Epic 10-Day Thailand Highlights Tour – Bangkok, Chiang Mai & Phuket Adventure

DAY 1: BANGKOK ARRIVAL – KLONGS (CANALS) TOUR & WAT ARUN

Arrive at Bangkok International Airport, meet your driver for an airport transfer with a private vehicle and guide. Your visa should be pre-arranged or be sure that your visa-on-arrival letter is in your carry-on luggage. Please go to custom desk as your first point of entry into the country and present these documents for visa upon arrival.

Take a short city tour. Boat ride along the ‘River of Kings’, and its quiet canals. Also visit Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn). (Exclude Royal Barge)

Nineteenth-century Bangkok was laced with canals, giving the capital the designation ‘Venice of the East’. Surviving canals and the Chao Phraya River (River of Kings) provide memorable vignettes of a traditional waterborne way-of-life that has remained essentially unchanged over the centuries. The river and canals may be conveniently explored by public transport or via a traditional long tailed boat. We finally end at Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn), this famous Chao Phraya riverbank landmark, diagonally opposite the Grand Palace, is best known for a porcelain encrusted 79-metre central pagoda which sparkles in the sun. After a wonderful tour, we bring you back across the river to the main starting point.

Meals: None

Overnight at hotel in Bangkok

DAY 2:  RAILWAY MARKET AND DAMNERN SADUAK FLOATING MARKET

Depart from Bangkok and head to Maeklong Railway Market, also known as Talad Rom Hoop. Upon arrival, the guide will introduce you to the history of this area. See the action in several minutes before the train passing through the market. The process happens so quick it will amaze you for the unique moment.

Then tour takes you to the rural yet world-famous floating market of Damneon Saduak, situated around 100 kilometers west of Bangkok. It is generally known as Klong Ton Khem Floating Market or Damneon Saduak Floating Market. Damneon Saduak has officially three floating markets. A narrow canal flanked with food stalls and souvenir shops forms the principal market at Ton Kem. Farther south are the rarely visited markets at Her Kui and Khun Pitak. Photographers at Ton Kem will get their best shots from the bridge, which crosses over the canal, and from the produce shed on the right. Nowadays, the market is bustling with activity from very early in the morning until about 11.00 am. Transfer back to Bangkok for relaxing.

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight at hotel in Bangkok

DAY 3:  FULL DAY VISIT AYUTTHAYA BY COACH – TAKE TRAIN TO CHIANG MAI

Drive to the former capital of Thailand, visit Bang Pa In (Summer Palace) and ruins of the Ancient City of Ayutthaya.

A full day tour, bringing you to visit the former capital of Thailand, Ayutthaya, situated approximately 75 kilometers north of Bangkok and one of those destinations, you have to see. The mixing of cultures in Ayutthaya began in the mid-16th century when ships from Ayutthaya plied the Asian seas, trading with neighboring countries. When the Dutch began showing up in the 17th century, Ayutthaya became a port city and trade routes were extended to China, Japan, Indonesia, Portugal, Holland and France and up to the Scandinavian countries later. Although the ancient villages of foreign traders lining the Chao Phraya riverbanks were abandoned when the city was sacked by Burmese troops in 1767, some remnants survive to showcase the cities past glory.

The tour starts at the Summer Palace of the late King Rama V), commonly known as “Bang Pa-In”, which is another touch of beauty. You continue to the magnificent ruins of early splendor that Ayutthaya is famous for all over the world. We will pass or visit all the most impressive ruins of this World Heritage Site for taking sufficient pictures.

Note: Kindly be aware that proper attire is required to enter the Summer Palace compounds

After the tour, you will be taken to the Train Station to take the overnight train to Chiang Mai.

Meal: Breakfast

Overnight at 2nd Class Air-con with sleeping berth

DAY 4:  HALF DAY DOI SUTHEP TEMPLE + ANCIENT TEMPLES/ KHANTOKE NORTHERN DINNER & CULTURAL SHOW

Arrive Chiang Mai, you will be picked up by our guide and driver and transfer to a local restaurant for breakfast. After breakfast, depart to Chedi Luang Temple was built at the end of the 14th century. The great chedi was to remain the tallest structure in Chiang Mai and was once the home of the Emerald Buddha image, Thailand’s most sacred religious relic. Visit to Phra Singh Temple, was built in the year 1345. This temple contains marvelous examples of Lanna art, including a Lanna style viharn and the finest scripture repository of its type in the north.

Proceed to Phrathat Doi Suthep Temple, one of northern Thailand’s most sacred temples built in the year 1383. It is located 1,050 meters above sea level. See the marvelous golden chedi, which contains the holy relics of Lord Buddha. Enjoy the panoramic view of Chiang Mai City and Ping valley from the summit of Suthep Mountain. Phrathat Doi Suthep Temple can be approached on foot by climbing 306 steep stairs, flanked by tremendous mythical Nagas, which symbolizes humanity’s progress from earth to nirvana. Then transfer to the hotel.

Dress Code: Visitors must be properly dressed before being allowed entry to the temple. Men must wear long pants and shirts with sleeves – no sleeveless tops. If you’re wearing sandals or flip-flops you must wear socks (in other words, no bare feet.) Women must be similarly modestly dressed. No see-through clothes, bare shoulders, etc. It is also recommended to avoid bright colors.

