Bangkok to Chiang Mai Express

If you’re short on time but want to see the sights north of Bangkok (and really, who doesn’t?), this is the express trip for you. Take seven days, pack them full of wonderment and reflection in Northern Thailand — Kanchanaburi, Ayutthaya, and Chiang Mai, and plenty of temples, palaces, and small villages to explore — and you’ve got a recipe for one of the most memorable weeks you’ll ever have. Toss in the ease of travel by trains and buses and there’s no way you’ll feel like you’re missing out on anything in this dynamic region. Hotels/guesthouses (4 nts), rafthouse (1 nt), sleeper train (1 nt).