to sample local food and desserts. View more details here.

Up north, the ‘Spirit of Chiang Mai’ is a half-day trip that captures the cultural essence of Chiang Mai. Besides touring ancient chedis and attractions in the city, the excursion also includes a visit to the iconic Wat Prathat Doi Suthep, a mountain temple where guests partake in a private blessing ceremony by monks and observe the evening chanting ritual. Read more details here.

The Lanna Hill House is a luxury villa available for rental in Chiang Mai. Designed by a leading Thai architect, the property blends colonial and traditional styles with ample use of teak, rattan and bamboo furniture. The house consists of 4 double bedrooms, three with king size beds and en-suite bathrooms while the fourth comes with two single beds and a cot. There is also a restaurant, bar and 10-m swimming pool. The charming mansion overlooks green mountains and is recommended for families or small groups.

The Old Elephant Trail – 3 Days / 2 Nights is our latest adventure offering in Northern Thailand. Traversing dirt tracks, guests will travel in 4WD vehicles to sights off the beaten paths in Chiang Mai. Attractions include Doi Inthanon National Park, Wat Chan and the Old Elephant Trail (an ancient trade route between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son). One night will be spent at an eco-lodge and guests will have the opportunity to meet the colorful hill tribes. View the itinerary here. For inquiries, please contact bastiaan@exotissimo.com.

In this three-day adventure in Chiang Mai’s highlands, guests will trek through majestic jungles and across mountain ridges, ride on an elephant’s back and float on a bamboo raft along a meandering river. Nights are spent in Karen village homestays, the best way to get in contact with these friendly ethnic communities. This trip will make an authentic experience for clients interested in hill tribe cultures. Click here to view the itinerary or contact thailand@exotissimo.com for further information.

In Bangkok, Le Meridien Bangkok is a new five-star luxury hotel that has opened its doors in the city’s central business district. Set across 24 levels, the hotel’s 282 guestrooms and suites are fitted with floor-to-ceiling windows that open to the bustling streets of Silom below. The hotel also boasts of five-star business facilities, including meeting rooms, VIP boardrooms and a foyer for private functions. The entire sixth floor is devoted to the guest’s unique lifestyle pleasures.

On the outskirts of Chiang Mai, The Granary Resort is a charming guesthouse with Lanna-style teak huts surrounded by lush greenery. The interiors are fitted with antique teak furniture and bathrooms are open-air with rain showers. The swimming pool offers a fantastic view of the Ping River. Surrounded by verdant mountains and the Ping River, the Granary is an ideal accommodation choice for a relaxing holiday.

Down south in Phuket, Sri Panwa Phuket is an exciting addition to the island’s resort scene. Perched atop Cape Panwa, the luxurious estate commands stunning panoramic views of the Andaman Sea. All villas are enclosed by infinity-edge swimming pools and are just a short walk to an exclusive private beach. Sri Panwa’s Baba Dining Lounge specializes in authentic Andaman Thai and Continental European cuisine while Sai Spa features a wide selection of ancient techniques and modern treatments.

In Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket, we have hand-picked a selection of sightseeing tours and excursions that bring guests off the typical tourist paths to discover the hidden charms of these cities. These unique tours are compiled into an exclusive ‘Optional Tour Booklet’ for each destination city. To request for a copy of these booklets, please contact thailand@exotissimo.com.