Your Itinerary
DAY 1 ARRIVE BANGKOK
Upon arrival in Bangkok you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is at leisure for personal activities.
DAY 2 BANGKOK (B/L/D)
An early morning start will provide you with a colorful view of the Flower Market, followed by a visit to the Temple of the Golden Buddha (Wat Trimmit), the home of a 5.5 ton Buddha image, found when the port of Bangkok was being expanded and dating back more than 200 years. Continue to the home of the former Kings of Siam of the Chakri Dynasty, originally built by King Rama I, it served as the royal residence until 1946. Today the palace is still used on certain occasions for visiting royalty or special guests of the Kingdom. Adjoining the Grand Palace you will find the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Keo), this is probably the best known of the royal temples. It is regarded as the most important temple in all Thailand and it is the venue of many of the numerous religious ceremonies in which the King participates, especially at the beginning of each of the three seasons when His Majesty personally changes the elaborate robes of the Buddha image, carved out of a single piece of emerald-green jasper.
There is no better way to wrap up the evening after spending the day visiting the city and especially the Grand Palace. In the Thai-surroundings, the traditional Thai food, served in traditional Thai manner, is just a prelude to a presentation of some of the most colorful, classical and folk dances of the Kingdom - some of them dating back hundreds of years to the early days of Siam. This spectacular performance more than compensates for the small inconvenience of removing your shoes and sitting on the floor, Thai-style.
DAY 3 BANGKOK (B/L)
With an early morning departure, you will travel 120 kilometres to Damnern Saduak where boat people sell their wares from boat to boat or boat to shore. You will be amazed at the variety of goods and products that are to be purchased - you may even try your bargaining skills. En route to the Rose Garden for their cultural show, you will also stop at Nakorn Pathom to see the Phra Pathom Chedi which is said to be the tallest Buddhist monument in the world. A buffet lunch will be provided at the Rose Garden prior to enjoying a presentation of a Thai wedding ceremony, a monk's ordination, Thai boxing, sword-fighting, classical and folk dances from all parts of Thailand.
DAY 4 BANGKOK – CHIANG MAI (B/D)
Following breakfast, check-out and transfer to the airport for your flight of the northern capital of Chiang Mai. Upon arrival at Chiang Mai airport you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check-in, following by a day of leisure. enjoy the delicious gourmet "Khan Toke " food, the symbol of Northern Thai cuisine. Including appetizers, main course, desserts and coffee or tea. A variety of graceful Chiang Mai traditional dancers, also selected hill tribe dancers will perform their colorful, original and photogenic, traditional dances. These can be viewed while seated on traditional floor mats with comfortable cushions Lanna Thai style.
DAY 5 CHIANG MAI (B/L)
Today vissit an elephant training camp, which will provide you with an idea of how these huge animals are trained in the jungles of Thailand. Your soft adventure then begins with riding these elephants through the jungle for approximately an hour, dismount, and continue your journey on bamboo rafts down the Mae Tang River for another 45 minutes. Lunch will be provided at the Orchid Farm, where you will also have an opportunity to see and purchase some of our beautiful orchids prior to returning to your hotel.
DAY 6 CHIANG MAI (B/L)
Today we have a slightly different activity instore for you, a Thai cooking class! The class starts with the teacher displaying a tray of ingredients and will go through each one and explain how to prepare it, how to store it and what can be used as a substitute. Most of this information is already in the cookbook. You then start to make your own curry pastes by using a pestle and mortar. The ingredients will need to be prepared first and then ground to a paste and the teacher will be on hand to help everybody. Lunch is what you have just cooked this morning! After lunch you make more dishes, sample more food, before returning home with a full stomach!
DAY 7 CHIANG MAI (B/L)
Visit a picturesque Meo hill tribe Village set in an attractive hillside spot and see the Meo tribesmen dressed their colorful traditional costumes. The tour also take in Wat Phratat Doi Suthep is almost sacred temple containing a holy relic of the Lord Buddha. A panoramic view of the city can be seen from here at 3,500 feet above sea level. Lunch at a local restaurant service a specialty of Chiang Mai, Khao Soi, a curry noodle served with Chicken or Beef. Chiang Mai without its worldwide known handicraft villages is unthinkable, because so many artisans and artists are assembled here that a visit is a must. You will visit the villages of the Umbrella makers, Wood carvers, Silver smiths, Silk weavers and Jewelry. Before returning to the hotel we stop at Wat Suan Dok, the temple was built in a 14th century Lanna Thai monarch's pleasure gardens and is a favourite spot for photographers, particularly for striking sunset. Several of the white chedis contain ashes of Chiang Mai's former royal family. The 500-year-old bronze Buddha image in a secondary chapel is one of Thailand's largest metal images. Visitors are also invited to chat with the monks about their lives, Buddhism, Thai culture or any other topic.
Visitors are requested to dress modestly: covered shoulders, long pants or long skirts. Monk chat only available on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays.
DAY 8 CHIANG MAI – CHIANG RAI (B)
A relaxed departure for Chiang Rai, the northernmost point of Thailand where lies the infamous Golden Triangle. The transfer takes you along a scenic mountainous route, travel time of approximately 3 hours. Later this afternoon visit an unusual temple at Wat Rong Khun, a masterpiece of devotion by artist Chalermchai Kositpipat has committed his remaining life to building the most unusual temple at Wat Rong Khun. After continue to the potters of Doi Din Daeng, every piece is a work of art. The clay is thrown by hand on to the potter’s wheel, either electric or hand rotated. The semi-finished pieces are air-dried and then fired and glazed. The glazes are all natural from rice stalks, wood, leaves, bamboo or other locally obtained vegetation which is burned in the huge oven for about 15 hours between 1250-1280 degrees Celsius.
