THAILAND EXPERIENCE
14 days | US on application | Imperial Journey in Thailand
Thailand Experience is a journey which takes in Thailand's highlight sights, such as the rain forests in the River Kwai area, ancient temples in Ayuthaya and Sukhothai, the opportunity to explore rivers, mountains, and monasteries near the Golden Triangle and Chiang Mai. The tour begins in vibrant Bangkok where there is plenty of time to explore plus relax on an over night atmospheric river barge cruising the Chao Praya River
Days 1-3 Bangkok
City of Angels, City of Sin; revel in the contradiction that give Bangkok both its exciting buzz and serene ambience.
Be awed by the spiritual opulence of the worlds largest reclining Buddha in Wat Po, the priceless Emerald Buddha at Wat Phra Kaew, and the excess of gold leaf smothered everything at the Grand Palace. Then be humbled by the saffron robed monks who tend these treasures and live off alms begged from merit seeking citizens.
By air-conditioned vehicle, a city tour will take you to the major temples and palaces of the Royal Quarter. Transfer to tuk tuks for a ride to China town, the bustling Thieves and Pahurat Markets, then board a klong boat along the back canals to Jim Thompson's stunning traditional teak house with its envious collection of Asian art, and the Thai Silk Company that single handedly revived a then dying silk industry.
Royal elegance is yours as you cruise the Chao Praya "River of Kings" along a parade of temple and palace spires up to Thonburi where life on the river is much more down-to-earth with some roll-up-your-sleeves bargaining expected at the wonderful floating markets.
Premium seats at Siam Niramit; Journey to the Enchanted Kingdom of Siam - a spectacle of ancient court scenes, clothes, beliefs and customs of old Siam are included to help layer meaning and history to your own journey through this exciting and enigmatic city.
Day 4 - 5 River Kwai & Kanchanaburi
Travel by private vehicle up the Kwai River Valley through mountains and gorges dotted with temples and pagodas so quaintly picturesque they belie the World War II atrocities for which this area is famous. It was here that the Japanese forced the construction of what became known as the 'Death Railway' costing 260,000 allied Prisoners of War, Thai and other Asian national’s lives to build.
Visit the Thailand–Burma Railway Centre Museum and find meaning in the horrors through your own pilgrimage as you ride the historic Death Railway. Tour the torturously cut (now trackless) Hell Fire Pass and its Memorial Museum before heading back to the infamous Bridge on the River Kwai nearby your riverfront hotel.
Enjoy great Thai food as you watch bamboo rafts float by and enjoy the serenity of this beautiful river under moonlight from your hotels fantastic river vantage.
The following morning visit the war cemetery, final resting grounds of more than 6000 allied Prisoners of War before heading on to the Ayuthaya.
Day 6 - Ayuthaya & Mekhala River Barge Cruise
Explore the ruins of Thailand's most glorious capital, Ayutthaya. Fields of stupas and stone Buddha-heads, old palace walls and collapsed temple ceilings, carved to the artistic whim of 37 successive god like kings - then toppled by war and eroded by the centuries - bring surrealism to a wander through this gloriously royal landscape.
Expanses of emerald green paddy gave Ayutthaya its power as rice bowl of Siam all the way across to its tributary territories in Cambodia, Laos Burma and Malaysia, before the royal courts eventually moved South to present day Bangkok when Ayutthaya itself became a tributary state.
Board one of the famous royal rice barges and follow the traditional route of tributary offerings as you sail over night in (air-conditioned) splendour from the old capital to the new along the Chao Praya.
Floating islands of water chestnuts, fields of rice and fish, tranquil rural villages growing tamarind and palm sugar, and an appetite building shore excursion to Wat Kai Tia will have your mouth watering in anticipation of the fabulous candle lit Thai feast served on deck as the sun sets over the River of Kings.
Day 7 Mekhala-Bangkok
Wake up to see the sun over Bangkok's Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun) and the sparkling cityscape all the way down to the Mekhala Pier where you will disembark after a relaxed breakfast.
Enjoy a day a leisure in Bangkok catching up with any last minute sightseeing or shopping.
Day 8 Bangkok-Sukhothai
Fly to the first Thai Kingdom of Sukhothai, a capital whose name translates as Dawn of Happiness and a period held by Thais as a golden age.
Visit superb temples and monuments lovingly restored in the Sukhothai Historical Park, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, then explore the Ramkamhaeng Musuem celebrating the achievements of King Ramkamhaeng who unified Thailand, spread Buddhism and classical Thai art forms throughout the realm and brought the current Thai script into being.
Go photo-crazy at Wat Sri Chum whose gigantic Buddha statue has hands larger than the saffron robed monks who occasionally sit under its fingertips.
Day 9 - 11 Sukhothai -Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai-Chiang Saen
Fly from the first Thai Kingdom of Sukhothai to its equally powerful neighbour, the great Lanna Kingdom centered on Changmai and Changrai – the two Roses of the North.
Take in the refreshingly cooler climate and the gentle hospitality of the Lan Na as you drive to the former capital Chiangsaen, on the Mekhong River, stopping at the limestone Chiang Dao cave complex, guarded by the forest temple Wat Tham Pha Plong.
Speed along the Mekhong in between the borders of Laos and Thailand in a long-tail boat as you make your way into the Golden Triangle whose, mountainous jungles, waterways, and fluid borders have provide favourable geography for the massive opium production and smuggling which the name Golden Triangle evokes.
Spend two nights in a luxury spa-hotel right in the hearty of this evocative triangle and in the morning, learn the difference between your Kunsha’s (former Godfather figure of the opium trade), your SLORCS (opium running Burmese dictatorship) and your Hmong, Akha and Lisu (opium growing hill tribes) at the Hall of Opium Museum.
Appreciate the spiritual devotions of the Lan Na as you visit prominent temples such as Wats Chedi Luang, Pasak and Phra Thaat Jom Kitti, as well as Chiangsaen’s museum of Buddha images and antiquities, before succumbing to more material urges at the Mae Sai markets on this Burmese border checkpoint.
Drive through a landscape of mist enshrouded jungle, terraced farms, cascading paddies and hill-tribe villages as you return by road to Changmai
Days 12 - 14 Chiang Mai & Cooking Class
Discover the charms of Lanna’s cultural capital in an afternoon spent with local artisans as they create lacquered panels, hand spun silk, paper umbrellas, and other luxuries once reserved for royalty. Then in the evening, shop for the rustic handicrafts of the many different hill-tribe people who come down from the forested hills around Changmai to sell their wares at the cities famous night market.
Elephants have long been a symbol of imperial wealth in Thailand (especially the fabled white elephant.) Enjoy the intelligence, good humour and skill of these prized workers at the Mae Saa Elephant camp along the way to the Mae Saa Waterfalls in Ruckachati National park and a Hmong Nong Hoi Hill tribe village.
The cuisine of the north is exquisite. Restaurants around the night market fill the air with the aromas of pungent spices, rich jungle curry and the evocative scent of chilli and green papaya.
Extend your culinary skills at a full day cooking class (including Thai desserts, food curing and traditional medicine foods) which starts with a visit to the local market to identify the exotic ingredients you will use, and finishes with a fabulous lunch overlooking the emerald paddies and forested mountain that surround the traditional teak Khum Lanna Cooking School.
Visit Changmai’s spiritual centre–Doi Suthep Temple–with its views back over the Changmai Valley, followed by the equally beautiful Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Sing.
Your tour concludes in Chiang Mai on day 14 after breakfast when you will be transferred to the airprot for your onward journey home.
Tour Inclusions
Tripcode: IETH1408
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