| Duration: | 7 Day(s) - 6 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Classic Tours |
DAY 1: BANGKOK—AYUTHAYA—LOPBURI—PITSANULOKE [-/L/D]
Morning pick-up passengers from major Bangkok hotels.
Depart from Bangkok to Ayuthaya, the former capital of Thailand. Principal sights are the gigantic bronze statues of Wat Mongkol Borpith, the three ancient pagodas at Wat Phra Srisanpetch, and Wat Pranangcherng. Continue via Saraburi to Phra Buddha Badh with its shrine of the holy footprint of Lord Buddha.
Proceed to Lopburi for lunch. Visit the museum at Narai Raja Nives Palace, the Prang Sam Yod (Sacred Three-Spired Pagoda), the ruins of Wat Phra Sri Ratana Maha Dhat, as well as the Monkey Temple. Proceed by bus to Pitsanuloke and check in at AMARIN LAGOON 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, and visit the famous ruins of Thailand’s first capital (1257-1379). See Wat Maha Dhat, the Ramkamhaeng Museum, 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 Chedi Jet Thaew, Wat Nang Phya, and Wat Phra Sri Ratana Maha Dhat on the site of the Khmer fort "Chalieng.” Proceed to Lampang and check in at LAMPANG RIVER LODGE or a similar hotel.
Dinner and accommodations.
DAY 3: LAMPANG—LAMPOON—CHIANG MAI [B/L/D]
Breakfast at the hotel.
Depart for Ko Kah to see Wat Phra Dhat Lampang Luang, housing the only Emerald Buddha other than the one at Wat Phra Keo in Bangkok. Continue to visit Wat Phra Keo Don Tao, a very interesting Burmese-style temple, plus Wat Chedi Sao, with its many small pagodas. Proceed to Lampoon. Visit the famous Wat Haripoonchai in Lampoon, built-in 1157—one of the most sacred monuments in the north. Continue to Chiang Mai.
Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon visits Handicraft Villages, to observe the manufacturing of lacquerware, spinning, and weaving of Thai Silk, and paper umbrella making. Also visit a famous Thai wood-carving factory, with the possibility of purchasing Burmese antiques. Check-in at AMARI RINCOME HOTEL or a similar hotel.
Khao Soy Dinner, a signature dish of northern Thai cuisine at “Just Khao Soy Restaurant”.
Optional: Opportunity for bargain hunters to visit the city's night market.
Accommodation.
DAY 4: CHIANG MAI [B/L/D]
Breakfast at the hotel.
City Tour. Visit the most interesting temples in Chiang Mai, like Wat Phra Singh with its famous Buddha image, Wat Chiang Man, the oldest temple in Chiang Mai (built by King Mangrai), and Wat Suan Dok, housing remains of many generations of the old Chiang Mai royal families. Also visit Wat Doi Suthep, tucked away in the mountains at 1,056 meters above sea level. Lunch at a local restaurant.
Afternoon free.
Kantoke Dinner. Enjoy a typical Thai dinner with a presentation of ancient dances from northern Thailand, followed by a performance of dances and songs of various hill tribes. Accommodations at AMARI RINCOME HOTEL or a similar hotel.
Optional: Opportunity for bargain hunters to visit the city's night market.
DAY 5: CHIANG MAI—THATORN [B/L/D]
Breakfast at the hotel.
Depart Chiang Mai to visit an orchid farm. Continue to visit the Mae Ping elephant camp and watch elephants handling the huge logs. The elephants’ strength and strategic teamwork will amaze you.
Recommended Option: Take a one-hour elephant safari into the surrounding countryside.
Extra: Baht 600.- per person (two persons per elephant).
Lunch at a Local Restaurant.
Proceed to Thatorn via Chiang Dao and Fang. En route, visit Chiang Dao Cave at Wat Tham Chiang Dao. The caverns are full of sacred Buddha images and natural formations. The main cavern is illuminated by electric lights, while the deepest recesses can be explored with oil lanterns. Arrive in Thatorn, a small village just a few kilometers from the Burmese border. Check-in at MAE KOK RIVER VILLAGE RESORT or a similar hotel.
Dinner and accommodations.
DAY 6: THATORN—CHIANG RAI [B/L/D]
Breakfast at the hotel.
Depart Thatorn to visit 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. Drive to Ban Pha Tai and board motor-powered traditional boats for a three-hour journey down Kok River, passing tiny hill-tribe villages, bamboo huts, and jungle.
Arrive in Chiang Rai and disembark at THE LEGEND CHIANG RAI BOUTIQUE RIVER RESORT AND SPA. Check-in on arrival and followed by lunch at the hotel.
Continue to visit Chiang Rai City, such as Wat Phra Keo where the much venerated Emerald Buddha image was once enshrined, and Wat Phrasing where one of the most beautiful Buddha images in Chiang Saen style is enshrined. Visit the statue of King Mengrai who built Chiang Rai City and the Hilltribe Museum and a local market before returning to the hotel.
Dinner and accommodations.
DAY 7: CHIANG RAI—BANGKOK [B/L/-]
Breakfast at the hotel.
Depart Chiang Rai by minibus to visit the Golden Triangle where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos meet. Take a short boat ride on the Mekong River. Picnic lunch box provided. Transfer to Chiang Rai Airport.
Depart Chiang Rai by TG-135 (air ticket is not included)
Arrive in Bangkok with transfers to your Bangkok Hotel.
