Thailand Discovery
15 days
Bangkok offers a fascinating mix of oriental cultures with its countless temples, foodstalls and hidden places. Dive into the peaceful northeastern region of Thailand, the Isan. Visit the National Park of Khao Yai, the beautiful Angkor temple of Phimai and stay a few days at home with a Thai hostfamily in a quiet Isan country village. Take part in authentic daily village life and experience first hand how life on the quiet Isan countryside still is. Admire the wonderful temples and ruins in the historical park of Sukhothai. Visit the Elephant Conservation center in Lampang and see what these impressive creatures are capable of. Onward to Chiang Mai for a 2 day trek through the beautiful mountains of Thailands northern region. After the trek there is time to explore the cozy city of Chiang Mai, visit the famous night bazar or dine in one of the countless restaurants or terraces. After all these impressions you have time to rest and relax on the beaches of Koh Samui (2 flights included).
Day 1. Bangkok arrival
Upon arrival at Bangkok International Airport, our local representative will wait for you in the arrival hall with a sign
with your name on it. Transfer by private airconditioned minivan to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at leisure.
Day 2. Bangkok
Daytour along Bangkoks palaces and temples. In the morning you will visit Bangkok's most famous landmark: the Grand Palace & Temple of the Emerald Buddha (the
national Buddha image). Several of Thailand's most significant religious ceremonies are here performed by the King. The
entire complex contains more than 100 buildings that represent 200 years of history and architecture. The afternoon is
free. Enjoy a romantic dinner cruise in the evening on board of an old rice barge
which has been rebuilt. During a quiet and romantic candle lit tour you can enjoy the traditional Kim (Thai xylophone)
music. This cruise is a voyage through Thai history, culture and gastronomy along the Chao Phraya river, passing by Wat
Arun, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and the Royal Palace. Hotel pickup and dropoff are included. Overnight in Bangkok.
Day 3. Ayutthaya
Morning departure to Bang Pa In, the King's beautiful summer palace. Onward to Ayutthaya, the former Thai capital and
destroyed in 1767 by the Birmese. Visit the most important ruins and historical attractions. Your guide explains the
history and legends of the respective sights. In the afternoon departure by cruise boat back to Bangkok. Buffet lunch &
dessert on board. Around 17:00 hr arrival in Bangkok. Hotel pickup & dropoff included.
Day 4. Khao Yai national park
Transfer from your hotel in Bangkok to Khao Yai. Today's tour is easy going and can be enjoyed by nature lovers of all
ages. Visit the vulcanic caves and the bat caves and see more than a million bats swarming out to hunt for nightly food.
Falcons try to seize the bats as food, an experience not to be missed. In the evening you can optionally visit the night
market at Pak Chong. You will stay overnight in the
Khao Yai Garden Lodge,
a spaciously set up nature resort spread out over a large terrain with picturesque accommodation that fits perfectly in
the natural landscape of Khao Yai National Park. The hotel has a large garden with orchids, turtles, butterflies and
plants, a swimming pool with bar and a cozy restaurant.
Day 5. Khao Yai National Park
Drive deep into the mountains and walk through refreshing and scenic landscapes of bizarre mountains where untouched
jungle still exists. Using the elephant trails in the jungle you will walk along mountain streams and you'll see
magnificent waterfalls where you can take a swim. Admire the large variety of orchids and the magnificent views from the
cliff at 1270m altitude. Enjoy being in the jungle itself with its uncountable sounds all around you. Animal life include
elephants, gaurs, monkeys, deer, bears and birds including the famous hornbill. The park has the biggest elephant
population (200) in Thailand. Around 19:00 hr our night tour commences through mountain forests and grasslands. This is
the time that most animals come out of their hiding. From the car, the nightly animal world is illuminated by special
halogen lights and the many species can be observed. Dinner (not included) will be served upon return in the hotel.
Overnight stay again in the Khao Yai Garden Lodge.
Day 6. Phimai Angkor sanctuary
During the Khmer period, large parts of Thailand were conquered by the Angkor empire. Phimai was directly connected by
road with the Angkor capital. Prasat Hin Phimai was built at the beginning of the 12th century, when the Khmer empire had
its glory period. The monument is of great historic and esthetic importance, it became the example and prototype for the
later built and famous AngkorWat in Cambodia. Don't miss the opportunity to take a short excursion (2 km down the road) to
Saai Ngaam, a 350 year old banyan tree-complex hanging some 2m above the ground. A good place to have lunch in one of
the many food stalls. In the afternoon transfer to your homestay address in the village Khampom. During dinner, prepared
by your family host, you will be warmly welcomed by the local Thai village people (dinner included).
