Itinerary

Day 1:  Depart USA
Set off on your Thailand adventure with an overseas flight.

Day 2:  En Route 

Day 3:  Arrive Bangkok, Thailand
Gilded temple spires and watery thoroughfares gleam in the distance as you touch down in Bangkok, the capital of the Royal Kingdom of Thailand.  You are welcomed on arrival and escorted to your prestigious and luxurious riverfront hotel.  Peninsula Bangkok or Oriental Bangkok

Day 4:  Bangkok
Relax this morning before your afternoon exploration of what is probably the most magnificent sight in Bangkok – the Grand Palace and its adjoining chapel of the Emerald Buddha.  Contrast the elaborate opulence of the palace’s brilliant halls, pavilions, spires and murals with the powerful simplicity of the famed 31-inch-high Emerald Buddha, carved from a single block of jade.  Complete the day with a delightful dinner of authentic Thai cuisine, accompanied by a cultural performance of classic dances and music performed by a traditional theater orchestra. Peninsula Bangkok or Oriental Bangkok (B,D)
 
Day 5:  Bangkok
Travel by boat today to Damnoen Saduak to experience its vivid floating market, an intriguing temporary commercial center where vendors converge with boatloads of exotic fruits, sweets and steaming noodles.  This afternoon, continue your Thai discovery at the famous temples of the reclining Buddha, Wat Po, Golden Buddha and Wat Trimitir.  Peninsula Bangkok or Oriental Bangkok (B,D)

Day 6:  Bangkok / Chiang Mai 
Fly north this morning to Chiang Mai, gateway to renowned mountain hill tribes and artisan villages of Thailand.  Take in the city sights and visit the sublime Doi Suthep temple complex in the surrounding mountains.  Later, walk with your guide through the popular night market, brimming with crafts from throughout the area, and food stalls serving fresh northern Thai dishes. Choice of Hotels (B,D)

Day 7:  Chiang Mai 
Breathtaking natural beauty surrounds you on this day-long excursion to the verdant northwest borderlands.  Travel into the teak forest and witness a captivating exhibition of elephants displaying their forestry skills.   Take a jungle safari on the back of one of these gently swaying giants, if you wish.  Then, sit down to a fresh luncheon of local specialties.  Visit bewitching Mae Sa waterfall and an orchid farm in an idyllic valley setting.  Choice of Hotels (B,D)

Day 8:  Chiang Mai / Hilltribe Villages / Chiang Rai 
Depart through rugged mountain landscapes, past more fascinating hilltribe settlements of the far north on your drive to Chiang Rai.  Stop at the hot springs of Viang Pa Pao.  Meet people from mountain communities, where each tribe features distinctive traditional clothing.  The Akha hill people’s lavish costumes include elaborate silver-embellished headdresses while the Yao villagers dress in brightly embroidered outfits.  Continue to the Golden Triangle, where the borders of Thailand, Burma, and Laos converge at a bend in the Mekong River.  Retire to the intimate seclusion of your island resort on the Kok River.  Choice of Hotels (B,L,D)
 
Day 9:  Chiang Rai
Travel a wild, weaving route through hills lushly dressed with flowers and greenery up to the majestic mountains of Doi Tun.  Then, visit the government-sponsored project of Mae Fah Luang, dedicated to eliminating the opium trade by cultivating new, more profitable crops.  Return to town for a longtail boat ride to the hilltribe village of the Karen, a gentle, hardworking people distinguished by their woven attire worn with a profusion of beaded jewelry. Choice of Hotels (B,L,D)

Day 10:  Chiang Rai / Bangkok / Depart
Depart Chiang Rai and return to Bangkok and connect to your onward flight (B)

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