From ornate royal palaces to sizzling home-cooked cuisine, Thailand's golden kingdom comes alive on this 11-night escorted vacation for $1699 per person, including taxes.

Saving $1000 on competing packages, this itinerary features a visit to the massive 150-foot-long Reclining Buddha; an intimate dinner with a local family; and a tour of one of Thailand's most sacred temples at 3500 feet above sea level.

This deal from Gate 1 Travel includes:

• Roundtrip airfare from the U.S. to Bangkok
• All intra-country transportation, including ground transfers
• Eleven nights accommodations, including multiple 5-star hotels
• English-speaking tour guide throughout
• 15 meals: 11 breakfasts, three lunches, one dinner 

Guests spend four nights in Bangkok; three nights in the walled city of Chiang Mai; two nights in contemporary Chiang Rai; and one night each in tranquil Ayutthaya and ancient Sukhothai.

Depart: Sept. 5, 12, 19, 26; Oct. 3, 10; discounted dates are available through May 2014.

This trip is priced for departures from Los Angeles; all major U.S. gateways are available.

Travelzoo Tip: Consider an optional half-day tour of the Maesa Elephant Camp, where playful pachyderms face off in a soccer match or paint a mural with their trunks.