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Treasures of
Thailand
11 days/10 nights
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Day 01.
Bangkok (L)
We pick you up at your hotel in
Bangkok for a transfer to the local wharf, where we
take a longtail
boat over the mighty “Chao Phraya
River” and explore Bangkok along its many canals.
This is a very fun and exciting way to
discover local life. You will soon see why Bangkok is called the “Venice of the
East”. We make a stop at “Wat Arun”, the
stunning Temple of Dawn and around midday we
enjoy a delicious lunch near the
riverside, after this we return to the hotel. Overnight at Tongtara Riverview
Hotel. |
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Day
02. Bangkok (B,L)
Breakfast at the
hotel. We visit the largest fresh flower
and vegetable market of Thailand.
This market is well known as “Pak Klong Talaad”,
a center for wholesale of
flowers, fruits and vegetables.
Farmers bring their farm products to
this market daily.
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We continue
to Chinatown, a center of
trading by the Chinese since
they arrived from China
some 300 years ago. We
stroll through the small sois
(alleys) and visit the
Indo-Chinese food market.
After lunch we visit the
most beautiful temple of ancient Siam:
Wat Phra Kaew and the
adjunct Grand
Palace, a must for every
visitor. We visit the
Emerald Buddha, the most
revered Buddha image of
Thailand, the Throne Hall, the
Coronation Hall and The
Funeral Palace.
Accommodation at Tongtara
hotel. |
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Day
03. Bangkok (B)
Today we will discover
Bangkok by bike! Biking in a metropolis with
million cars? No problem! It is possible! We
will actually hardly see any cars. An
absolute unique experience! You will see
places where time stood still. Cycle
along the klongs (canals), through small
communities, along fruit plantations, local schools, markets
and temples. Make contact with the local people and become
an attraction yourself. Overnight at the Tongtara Riverview hotel. |
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Day
04. Bangkok – Ban Don Wai – River Kwai (B,L)
Pick up at your hotel in Bangkok.
Bangkok’s concrete jungle seems far away after just a short
drive to Nakhon Pathom province. Ban Don Wai market
is located
on the banks of the Thachin River and is wellknown for
its typical Thai sweets
and products from the nearby gardens and
plantations, including orchids, roses, jackfruit,
pineapple and other exotic fruits. After
a stroll on the market, we take
an unique boat ride into the green hart of
this area, where we see the real Thai
farmer's life.
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We
continue to the Rose Garden where we
have
lunch and enjoy a cultural performance
and traditional dances, sports and
ceremonies. After this
we continue to Kanchanaburi where we
visit the JEATH war museum to view a
realistic replica of a POW's living quarter
that also contains
sketches and photographs describing
life in the camps. We then visit the
War Cemetery, a resting
place for over 6,000 allied
Prisoners of War and The Bridge over
the River Kwai. Accommodation at
Royal River Kwai Resort and Spa.
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Day
05. Kanchanaburi – Ayutthaya – Phitsanuloke (B,L)
In the morning we leave
for “Ayuttaya” , the former Thai capital
where we visit three important temples: “Wat Chawathanaram”
occupying a magnificent position on the west bank of the
Chao Praya River;
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Wat Phra Sri Sanphet”
a World Herirage site
in the middle of the old
capital; and the gigantic
bronze statue of Wat Mongkol
Borapith. We then continue our way to Phitsanuloke
and have lunch on the way. When we arrive
in Phitsanuloke we
visit Wat Mahatat and it’s highly revered Buddha statue,
Phra Buddha Chinaraj and a factory of Buddha sculptures. Accommodation at
the Topland Plaza Hotel. |
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Day
06. Phitsanuloke – Sukothai – Lampang – Chiang Rai (B,L)
We drive on to Sukothai where
we visit the ancient ruins of the
Rankhamhaeng Historical Park and Wat Sri Chum
with its gigantic Buddha statue. We then continue to Lampang where visit one
of the most old and
famous temples in Northern
Thailand "Wat Phra That
Lampang Luang". The eventful
history of this 1000-year-old temple is
described in its many murals. At lunchtime we visit
the Dan Kwiang Forest
market, a local market known for its edible insects. After
this we continue to Chiang Rai.
