Thailand in Depth 15 days (ATD-T02)

Upon arrival at Bangkok International Airport, you will be met by your driver and guide and chauffeured to your accommodation for check-in. Evening at your own leisure to relax after your long haul flight.

Overnight in Bangkok

Today enjoy a private guided tour of Bangkok visiting the capital’s key attractions. First in the agenda will be the Wat Phra Kaew, the chapel of the Emerald Buddha, which houses the world’s most precious image of The Lord Buddha, the 75cm statue of jade sits atop an 11m golden pedestal surrounded by the lavish mural and richly decorated pavilions. Next, you move on to the Grand Palace – one of the most beautiful samples of an ancient Siamese court. It used to be the residence of the Kings of Thailand, which encompasses several major buildings (the Reception Palace, the Throne Hall, the Coronation Hall, the Royal Guest House, and the Funeral Palace).

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant sampling some of the most delightful cuisine of Thailand.

After lunch, you will visit Wat Traimit, the temple of the Golden Buddha 5.5 tones of solid gold, sculptured in Sukhothai style. Continue to visit Wat Pho, the temple of the Reclining Buddha, a stunning statue with 46m long and 15m high covered in gold leaf.

End the city tour with the visit to the Marble Temple, a mixture of Thai and European architecture which houses a unique collection of rare Buddha images. Then you will get back to the hotel for some rest before embarking on the Evening Food Tour.

Bangkok – Best Eats Midnight Food Tour by Tuk Tuk  

Tour time: 18.00 – 22.00
Bangkok is claimed to be the city that never stops eating. Bangkokians usually find themselves enjoy eating even at midnight. So, what would be a better idea than exploring this city of angels via a fun Tuk Tuk ride and visiting best local eateries after the sunset? That’s why we’d love to invite you to come with us on the “BANGKOK’s BEST EATS MIDNIGHT FOOD TOUR”

Go beyond tourist zones for the most enjoyable midnight eating adventure. After the moon comes up, cruise along Bangkok streets via this city’s iconic 3-wheel, Tuk Tuk, to visit Bangkokian’s favorite places to eat. Taste a variety of savory menus, including the local favorite Northeastern Thai Food (Esan Food), the town’s Best Pad Thai, and the popular home-style Thai snack. Between the bites, visit old-town landmarks and temples for a different perspective compared to the busy day time scene. Discover the side of Bangkok wholly unknown to visitors. Finish the tour by the Cinderella’s time.

Highlights
• Enjoy amazingly delicious and 100% local experiences with a friendly fully-licensed local tour guide
• Visit local famous eateries at night including the best Pad Thai and Northeastern Thai Food (Esan Food).
• Try best kept-secret Guay Tiew Kua Gai and go behind the scenes to see how it’s made.
• Sipping chilled beer at our “Secret Bar”, known to have the most fantastic view in Bangkok
• Explore the amazing flower market
• Visit a magnificent temple for a unique night-time perspective
• Experience the fun of Tuk Tuk riding to discover Bangkok’s atmosphere at night

What’s included?
• A fun Tuk Tuk ride during the tour
• 7+ delicious food & drink tastings as mentioned in the program (enough for big late dinner)
• Experienced and friendly fully-licensed local tour guide
• A chilled Thai beer or a non-alcoholic drink at our secret bar
• Drop off service at the end of the tour (only hotels in Bangkok city center.
• Complimentary basic medical insurance
• Bangkok Food Guide

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight in Bangkok

After breakfast and check out of the hotel, meet your guide and driver and transfer to the southwest of Bangkok to visit Damnern Saduak, a rural floating market.

Upon arrival at the pier, you will hop onto a decorated long-tail boat that is waiting to take you to the market. The roar of the engine disturbs the quiet as the boat glides down the narrow canals, small wooden houses on stilts fringe the banks, some with larger ponds than lawns.

After exploring the market you will continue your journey to the city of Kanchanaburi. Upon arrival, you will visit the World War II memorial including the Jeath War Museum, Cemetery, and the Thai-Burma Railway Centre Museum. After that proceed to the historic bridge over the River Kwai. Take a train ride on the former Death Railway which was once built by allied Prisoners of War and runs partly parallel to the River Kwai.

