Bangkok and Chiang Mai

Day 1: Bangkok

You will be met by your driver and personal guide at Suvarnabhumi Airport and transferred to your hotel via a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle.

Day 2: Bangkok

After breakfast, you’ll be collected from your hotel to begin your half-day tour of stunning Bangkok. If you prefer, the tour can take place in the afternoon. Your first stop on this heritage tour is the Royal Grand Palace, widely accepted as the top site in the city. The Palace is also Thailand’s most important landmark, not only because it was the home of the royal family, but because it houses the famous Emerald Buddha, made entirely from a single jade rock. You will have the opportunity to see the Emerald Buddha, as well as the inspiring throne halls. Our next stop is Wat Pho, Bangkok’s oldest Temple. The temple houses the magnificent 46 metre long golden reclining Buddha, and was the first school of Thai massage and traditional medicine.
Please note that appropriate clothing is required to visit historic sites. The shoulders and knees of all visitors must be covered.

A delicious lunch will be served at a local restaurant before your tour continues via private long-tail boat to Khlong Bang Luang. On your private boat tour, you’ll sail gently past temples, shop houses and the impressive homes of local aristocrats. Your guide will tell you about all the sites you pass on the waterways and their histories. The boat will stop at Baan Silapin, 100 year old house, which has been converted into a beautiful art gallery. You’ll have the opportunity to explore the gallery, join an art workshop or simply explore the community on this two hour stop. Next, you’ll be treated to a puppet show, performed by puppeteers trained at the Joe Louis School of Puppetry. Our last stop for the day is the magnificent Temple of Dawn.

Please note that the puppet show is not available on Wednesdays, and we cannot guarantee the show due to possible last-minute cancellations

You will stay overnight at Bangkok. Breakfast and lunch is included.

Day 3: Bangkok

You’ll be collected from your hotel after breakfast and driven north, to the ancient city of Ayutthaya, where you’ll be able to explore its three most notable temple ruins. From there, we’ll continue to the summer palace at Bang Pa-In, which sits beautifully on the Chaopraya River. The palace was built by King Rama IV in the 17th century. You’ll then board the luxurious Grand Pearl cruiser, where you’ll enjoy a superb buffet-style lunch on board, while taking in the beautiful natural scenery and traditional villages on the banks of the river. You will arrive back in Bangkok in the late afternoon.

Day 4: Bangkok

Your day begins with a trip to the Jim Thompson House, which sits along a canal in the city’s centre. The stunning teak mansion belonged to Jim Thompson, a famous American silk merchant, who disappeared mysteriously in 1967. Your tour of the house will give you an insight into his life, his effects on the silk trade, and the culture and traditions of Thailand. You’ll also see his impressive collection of priceless antiques.

The next leg of your tour takes you across the canal to a Cham Muslim village called Baan Krua, where local artisans once weaved for Thompson. Some of these weaving families still live here, and will welcome you to learn more about their history and unique culture. You can also explore the village, visiting the artisans at work and the local silk shop, which hosts stunning high-quality silk products – the perfect souvenir for your trip.

From Baan Krua, you’ll be transferred either to your next tour appointment, or back to your hotel.

Day 5: Bangkok - Chaing Mai

After breakfast, your guide will meet you at your hotel and you’ll be transferred in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle to Suvarnabhumi Airport for your short flight to Chiang Mai.

A guide will be waiting for you at the airport in Chaing Mai, holding a sign bearing your name. You’ll then be transferred comfortably in an air-conditioned vehicle to your hotel.

Day 6: Chaing Mai

You’ll be collected from your hotel after breakfast and driven to the sacred mountain temple of Wat Phra Doi Suthep. The temple is Chiang Mai’s most famous landmark, and sits perched 1,676 metres above the city. The staircase to the temple is decorated with daunting-looking Nagas, mythical water spirits who protect the rivers. At the top, you’ll visit the majestic golden pagoda, where the sound of the temple bells and the views of the city below will fill you will awe.

You’ll then be driven up the mountain’s dirt road in a songthaew taxi and stop at a local coffee shop to enjoy some of the locally-produced Chang Khien coffee. From there, your journey continues to the White Hmong village of Chang Khien. Here, the Hmong people still live and dress traditionally, as they did over 500 years ago.
Please note that when visiting temples, appropriate clothing is required. All visitors must cover their shoulders and knees.

You’ll then enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before being driven north of Chiang Mai to Ban Chao Na, a local herb garden. After a stroll through the aromatic gardens, you can enjoy a half-hour cruise by long-tail boat along the rural Mae Ping River. Dotted along its banks are a mix of traditional wooden houses and luxurious modern villas. When we arrive at the landing, you can explore the Wararos fresh food market, experiencing the captivating bustle of life in northern Thailand.

We leave the market and travel via trishaw along Tapae Road, past the ruins of once-great city walls to beautiful Wat Phra Singh, Chiang Mai’s most revered temple.

Day 7: Chiang Mai

You’ll be collected form your hotel and driven one and a half hours to the Chiang Dao Young Elephants Training Centre. Here, you can enjoy an hour-long elephant back ride through the beautiful forest surrounding the camp, followed by watching the elephants enjoy their morning bath in the stream. The Mahouts (elephant trainers) will then demonstrate some of the elephants’ amazing skills.

You’ll then set off on an adventure down the beautiful Ping River on board a traditional bamboo raft. Enjoy a delicious local lunch before we visit an orchid nursery, where over 50 different species of orchid are grown and bloom year-round. At the nursery, you’ll also see numerous stunning and rare butterflies.
Please note that the elephant encounter is only available at 10:05am.
You’ll overnight in Chiang Mai.

Day 8: Chiang Mai

You’ll be collected from your hotel and transferred comfortably via air-conditioned vehicle to Chiang Mai airport. Your guide will assist you with checking in for your flight as you begin your journey home.

Add on

There is the an optional extra add on:
After breakfast, you ’ll be collected from your hotel and transferred to the airport for a short flight to Krabi.

Set in southern Thailand, Krabi is a perfect base from where you can visit a myriad of surrounding attractions. Enjoy island-hopping, beach activities, or even visit neighbouring Malaysia.

Please call and discuss with a travel advisor for more information for this tour.

• Accommodation in selected hotels.
• Meals as mentioned (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner).
• English speaking guide.
• Tours and transfers as mentioned by private air conditioned vehicle.
• Entrance fees for mentioned visits.

EXCLUSIONS

• Other meals than mentioned
• Other services than mentioned.
•  International and domestic flights
• Laundry, telephone calls and expenditure of a personal nature.
•  Tips, travel insurance.