Thailand
Overview:
Exuberant cities, ancient monasteries, Buddhist monks, colorful hill tribes, floating markets, dense rainforests, exotic wildlife, tropical islands, golden beaches, and pristine coral reefs—Thailand is a brilliant jewel filled with enriching experiences attracting all types, from backpackers to billionaires. The Thai people are famously hospitable, and Thailand was one of the first corners of Southeast Asia to really open to outsiders – helped by the 19th-century king Rama IV, and his love of all things Western. This itinerary is designed to showcase Thai culture, history, hospitality, and some of the world’s finest, and certainly some of the spiciest, cuisine.
Itinerary Summary:
Days 1-3 – Bangkok
Days 4-5 – Kanchanaburi
Day 6 – Autthaya
Day 7-8 – Khao Yai
Days 9-11 – Chiang Mai
Day 12 – Chiang Rai
Day 13 - Bangkok
Day 14 - Depart
The Essentials:
Valid
From $2xxx per person sharing (based on two travelers)
Accommodation in three and four star riads and boutique hotels
Rates include
Excludes international flights and Bangkok-Chian Mai and Chiang Rai – Bangkok flights
Itinerary:
Bangkok – 3 Nights
By bike, foot, and boat, explore Bangkok on guided excursions to immerse you in this boisterous city through narrow alleyways in the heart of Chinatown and Thonburi, the old capital. Greeted with inquisitive smiles, you’ll pass by shops selling everything from Buddhist amulets to truck engines. Observe ritual paper burnings and local worshipping at hidden temples, working up your appetite for a mouthwatering exploration of Bangkok's 200-year-old China Town district to sample all kinds of dishes (and a few local drinks too!) from the likes of dim sum, dumplings, fresh seafood, local deserts and more! A morning exploration of Bangkok’s palaces and temples followed by riverside lunch and a float in a longtail boat along the khlongs, Bangkok’s maze of canals and waterways.
Kanchanaburi– 2 Nights
Begin your day with a departure from Bangkok to visit Damnoen Saduak, the largest and most colorful floating market in the Kingdom. At the market, spend a couple of hours wandering through the canals with your guide exploring vendors' goods and sampling one of their many delicacies, including a bowl of noodle soup. After your fill of the floating market, continue by car for approximately 25 minutes arriving at the Railway Track Market in time for the 11:10 train. One of Asia's most unusual markets, the vendors line and cover the railway track but when the train arrives, they 'retract' the stalls very quickly before reassembling them as if nothing has happened. Continue transfer to Kanchanaburi town for a simple Thai lunch, and after visit the world-famous Bridge over the River Kwai. Then continue driving to the famous Kwai Noi River and board a long-tail boat passing beautiful mountainous jungle scenery on the way to your accommodation.
Ayutthaya – 1 Night
Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam from the 15th through the 18th century until it was destroyed by the Burmese. During its heyday Ayutthaya was one of greatest and richest cities in Asia, envied not only by the Burmese but by the Europeans as well. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is still known for its flourishing artistic community, and the Ayutthaya-period Buddhas are some of the most treasured in the land. A visit includes historical temples including the Historical Study Center, ruins such as Wat Phra Mahathat famously known for the Buddha head entwined within the roots of a banyan tree.
Enjoy a culinary journey of age-old family recipes and glimpse the traditional lifestyle of people who migrated here generations ago. Take your basket of herbs and other ingredients from the garden and delight in the shared preparation of authentic Northern Thai dishes using traditional cooking techniques and clay pots. Afterward sit down to a mouthwatering meal prepared together having gained a personal connection to the descendants of the first people of Northern Thailand, the Lanna people.
Khao Yai National Park – 2 Nights
Established in 1962 as Thailand's first national park, this is the country's 3rd largest park and critical habitat for iconic wildlife including the Asian black bear, Asian elephant, gibbons, deer, wild pigs, and 320 species of bird. Khao Yai is part of the Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex; a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO, covering 5 protected areas from Khao Yai to Cambodian border. The sounds of the jungle canopy will envelop you, as your ranger speaks to the unique flora and fauna that populate this remote region. Explore evergreen forest, grasslands, and take a dip in one of the many waterfalls. Haew Nerok Waterfall is the tallest and most impressive (and was featured in the movie The Beach!). Trek miles of trail, or just relax with a picnic on this day adventure into one of Thailand's most impressive natural settings.
Chiang Mai – 3 Nights
Explore the mountains north of Chiang Mai to visit with the local people, an ethnic minority with distinctly different identities, customs, and religions based on their Sino-Tibetan origin. Your full day tour includes a leisurely bamboo raft trip down the Ping River, an exploration of the famous Chiang Dao Cave, and hiking to quaint and colorful villages. At the Kanta Elephant Sanctuary, you’ll learn about the efforts of rehabilitation and care of Asian elephants. the sanctuary provides a home for rescued elephants, predominantly from the tourism and logging industries. Learn from the professional rangers about the ongoing issues facing wild elephant populations across Southeast Asia. Take the opportunity to help feed and bathe the elephants, while you gain an insight into their behavior.
Chiang Rai– 1 Night
The City of Chiang Rai was founded in 1262 by King Meng Rai as the first capital of the Lanna Thai Kingdom. The Capital was later moved to Chiang Mai. Over 150 years (1786 to 1933), the region of Chiang Rai officially became a province of Thailand, and it is one of 76 provinces in Thailand. Even though Chiang Rai is a small city, it is a delightful one with a relaxed atmosphere, good value accommodation, and some tasty cuisine. It’s also the logical base from which to plan excursions to the more remote corners of the province.
Golden Triangle to Bangkok– 1 Night
Journey into the Golden Triangle, visit an ancient temple, a fascinating museum, and learn about the impact of opium throughout the years in the border area of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. You depart for Chiang Saen and visit the ancient city at Wat Chedi Luang, built by the 3rd ruler of the Lanna Kingdom in the early 13th Century. Continue your trip to the Golden Triangle, where the Ruak River and the Mekong River meet forming the border of three countries. Here you visit the Hall of Opium museum which represents the history of opium from its natural properties to its use as long as 5,000 years ago. It traces opium’s global journey through trade routes in the age of imperialism, culminating in the Opium Wars. Evening flight back to Bangkok.
Please call us on +1 720 494 1530 or email us at the link below to discuss this trip further with a travel expert. We would be happy to discuss ways to tailor this itinerary to your personal preferences.