Finish your fabulous day and transfer to your hotel in Kanchanaburi for check-in. The rest of the day will be free at your leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Kanchanaburi

After breakfast, you will depart Kanchanaburi and head to Ayutthaya, the former capital of Thailand. Upon arrival, you will start to visit Wat Phra Sri Sanphet which was for a long time considered to be the spiritual center of Thailand. Situated within the royal palace grounds, the temple is the royal monastery and is a model of the royal temple of the Emerald Buddha or Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok.

The next stop is Wat Mahathat Ayutthaya, one of the oldest and most significant temples in the history of Ayutthaya as it housed the Buddha’s holy relic. The temple is most famous for the Buddha head situated in a Bodhi tree root.

Continue on to Wat Ratchaburana which houses a large number of Buddha images and gold artifacts. Enjoy lunch that will be served at a local restaurant.

After lunch, you will visit Chao Samphraya National Museum. Admire the most important objects here including the Buddha relics found inside the crypt of Wat Mahathat and other golden treasures like the golden sword, the golden headgear (hat), the miniature royal regalia, golden sculptures, and more.

Proceed to Wat Lokaya Sutharam to see the 42-meter-long reclining white Buddha.

Finish the trip at Wat Chaiwattanaram which rests on the bank of the Chao Phraya River. Learn about how the temple was ordered to built in 1630 by King Prasat Thong to honor his mother featuring the architectural style influenced by the Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia.

Transfer to the hotel for check-in. The rest of the day will be free at your leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Ayutthaya

After breakfast, you will depart Ayutthaya and drive up north to Sukhothai. En-route you will stop to visit Loburi, Phra Prang Sam Yod (Sacred Three Spired Pagoda) and the Monkey Temple.

Proceed to Phitsanulok where you will visit Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat, the temple that houses one of Thailand’s most beautiful and significant Buddha images. Continue to visit Khamphaengphet Historical Park and then move on to Sukhothai.

After enjoying lunch at a local restaurant transfer your hotel in Sukhothai for check-in. The remainder of the day will be free at your leisure. You can stroll around the town or visit the local market.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Sukhothai

After breakfast, you will visit the Historical Park of Sukhothai, the 1st Capital of Thailand. Found in the 13th century, Sukhothai (literally means Dawn of Happiness) was the first truly independent Thai Kingdom, which enjoyed a golden age under King Ramkhamhaeng, credited with creating the Thai alphabet. The superb temples and monuments of this great city have been lovingly restored in Sukhothai Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a must-see for all travelers.

Move on to Sri Chum Temple with the main sanctuary containing a monumental Buddha image which measures 11.3 meters wide from knee to knee. Continue to visit Sri Satchanalai Historical Park, located on the bank of the Yom River at Tambon Muang Kao, Si Satchanalai county, only 55km from the town of Sukhothai. This ancient town, formerly called “Muang Chaliang” and then was renamed “Sri Satchanalai” during the Phra Ruang Dynasty when a new administrative centre was established to replace Chaliang. The ancient town occupied more than 320 hectares (800 acres) of land.

Continue to drive toward Lampang for the night.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Lampang

After breakfast, your guide will take you to see Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao where the famous Emerald Buddha was enshrined for 32 years (from A.D. 1436 to 1468). After that, you will visit Wat Phrathat Lampang Luang, one of the northern finest temples and the best presentation of Lanna style architecture.

Leaving Lampang you will be transferred to Chiang Rai, which remains a sleepy provincial town with a pleasant atmosphere. Upon arrival you will embark on a guided tour visiting the City’s major top attractions;

The Blue Temple (Rong Sued Ten Temple); designed by the local Chiang Rai artist who used the teamwork of White Temple before. The main temple building is a distinctive blue color with the new philosophy of Buddhist art.

The Black House, (Baandum Museum); belongs to the national artist Thawan Dachanee who is celebrated for his eerie sculptures made from horns and bones, reptile skins, traditional African sculptures, old boats, Lanna-style woodcrafts and art installations housed across 32 buildings, most of which are Lanna-style pavilions made from black wood.

The White’s Temple (Rong Khun Temple), designed by the famous national artist. The main temple building is a distinctive white color, decorated with fragments of reflective glass which can be seen from afar.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Chiang Rai

After breakfast, you will travel to the town of Chiang Sean. Here you will enjoy a panoramic view of the Golden Triangle, where Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand meet the mighty Mekong River. After lunch at a local restaurant, you will climb aboard a boat for a ride along the Mekong River. Cross into Laos and go to the market at Don Sao Island. You also visit the Opium House Museum to learn more about opium and why it was once as expensive as gold.

