Thailand Temples & Beaches: Bangkok & Koh Samui
City wonders by day, turquoise waters by weekend — the classic Thai contrast
From
£2,695pp
About this tour
Nine days. Two very different Thailands. The first half is Bangkok — the magnificent, maddening, endlessly surprising capital, a city where ancient gold-spired temples rise above a hypermodern skyline and where the world's greatest street food awaits on every corner. The second half is Koh Samui — the coconut island in the Gulf of Thailand, where white-sand beaches, swaying palms and turquoise shallows deliver exactly what the word "Thailand" conjures in the imagination. Finn Rawlinson, our small-group specialist, leads this departure with the easy authority of someone who has been navigating Thai culture for eight years. Groups are capped at 12, which means you're never anonymous and never waiting. Finn has an instinct for when a group wants depth and when it wants to simply be — an instinct that makes his tours consistently among our most highly reviewed. Bangkok's four nights at the Sindhorn Midtown — a contemporary five-star hotel with an exceptional spa and rooftop pool, steps from Lumphini Park — provide a genuinely comfortable base. Koh Samui's Four Seasons adds the second act: a resort where each villa looks out over the Gulf of Thailand and where the pace of life slows to match the gentle rhythm of the sea.
“Led by Finn Rawlinson, our small-group Thailand specialist with eight years of experience.”
Why this works for travellers over 50
- Small groups of max 12 — never lost in a crowd, always known by name
- Finn Rawlinson has led over 200 group tours in Thailand over 8 years
- Sindhorn Midtown Bangkok is a contemporary 5-star with excellent accessibility
- Four Seasons Koh Samui is one of the Gulf Coast's finest beach resorts
- Internal flight Bangkok–Koh Samui included
- Mix of cultural depth and total relaxation in a single itinerary
- All meal inclusions listed clearly — no unexpected costs
Request a Callback
Price per person — based on two travelling together.
We respond within 1 working day · No obligation
Your journey
Day-by-day itinerary
1Welcome to Bangkok
Bangkok
LightSindhorn Midtown Bangkok
Welcome to Bangkok
Bangkok
Group transfer from Suvarnabhumi Airport to the Sindhorn Midtown Hotel. Welcome dinner with Finn at a rooftop restaurant overlooking the Bangkok skyline — the perfect introduction to the city and your fellow travellers.
2The Grand Palace & Riverside
Bangkok
ModerateSindhorn Midtown Bangkok
The Grand Palace & Riverside
Bangkok
The Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Pho in the morning — Bangkok's sacred triangle. Finn's commentary brings the religious and royal significance of each site to life with a depth that makes even a repeat visitor see things anew. Afternoon free. Optional sunset river cruise this evening.
3Damnoen Saduak Floating Market & Jim Thompson House
Bangkok / Ratchaburi
Active morning, gentle afternoonSindhorn Midtown Bangkok
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market & Jim Thompson House
Bangkok / Ratchaburi
Early morning drive to Damnoen Saduak for the famous floating market — colourful boats laden with tropical fruit, fresh noodles and carved wooden goods. Back in Bangkok, the Jim Thompson House provides an afternoon of Thai architecture and art: the American businessman who revived the Thai silk industry left behind six linked traditional houses filled with Southeast Asian antiques.
4Chatuchak Weekend Market & Bangkok Free Time
Bangkok
ModerateSindhorn Midtown Bangkok
Chatuchak Weekend Market & Bangkok Free Time
Bangkok
Morning visit to Chatuchak — one of the world's largest weekend markets, with over 8,000 stalls selling everything from vintage Thai textiles to live orchids. Finn guides you through his favourite sections (antiques and home décor are on the north side; textiles and handicrafts are in the east). Afternoon and evening entirely free.
5Bangkok to Koh Samui
Bangkok → Koh Samui
LightFour Seasons Koh Samui
Bangkok to Koh Samui
Bangkok → Koh Samui
Transfer to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi for the included one-hour flight to Koh Samui. Private group transfer to the Four Seasons Koh Samui. This evening, a welcome dinner at the resort overlooking the Gulf of Thailand.
6Angthong Marine National Park
Koh Samui / Angthong National Park
ActiveFour Seasons Koh Samui
Angthong Marine National Park
Koh Samui / Angthong National Park
A full-day boat excursion to Angthong Marine National Park — 42 islands of extraordinary beauty, with sea caves, emerald lagoons, and coral-fringed beaches. Swim, snorkel, kayak through sea caves, and climb to a viewpoint that surveys the entire archipelago. One of Thailand's most visually dramatic experiences.
