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Amazing
Packages
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| Amazing Thailand
Package 15 Days |
| Day 1 |
| : Arrive in Bangkok, Thailand. Our tour
representative will welcome you and take you to the hotel. |
| Day 2 |
| :The Peninsula is known around the world
as one of the finest accommodations, for its stunning
rooms, sweeping river views, outstanding attention to
detail and sumptuous restaurants. This afternoon you will
be free to get acquainted with the hotel, recover from
jet lag at the spa, shop the local neighborhood, relax
at the pool or sit in on the introductory lecture on Thai
culture by our guide. In the evening we'll reconvene for
a welcome dinner and briefing on the rest of the expedition.
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| Day 3 |
| : Bangkok canals and Chinatown. Today's
exploration of Bangkok will begin on the remote canals.
As the canals are the primary mode of transportation for
the locals and much of Bangkok's rural housing sits on
the banks, it is here where life can be observed in its
purest form. First, we will stop at Wat Arun, the temple
of dawn, to have a glimpse of this stunningly ornate temple
and perhaps learn a little about Buddhism from our guide
by preparing traditional offerings for merit. Next we'll
journey back into the heart of rural Bangkok via narrow
channels and under backwater bridges. The locals use the
canals to swim, bathe, and wash clothing & dishes
- anything you can imagine. Perhaps most interesting are
the women who paddle their small canoes filled with all
of the tools for a mobile restaurant, shuttling from one
house to another cooking savory dishes in their hull!
After lunch at a wonderful canal-side restaurant we'll
return downtown for a walking tour of Chinatown. In
this thriving neighborhood there is a constant flurry
of activity, from colorful flower stalls that line the
streets, to the bustling marketplace, to the gem merchants
and goldsmith shops. Also, we'll seek out some of Bangkok's
most interesting temples that are tucked away in the
alleyways of Chinatown.
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| Day 4 |
| : Grand Palace, temples and Jim Thompson's
house. Thailand has one of the most revered monarchies
in the world. Today we will trace the history of this
proud kingdom with a visit to the magnificent Grand Palace,
National Museum and Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Afterward
we will visit some of the finest temples in Bangkok, including
the Marble Temple and Po, renowned for its massive reclining
Buddha and its massage training school. After lunch we'll
visit the home of famed Silk King Jim Thomson and wander
around the shopping district of Siam Square. This evening
you will be free to explore on your own. |
| Day 5 |
: Ayutthaya, Bang Pa In, and Mekhala
cruise. Following breakfast we drive one and a half hours
through the lovely countryside to the ancient capital
of Siam, Ayutthaya. Here, the splendor of the former kingdom
is well preserved in multiple complexes of stone temples
spanning the emerald landscape. We'll walk about the grounds
while learning about the intriguing history of Thailand.
After lunch we'll take a quick long-tail boat ride to
our luxury refurbished rice barge, which will cruise down
the Chao Phrya River. Before we head off we'll tour around
the king's summer palace at Bang Pa In. As we cruise through
the countryside we'll have a view of rural Thai life,
which is always connected to the river. In the early evening
we'll dock at Wat Kai Tia Temple and enjoy a candlelit
dinner on the deck of the boat. Tonight we will sleep
in the comfort of our barge as the river gently flows
beneath us and the stars sweep across the sky. |
| Day 6 |
| : Mekhala cruise, free afternoon. At
sunrise we will visit the temple and make a traditional
offering to the local monks. Breakfast will then be served
on deck and we will begin our cruise towards Bangkok.
We'll arrive at the hotel around mid-day and settle in
for one last free afternoon in the Thai capital and a
final night in the luxury of the Peninsula Hotel. |
| Day 7 |
| : Fly to Mae Hong Son, tour the town.
After breakfast we will say goodbye to Bangkok as we head
to the airport for our short flight to Mae Hong Son, via
Chiang Mai. We'll fly over Doi Inthanon, nearly to the
Burmese border, in the Golden Triangle region of Thailand.