Accommodation at the Legend Resort.
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Day
07. Chiang Rai – Golden Triangle – Chiang Rai (B,L)
After breakfast we
continue to the high north and visit Doi Tung
and “Wat Phra That Doi
Tung”. The area around Doi Tung has historically been the
site of opium production, controlled by hill
tribe people. Doi Tung Royal villa was built
in 1988 on the
mountain, and was originally the summer residence of the Queen Mother. The villa has a beautiful garden with a
large variety of all kinds of flowers
and trees, an area also known as the Switzerland of
the East. On route visit two hill tribe
villages, namely the Lahu and Akha. We
then continue to the
northernmost town of Thailand, “Mai Sai.
This border town has a bridge into
Myanmar (Burma) and there is time to visit the local markets and shops.
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We drive on to Sop Ruak,
the actual Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Burma and Laos meet. We
have lunch at the Mekong River. After lunch we
continue by longtail boat along
the border of these three
countries and make a stop on
Laos territory. We visit the
opium museum displaying
artifacts related to opium production.
Then its on to Chiang Saen a short
drive along
the Mekong river bank .to one of the oldest
towns in
Thailand. We also visit the ruins and
“Wat Pa Sak” a teakwood forest
temple. In the evening you have time
to enjoy a walk along the river.
Accommodation at The Legend Resort. |
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Day
08. Chiang Rai – Chiang Mai (B)
Via a green and
mountainous route through the northern
jungle we
arrive in Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second most import city,
located on the Ping River. On the way we'll take time for a
photo stop allowing you to capture this
magnificent scenery. On arrival we visit San Kamphaeng
where we are welcomed in workshops making local
handicrafts, such as umbrellas and
fans, silk, jade, woodcarvings, silver,
etc. After lunch we visit San Kamphaeng
where we are welcomed in workshops making local
handicrafts, including umbrellas and
fans, silk, jade, woodcarvings, silver,
etc. Accommodation at the Lanna
Palace Hotel. Accommodation at the Park Hotel. |
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Day
09. Chiang Mai (B,L)
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Today we visit Chiang
Dao elephant camp where you can
watch elephants take their daily
morning bath and demonstrate their
skills. After the show we do a
trekking on the back of an elephant
and bamboo rafting down the river.
Lunch is taken at an orchid farm
where we allow some time to relax and
enjoy the beauty of this exotic
flower. After lunch we visit Doi Suthep, a temple built at a height
of 1,056 meters above sea level. A staircase of 290 steps
and flanked by a Naga balustrade
takes you to this mountain top
temple where you have an excellent
view over the city of Chiang Mai. Accommodation at The Park Hotel. |
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Day
10. Chiang Mai – Bangkok (B)
In the morning
there is time to discover Chiang Mai
on your own. Rent a tuktuk and let
the driver show you the highlights
of this ancient city. Highlights
include the temples “Wat Chiang
Man”, “Wat Phra Singh”, “Wat Chedi
Luang” and “Wat Suan Dok”, as well
as the
Warrot market:
This market is from the early morning till
late afternoon and has a variety
of food, vegetables and clothes. In the late afternoon we transfer
to the train station where we board an
air-conditioned sleeper for our overnight
trip back
to Bangkok. |
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Day
11. Bangkok (B)
After arrival in the early morning in Bangkok
where we
have breakfast and then transfer you to any destination of your
choice within the city.
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Included:
English speaking guide, 7
lunches, and visits as in the program, entrance
fee, train ticket 2nd class sleeper Chiang Mai
to Bangkok
B=Breakfast
L=Lunch
D=Dinner
Not
included:
flight to
Thailand, airport taxes, meals not mentioned,
drinks,
tips, optional excursions and travel insurance
Departure date in Bangkok: Wednesday
20 February 2008
Note: small deviations in the
tour program are sometimes necessary, depending
on weather, road conditions and room
availability
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