Skip the Patong all-inclusive and do it properly — boutique pool villas in Krabi, a chef's-table in Bangkok, or a week on Koh Yao Noi where nobody has your number.
Thailand isn't one trip — it's four or five. We build yours around how you like to travel: temple-hopping nerd, beach-slow, food obsessive, adventure-forward, or honeymoon-horizontal. Pick your flavour below, or let us match you.
Land HKT late morning on direct from SYD/BNE. Private SUV transfer to Patong (45 min). Afternoon at leisure — we recommend a massage and sundown beers at Kata. Hotel: Novotel Phuket Kata Avista Resort, ocean-view king.
Early pickup for a small-group speedboat to Maya Bay, Bamboo Island and Monkey Beach. Lunch on-board. Back by 5pm. Evening: Old Phuket Town walking food tour (optional, $89 pp).
Check-out at midday, private speedboat transfer to Ao Nang via the islands (~2.5 hrs). Check into your pool villa. Sunset longtail around Railay — included.
Classic Krabi day out — Chicken Island, Poda, Tup and Phra Nang Cave Beach. Thai lunch on Poda. Home by 4pm. Free evening at your villa.
Options we build in: rock-climb at Railay with a licensed guide, emerald pool & hot springs day, or simply don't move. We'll talk you through it.
Full-day longtail into Phang Nga, lunch on the boat. Sea-kayak through the limestone caves of Hong Island. The iconic Thailand shot.
Morning at the villa. Afternoon Thai cooking class (included). Private candlelit dinner on the beach — our farewell gift.
Private transfer to Krabi International (45 min). Afternoon flight home via Bangkok or Singapore, touching down in Australia the next morning.
Australians get 60 days visa-free on arrival. Passport must be valid 6 months beyond entry. No vaccination requirements.
Nov–Mar is peak: dry, cool-ish, busy. Apr is hot. May–Oct is green season — cheaper, brief afternoon rain, still great on the Gulf side (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan).
Thai Baht. ATMs everywhere, $8 AUD fee on most. Bring a couple of hundred in cash — taxis and markets love it. Visa/Mastercard widely accepted in hotels.
AIS tourist SIM at Suvarnabhumi — 15 days unlimited for ~$15. Or an eSIM before you fly (we'll send a link). Australian roaming is murder.
Tap water — no. Ice in restaurants — fine, it's made from filtered water. Bring a basic kit: Imodium, electrolytes, mozzie repellent with DEET.
Not obligatory but appreciated — 10% in nice restaurants, round up taxis, 100 THB per bag for porters, 300 THB per day for drivers/guides.
"Tenth anniversary in Krabi — we've done Bali, Fiji, Hawaii, and this one surprised us. Six Senses was worth the stretch. Private longtail around Phang Nga was our favourite day of any holiday ever."
"Kids 6 and 9 — Club Med Phuket was perfect, but the day we did the elephant sanctuary with a proper ethical operator was the one they still talk about. Good call from our trip designer."
"Bangkok food tour was brilliant. Also we got stuck in a flooded street for an hour and our trip designer was WhatsApping restaurants to hold our table. Can't fault the service."
Phuket for variety and nightlife. Krabi for dramatic limestone and day-trip kayaking. Koh Samui for reliable green-season weather and luxury resorts. Quieter? Koh Yao Noi, Koh Lanta, or Koh Kood. We'll match your trip to the vibe.
Very. Stick to Kata, Karon, Mai Khao, or Bang Tao beaches — calmer than Patong. Resorts are world-class for kids. We avoid booking families in central Patong because the strip gets rowdy after dark.
Yes — most common combos are Thailand + Vietnam (add 7 days) or Thailand + Singapore (add 3 days). Bangkok is a fantastic hub. Tell us what you've got in mind.
Overstated. On the Andaman side (Phuket, Krabi), May–Oct sees afternoon downpours most days for an hour or two. Mornings are usually sunny. Prices drop 20–30%. Gulf side (Koh Samui) is actually driest Jun–Aug.
Not for mainstream tourist Thailand. If you're heading to jungle borders for trekking we'll flag it. Always check with your GP — we're not medical.
One call to our on-trip line. We re-book, shift hotels, and hold your transfers at the new date. This is the advantage over booking OTAs direct — there's a human to escalate to.
Tell us your dates and vibe. We'll come back with two different options — usually a "classic" and a "go bigger" — with honest pricing and real hotel names.