THAILAND EXPERIENCE PROGRAM

Transcription

1 THAILAND EXPERIENCE PROGRAM Arrival Bangkok airport, meet our guide and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, experience an exhilarating boat ride along the bustling Chao Phraya River and the quiet Klongs (canals) in a long tail boat. Be taken back in time to a more traditional way of life, far removed from Bangkok s modern skyscrapers. Visit the Royal Barge Museum to witness the beautiful barges used by the King on state occasions. Continue to visit Jim Thompson House with afternoon tea here. Located along a canal in the city center, this beautiful teak mansion was the former residence of Jim Thompson, the charismatic American silk merchant. Comprised of several traditional teak buildings amid a leafy compound, Thompson spent years filling it with priceless antiques before his mysterious disappearance in Overnight in Bangkok Day 2 : Bangkok - Sightseeing (B/L/-) Breakfast at the hotel and then starts with the Grand Palace where you visit the main sites including the magnificent throne halls and the emerald Buddha. Visit Wat Po, Bangkok s oldest temple is home to the magnificent reclining Buddha as well as the first school of traditional medicine and Thai massage and is also regarded as Thailand s first University. Lunch at Supattra River House restaurant. In the afternoon, take your day at leisure. Overnight in Bangkok Day 3 : Bangkok Ayutthaya Lopburi - Phitsanulok Breakfast at the hotel and, drive north to the ancient city of Ayutthaya where the temples and ruins of this great city have now been declared a World Heritage Site. Your first stop is at Bang Pa In to see the summer palace built by King Rama IV and the contrasting palace buildings and surrounding temples inspired by European, Chinese and Thai designs. Afterwards, drive to Phitsanulok by stop to visit National Museum King Narai in Lopburi on the way to Phitsanulok. Overnight in Phitsanulok

2 Day 4 : Phitsanulok Sukhothai - Lampang After breakfast, visit Wat Maha Dhat with its revered Buddha statue, Phra Buddha Jinaraj before proceeding further North to Sukhothai, the former capital of Thailand. Visit Sukhothai Historical Park, take a walk in the well-kept and attractive park grounds, to see temples, monuments with fabulous sculptures and stuccowork. West of the old city, we will visit Wat Sri Chum with an impressive, much photographed 11-meter seated Buddha. Continue to Lampang Overnight in Lampang Day 5 : Lampang Chiang Rai Chiang Saen Drive north via Phayao for Chiang Rai. On the way stop at Kwan Phayao Lake. From Chiang Rai, drive north to Mae Sai, the northernmost Thai town near Burmese border. You can watch Thai and Burmese people walking across the bridge separating the two countries. Browse along the local market with lots of handicrafts from Burma then onto the Golden Triangle where the borders of Laos, Burma and Thailand meet at the Mekong River Overnight at Chiang Saen Day 6 : Chiang Saen Breakfast at the hotel and then visit the Doi Tung region, 2000m above sea-level. En route visit various hilltribe villages. In the past, the forest area around Doi Tung was destroyed by shifting cultivation. In 1987, the Doi Tung Development Project was established according to the King Mother s initiative in order to protect the region, eradicate the cultivation of opium, and encourage farmers to use sustainable agricultural practices. Visit Mae Fah Luang Gardens, with its flowering plants and beautiful gardens. Also visit the Royal villa where The Kings mother stayed during her visits to the area. Visit the old Opium Museum, an informative museum that documents the history of the area and details its links to the opium trade and then enjoy boat trip on the Mekong River. Overnight at Chiang Saen Day 7 : Chiang Saen Chiang Mai Breakfast at the hotel and en route to Chiang Mai via Thaton. En route, stop at Akha minority nd visit Wat Thaton with its big Buddha status here you can enjoy a fabulous view over the mountain wilderness and the Mae Kok River.

