HIGHLIGHT THAILAND

Detailed Itinerary

• Day 1

  ARRIVE BANGKOK

  Arrive Bangkok Airport and then transfer to hotel. Time will be at leisure.

  Overnight at your selected hotel.

• Day 2

  BANGKOK

   Breakfast will be served at the hotel.

  In the morning transfer to explore Bangkok by boat. A cruise tour along the Chao Phraya reveals scenes at odds with the bustling, modern inner city. Visitors get a glimpse of the serene and simple lifestyle of riverbank dwellers. En route, stop at the Royal Barges Museum and Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn). Almost opposite of Wat Arun is the Grand Palace, one of the most beautiful samples of the ancient Siamese court. It used to be the residence of the Kings of Bangkok.  Here you will see palaces which were used for different occasions: the Funeral Palace, the Reception Palace, the Throne Hall, the Coronation Hall, the Royal Guest House, and Wat Phra Keo, the beautiful Emerald Buddha Temple. (Note: The Grand Palace is closed during special royal ceremonies and during visiting heads of state). Lunch will be served at local restaurant.
  Overnight at your selected hotel
• Day 3

  BANGKOK-AYUTHAYA-LOPBURI-PHITSANULOK

  Breakfast will be served at the hotel. 

  Check out from the hotel and transfer to Ayuthaya, the former capital of Thailand. The principal sights are Wat Panancherng at the bank of Pha Sak River and the three ancient pagodas at Wat Phra Sri Sanpetch. Proceed to Lopburi for lunch at local restaurant. Continue to Phitsanuloke. Visit a Buddha-statues foundry and Wat Phra Sri Rattana Maha Dhat, housing the revered Buddha statue, Phra Buddha Jinaraj.

  Continue to Sukhothai for overnight.  

  Overnight at your selected hotel.

• Day 4

  SUKHOTHAI - CHIANG MAI

  Breakfast will be served at hotel. Today visit the Sukhothai Historical Park. A tram will take you inside and around the park, the tram will stop occasionally for you to take closer look and capture some pictures. Afterward visit the famous ruins of this first capital of Thailand (1257-1379).  Visit Wat Sri Chum, housing the Big Buddha of Phra Wajana and the legend of speaking Buddha Image. Lunch at a local restaurant. 

  After lunch, proceed to Chiang Mai. 

  Arrival in Chiang Mai in the evening. Transfer to hotel for Check in.

  Accommodation at your selected hotel.

• Day 5

  CHIANG MAI

  Breakfast will be served at hotel.
   
  In the morning, Half day Ontai Farm experience with lunch (including 1 work shop/ Natural indigo dying)                                                                    
  After breakfast, depart to On Tai District. Explore On Tai Sustainable Community Experience. Visit Wat Pa Tueng, it is located in On Tai sub-district, San Kamphaeng district. It was a deserted temple, together with Chiang Saen Temple. The Buddha's relics and many valuables such as antique objects, Buddha images, and chinaware were found before the construction of the temple. At present, they are kept in the porcelain museum in the temple area. There is also the wall painting that describe all year round local way of life and ceremony, from new born to the end of life time. Visit Fahmai Handloom, the center of local wisdom and artist such as bamboo carving, natural indigo dying and cotton hand weaving process.  Continue to On Tai Farm, an organic cooking from farm to table concept. Vegetable and herbs picking from farm and cooking organic and healthy dish yourself.
   
  Lunch at On Tai Farm, an organic lunch from farm to table.
   
  Transfer back to Chaing Mai and visit Thai handicraft factories, to see the procedure of spinning and weaving of Thai silk and to silverware factories. 
   
  Afterwards drive to the acclaimed temple Wat Phrathad Doi Suthep, home to a holy relic of the Lord Buddha and considered by many to be the most sacred wat in northern Thailand. Built in A.D. 384, the Wat contains a flight of over 300 steps to reach its top level. Once on top, enjoy a panoramic view of the city.   After that, Return to the hotel. 
   
  Accommodation at your selected hotel.
• Day 6

  CHIANG MAI

  Breakfast will be served at hotel.

   

  Transfer to old town area then change vehicle to Trishaw. Drive through the most historic areas of Chiang Mai, Visit Wat Phra Singh which houses the beautiful Lai Kham Chapel with its exquisite wood carving and northern style murals. Afterwards visit Wat Chedi Luang, containing an enormous Pagoda, which was partially destroyed by an earthquake in 1545. Continue on to visit real local life of Chiang Mai; Muang Mai market. Much of the food has come straight from the farm and in some parts of the market the farmers sell their wares direct from the back of their vehicles. Lunch will be provided at local restaurant, after lunch from the city, we drive out into the hills to visit Joy’s Farm and the School for life. This place has become the care center for orphans from part of Chiang Mai and nearby. The children will guide you around and you visit their school rooms, their vegetable plantation and later enjoy their cooking experience.

   

  Leave from Joy’s farm in late afternoon and return transfer to hotel, rest of day at leisure.

   

  Accommodation at your selected hotel.
• Day 7

  CHIANG MAI-MAE SA-HMONG HILL TRIBE LODGE

  Breakfast will be served at hotel. 

  Depart Chiang Mai to visit Orchid Farm and continue to the elephant camp.  Watch the elephants bathing and enjoy feeding the elephant yourself. Proceed to visit the Meo Hill-tribes Villages located on the way to the Hmong Hilltribe Lodge. 

  B.B.Q. dinner and camp fire at the Hmong Hilltribe Lodge followed by presentation of Meo dances.

  Accommodation at your selected hotel.

• Day 8

  HMONG HILL TRIBE LODGE-CHIANG RAI

  Breakfast will be served at hotel. 

  Early depart for a long journey to Chiang Rai en-route stop at Hot Spring Bann Pong Namron. Continue on to visit Wat Rong Khun; the white temple. Arrive at Chiang Rai. Lunch is served at local restaurant. After lunch take the boat trip on Maekok river approx.1 hr. to Karen local village. Afterwards drive to visit Wat Rong Sua Ten, also known as the Blue Temple, the new landmark of the area. The temple presents its own unique architecture and fine scripture art worth visiting.

  Accommodation at your selected hotel

• Day 9

  CHIANG RAI-GOLDEN TRIANGLE-BANGKOK

  Breakfast will be served at local restaurant. 

  Transfer to the Golden Triangle area on the Mekong River's bank where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet.  Stop for a visit at an old-days' opium house museum. Lunch at local restaurant.

  Transfer to Chiang Rai Airport for flight to Bangkok.

• No discount on tour price (not applicable for airfare) for child under 12 years old sharing a twin room with 1 adult
• 30% discount on tour price (not applicable for airfare) for child under 12 years old sharing a triple room with 2 adults
• Cut-off date is 15 days before departure

• Cancellation fee on the total cost of roundtrip
• 08 to 14 days before arrival date- 25 % of tour price
• 01 to 07 days before arrival date- 50 % of tour price
• No show- 100% of tour price

• VAT, in case the government is adjusting the presently applied VAT of 7% to 10%, or any other amount
• Deviations in the tour program or change of hotels are sometimes necessary depending on       road conditions or availability of rooms.