(Guaranteed weekly departure with English-speaking guide on Wednesdays, all meals included)

         

 

Wednesday         

Day 1          Bangkok—Ayuthaya—Lopburi—Pitsanuloke (L/D)

06:00          Pick up all passengers from major Bangkok hotels.

07:00          Depart from Bangkok to Ayuthaya, former capital of Thailand. The principal sights are the gigantic bronze statues of Wat Mongkol Borpitr, the three ancient pagodas at Wat Phra Sri Sanpetch and Wat Pranangcherng. Continue via Saraburi to Phra Buddha Badh with its shrine of the holy footprint of Lord Buddha. Proceed to Lopburi for lunch. Visit the Prang Sam Yod (Sacred Three-Spired Pagoda), the ruins of Wat Phra Sri Ratana Maha Dhat and the Monkey Temple. Proceed by bus to Pitsanuloke and check in at TOPLAND or similar hotel.  Dinner and accommodations.

 

Thursday

Day 2          Pitsanuloke—Sukhothai—Sri Satchanalai—Lampang (B/L/D)

                   Breakfast

08:00          Visit Wat Maha Dhat with its revered Buddha statue, Phra Buddha Jinaraj. Depart for Sukhothai, Visit the famous ruins of this first capital of Thailand (1257-1379). See Wat Maha Dhat, Wat Sra Sri and Wat Sri Chum. Lunch at local restaurant. Continue to Sri Satchanalai, the northern outpost town of the Kingdom of Sukhothai, built by King Ramkamhaeng. Visit Wat Chang Lom, Wat Jedi Jet Thaew, Wat Nang Phya and Wat Phra Sri Ratana Maha Dhat standing on site of the Khmer fort "Chalieng." Proceed to Lampang and check in at WIANG LAKOR or similar hotel. Dinner and accommodations.

 

Friday

Day 3          Lampang—Phayao—Chiang Rai (B/L/D)

                   Breakfast

08:00          Drive to Ko Kah to see Wat Phra Dhat Lampang Luang housing the only Emerald Buddha, besides the one at Wat Phra Keo in Bangkok. Depart for Phayao, a unique rural town and former princely state the former glory of which may be seen at Wat Sri Kom Kam. Proceed to Chiang Rai and lunch at local restaurant. Continue to Chiang Saen, former capital of the first Thai kingdom, situated directly on the Mekong River at the border between Thailand and Laos. Visit Wat Phra Dhat Jom Kitti by climbing 383 steps to top of hill, Wat Chedi Luang and the small museum nearby. Take a boat trip upriver on the Mekong to the Golden Triangle where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet. Continue to Mae Sai, the northernmost Thai town and on the border with Myanmar. Stroll through and shop at local market. Return to Chiang Rai and check in at WIANG INN or similar hotel. Dinner and accommodations.

 

Saturday

Day 4          Chiang Rai—Chiang Mai (B/L/D)

                   Breakfast

08:00          Depart for Ban Lorcha, a Phami Akha hilltribe community center.  This community-based tourism development project promotes sustainable, self-reliant development to improve the quality of life of villagers of this Akha Community, and is a model for tourism in Hilltribe villages.  Proceed to Chiang Mai and lunch at local restaurant.  Afternoon visit to Handicraft Villages to observe manufacture of lacquerware, the spinning and weaving of Thai Silk and to watch how paper umbrellas are made. Check in at GREEN LAKE RESORT or similar hotel.

7-10pm       Kantoke Dinner. Enjoy a typical Thai dinner with ancient dances from northern Thailand, followed by a performance of dances and songs by various hilltribes.

                   Accommodations.

                   Optional: Opportunity to visit the city's night market in search of bargains.

 

Sunday

Day 5          Chiang Mai—Bangkok by Train (B/L/D)

                   Breakfast

08:00          Visit Wat Doi Suthep, tucked away in the mountains at an elevation of 1,056 meters. The temple is reached using a NAGA railing rising along both sides. The monastery was built by King Gue-Na in 1383. The center is a big chedi (spiral pagoda), containing partial relics of Lord Buddha. Continue to visit the elephant camp to watch the elephants taking timber in the forest. Their strength and strategic teamwork will amaze you. Also visit the orchid farm and lunch at local restaurant. Return to Chiang Mai. Afternoon visit to a famous Thai wood carving factory with possibility of buying Burmese antiques. Transfer to Chiang Mai Railway Station.

16:40          Depart by second class air-conditioned train with sleeping berth. Dinner-box and overnight stay on train.

*Return by air from Chiang Mai to Bangkok and/or additional nights (s) in Chiang Mai also possible (please contact us for details)

 

Monday

Day 6          Bangkok

6am            Arrive Bangkok Railway Station. (No breakfast)

                   Transfer to your Bangkok hotel.

 

HOTEL ADDRESSES:

 

·          Topland Hotel, 68/33 Akathodsarod Road, A. Muang, Pitsanuloke 65000.  Tel.: (055) 247800, Fax: (055) 247815

·          Wienglakor Hotel, 138/38 Phahonyothin Road, Suandok, Lampang 52000.  Tel.: (054) 224470, Fax: (054) 316427

·          Wiang Inn Hotel, 893 Phahonyothin Road, Chiang Rai 57000.  Tel.: (053) 711533, Fax: (053) 711877

·          Green Lake Resort, Cholapathan Road, T. Changpuak, A. Muang, Chiang Mai 50300. Tel. (053) 112888,  Fax: (053) 112820

 

PACKAGE TOUR RATES – US$
Price is per person in half-twin room
1	2	3-5	6-14	15-29	30-up	JOINT	SGL S/C
$2,214	$1,229	$ 894	$ 696	$ 645	$ 543	$ 759	$ 85
Validity: 01 November, 2007 – 31 October, 2008

 

 

 

There are the following surcharges:

 

-                 Wiang Inn Hotel

Compulsory dinner on 31 December, 2007 = $70 per person.

-                 Green Lake Resort

New Year’s eve surcharge on 30–31 December, 2007 = $15  per room per night.

 

Included in the tour prices are:

 

-                 Accommodation in air-conditioned room with bath and meals as mentioned in the program.

-                 Transfers, entrance fees, and tours by air-conditioned car/minibus/coach with English-speaking guide

-                 Boat trip

-                 2^nd class air-conditioned sleeper berth train ticket Chiang Mai-Bangkok

-                 Service charges, room tax and baggage handling

 

Not included in the tour prices are:

 

-                 Optional tours

-                 Expenditure of a personal nature, such as drinks, souvenirs and laundry etc.

-                 Other tours & meals than mentioned in the program.

 

Remarks:

-        Joint tour with minimum 2 persons

-                 Minor program changes are sometimes necessary, depending on road conditions and room availability.

-                 Train tickets, or domestic airport tax, or domestic air tickets be raised, or any other government taxes be introduced within the contract period, we reserve the right to adjust our rates accordingly to reflect the change.

 

 

You may deduct the amount of $17 net per person if train ticket Chiang Mai to Bangkok is not required. However, this only applies if we are we are informed at time of booking that client will not require Chiang Mai to Bangkok train tickets.

 

If passengers want to return by air from Chiang Mai to Bangkok instead of train on day 5, the surcharge is $100 per person and must be specified at time of booking.