Mae Hong Son is a dusty frontier town with a strong Burmese
influence, surrounded by verdant countryside and rolling
hills. For the next two days we will enjoy the cool temperatures,
stunning views and interesting cultures of the North.
This afternoon we will have a walking tour around town
to learn about the unique border town lifestyle. We'll
also get a primer on the unusual hill tribe cultures
that live in the hills of this region.
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| Day 8 |
| : Hill tribe villages around Mae Hong
Son. The countryside around Mae Hong Son is home to many
ethnic minority tribes who have migrated here from China
over the past few centuries. They still practice traditional
spirit (Phii) worship, a practice that spiritually connects
them to their ancestors. They call upon their ancestors
for guidance in daily matters and believe they are linked
to them throughout the generations. Traditional garments
are still worn by some of the tribes, though the move
towards modernization is a powerful force. |
| Day 9 |
: Chiang Mai, Tribe Museum, sunset at
Doi Suthep. Chiang Mai is in the heart of hill tribe country
and can be described as the cultural capital of Thailand.
While it is a relatively large city, Chiang Mai retains
a comfortable charming atmosphere with its walled and
moated old city, a youthful population of university students,
a conflux of hill tribe peoples and a thriving arts community.
We'll check in to the magnificent Regent Resort, on the
fringe of town, set amidst lush rice terraces.
Tonight The Regent will welcome us with a local style
dinner, followed by a traditional Thai dance performance. |
| Day 10 |
: Tour Chiang Mai, night bazaar. Today
we will continue to explore Chiang Mai and its enticing
surrounding areas. There are quite a few cottage industries
that surround the town, in addition to some other unique
attractions that are worth a visit. While cruising on
the Ping River we'll visit a talented wood carving village
and stop at curious orchid farms, elephant training camps
and reptile farms. We'll also visit the massive flower
market and have lunch along the riverbanks in one of Chiang
Mai's sumptuous eateries.
Tonight we will visit the famous night bazaar of Chiang
Mai. This is a remarkable place where merchants peddle
a variety of wares from the north. Hill tribe villagers
come from all over to sell their goods, handicrafts, costumes
and jewelry. There are many food stalls and interesting
crafts, art, textiles and gadgets to buy here. We strongly
suggest trying to track down a plate of sticky rice with
mangoes, smothered in coconut milk, a Northern Thai treat! |
| Day 11 |
| : Chiang Mai, free and easy day. |
| Day 12 |
: Fly to Krabi. This morning we will
catch an early flight to Bangkok and connect with a mid-day
flight to Krabi, in the South. Krabi is most distinguishable
for its ominous limestone cliffs and mountains. Stone
towers magically rise up in all directions, even from
the sea, hundreds of feet above our heads in a very surreal
environment.
At Phra Nang Beach we will check into the Rayavadee Resort
and our individual bungalows, set amidst palm groves,
on the fringe of white sand beaches surrounded by gigantic
limestone cliffs. Dinner at Resort. |
| Day 13 |
: Guided sea canoe tour. Today we will
have a chance to explore the natural environment of Krabi
with an easy, guided paddle via sea canoes. At KrabiKlong,
a massive crevasse in the limestone, we'll float for a
few hours, surrounded on both sides by towering limestone
cliffs. As the current leads us around a labyrinth of
channels our sight will be focused upward in search of
wildlife such as macaque monkeys, gibbons, flying fox,
and hornbills - all living in the dense canopy that grows
from the limestone. The sounds of the cicadas bounce off
the canyon walls with occasional hoots from nearby gibbons
- an absolutely magical experience.
In the afternoon we'll return to Phra Nang for free time
to relax on the beach or around the resort. |
| Day 14 |
| : Free day in Krabi. Today we'll have
our last chance to soak up the sun and relax in paradise.
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| Day 15 |
| : Fly to Bangkok. This morning we'll
pack up and return to the Krabi airport for our departure
flight. |
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Loving Packages
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