En route back to Chiang Rai you will get a chance to stop at a hill tribe village and meet the people of the Long Neck tribes.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Chiang Rai

After breakfast, you will depart Chiang Rai and embark on a scenic drive to Pai. En route, you will stop to visit Thaton Temple, Crystal Pagoda, and Moh Pang Waterfall. A stop will be also made at a local hot spring and Huay Naam Dang, one of the most beautiful National Parks of Thailand.

Arrive Pai in the afternoon and check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free at your leisure.

Pai, a postcard-perfect little town sets approximately midway between Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai is a dream destination for many travellers. Tucked deep in a valley, surrounded by walls of endless mountains, Pai seems to exist in its own time zone. Here, nature is your best friend and, perhaps, chilling out while doing close to nothing is going to be your second best friend.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Pai

After breakfast, meet your guide and transfer to the famous cave system Tham Lod. Explore the 1.5km long cave system by guided bamboo rafts, floating on the river which flows through it.  Next is the village of Jabo, inhabited by members of the colourful and welcoming Black Lahu Tribe. The community established its own tourism initiative to demonstrate its culture, traditional values, healing methods and ability to live in harmony with nature rather than destructive farming practiced elsewhere.

Proceed to Tam Pla or Fish Cave for an excursion and then move on to Karen Village and Pai Canyon with narrow, ledgy hiking trails that offer sweeping valley views.

On the way back to town you will make a brief stop at Kiew Lom Viewpoint, where breathtaking views of the Himalayan Mountains can be seen as they stretch across Northern Thailand and through to Myanmar.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Pai

After breakfast and check out of the hotel you will depart Pai and embark on a three-hour drive to Chiang Mai with some breaks on the way.

Arrive and check in to your hotel in the Old City of Chiang Mai. After a short rest, you will take a guided tour to visit the city’s major attractions. First, you will be transferred to Doi Pui mountain where you will visit Wat Umong, a 700-year-old temple nestled in the forest at the foot of Doi Pui mountain. This temple is famous for its underground tunnels and large Chedi. There is also a field containing the broken Buddha statues.

Following Wat Umong you will proceed to Wat Phra Thad Doi Suthep (AD 1384), situated on the top of Mount Doi Suthep. Without a doubt, the twilight hour is definitely the best time to visit Thailand’s best temple. Climb the Golden Naga lined staircase to the temple. Inside the cloister of the temple, you will be able to view one of the most sacred stupas in all of Thailand and enjoy a stunning panoramic view of the city spread out below.

Finish the tour and transfer back to your hotel where the balance of the day will be at your leisure.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Chiang Mai

After breakfast and check out you will depart the city and drive to the North of Chiang Mai. En route, you will make a short stop to visit the Orchid & Butterfly Farm. Then continue to drive to the elephant camp. Upon arrival, you will enjoy an elephant ride for 1 hour through the forest and after that walk 5 minutes to cross the Maetang River.

After lunch, you will enjoy a three-hour hike up the mountain and through the lush forest. You will reach the Lahu village in the late afternoon and check into a local home. The Lahu Tribe Village – Approximately 15 families/100+ people live here. The history of the Lahu people stretches over 4,500 years. The Lahu people originated from Tibet and Southwestern China, and since the 19th century, they have been migrating down to Thailand.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight in the local home

After breakfast, you will bid a farewell to the host family and continue to hike 2 hours more through the forest and cross the river. Stop en route to visit a beautiful waterfall, relax and enjoy some swim. You will also take a white water rafting for 1 hour and bamboo rafting for half an hour.

Enjoy a picnic lunch and after that transfer back to your hotel in Chiang Mai.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight in Chiang Mai

Enjoy your free day in Chiang Mai. Explore the Old City and visit the Night Bazaar.

Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight in Chiang Mai

After enjoying breakfast you are collected from your hotel and taken to Chiang Mai International Airport by your private driver in time for your departure flight.

Meals included: Breakfast

Don’t want to go home yet, you can extend your holiday with the Beach Extension to: Phuket, Krabi, Koh Samui, Koh Samed, Koh Chang or Koh Lanta.