| Duration: | 6 Day(s) - 5 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Classic Tours |
DAY 1: BANGKOK—AYUTHAYA—LOPBURI—PITSANULOKE [-/L/D]
Pick up passengers from major Bangkok hotels.
Wat Mongkol Borpitr, the three ancient pagodas at Wat Phra Sri Sanpetch and Wat Pranangcherng. Continue via Saraburi to Wat Pranangcherngwith its shrine of the holy footprint of Lord Buddha. Proceed to Lopburi for lunch. Visit the Prang Sam Yod (Sacred Three-Spired Pagoda), the ruins of Wat Phra Sri Ratana Maha Dhat, and the Monkey Temple. Proceed by bus to Pitsanuloke and check in at TOPLAND HOTEL or a similar hotel.
Dinner and accommodations.
DAY 2: PITSANULOKE—SUKHOTHAI—SRI SATCHANALAI—LAMPANG [B/L/D]
Breakfast at the hotel.
Visit Wat Maha Dhat with its revered Buddha statue, Phra Buddha Jinaraj. Depart for Sukhothai, Visit the famous ruins of this first capital of Thailand (1257-1379). See Wat Maha Dhat, Wat Sra Sri, and Wat Sri Chum. Lunch at a local restaurant. Continue to Sri Satchanalai, the northern outpost town of the Kingdom of Sukhothai, built by King Ramkamhaeng.
Visit Wat Chang Lom, Wat Jedi Jet Thaew, Wat Nang Phya, and Wat Phra Sri Ratana Maha Dhat standing on site of the Khmer fort "Chalieng."Proceed to Lampang and check in at WIENGLAKOR HOTEL or a similar hotel.
Dinner and accommodations.
DAY 3: LAMPANG—PHAYAO—CHIANG RAI [B/L/D]
Breakfast at the hotel
Drive to Ko Kah to see Wat Phra Dhat Lampang Luang housing the only Emerald Buddha, besides the one at Wat Phra Keo in Bangkok. Depart for Phayao, a unique rural town and former princely state the former glory of which may be seen at Wat Sri Kom Kam. Proceed to Chiang Rai and have lunch at a local restaurant.
Continue to Chiang Saen, the former capital of the first Thai kingdom, situated directly on the Mekong River at the border between Thailand and Laos.
Visit Wat Phra Dhat Jom Kitti by climbing 383 steps to the top of the hill, Wat Chedi Luang, and the small museum nearby. Take a boat trip upriver on the Mekong to the Golden Triangle where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos meet.
Continue to Mae Sai, the northernmost Thai town and on the border with Myanmar. Stroll through and shop at the local market. Return to Chiang Rai and check in at WIENG INN HOTEL or a similar hotel.
Dinner and accommodations.
DAY 4: CHIANG RAI—CHIANG MAI [B/L/D]
Breakfast at the hotel.
Depart for Ban Lorcha, a Phami Akha hill-tribe community center. This community-based tourism development project promotes sustainable, self-reliant development to improve the quality of life of villagers of this Akha Community, and is a model for tourism in Hilltribe villages. Proceed to Chiang Mai and have lunch at a local restaurant.
Afternoon visit to Handicraft Villages to observe the manufacture of lacquerware, the spinning, and weaving of Thai Silk, and to watch how paper umbrellas are made.
Check-in at IMPERIAL MAE PING HOTEL or a similar hotel. Kantoke Dinner. Enjoy a typical Thai dinner with ancient dances from northern Thailand, followed by a performance of dances and songs by various hill tribes.
Accommodations.
Optional: Opportunity to visit the city's night market in search of bargains...
DAY 5: CHIANG MAI [B/L/D]
Breakfast at the hotel.
Visit Wat Doi Suthep, tucked away in the mountains at an elevation of 1,056 meters. The temple is reached using a NAGA railing rising along both sides. The monastery was built by King Gue-Na in 1383. The center is a big chedi (spiral pagoda), containing partial relics of Lord Buddha. Continue to visit the elephant camp to watch the elephants taking timber in the forest. Their strength and strategic teamwork will amaze you.
Also, visit the orchid farm and have lunch at a local restaurant. Return to Chiang Mai. Afternoon visit to a famous Thai wood carving factory with the possibility of buying Burmese antiques.
Transfer to Chiang Mai Railway Station. Depart by second class airconditioned train with sleeping berth. Dinner box and overnight stay on the train.
*Return by air from Chiang Mai to Bangkok and/or additional nights (s) in Chiang Mai also possible (please contact us for details)
DAY 6: BANGKOK [-/-/-]
Arrive at Bangkok Railway Station. (No breakfast) Transfer to your Bangkok hotel.