Evening, pick up from the hotel lobby and depart to Khantoke Northern Dinner & Cultural Show. Enjoy a Dinner the traditional northern Thailand form of dining. The food is served on a wooden pedestal tray, called Khantoke. While guests enjoy the meal there are usually performances of traditional northern Thai dances and music.

Traditional Northern Thai dinner provides; Kao Neaw: Sticky rice, Gaeng Hung-Lay: Burmese pork curry, Gai Tawd: fried chicken, Paad Pugg: fried vegetable, Naam Prik Ong: pork cooked in mildly hot tomato-chili paste, served with fresh cucumber slices, Mee Krob: Crispy noodles, Kaeb Moo: pork rind with paste for dipping and with a starter Klow Thod: fried banana. Experience using fingers to break off pieces of sticky rice and dip it into the various bowls instead of using cutlery. Desserts are Kao Taent: popped rice crackers, coffee or tea and fresh fruits.

Relax while being entertained by performances of Traditional Northern Thai Lanna dances and music such as Fingernail dance, Sword dance, Candle dance, Ramwong dance and Firework displays. Additionally, there are also hill tribe shows and music. Then transfer back to the hotel.

 Meal: Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight at hotel in Chiang Mai

DAY 5: FULL DAY DOI INTHANON NATIONAL PARK – THE HIGHEST PEAK OF THAILAND

Pick up from the hotel lobby and depart to Doi Inthanon National Park, which is Thailand’s highest mountain (2,565 meters above sea level) offers beautiful scenery, evergreen mountain forests, dwarf rhododendron groves, rare bird life, and impressive waterfalls. Visit to the Summit and short trek along Angka Nature Trail; explore and feel the beauty and the unforgettable nature around. Continue to the great Twin Royal Pagodas, which were built for His Majesty the King and Her Royal Highness the Queen of Thailand. This place provides a marvelous view of its surroundings.

Depart to Doi Inthanon Royal Project, one of the many royal-sponsored projects to familiarize hill tribe people with new agricultural techniques. View the flower nurseries and cultivation areas. Then visit to Vachiratharn Waterfall, a large waterfall which plummets over the edge of a high cliff around 100 meters into a deep pool below. It is also one of the highest waterfalls in Northern Thailand, great to take pictures. Then transfer back to the hotel.

Meal: Breakfast

Overnight at hotel in Chiang Mai

DAY 6: CHIANG MAI – FLIGHT TO PHUKET (NO GUIDE)

Breakfast in the morning & free time at hotel until transferring to Chiang Mai airport for flight to Phuket.

After 1hr & 20min flight, you arrive at Phuket airport & warm welcomed by our driver then transfer to hotel for relaxing

Meal: Breakfast

Overnight at hotel in Phuket

DAY 7: PHUKET – FREE DAY

Free leisure at beach.

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight at hotel in Phuket

DAY 8: PHUKET – FREE DAY

Free leisure at beach.

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight at hotel in Phuket

DAY 9: PHUKET – FREE DAY

Free leisure at beach.

Meals: Breakfast

Overnight at hotel in Phuket

DAY 10: PHUKET DEPARTURE (NO GUIDE)

Breakfast at hotel. Free at leisure until transfer to airport for flight departure

Meal: Breakfast

INCLUSIVE

• Accommodation in twin/double room with daily breakfast
• Boat, train for sightseeing
• Meals (B/L/D) (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner) as indicated in the program
• Services of a driver and private air-conditioned vehicle during tours and transfers as itinerary mentioned
• Experienced English-speaking guide during tours and transfers as itinerary mentioned
• Entrance fees for all visits as mentioned in the itinerary
• 02 bottles of mineral water per person per day on car/van/bus – on days of transfer and sightseeing only

EXCLUSIVE

• International & Domestic flight tickets
• Personal expenses, such as laundry, telephone, drinks, etc. All other services not specified in the itinerary
• Travel insurance (we highly recommend that you purchase adequate insurance)
• Meals (other than mentioned in the program)
• Tipping for guides, drivers, hotel staff, restaurant staff, boat rider, etc.
• Visa – as per country requirements
• Surcharge for booking during Peak Season/ other holidays at hotels: TBA
• Surcharge for public holidays (if any) & Compulsory dinner for Xmas and New Year Eve: TBA

TOUR POLICY & NOTES:

• Infant below 2 years old sharing same room with parents is free of charge.
• Child below 12 yrs old sharing same room with 1 ADL is charged for 90%.
• Child below 12 yrs old with extra bed and sharing same room with parents is charged for 65%.
• Child below 12 yrs old No extra bed & sharing same room with parents is charged for 55%

TIPPING POLICY

Local tipping is customary in Indochina. However, this can often lead to awkwardness in knowing when it is appropriate to tip and how much, as well as ensuring you have a suitable amount of change available at the time. For your convenience, with years of experiences in providing the best customer service, we operate a kitty system on our tours so your guide will look after this aspect of your trip for you. It also ensures that the amounts paid are reasonable for you but still fair for the local.

The amount is stated below for your reference. Any additional tipping on any our tours is welcomed at your discretion. Further guidance for tipping contributions will be outlined in your final documentation.

TIPPING SUGGESTION

• Group from 2 – 4 pax: US $ 5/ pax/ day
• Group from 5 – 9 pax: US $ 4/ pax/ day
• Group from 10 – 15 pax: US $ 3/ pax/ day
• Group above 15 pax: US $ 2/ pax/ day