Visit on school days the village school. See the ceremonial beginning of a school day with the children singing the national Thai anthem followed by Buddhist prayer. You can enter the classroom to talk with the schoolchildren, who are curious about Western life and enjoy to talk with you. Your guide will translate everything. This school visit will be one of your more memorable experiences. Later you will go into the rice fields. Depending on the season you can see how rice is sown or harvested. If you want then you can help and do some manual labor yourself. You will buy the ingredients for your evening meal at the village market. This evening, if you want, you can prepare your own dinner. The family host mother will explain how while your guide translates. As this will be your last dinner with the host family, probably half the village will want to say goodbye to you. Following Isan tradition you will receive a lot of good wishes and a wrist full of little ropes…
Journey from Khonkaen to Sukothai. This trip takes you through the mountainous provinces of Loei and Petchaboon which belong to the most beautiful of Thailand. With their ample choice in National Parks this area is a favourite destination of nature lovers During this trip you can enjoy the spectacular scenery and views and you will stop a few times on the way. The village Bo Po offers salt-water sources. Villagers boil the water leaving the salt which then is sold. A picnic lunch near the Kaeng Sopha waterfalls in the national park Thung Salaeng Luang is included. Overnight stay in Sukothai.
Day 9. Sukothai
Founded in the 13th century, Sukhothai was the first capital of Thailand (then Siam). The city enjoyed a golden age under
King Ramkhamhaeng, credited with creating the Thai alphabet. The superb palaces, 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 travellers.
Ramkhamhaeng National Museum contains an outstanding collection of the arts and crafts of Sukhothai, including statues,
Buddha images and old celadon found within the old city. Important sites inside the old city walls include the royal
temple with a giant chedi built to house Buddha relics brought from Sri Lanka, Wat Sri Sawai with its three Hindu-style
prangs, Wat Traphang Thong in the centre of a large pond and its Buddha Footprint and Wat Sa Si, an attractive temple on 2
islands with a large Singhalese chedi. You will stay overnight in Sukhothai.
Day 10. Chiang Mai
Transfer from Sukhothai to Chiang Mai, a journey through the beautiful mountainous scenery of Thailands north. On route
you will visit the Thai Elephant Conservation Center. These impressive creatures will demonstrate what they are capable of
and you will see a variety of activities such as bathing and feeding of baby elephants and nursing them in a hospital.
Then onward to Chiang Mai and arrival in your hotel. The rest of the day is free at leisure. Overnight stay in Chiang Mai.
Day 11 - 12. Chiang Mai mountaintrek
Start with a visit to an elephant-training camp in the beautiful area of Chiang Dao. Witness how these enormous creatures
are taught to labor in the jungle. Onward to the Chiang Dao caves, with a beautiful white marble statue from Burma. After
lunch we continue by pick-up truck through light jungle to an Akha and Lisu village. The terrain here is mountainous and
offers a magnificent view. Walk to a Palong village where you spend the night. Dinner is cooked by the guide according
western hygienic standards. Breakfast on day 12 and continue with a short walk and a 1 hour elephant ride. Enjoy the views
of the jungle while sitting on top of the elephant. Stop at a camp where bamboo-rafts are made for lunch. Continue the
tour by rafting. You can take the rudder and navigate yourself down the river. On the way back to Chiang Mai we stop at a
small market and an orchid-nursery where you can admire some 200 different species (depending on the season) of these
beautiful flowers. Arrival at your hotel on day 12 around 17:00 hr. Overnight stay in Chiang Mai.
Day 13. Chiang Mai - Koh Samui
A morning flight will take you from Chiang Mai straight to Koh Samui. Transfer to your hotel on one of the peaceful
beaches of Koh Samui. The rest of the day is free at leisure to enjoy sun, sea and sand and an entertaining evening life.
Day 14. Koh Samui
Free at leisure.
Day 15. Koh Samui
Checkout. In the course of the day you will fly to Bangkok, where you will arrive on time for your connecting flight back
home. This dream holiday ends upon your arrival at Bangkok International Airport.
or via the Booking form
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Start: Day 1 at Bangkok International Airport (upon arrival from abroad); End: Day 15 at Bangkok International Airport (before departure to abroad); Included: All overnight stays based on twin sharing and including breakfast, other meals as indicated, all mentioned excursions and transfers, 2 domestic flights Chiang Mai - Samui and Samui - Bangkok, all admission fees, an English speaking tourguide during the excursions. Prices are based on the indicated number of persons. Our terms & conditions and payment terms apply. Not included: International return flight to/from Thailand, airport taxes, insurances, personal expenses. Surcharges: Some hotels apply surcharges, for instance for Christmas dinners, New year dinners or local holidays. These surcharges are not included. We will mention them before you book. Hotels Bangkok: 3-star: Bossotel Inn, standard room; 4-star: Royal Princess, superior room; Hotels Khao Yai: 3-star: Khao Yai Garden Lodge, superior room; 4-star: Juldis Resort, deluxe room; Hotels Sukhothai: 3-star: Lotus Village Hotel, superior room; 4-star: Ananda Museum, superior room; Hotels Chiang Mai: 3-star: Chiang Mai Park Hotel, superior room; 4-star: Plaza Hotel, superior room; Hotels Koh Samui: 3-star: Peace Resort, garden view room; 4-star: Chaweng Buri, superior room; |
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