DAY 9 CHIANG RAI (B/L)
Morning visit Wat Phra That Chedi Luang a 13th century temple built by the 3rd ruler of the Lanna kingdom in the early 13th Century. The temple is constructed of classic Chiang Saen. Continue to the Hall of Opium at the Golden Triangle Park, the 5,600 square-meter museum is carved into a hill presents the history of opium from its natural properties to its use as long ago as 5,000 years. It traces opium's global journey through trade routes in the age of imperialism, culminating in the Opium Wars. Continue for lunch at local restaurant. Depart for the northernmost town in Thailand Mae Sai is separated from the Myanmar town of Tachilek only by a bridge. The town is a bustling place with traders selling their wares from handicrafts to gems and jade items – mostly made in Myanmar.
DAY 10 CHIANG RAI – PAK BENG (B/L/D)
The LuangSay riverboat leaves HoueiSay pier at 09h00 for a cruise down the Mekong to Pakbeng. En route one stop is made to observe the rural life of the river tribes along the Mekong. There is a buffet lunch on board. Arrival in Pakbeng before sunset and check-in at the LuangSay Lodge. Dinner on the terrace, overlooking the Mekong.
DAY 11 PAK BENG – LUANG PRABANG (B/L)
Full breakfast at the lodge. (Optional: walk to Pakbeng market, where people from the surrounding villages exchange their goods). At 08h30 board the boat for the second leg of the cruise. A short stop is made to visit a hill tribe village where you can watch the traditional process of Lao whiskey production before a buffet lunch on board. Continue to Pak Ou village at the mouth of the Nam Ou River, where you visit the Tam Ting “Caves of a Thousand Buddha’s”. Arrival at Luang Prabang before sunset.
DAY 12 LUANG PRABANG (B)
Set between the Nam Khan and Nam Ou rivers, Luang Prabang is an enchanting town filled with historic temples and colonial style buildings. The entire town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995. Begin your tour with Wat Visoun (Wat Wisunalat). The oldest living temple in Luang Prabang, Wat Visoun dates back to 1513 and contains a collection of antique wooden Buddhas. Visit the nearby Wat Aham before continuing to WAT XIENG THONG, the crowning jewel of all the monasteries and temples in the city. Its many ornate buildings feature exquisite mosaic and gold-stenciled murals. From there, stroll down the main street ("Wat Street") of Luang Prabang. Time permitting, stop at some of the many temples that line its sides, including Wat Sibounheuang, Wat Si Moungkhoun, Wat Sop and Wat Sene. Climb the hillside stairs to the small temples atop Phou Si, the 100m high hill which sits in the middle of the town, offering beautiful views over the temples and river.
DAY 13 LUANG PRABANG (B)
In the morning, visit a local market to see the bustle and activity of the early morning. Continue to the National Museum (Royal Palace), a modest but graceful building which combines traditional Lao and French beaux-arts motifs. This turn-of-the century royal residence has been preserved as it was when the royal family last lived here and provides unique insights into the history of Laos. (Closed on Tuesdays). Afterwards, visit Wat Mai.
Kuang Si Falls located in a perfect natural setting near Luang Prabang this multi-tiered waterfall tumbles over limestone formations into a series of turquoise pools. It is a nice place for bathing and having a picnic.
Ban Tha Pene quaint, Khmu village with a traditional hydro-rice mill.
DAY 14 LUANG PRABANG - BANGKOK (B)
Morning at leisure for personal activities, depart for the airport in the early afternoon for your flight to Bangkok for an overnight stay.
DAY 15 DPEART BANGKOK (B)
Today’s agenda consists of breakfast, check-out and transfer to the airport for the return flight home.
QUOTATIONS
Sharing Twin
02 Pax @ USD 2,919 per person
03 Pax @ USD 2,703 per person
04-06 Pax @ USD 2,601 per person
07-12 Pax @ USD 2,568 per person
13-15 Pax @ USD 2,496 per person
16-20 Pax @ USD 2,339 per person
21-24 Pax @ USD 2,310 per person
25-29 Pax @ USD 2,248 per person
30-up Pax @ USD 2,224 per person
Single Supplement
02-up Pax @ USD 1,173 per person
Airfare Supplement
Domestic @ USD 116 per person
International @ USD 297 per person
VALIDITY
01 Nov 2008 – 30 Apr 2009
with the exception of peak period 20 Dec 2008 – 15 Jan 2009
FLIGHT RESERVATION
Day 04 - BKK-CNX - TG114 - 14.35 - 15.45 hrs.
Day 14 - LPQ-BKK - PG946 - 15.20 - 17.05 hrs.
Both domestic and international air tickets are subject to increase.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATION
Dusit Thani Hotel, Bangkok Thailand
www.dusit.com/hotels/thailand/bangkok/dusit_thani/index.html
Ratilanna, Chiang Mai Thailand
www.ratilannachiangmai.com
Le Meridien Chiang Rai Thailand
www.starwoodhotels.com/lemeridien/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3160
The Grand Luang Prabang Laos
www.grandluangprabang.com
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
INCLUDED
Hotel accommodation
Meals as stated
Sightseeing tours as outlined in the itinerary
NOT INCLUDED
Services not mentioned
Tips
Meals not mentioned
Expenses of a personal nature
Domestic flights and airport taxes (BKK-CNX)
International flights
Visa arrangements and fees
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
Thailand
Laos
Cultural Journey
Senior Tours
|