7Koh Samui Temple Trail & Local Lunch
Koh Samui
GentleFour Seasons Koh Samui
Koh Samui Temple Trail & Local Lunch
Koh Samui
Koh Samui has its own remarkable temple heritage. Finn leads a morning tour of Wat Plai Laem — a stunning multi-armed Guanyin statue rising from a lake — and Wat Khunaram, home to the mummified monk Luang Pho Daeng, preserved in a glass shrine since 1973. Local lunch at a family-run Thai restaurant in the island's interior.
8Free Day at the Four Seasons
Koh Samui
Completely freeFour Seasons Koh Samui
Free Day at the Four Seasons
Koh Samui
A completely unscheduled day. The Four Seasons beach, the pool, the spa, a long breakfast. Or arrange a private snorkelling trip or kayak excursion with the resort's water sports team. This is your day entirely.
9Koh Samui Departure
Koh Samui
Departure day
Koh Samui Departure
Koh Samui
Final morning at leisure. Group transfer to Koh Samui Airport for departures. Finn joins the group for a farewell breakfast before seeing everyone off.
Like what you see?
Our specialists can tailor every day to your preferences.
Fitness & mobility
Pacing & accessibility
Typically 5–6 hours of activity per day. Some longer temple visits and market walks. Afternoons often free.
Walking
Bangkok days average 4–5km. Koh Samui days are mostly 2km or less. Angthong boat day involves optional swimming and a short climb.
Transport
Air-conditioned coach or minibus throughout. One internal flight Bangkok–Koh Samui (1 hour). Full-day boat to Angthong (approx 2.5 hours each way).
Altitude
All destinations are at sea level. No altitude concerns.
Heat / Climate
Bangkok and Koh Samui are hot and humid. Activities are scheduled for mornings. All vehicles and hotels are air-conditioned. Stay hydrated.
Accommodation
Your hotels
Sindhorn Midtown Bangkok
★★★★★Lumphini, Bangkok · 4 nights
A contemporary five-star in Bangkok's quieter Lumphini district, steps from the park and with excellent transport links to the main sights. Large rooms, an outstanding rooftop pool and bar, and an accessible ground-floor layout that makes navigation easy for all guests.
- Rooftop pool and bar
- Lumphini Park location
- Excellent accessibility
- Strong spa
- Contemporary design
Four Seasons Koh Samui
★★★★★North-East Koh Samui · 4 nights
Perched on a hillside above the Gulf of Thailand, the Four Seasons Koh Samui offers pool villas with panoramic sea views and a private beach. The Koh Thai Kitchen serves authentic southern Thai cuisine with Gulf views. One of the finest beach properties in the Gulf of Thailand.
- Private infinity pool villas
- Gulf of Thailand sea views
- Private beach
- Award-winning Koh Thai Kitchen
- Comprehensive water sports
Enhance your trip
Koh Tao Diving Day
+£185
A day trip from Koh Samui to Koh Tao, one of Thailand's best diving and snorkelling destinations. Suitable for non-divers (snorkelling) and certified divers (guided dive available).
per person
Bangkok Temple Highlight
+£75
Add Wat Traimit (Temple of the Golden Buddha — a 5.5-tonne solid gold Buddha statue) and Chinatown food walk on Day 3.
per person
Pricing
Holiday pricing
All prices are per person, based on two people sharing. We arrange departures throughout the year to suit your preferred dates.
Starting from
£2,695
per person · 2 sharing
Solo traveller supplement: +£595 pp
Travelling solo?
Single supplement: +£595 pp · Single supplement waived on February 2026 departure for solo travellers willing to share a twin room
Full details
What’s included & not included
Included in your price
- 8 nights in 5-star hotels (Bangkok Sindhorn 4n, Koh Samui Four Seasons 4n)
- Expert small-group guide Finn Rawlinson throughout
- Internal flight Bangkok–Koh Samui (included)
- All group road transfers in air-conditioned coach or minibus
- Angthong Marine National Park full-day boat trip with lunch
- Damnoen Saduak floating market excursion
- All temple and attraction entrance fees
- Daily breakfast; meals on days 1, 5 and 7 as noted
- Welcome dinner and farewell breakfast
- ATOL financial protection
Not included
- Travel insurance (required)
- Lunches and dinners not listed
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Optional spa, water sports or activities at resort
Your specialist
Who will plan your holiday
Finn Rawlinson
Finn grew up in Kendal, Cumbria, and came to Thailand after teaching English in Bangkok in the early 2010s. He has been leading small-group tours for Holidays to Asia since 2016, developing a reputation for keeping groups feeling like close friends rather than a collection of strangers. He reads groups intuitively — knowing when to add depth and when to simply let the place do the talking. His Thai language skills are functional and his street-food knowledge is encyclopaedic.
