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Update 10/7/24: This Culinary Getaway is currently sold out. Please contact reservations@academic-travel.com or call 1-877-298-9677 to add your name to the wait list.
Bon Appétit invites you on a 10-day, 9-night Culinary Getaway to Thailand with award-winning chef and restaurateur Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon. Recently named “Best Chef: Mid Atlantic” by the James Beard Foundation and owner of Kalaya—heralded as one of the “Best New Restaurants in the United States” when it opened in 2019—Nok will share her favorite dishes and memories with you on a journey home to Bangkok and southern Thailand. Indulge in extravagant meals at Michelin-starred restaurants and afternoon tea along the Chao Phraya River; learn how to prepare Thai dishes during a hands-on cooking class with one of Nok’s teachers; and enjoy Thai hospitality during a home-hosted dinner in Bangkok. Dine on fresh-caught seafood in an island fishing village; picnic in a secluded cave; and observe the colorful pageantry, drama, and music of Thai cultural traditions like the mythical Manohra dance and fire performance. Wend your way through the klongs (canals) of Bangkok and some of the world’s best street markets in Bangkok and Trang—Nok’s hometown.
Highlights
- Join Nok, recently named “Best Chef: Mid Atlantic” by the James Beard Foundation, for a journey home to Thailand where you will meet some of her favorite chefs; indulge in the food that fueled her childhood; and visit some of her favorite restaurants, markets, and hidden sites.
- Lose yourself in Thailand’s colorful markets, including an afternoon at Or Tor Kor in Bangkok, touted as one of the world’s best markets, and an early visit to the morning market in Trang.
- Spend idyllic afternoons on the water with a beachside barbecue and seafood picnic inside a cave.
- Stay in spectacular properties, from the lavish Four Seasons in the heart of Bangkok, to a luxury beach resort accessible only by private speedboat, to a luxury tent resort overlooking verdant mountains.
Pricing and Details
Read on for the full getaway itinerary. In the meantime, some key information:
- Dates: November 1–10, 2025
- Deposit: $1,000 (required upon booking to secure a spot)
- Price: $7995 (double occupancy); $9445 (single occupancy); *Please note: the internal flight from Bangkok to Trang is an additional $85.
- Hotels: Four Seasons Bangkok (4 nights); Kachong Hills Tented Resort (3 nights); Cape Kudu (2 nights)
- To book your trip: Visit here or call 1-877-298-9677
- Questions?: Reservations@academic-travel.com or 1-877-298-9677
- Terms and conditions
Itinerary
- Arrive on individual flights and transfer to your hotel.
- Join Nok and your fellow travelers for a welcome dinner featuring a six-course tasting menu at Le Du, ranked number one on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2023.
Included Meals: Dinner
Accommodations: Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River
- Visit the home of Jim Thompson, an American businessman who came to Thailand at the end of World War II to help revive the Thai silk industry before mysteriously disappearing.
- See why Bangkok is often called the Venice of the East and get a glimpse of local life as you wend your way through its klongs (canals) by long-tail boat.
- Return to shore for afternoon tea and handcrafted delicacies prepared by Capella Bangkok’s award-winning executive pastry chef.
- Experience Thai warmth and hospitality during a home-hosted dinner with Nok’s friend and teacher.
Included Meals: Breakfast, afternoon tea, dinner
Accommodations: Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River
- Take a full-day, hands-on cooking class at Suan Dusit, the international culinary school where Nok spent time honing her craft.
- Enjoy an evening at leisure to explore Bangkok’s many shops and restaurants.
Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Accommodations: Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River
- Wander through the majestic temple ruins at the Ayutthaya Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the rural outskirts of Bangkok best known for the iconic Buddha head entwined in tree roots.
- Tour the colorful and fragrant stalls of the Or Tor Kor Market, touted as one of the best fresh markets in the world.
- Optional Michelin-starred dinner: For an additional cost, those who choose can indulge in dinner at Sorn, recognized as one of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2024.
Included Meals: Breakfast, tastings, lunch, dinner
Accommodations: Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok at Chao Phraya River
- Transfer as a group to Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport for a short (1.5-hour) flight to Trang,* Nok’s hometown.
- Settle into your hotel, nestled within a scenic mountain range.
- Enjoy dinner with a live Manohra dance show, a traditional Thai folk performance reserved for special occasions.
Included Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Accommodations: Kachong Hills Tented Resort
*Internal flight ($85) not included in tour price.
