DAY 1 - Arrive Bangkok
Upon arrival in Bangkok, check into your luxury accommodations.
DAY 2 - Bangkok
The exotic tapestry of ancient and modern Thai culture unfolds as you embark on a visit to Bangkok\'s landmarks. See the resplendent seat of the Thai royal family, the Royal Grand Palace with its 100-building opulence. No less awe-inspiring are the Emerald Buddha at Wat Phra Kaeo, the Eight Colored Towers, Pantheon of Kings and Golden Chedhi. The rest of the day is at leisure, then enjoy a welcome Thai dinner with a traditional dance performance this evening. MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 3 - Bangkok
Today\'s full day tour takes you through the countryside to Damnoen Saduak and its Floating Market, where vendors hawk their exotic goods along the canals (klongs) from produce-laden skiffs. Visit Nakhon Pathom, the tallest pagoda in the world. MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 4 - Bangkok/Ayutthaya/Bangkok
A drive to Bang Pa In, King Rama V\'s magnificent summer residence, starts the day\'s sightseeing. The ruins of the ancient Thai capital, Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, loom in regal dignity as you walk along its well-planned byways, the inspiration for modern Bangkok. Lunch is served aboard a motor launch as you cruise down the \'River of Kings,\' Chao Phraya, returning you to Bangkok. This evening is at leisure. MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 5 - Bangkok/River Kwai/Bangkok
Depart Bangkok this morning heading west. Drive to Kanchanaburi, where you visit the world famous \'Bridge on the River Kwai\' and the memorial dedicated to the 9,000 Allied soldiers who died building the World War II bridge and railway. Board a train for a short ride on the \'Death Railway.\' Lunch is enroute at a local restaurant. Return to Bangkok in the late afternoon; the evening is at leisure. MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 6 - Bangkok/Chiang Rai
Transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to Chiang Rai. You are met on arrival and escorted to the Dusit Island Resort with its lovely pool and riverside location. The balance of the day is free. MEALS: American Breakfast, Dinner in the Hotel
DAY 7 - Chiang Rai
Intricate designs and the fetching color of Thai handicrafts surround you as we visit the Handicraft Vocation Center and Cottage Industries (an ethnic minority village and agricultural training center) at the Royal Project at Doi Tung Development. Rest of the day is free. MEALS: American Breakfast, Dinner in Hotel
DAY 8 - Chiang Rai
A day at leisure, or join one of our optional tours. We suggest a full day tour to visit the unique and fascinating Long Neck hill tribe village (Padong Karen) before continuing to Doi Mae Salong village, located on the highest peak in Chiang Rai, an area known as Thailand\'s \'Little Switzerland.\' Here, visit the hilltop village of Santikhiri. Return to Chiang Rai for a trishaw trip in the city. MEALS: American Breakfast, Dinner in the Hotel
DAY 9 - Chiang Rai Golden Triangle excursion
The wonders of Chiang Saen, a city that dates back to the 1300s, is the highlight of our morning sightseeing. Then board a longboat for a cruise to the Golden Triangle, the fabled region where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar (Burma) converge. Formerly notorious for raising the area\'s opium poppy crop, the Golden Triangle is now a showcase of lush fruit orchards and coffee plantations sponsored by the Crown of Thailand. Continue on to the border trading town of Mae Sai. MEALS: American Breakfast, Dinner in the Hotel
DAY 10 - Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai
Free morning to explore on your own. Then depart by motorcoach for Chiang Mai. Your hotel is within walking distance of the glittering Night Bazaar of Chiang Mai. MEALS: American Breakfast, Dinner in the Hotel
DAY 11 - Chiang Mai
Experience the presence of seven centuries of Thai history as you visit the ancient city wall and ornate temples, of which the Wat Chedi Luang and the 1345 A.D. Wat Phra Singh are the prime examples. Wat Chiang Man enshrines two Buddha images and a remarkable chedi guarded by elephant head statuary. Wat Suan Dok, meanwhile, houses the ashes of the royal family of Chiang Mai and other relics. The rest of the day is at leisure. Tonight we treat you to a traditional northern Kantoke dinner and a charming cultural show by a troupe of ethnic hill tribe performers. MEALS: American Breakfast, Dinner Show
DAY 12 - Chiang Mai
The beauty and intricacy of Thai cottage arts comes to life during a Home Industries Village tour including Sankampaeng and Bosarng. Enjoy the selection of wondrous silk and other fabrics, elaborate jewelry, handmade celadon, lacquerware, paper umbrellas, and other gems of Thai handicraft. The rest of the day is free.
MEALS: American Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 13 - Chiang Mai
Highlight today is an elephant camp at Mae Sa - see the gentle behemoths\' feats of brain and brawn. You may opt to try an age-old mode of jungle transport: atop a tame elephant\'s back. Visit a Meo hill tribe village and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Queen Sirikit\'s famed Botanical Garden and an orchid farm fill your afternoon with blazing hues and tropical fragrance. Rest of the day is at leisure. MEALS: American Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 14 - Chiang Mai
Doi Suthep awaits us this morning, as we drive up the mountain pass that takes us to the temple compound of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, famous for its breathtaking vistas of Chiang Mai below. The rest of the day free. MEALS: American Breakfast, Dinner in the Hotel
DAY 15 - Chiang Mai
Discover Chiang Mai\'s treasures on your own, or take an optional tour. A popular option is a full-day visit with lunch to Lamphun and Pasang. This tour features Wiang Kum Kam\'s relics, and the impressive ruins of Lamphun, the former capital of the Haripoonchai Kingdom. Buddhist monks now study at a school built on the site of the magnificent palace that presided over Lamphun in the 9th century. Amphur Pasang\'s cotton weaving industry and the White Karen hill tribe village are must-see features of the optional tour. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner party. MEALS: American Breakfast, Dinner Party
DAY 16 - Chiang Mai/Bangkok
Transfer to the airport for a morning flight to Bangkok. You will be met and transferred to your hotel. The balance of the day is free. MEALS: American Breakfast
DAY 17 - Journey Home
After breakfast, your program ends. Ask about our transpacific air prices with attractive add-ons from hometown cities as well as mileage credit when ticketed by Pacific Delight Tours. |
