Day 1. Bangkok. Transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day at leisure.
Overnight.
Day 2. Bangkok. An early morning excursion to visit a floating market. In the afternoon visit three of the most famous monasteries in Thailand and experience the beauty of these spectacular yet delicate Thai architectural works of art: the Marble Temple, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha and the Golden Buddha Temple.
Overnight.
Day 3. Bangkok/Phitsanulok. After breakfast depart for Phitsanulok, a principal city of northern Thailand for more than 500 years. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel.
Overnight.
Day 4. Phitsanulok/Sukhothai. A tour to Sukhothai, the oldest of Thailand's former capitals, where the recently restored ruins of the Grand Palace and many temples dating back to the reign of King Ramkhamhaeng the Great (AD 1277-1317) are preserved as historically valuable monuments and essential elements of Thailand's cultural heritage. Take the train this afternoon to Chiang Mai. Day at leisure. Overnight.
Day 5. Chiang Mai. Tour to Doi Suthep Monastery, spectacularly located on a mountain top at an altitude of 3,520 feet with splendid views of the surrounding countryside. This is followed by a visit to a centre for local handicrafts, such as paper umbrellas, silk, silverware and lacquerware.
Overnight.
Day 6. Chiang Mai. Depart Chiang Mai by pick-up, heading north for about 40 minutes to Mae Malai. Visit the local market and then continue for 40-50 minutes to Pang Lan Waterfall for relaxation and lunch before continuing by truck for about 1 1/2 hours to Huay Nam Dang National Park. Trek for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours to a Karen village.
Dinner and overnight in the village.
Day 7. Trekking. After breakfast trek for 3 hours to an elephant camp and after lunch take an elephant-back ride for 1 1/2 - 2 hours to a rafting camp nearby a Karen village.
The Karen originated on Myanmar.
Dinner and overnight at the rafting camp.
Day 8. Rafting. After breakfast take a bamboo raft (20-25 Km. in total) down river for 1½ hour to a small Lahu village of Ban Pong Ngan. The Lahu are related to the Lolo of Tibet who migrated through China and Myanmar to settle in Thailand more than 50 years ago. Continue rafting for about 2 - 2 1/2 hours to a Shan village for lunch. The Shans are considered among the earliest inhabitants of this region of Thailand and so their way of living is much alike northern local Thais'. The rafting can take up to 6 hours in the summer when the water level is shallow and the current is slow. After lunch return to Chiang Mai by a pick-up and transfer to hotel.
Overnight in Chiang Mai.
Day 9. Chiang Mai. Day spent at leisure. Overnight stay.
Day 10. Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai. Early departure from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai by minibus. We make a short stop at a hot spring and then continue to the famous Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet. Visit Yao and Akha hill-tribe villages and then continue to the border town of Mai Sai with a stop for lunch along the way. Located just across the Sai River from Myanmar the town has a thriving market based on cross-border trade. After exploring Mai Sai set off to overnight in Chiang Rai.
Day 11. Chiang Mai/Bangkok. Return to Chiang Mai by local air-con bus. Own transfer from Chiang Mai bus station to train station in connecting with night train to Bangkok.
Overnight on the train.
Day 12. Bangkok. Arrive Bangkok in the morning. Termination of the tour.
Services included in the tour price
- Tours and transfers by air-conditioned bus.
- Non air-conditioned transportation may be used in remote areas.
- Except while trekking accommodation will be in medium class tourist or first class hotels depending on your choice and is based on two persons sharing a twin bedded room with breakfast. Sleeping facilities, consisting of a mat for the floor and a sheet, as well as a rucksack and water canteen, will be provided during the trekking.
- Full board while trekking.
- 2nd class train with air-conditioning from Phitsanulok to Chiang Mai.
- 2nd class train with air-conditioned sleeping berth from Chiang Mai to Bangkok.
- Services of a local English-speaking guide.
- Admission fees where applicable.
Prices
Please request prices for the time you wish to travel.
Price Included
Tours and transfers by air-conditioned bus. Non air-conditioned transportation may be used in remote areas. Except when trekking, accommodation is in medium class tourist or first class hotels based on two persons in twin-bedded room.
Sleeping facilities consists of mat on floor with sheet during trekking with rucksack and water canteen provided. American breakfast daily and during trekking, continental breakfasts, lunches and dinners are provided. 2nd class train with sleeper from Phitsanulok to Chiang Mai and Chiang Mai to Bangkok. Service of local English speaking guide.
Admission fees and tips where applicable.