Tailor-made
Like this tour but want it adapted?
Extra nights, alternative hotels, private transfers — our specialists will build your perfect itinerary from scratch.
What our guests say
Guest reviews
Finn made us feel like old friends
“We'd been on group tours before where you feel like just a number. This couldn't have been more different. By day two, our group of 10 felt like we'd known each other for years, and that was entirely down to Finn's skill at drawing people together. The Four Seasons Koh Samui was absolutely spectacular.”
Anne & Brian Calloway
Surrey · 2024-12-14
Perfect blend of cities and beach
“I was a solo traveller and slightly nervous. Within hours of arriving I felt completely at ease — partly the lovely group, partly Finn's welcoming manner. The Angthong boat day was the highlight: those limestone islands rising out of the sea are like nothing I've ever seen. Already recommending to my sister.”
Patricia Downes
Dublin · 2025-02-03
Excellent tour with outstanding beaches
“Very well organised and excellent value. Finn is knowledgeable and engaging. The floating market was a little crowded (go at dawn, as instructed — seriously). The Four Seasons at Koh Samui was the best hotel I've stayed in. Would give 5 stars but we had one afternoon of heavy rain in Bangkok.”
Jeremy Hartley
Bristol · 2025-01-09
Before you go
Practical information
Visa requirements
British passport holders: 30-day visa exemption on arrival. No advance arrangement required.
Currency
Thai Baht (THB). £1 ≈ 44 THB. Credit cards widely accepted at hotels and restaurants. Carry THB cash for markets.
Tipping
200–300 THB per day for your group guide is customary. Hotel staff: 50–100 THB per service.
Electricity
220V, Type A and C sockets. Universal travel adaptor recommended.
Health & vaccinations
Hepatitis A and Typhoid vaccinations recommended. No malaria risk in Bangkok, Koh Samui or popular tourist areas. Tap water not safe to drink.
Flights
Fly to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK). Direct flights from London with Thai Airways, British Airways or EVA Air (approx 11.5 hours). Internal flight Bangkok–Koh Samui included.
Local transport
All group transfers in air-conditioned coach. Internal flight included. Koh Samui: resort transfer and day trips by minibus.
Travel with like-minded people
Join a Small Group Departure
Prefer to travel with a small group of fellow over-50s rather than as a couple or solo? Our fixed-departure group tours put you alongside eight to twelve like-minded travellers with a dedicated tour manager for the entire journey.
- Maximum 12 travellers — intimate by design
- Dedicated tour manager throughout
- Social dinners and shared discoveries
- Single supplement waived on selected departures
- Like-minded over-50s travellers
- No single friends needed — just arrive and enjoy
Register Your Interest
Tell us your preferred dates and travel companions — we’ll match you with the right departure and send full details.
Our team will respond within 1 working day.
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How big are the groups really?
We guarantee a maximum of 12 travellers. Most departures run with 8–10 people. We have never exceeded 12 on any departure.
Is Koh Samui suitable for non-beach people?
Yes — the temple tour on Day 7 is genuinely interesting and Finn's local lunch is a highlight for food lovers. The Angthong boat trip is about extraordinary scenery as much as swimming. That said, you will be at a beach resort for 4 nights, so some appreciation of a beautiful coastline helps.
What is the weather like on Koh Samui?
The Gulf of Thailand coast has its own weather pattern. The wettest months are October and November. December to March is generally excellent — warm, sunny, calm seas. April to September is good on the Gulf side (Koh Samui) even when Phuket's Andaman coast has monsoon rain.
Can I extend the Koh Samui stay?
Yes — many guests add extra nights at the Four Seasons before or after the group departure. We can arrange this as a seamless extension.
Are meals mostly Thai food?
Yes — Finn aims to give guests authentic Thai dining experiences wherever possible. Western options are always available at hotels, but those who come with an adventurous palate get the most from the included meals.
Is Damnoen Saduak really worth the early start?
Yes, unequivocally. The market has become commercialised, but at dawn — before the day-trip coaches arrive — it retains genuine atmosphere. The boat ride through the canal system is beautiful regardless of the market itself.
Let’s make it happen
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