authentic journeys

⚲ CHIANG MAI / CHIANG RAI / BANGKOK

 

Thailand Through the Artist’s Eye

 

This 6-days sample itinerary is perfect for travelers who want to go beyond the surface, tapping into Thailand’s creative heartbeat. Each stop connects you to the stories behind the art, the hands that make it, and the culture that inspires it. 

 

Day 1: Chiang Mai – Touching Tradition in the Old Town
Morning: Start your artistic journey with an Old City Walking Tour through Chiang Mai’s charming lanes. Visit Kalm Village, an Art, Craft and Culture Center in the heart of Chiang Mai Old Town. Kalm creates a space where people come together through the love of art, craft, and culture — featuring galleries, exhibitions, local handmade goods, and traditional tea shops.


End your walking tour at the impressive Silver Temple (Wat Sri Suphan), famed for its intricate silverwork and unique architecture. Then head next door to the silversmith workshop to try your hand at embossing your own small silver amulet with a master artisan.


Evening: Enjoy an art-inspired dinner at Woo Café, where interiors double as gallery space.


Stay at Tamarind Village - a unique and charming Boutique Property surrounded by majestic Tamarind trees or The Inside House – an elegant Lanna Colonial style residence, design-forward and peaceful.

 

 

Day 2: Chiang Mai – Craft Villages & Clay Hands
Morning: Visit Studio Naenna for a natural indigo dyeing workshop. Learn about ethical textiles and work with artisans on your own hand-dyed scarf.
Lunch: Eat slow and seasonal at Rustic & Blue or Fern Forest Café, surrounded by greenery and vintage charm.
Afternoon: Head to Ban Kang Wat, Chiang Mai’s indie art villag - a delightful hub of studios, shops, cafes, galleries, and workshops set in a tropical environment with traditional teak houses. Join a papermaking or bookbinding class with a local maker or create a ceramic piece at Chiang Mai Clay Studio.
Evening: Free time at Nimmanhaemin Road art boutiques and sunset drinks at a rooftop bar.
Overnight in Chiang Mai

 

 

If it's your first time to Chiang Mai and your travel schedule allows, we highly recommend spending an additional day or two in Chiang Mai :

  • Take in the panoramic view from Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, one of Thailand’s most sacred temples.

  • Visit an ethical Elephant Sanctuary to learn and connect with these gentle giants in a responsible way. 

  • MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum: Located slightly outside the city center, MAIIAM is highly regarded internationally and focuses on contemporary art from Thailand and Southeast Asia. Its striking architecture, housed in a converted warehouse, is also noteworthy. The museum's mission is to support living artists and features a diverse range of exhibitions. 

  • Weave Artisan Society in Chiang Mai is a multifunctional creative space and community hub located south of the old city in the Wua Lai district. Housed in a former ice factory, it aims to bridge the gap between traditional Thai handicrafts and contemporary design by bringing together local artisans, designers, and the broader creative community. It features a gallery showcasing local artworks, a coffee shop, a bookstore, and an immersive theater space.

 


Day 3: Journey to Chiang Rai – Sculpted Stories & Temple Surrealism
Morning: Private scenic transfer to Chiang Rai with a stop at a hilltribe textile co-op for an informal batik demo.
Afternoon: Explore the fantastical White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) , a surrealist masterpiece blending traditional Thai and contemporary art and learn about the artist’s philosophy blending Buddhism and pop culture.
Late Afternoon: Dive into the haunting beauty of Baan Dam (Black House) - a collection of dark, thought-provoking structures and artworks by national artist Thawan Duchanee and join a traditional lacquerware painting session led by a local art student.
Evening: Riverfront dinner surrounded by lanterns and local art installations.


Stay at The Legend Chiang Rai Boutique River Resort – Tranquil riverside views and locally inspired design or Baan Baramee Guesthouse – Cozy, artful, and friendly for conscious travelers.

 

 

Day 4: Bangkok Bound – Urban Creativity & Community
Morning: Fly to Bangkok and head straight to Baan Silapin (Artist’s House) at Khlong Bang Luang for a mask-painting or puppet-carving class, followed by a traditional shadow puppet show.
Afternoon: Visit Atta Gallery with exhibitions and activities centered around diverse contemporary visual art forms or 100 Tonson Foundation for a taste of contemporary Thai art.
Evening: Dine at Supanniga Eating Room – where art, taste, and tradition meet on every plate.


Overnight in Bangkok : Ariyasomvilla - a Thai Style Boutique Hotel in the heart of Bangkok, Siam@Siam Design Hotel – bold, artistic interiors and a rooftop bar with skyline views or The Mustang Nero for artsy vibes.

 

 

Day 5: Bangkok – Street Art & Riverside Scenes
Morning: Begin your day with a Bangkok Art Walk – a curated stroll starting at Sapan Taksin BTS Station and ending in Chinatown’s Yaowarat Road. Along the way, admire dynamic street art, architectural gems, small galleries, and vistas of the Chao Phraya River.
Afternoon: In the afternoon, dive deeper into Thai creativity at either the Bangkok Art & Culture Centre or MOCA BANGKOK, a his privately owned museum that boasts an extensive collection of modern and contemporary Thai art, providing a deep dive into the country's artistic evolution. The building's design is also impressive.

 

 

Day 6: An Arty Farewell
Optional Add-On: Depending on your travel schedule you can make a quick detour to Chatuchak’s art quarter or take part in a Thai Dance Class at Wat Arun, a 2-hour cultural art experience.
Departure: Private transfer to the airport for your next destination or flight home

 


If you're feeling inspired and ready to plan your own Thailand Insider Trip, we're here to help. Got questions? Want us to handle the bookings? Or wish to get your personalized exclusive Itinerary? Just reach out. Let's create an Authentic Journey that goes beyond the postcards and becomes a story you'll tell for years to come. Your next Adventure is waiting.


Recommend by your Thai Insider.

𝗔𝗨𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗖 𝗝𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗬𝗦.
𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦. 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘙𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦.

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𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘴, 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘵𝘳𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵.