Majestic Thailand – 11 days

Four of the most important cities in North Thailand: Phitsanuloke, Sukothai, Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. Historical and cultural highlights, the Golden Triangle an Elephant Camp and a handicraft village in Chiang Mai. Beach break in Phuket. Enjoy your great time for 3 days with swimming, playing on beach and relaxation.
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Overview
Itinerary

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Time		Place	Activity	Meal
[car]	Day 1	Bangkok	We welcome you at airport and transfer to hotel. Rest of the day is your leisure in Bangkok. Overnigh in Bangkok.	–
[car]	Day 2	Bangkok	At 6.15, leave Bangkok for Ratchabur, boat trip to Damnoen Saduak floating market. See the local life and visit handicraft home industry. Transfer to Kwai River, visit Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi. At 17.00, leave Kanchanaburi for Bangkok. Overnight in Bangkok.	B,L
[car]	Day 3	Ayutthaya	At 6.15, leave Bangkok for Ayuthaya. Stop to visit the Bang Pa-In Summer Palace. Continue to Ayutthaya, visit Wat Maha That, Wat Na Phra Men, Wat Lokayasutharam and much more. Embark the River Sun Cruise, delicious buffet lunch on board and cruise back to Bangkok. Overnight in Bangkok.	B,L
[plane]	Day 4	Bangkok	Morning, visit famous temples in Bangkok including Wat Traimit, Wat Pho and Wat Benjabophit. Afternoon, flight to Chiang Mai. Evening, enjoy Traditional Northern Thai Dinner and Thai Dancing show. Overnight in Chiang Mai.	B,L,D
[car]	Day 5	Chiang Mai	At 7.00, visit Maekhajan hot springs, stunning Wat Rong Khun (White Temple) and Chiang Saen. Proceed to The famous Golden Triangle area of Northern Thailand. Lunch then visita border town in Mae Sai, visit Akha and Yao hill tribe villages. Overnight in Chiang Mai.	B,L
[car]	Day 6	Chiang Mai	At 8.00, transfer to Pang Chang Mae Tang. Watch clever elephants. Elephant ride into the forest for sightseeing. Bamboo rafting on Mae Taeng river. Visit an orchid farm in Mae Rim. Back to hotel. Overnight in Chiang Mai.	B,L
[car]	Day 7	Chiang Mai	At 8.00, visit Doi Inthanon National Park, encompasses the highest mountain in Thailand. Visit the modern Chedis of the King & Queen. Proceed to Karen hill tribe village. Lunch then visit Vachiritharn and Siritharn Waterfalls. Proceed to flower garden at the Royal Project Research Station. Back to hotel. Overnight in Chiang Mai.	B,L
[car]	Day 8	Lampang	At 08.00, leave Chiang Mai for Lampang. Visit the Elephant Conservation Centre along the way, witness the show of Elephant, enjoy elephant ride. Proceed to Wat Lampang Luang, visit Thung Kwian Market, Wat Prathat Lampang Luang. Horse-cart ride through the old streets of Lampang. Visit Wat Si Rong Muang and Wat Phra Keow Don Tao. Overnight in Lampang.	B,L
[plane]	Day 9	Sukhothai	At 7.00am, leave Lampang for Sukhothai. Visit The World Heritage Sukhothai Historical Park. Then visit Wat Sri Chum, Tha Pha Daeng Shrine and Wat Sorasak. Bicycle (or car) tour around the park. And much more before transfer to Sukhothai Airport for flight to Phuket. Overnight in Phuket.	B,L
[walk]	Day 10	Phuket	Breakfast at hotel. Your leisure time for relaxation at beach in Phuket. Overnight in Phuket.	B,L
[sboat]	Day 11	Phuket	At 08.30, transfer to Ao Por pier and depart for Phang Nga Bay. Paddle to the first island, enter caves and “hongs”. Motor to second island. After seafood lunch, paddle to second island. Explore caves and coastline around islands. Around 17:00, back to hotel. Overnight in Phuket.	B,L
[car]	Day 12	Phuket	Breakfast at the hotel. Your leisure time until we transfer you to airport for your onwards flight. (Alternative: Flight to Bangkok)	B

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Day 1: Bangkok – Arrival.

Upon your arrival at airport in Bangkok, we welcome you and transfer you to hotel. Rest of the day is your leisure for walking around or shopping in Bangkok.
Overnigh in Bangkok.

Day 2: Bangkok – Kanchanaburi (B,L)

The most famous of the floating markets – the one you’ve seen photographed hundreds of times – is the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. The 100-year-old market is now essentially a floating souvenir stand filled with package tourists. This in itself can be a fascinating insight into Thai culture, as the vast majority of tourists here are Thais, and watching the approach to this cultural ‘theme park’ is instructive. But beyond the market, the residential canals are quite peaceful and can be explored by hiring a boat for a longer duration. South of the floating market are several small family businesses, including a Thai candy maker, a pomelo (shaddock, a type of citrus) farm and a knife crafter.
Around 6.15am, leave Bangkok for Ratchaburi province. Boat trip to Damnoen Saduak floating market. Watch the farmers selling food, fruit, flowers and many kinds of local product in their boat. Then visit the handicraft home industry. Lunch at a local restaurant.
Afternoon, transfer to the bridge over the River Kwai. Visit Tiger Temple built in 1994, the temple gained a reputation as a wildlife sanctuary. At 17.00, leave Kanchanaburi for Bangkok.
Overnight in Bangkok.

Day 3: Bangkok – Ayutthaya (B,L)

At 6.15, pick up from hotel and transfer to the River Shopping Complex for the Air-Conditioned Coach. Depart Bangkok to Ayuthaya.
At 09:30, arrive at the Bang Pa-In Summer Palace, built during the Ayuthaya era. The palace is beautifully decorated in both traditional Chinese and European style. See the beautiful Aisawanthipaya- Art Pavillion, the unique Chinese-style hall with a vast collection of Thai, Chinese, and European artifacts, as well as many other outstanding monuments. The palace itself is a pretty garden with plenty of rare flowers.
At 10:30, arrive at the Ayutthaya, the Ancient city, which was the former Thai capital for over 400 years. The prosperous city used to dominate trade in Asia as well as being the center of trade between Thailand and many European countries, including Britain, France and Holland.
Nowadays the glory and the beauty of the grand palace and Temples in the past vanished leaving merely a glimpse of ruins, despite this it is a good reflection of the past. River sun brings you a combination of both the ruins and the remaining historical attractions.

Wat Maha That: over 600 years old, Wat Maha That was the heart and soul of the Ayuthaya people. It was almost completely destroyed by the Burmese during Thai-Burmese war.
Wat Na Phra Men Remains in perfect conditions, as it was used as the Burmese headquarters. The splendid Golden Buddha, dressed in regal attire, was place in the temple a long with the three thousand year old green stone carved Buddha. Both are considered as extremely valuable national relics.
Wat Lokayasutharam has a mysterious past, hereby its origins are unknown. The temple enshrines a Largest Reclining Buddha Image which was built during the Early period of the Ayuthaya Region. The other two ancient temple, as well as the ruined site also surround the compound area.

At 12:30, depart Wat Lokayasutharam for the River Sun Cruise, at the river sun Traditional Thai style pier at Wat Chong Lom. Buffet Lunch”Delicious meals served in the luxurious surroundings of the cruise boat”. Cruising through many famous attraction on the way back to Bangkok. Around 15:30, arrive in Bangkok and disembark at the RIVER CITY SHOPPING COMPLEX. Transfer you back to your hotel.
Overnight in Bangkok.

Day 4: Bangkok: Visit famous pagodas – Chiang Mai (B,L,D)

Morning, our guide picks you up at hotel to visit some most famous temples in the city including Wat Traimit and Wat Pho and Wat Benjabophit.

Wat Traimit houses the world’s largest massive gold seated Buddha measuring nearly five metres in height and weighing five and a half tons. In the past, artisans crafted the Buddhas in gold and disguised them from invading armies by a covering of stucco and plaster.
Wat Pho, or the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, is the oldest and largest Buddhist temple in Bangkok. It is home to more Buddha images than any other Bangkok temple and it shelters the largest Buddha in Thailand.
Wat Benjabophit is famous for its elegant, white marble facade and Buddha images lining the cloister walls behind the main chapel.

Afternoon, transfer to airport for flight to Chiang Mai. Upon arrival at airport, we welcome you and transfer you to hotel. Rest of the afternoon is your leisure time for walking arround and shopping in Chiang Mai.
Evening, enjoy Traditional Northern Thai Dinner and Thai Dancing shows.
Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Day 5: Chiang Mai – Golden Triangle (B,L)

Pickup at hotel around 7.00am. Visit Maekhajan hot springs a good spot to take a morning cup of coffee. Then heading up towards the stunning Wat Rong Khun often named The White Temple. The next stop is Chiang Saen which is situated on the banks of the mighty Mekong River (Alt: boat trip across the Mekong River to the Laos side).
Proceed to The Golden Triangle area of Northern Thailand , The meeting Point of Laos Thailand and Myanmar. Lunch at a local restaurant then continue to Mae Sai the Thai border town with Myanmar will be the next stop. This is a good shopping, spot for cheap electrical goods and dried food stuffs from China and Myanmar. You will also get a glimpse of Myanmar itself with it only being situated a mere ten meters away across the river. Stop at Akha and Yao hill tribe villages on the way back to Chiang Mai.
Overnight in Chiang Mai

Day 6: Chiang Mai – Elephant ride and visit Long Neck Karen Village (B,L)

At 8.00, pick-up at hotel and transfer to Pang Chang Mae Tang. Watching clever elephants paint, play football and dance to music. Elephant riding into the forest to sightsee in natural surroundings. Experience the thrill of riding on the back of an elephant. Cart riding to return to Pang Chang for lunch and relaxation.
Spending the afternoon with bamboo rafting and watching nature on both two sides of Mae Taeng River. Visiting Long Neck Karen Village as well as enjoy their arts and handicrafts (For package B). Departure to admire the beauty of various species of orchids at the orchid farm in Mae Rim District. After visiting the orchid farm, we will drop you off at your hotel. It will take around 30 minutes. Reach your hotel safely.
Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Day 7: Chiang Mai – Doi Inthanon and nearby villages (B,L)