3 Afterwards, take you to Chiang Dao Cave and continue to Chiang Mai Overnight in Chiang Mai Day 8 : Chiang Mai (B/-/D) Breakfast at the hotel and visit Elephant Camp. Watch the elephants taking their daily bath in the stream before beginning Elephant at Work show. (Optional: elephant ride - cost is not included the package price). On the return we stop for a visit at an orchid farm. Then continue to visit Chiang Mai s well known local handicraft district at Sankampaeng. Afterwards, visit Wat Prathat Doi Suthep one of the most importance temple in Chiang Mai, build upon a hill outside of the city, this temple can be reached via a 360 steps staircase and the rewards of climbing up is, besides the impressive temple, a fascinating view of the surroundings from Chiang Mai when the weather is clear. Enjoy an evening out at a traditional Khantoke Dinner. Your meal is served on special, low, circular tables called toke. Delicious Northern Thai dishes are served, accompanied by Northern Thai folk dancing. Day 9 : Chiang Mai Mae Hong Son This morning, depart by car northwards to Pai along a scenic winding mountain road. En route visit Tham Lod cave in the small town of Soppong (1.5 hours). This must see historic cave is explored by bamboo raft via a tiny river that winds through the cave. You will disembark the raft 2-3 times to explore the huge taverns that contain remains of ancient teak coffins that date back over 2500 years and simple cave painting- all the while be accompanied by a local guide bearing a kerosene lantern. Indeed Tham lod is considered a good example of community based tourism as the all of the guides at the cave are from the local Shan village. Continue to Mae Hong Son arriving there in the late afternoon. (Transfer duration: 6 hours.) Mae Hong Son is Thailand s most remote town, nestled in a scenic mountainous setting with the Pai river as its thoroughfare. Mae Hong Son shares a border with Myanmar and as such its population is a cultural melting pot of Thai and Shan people with Lisu, Lahu, Karen and Hmong hilltribes populating the surrounding mountain regions. Overnight in Mae Hong Son

4 Day 10 : Mae Hong Son Chiang Mai - Bangkok Following breakfast, we begin with an early morning to visit the morning market area, where a colourful aray of foodstuffs can be bought including crickets, worms and ant eggs! We then embark on an exciting longtail boat to visit Baan Nam Piang Din, where live Woman with long necks Continue to Wat Phra Thad Doi Kong Moo which dominates the provincial city. Constructed by Phaya Singhanatracha, the first King of Mae Hong Son, the hilltop temple affords a wonderful view over the city and surrounding mountains and valleys. Also visit the Burmese-style temples Wat Chong Klang and Wat Chong Kham. Apart from the glass paintings depicting Buddhism and simple lifestyle of the villagers which draw much attention from visitors, there are over 30 wood carved dolls from Myanmar. Situated in front of the temples is a big natural pond called Nong Chong Kham, which used to be the bathing area for elephants. Late afternoon transfer to Mae Hong Son airport for your flight back to Chiang Mai. Upon arrival Chiang Mai airport transfer tou to Chiang Mai Raiway station for an overnight train back to Bangkok. Overnight onboard (Air-conditioned 2 nd class day & night train) * Please note that we do experience delays with trains in Thailand, should this occur, it may require changes to the program * Day 11 : Bangkok - Kanchanaburi (-/-/D) Arrive at Bangkok Railway Station in the morning, transfer to Kanchanaburi,en route by Visit Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in Ratchaburi province about 100km from Bangkok. Take a long tail boat ride through the canals and see how Thai people live alongside the labyrinth of canals in this area. (in case of delay of the train, this trip will not take this place). Continue to visit the bridge over the River Kwai and the Railway museum and transfer to your hotel. After freshening up, enjoy a delicious dinner. Overnight in Kanchanaburi

5 Day 12 : Kanchanaburi - Bangkok After breakfast, visit Wat Prasat Muang Singh, a Khmer temple complex dating back to the Angkorian period. Walk around the peaceful historical ruins and explore the history and culture of the area. Return to Bangkok airport for your flight or Bangkok hotel for extension your stay. ***End of Service*** Accommodation City Hotel Name Room Type Bangkok Rembrand Superior Phitsanulok Amarin Lagoon Superior Lampang Lampang River Lodge Standard Chiang Saen Imperial Golden Triangle Superior Chiang Mai Chiang Mai Plaza Superior Mae Hong Son Imperial Mae Hong Son Superior Kanchanaburi River Kwai Resotel Jungle Chelet Our Services Include: Accommodation at selected hotels or similar Meals as mentioned (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner) Tours and transfers by private air conditioned vehicle English / German /French/italian speaking Entrance fees for mentioned visits Our Services do not include: Other meals than mentioned Other services than mentioned International or domestic flights Laundry, telephone calls and expenditure of a personal nature Tips, Travel insurance