- Embark on a private speedboat for a full-day adventure exploring the islands near Trang. Visit the Emerald Cave, relax on white sand beaches, snorkel among the colorful coral, and enjoy a seaside barbecue lunch.
- Return to your hotel for a Peranakan feast, a fusion of Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Eurasian ingredients, followed by a visit to town to sample roti, a sweet pan-fried bread.
Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodations: Kachong Hills Tented Resort
- Witness the market come to life on an early visit to the morning market and partake firsthand in Trang’s “obsession” with breakfast.
- Take a short drive to Na Muen Si Village and learn about the art of traditional weaving and the techniques that village residents have passed down through generations.
- Join your fellow travelers for lunch at a local restaurant.
- Relax this afternoon at the hotel, where you can visit the nearby botanical garden and waterfall before joining the group for a five-course dinner at the hotel.
Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodations: Kachong Hills Tented Resort
- Return to the pier and continue by speedboat to Cape Kudu, a luxury beach resort on the island of Koh Yao Noi.
- On arrival, enjoy time at leisure or select from a variety of optional activities, including biking around the island, yoga, batik painting, a Muay Thai lesson, or a visit to a nearby lobster farm.
- Gather at a local open-air restaurant sitting on stilts atop Koh Yao’s tidal flats for a homestyle Muslim seafood meal, lovingly prepared by Chef “Ma.”
Included Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Accommodations: Cape Kudu
- Depart the hotel for an unforgettable adventure to a secluded lagoon at Koh Kudu, where you can observe the diverse wildlife, crystal clear turquoise water, and limestone pinnacles.
- Gather in Toh Buat Cave, where fishermen have long sought shelter from storms, for an exclusive lunch of fresh roasted seafood curry served on banana leaf plates. Watch as fishermen pull 300-meter-long nets from the sea to gather giant prawns, crab, and fish.
- Toast your journey with a final celebratory dinner at Cape Kudu’s resort house with a live fire show featuring a mesmerizing display of spinning flames from torches, poi (fireballs on chains), and fire staffs.
Included Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodations: Cape Kudu
- Return to the marina by speedboat, then transfer to Phuket Airport for individual flights back to the United States.
Included Meals: Breakfast
About Your Hotels
Four Seasons Bangkok (4 nights)
The five-star Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok is a luxury riverside urban resort in the heart of Bangkok. The hotel, ranked in the top three of The World’s 50 Best Hotels List, offers breathtaking views of the Chao Phraya River and the city skyline from its outdoor pools, award-winning creative cuisine from multiple on-site dining options, and access to a world-class spa and fitness center. The property blends contemporary elegance with Thai cultural elements, providing a serene oasis in the center of the bustling city. Each room features opulent decor, modern amenities, and personalized service.
Kachong Hills Tented Resort (3 Nights)
Located amid the beautiful green hills of Trang in southern Thailand, Kachong Hills Tented Resort provides the perfect combination of tranquility and luxury. Spacious safari tents offer modern amenities, stylish furnishings, and tasteful decor in a beautiful setting. The property features an on-site restaurant, outdoor pool, bar, spa, and gardens.
Cape Kudu (2 nights)
Cape Kudu is a luxury boutique beach resort in the quiet fishing village of Koh Yao Noi in southern Thailand. Elegant rooms are designed with contemporary Thai decor and equipped with modern amenities. The property boasts an infinity pool with magnificent ocean and island views, a full-service spa, and complimentary bicycles. Dining options include the Hornbill Restaurant, serving local and international cuisine; the Long Island Bar; and a reading room with complimentary refreshments.
About Your Expert Guide
Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon is a James Beard Foundation Award–winning chef and restaurateur and the author of Kalaya’s Southern Thai Kitchen, debuting November 5, 2024. A flight attendant from Trang, Thailand, Nok entered her second act at age 50 by opening Kalaya, one of the country’s highest-regarded Thai restaurants, named after Nok’s mother (the restaurant was featured in Bon Appétit’s April 2024 Travel Issue). Opened in April 2019 as a small BYOB in South Philadelphia, Kalaya was named one of Esquire’s and Food & Wine’s “Best New Restaurants” and was a James Beard Foundation Award nominee for “Best New Restaurant” in 2020. In November 2022, Kalaya relocated to Philadelphia’s Fishtown neighborhood with a larger footprint and bar program. Nok’s incomparable impeccable style has been featured in New York and Philadelphia Style magazines; she was also named one of the “Most Influential Philadelphians” by Philadelphia magazine. In 2022, Nok attended the “Chef Bootcamp for Policy and Change” hosted by the James Beard Foundation.