Pickup at hotel around 8.00am. Visit Doi Inthanon National Park, encompasses the highest mountain In Thailand. Thailand’s highest peak is Doi Inthanon (often abbreviated to Doi In), which measures 2565m above sea level, an impressive altitude for the kingdom, but a tad diminutive compared to its cousins in the Himalayan range. The 1000-sq-km national park surrounding the peak has hiking trails, waterfalls and two monumental stupas erected in honour of the king and queen. It is a popular day trip from Chiang Mai for tourists and locals, especially during the New Year holiday when there’s the rarely seen phenomenon of frost.
On the way up, visit the Modern Chedis of the King & Queen, the best views across the park are found here. These two adjacent chedis are called Naphamethinidon, meaning “by the strength of the land and air”, and the other, Naphaphonphumisiri, meaning “being the strength of the air and the grace of the land”. These temples were built to honour the 60th birthday anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1987, and the 60th birthday anniversary of Queen Sirikit in 1992, respectively.
Proceed to a Karen hill tribe village. The Karen are a tribal group who have historically lived in the hills on the Myanmar (formerly Burma) side of the Thai border. Best recognized for their elongated necks, the Karen women wear heavy brass rings around their necks, forearms, and shins. While the Karen men are mainly field workers and farmers, the women have a rich history of crafting from wood carving to weaving. Overall the Long Neck Tribes live a rugged, tedious, and simple lifestyle, but the fruits of their labor are colorful and very lively.
Lunch at a local restaurant then visit Vachiritharn and Siritharn Waterfalls and the flower garden at the Royal Project Research Station. Take a short walk into the forest on one of the nature trails at the top of the mountain. Return at 04.00pm.
Overnight in Chiang Mai

Day 8: Chiang Mai – Lampang (B,L)

At 8.00am, leave Chiang Mai for Lampang. Drive to Lampang. Lampang used to be part of the Haripunchai kingdom and was a major centre of the teak industry last century. First stop will be the Elephant Conservation Centre along the way. Witness the show at 10 AM. Elephants will demonstrate how they used to work in the teak industry in former times.
After the show you have the opportunity for an elephant ride (not included in the price). Before driving to Wat Lampang Luang we will stop at the hospital of the Friends of the Asian Elephant Foundation which is really a wonderful place. You will see a short and touching video about Motala, the elephant that lost a leg because of a landmine.
We will continue to Wat Prathat Lampang Luang, considered by many to be the most magnificent temple of Northern Thailand. Lunch will be in a local restaurant.
After lunch, visit Thung Kwian Market, located in the Hang Chat district, between Lampang and Chiang Mai, is an early morning market and it is a bit unusual with its offers of a wide variety of flora and fauna directly from the surrounding jungle and everything from medicinal herbs to beetles and field rats. It also offers food like grilled chicken and sticky rice as well as curry stalls.
Continue to Lampang. Here you will make a horsecart ride through the old streets of Lampang. We will visit the Burmese style temple Wat Si Rong Muang and visit the magnificent Wat Phra Keow Don Tao.
Overnight in Lampang.

Day 9: Lampang – Sukhothai – Phuket (B,L)

At 7.30am, leave Lampang for Sukhothai. Visit The World Heritage Sukhothai Historical Park. Continue your visit to The World Famous Speaking Seated Buddha image of Wat Sri Chum. (This temple is well known as the symbol of Sukhothai). Go further to explore the vast historical site by a stop at Tha Pha Daeng Shrine. Here you will learn more for the history of Khmer Style architecture which remained in Thailand. Visit Wat Sorasak (A bell shaped pagoda which is surrounded by elephant sculptures). Lunch at a local restaurant.
Afternoon, explore the grand part of The World Heritage Sukhothai Historical Park. Fun and enjoyable for bicycle tour around the park and ruin temples. (Alt: go around by our car). Visit Wat Phra Mahathat and visit to these 3 places such as Wat Tra Phang Ngoen, Wat Sri Sawai, Wat Sasi and King Ramkhamhaeng Monument.
After that, transfer to Sukhothai Airport for flight to Phuket.
Overnight in Phuket.

Day 10: Phuket – Relaxation at beach (B,L)

Breakfast at hotel. Your leisure time for relaxation at beach in Phuket.
“Phuket, the biggest of the 1000s of islands sprinkled around Thailand’s coastline, is a magical blend of everything a holidaymaker or expatriate could dream of. Swaying palm trees, white sand beaches, restaurants galore and exhilarating nightlife.”
Overnight in Phuket.

Day 11: Phuket – Explore Phang Nga bay (B,L)

At 08.30, transfer to Ao Por pier and depart for Phang Nga Bay. Paddle to the first island, enter caves and “hongs”. Motor to second island, enjoy seafood buffet lunch. After lunch, paddle to second island. Explore caves and coastline around islands. Around 17:00, return to Ao Por and transfer back to hotel.
Overnight in Phuket.