Greeted by warm smiles as you sail the backwater canals of Bangkok, chant with monks, engage with the enigmatic hill tribes of northern Thailand, glide down the Mekong along the borders of three countries, and revel in the wondrous site of Phang Nga Bay; these are just some of the splendors to be revealed in the “Land of Smiles“ on The Evolved Traveler’s 13-night luxury journey “Thai Highs." Bangkok, a city of colorful contrasts where luxury high-rises and hotels brush with golden temples and palaces, brings your first “Thai High.” Soar down the Chao Praya River in a long-tail boat to the hidden canals of Bangkok where you will be received with the lofting scents of food cooking on open fires and waves of the locals going about daily life. The city’s spiritual side rises with the sun when the monks greet you for morning chanting. Other sides of the city unfold for you as you stand in awe at the sight of the Grand Palace, take in the colors, bustle, and banter of the floating markets, and accept the handshakes of locals over coffee in the eclectic Talad Noi neighborhood. The flurry of the city gives way to the serene when you journey to Chiang Rai and Northern Thailand. Interact with the secluded hill tribes in an Evolved Experience in which your guide himself is a member of one of the tribes. Catch the wind coasting down the Mekong River along the borders of Thailand and Laos, and exchange antidotes of family life over lunch with a local family in Chiang Mai before spending time with other “local residents,” elephants! Participate in the feeding, teaching, and bathing of these incredible and warm creatures, and even join in a medical examination with the facility veterinarian at Chiang Mai’s Rehabilitation Center. And finally, let relaxation rule on the white sand and azure blue beaches of Phuket during a glorious four-night stay. HIGHLIGHTS: Sail the backwater canals of Bangkok on a longtail boat * Witness the monks’ morning chanting ritual at Wat Pho * Take in the colors, bustle, and banter of Thailand’s floating markets * Embark on a boat trip along the mighty Mekong River to see the Golden Triangle * Interact with the secluded hill tribes of Northern Thailand * Spend the day nurturing elephants at Elephant Chang Sanctuary * Relax on the white sand and azure blue beaches of Phuket