Bangkok • Chiang Mai • Phuket
Departures: Daily
Itinerary
Day 1 Home City – Bangkok
Your journey begins with an overnight transpacific flight across the International Date Line.
Day 2 Arrive Bangkok (D)
Arrive Bangkok. Be greeted at the airport by your English speaking guide and transfer to your hotel.
This evening introduces you to mystical dances, Thai cuisine and a truly Thai ambience! During dinner, feast your eyes on the grace and beauty of the dancers, elegantly performing stories from classical Thai literature and folktales. The exquisitely crafted traditional costumes bedecked with jewels must be captured on camera!
Accommodation: Radisson Hotel or similar.
Day 3 Bangkok. (B/L/D)
Today, you will enjoy a tour to the Grand Place. The Grand Palace is one of the most beautiful samples of an 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 the beautiful Emerald Buddha Temple.
Lunch at hotel, afternoon at leisure
Dinner at hotel
Accommodation: Radisson Hotel or similar.
Day 4. Bangkok (B/L/D)
Today, the most interesting full day tour takes you to the rural floating market of Damnoen Saduak situated 110 kms west of Bangkok. The tour includes a visit to Nakorn Pathom, site of the highest Chedi in Thailand called “Phra Pathom Chedi” which is the largest pagoda in Southeast Asia. Lunch will be served at the picturesque Rose Garden country resort. afterwards you will attend the Thai village show which gives you an introduction into Thai life. You will witness ordination into monkshood, fingernail dance, Thai boxing, hill tribe dance, sword-fighting, elephants at work and folk dancing.
Dinner at hotel
Accommodation: Radisson Hotel or similar.
Day 5. Bangkok to Chiang Mai (B/D)
Fly today to Chiang Mai. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. In the evening, enjoy a superb Kantoke dinner while being entertained by a selection of traditional Thai culture and folk performances. Kantoke is the customary northern Thai style of eating with the food being served in large platters at low tables while you sit on mats on the floor. As you enjoy your meal, let yourself be entertained by a selection of northern Thai cultural performances.
Accommodation: Amari Rincome Hotel or similar.
Day 6 Chiang Mai (B)
In the morning, we will do a Chiang Mai city temple tour. This tour takes you on an unforgettable drive through many different parts of the city, passing markets, residential areas, foreign consulates and establishments, government buildings and Ta-Pae, Chiang Mai's main street. Visit four of the most important temples: Wat Chiang Man(AD 1297), the oldest temple within the city walls; Wat Chedi Luang (AD 1411), where the Emerald Buddha was once enshrined; Wat Pra Singh (AD 1345), housing a very sacred 1,500 year old Buddha image; and Wat Suan Dok (AD 1371), where the ashes of Chiangmai's Royal Family are interred.
In the afternoon, we will take a local handicraft tour. Chiang Mai is Thailand's main handicraft centre and is ringed by small cottage factories and workshops. On this tour a visit is made to the San Kamphaeng district, heart of the silk and cotton home industries, to witness the fascinating process of making and weaving these popular fabrics. Continue on the Bor Sang, the umbrella village, where the delicate Thai paper umbrellas are produced and hand-painted. From here, onwards to Thai Celadon, about 6kms north of Chiang Mai, where ceramics are produced. These are modeled on the Sawankhalok pottery that used to be made hundreds of years ago at Sukhothai and exported all over the region. Last but not least, are stops to observe the intricacies of both lacquerware and silverware craftsmen.
Accommodation: Amari Rincome Hotel or similar.
Day 7. Chiang Mai to Phuket (B)
Transfer to Chiang Mai airport for your flight to Phuket. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Remainder of day at leisure.
Accommodation: Amari Coral Hotel or similar.
Day 8. Phuket. (B/L)
Today enjoy a full-day Phi Phi Island Tour. Cruise by big boat to two of Asia’s most beautiful islands, Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Ley, also known as the "Viking" islands. Phi Phi Ley hosts huge limestone cliffs with hidden caves and scattered beaches. Take in the spectacular scenery as we cruise around the island and stop at Phi Phi Don for lunch. Lunch will be served at a restaurant at Ton Sai Village, the main village and tourist centre of the two islands. After lunch there is ample time to shop, swim, snorkel or just relax on the beach. Masks and snorkels are provided free of charge and a boat will take you to great snorkeling spots nearby. After a relaxing afternoon on the famous beaches of Phi Phi Island we will return to Phuket arriving before sunset.
Accommodation: Amari Coral Hotel or similar.
Day 9 Phuket to Hong Kong to Home City (B)
Transfer to Phuket airport for your onward flight to your home city via Hong Kong. You may stay longer in Phuket or Hong Kong if you wish.
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