(Guaranteed weekly departures with English-speaking guide on Wednesdays and Sundays, all meals included)

 

Wednesday/Sunday

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

06:00           Pick up passengers from major Bangkok hotels.

07:00           Depart from Bangkok to Ayuthaya, former capital of Thailand. Principal sights are the gigantic bronze statues of Wat Mongkol Borpith, the three ancient pagodas at Wat Phra Srisanpetch 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 museum at Narai Raja Nives Palace, the Prang Sam Yod (Sacred Three-Spired Pagoda), ruins of Wat Phra Sri Ratana Maha Dhat, as well as the Monkey Temple. Proceed by bus to Pitsanuloke and check in at AMARIN LAGOON or similar hotel.  Dinner and accommodations.

 

Thursday/Monday

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 famous ruins of Thailand’s first capital (1257-1379). See Wat Maha Dhat, the Ramkamhaeng Museum, Wat Sra Sri and Wat Sri Chum. Lunch at local restaurant. Continue to Sri Satchanalai, northern outpost town of the Kingdom of Sukhothai, built by King Ramkamhaeng. Visit Wat Chang Lom, Wat Chedi Jet Thaew, Wat Nang Phya and Wat Phra Sri Ratana Maha Dhat on the site of the Khmer fort "Chalieng.” Proceed to Lampang and check in at LAMPANG RIVER LODGE, LAMPANG WIENGTHONG or similar hotel. Dinner and accommodations

 

Friday/Tuesday

Day 3           Lampang—Lampoon—Chiang Mai (B/L/D)

                   Breakfast

08:00           Depart for Ko Kah to see Wat Phra Dhat Lampang Luang, housing the only Emerald Buddha other than the one at Wat Phra Keo in Bangkok. Continue to visit Wat Phra Keo Don Tao, a very interesting Burmese-style temple, plus Wat Chedi Sao, with its many small pagodas. Proceed to Lampoon. Visit famous Wat Haripoonchai in Lampoon, built in 1157—one of the most sacred monuments in the north. Continue to Chiang Mai. Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon visit to Handicraft Villages, to observe manufacturing of lacquerware, spinning and weaving of Thai Silk and paper umbrella making. Also visit famous Thai wood-carving factory, with possibility of purchasing Burmese antiques. Check in at AMARI RINCOME or similar hotel.

19:30-21.00   Khao Soy Dinner, a signature dish of northern Thai cuisine at “Just Khao Soy Restaurant”.

                   Optional: Opportunity for bargain-hunters to visit city's night market.

                   Accommodation.                

 

Saturday/Wednesday

Day 4           Chiang Mai (B/L/D)

                   Breakfast

08:00-12:00  City Tour. Visit the most interesting temples in Chiang Mai, like Wat Phra Singh with its famous Buddha image, Wat Chiang Man, the oldest temple in Chiang Mai (built by King Mangrai), and Wat Suan Dok, housing remains of many generations of the old Chiang Mai royal families. Also visit Wat Doi Suthep, tucked away in the mountains at 1,056 meters above sea level. Lunch at local restaurant.

                   Afternoon free.

19:15-22:15   Kantoke Dinner. Enjoy a typical Thai dinner with presentation of ancient dances from northern Thailand, followed by a performance of dances and songs of various hilltribes.

                   Accommodations at AMARI RINCOME  or similar hotel.

Optional: Opportunity for bargain-hunters to visit city's night market.

 

 

Sunday/Thursday

Day 5           Chiang Mai—Thatorn (B/L/D)

                   Breakfast

07:00           Depart Chiang Mai to visit an orchid farm. Continue visit Mae Ping elephant camp and watch elephants handling the huge logs. The elephants’ strength and strategic teamwork will amaze you.

Recommended Option:

Take one-hour elephant safari into the surrounding countryside.

Extra: Baht 600.- per person (two person per elephant).

12:30            Lunch at Local Restaurant.

13:30            Proceed to Thatorn via Chiang Dao and Fang.      En route, visit Chiang Dao Cave at Wat Tham Chiang Dao. The caverns are full of sacred Buddha images and natural formations. The main caven is illuminated by electric lights, while deepest recesses can be explored with oil lanterns.

17:00            Arrive Thatorn, a small village just a few kilometers from the Burmese border. Check in at MAE KOK RIVER VILLAGE RESORT or similar hotel.

Dinner and accommodations.

 

Monday/Friday

Day 6           Thatorn—Chiang Rai (B/L/D)

                   Breakfast

08:00           Depart Thatorn to visit 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.  Drive to Ban Pha Tai and board on motor-powered traditional boats for three-hour journey down Kok River, passing tiny hilltribe villages, bamboo huts and jungle.

12:30            Arrive Chiang Rai and disembark at THE LEGEND CHIANG RAI BOUTIQUE RIVER RESORT AND SPA.  Check in on arrival and followed by lunch at the hotel.

13:30            Continue visit Chiang Rai City, such as Wat Phra Keo where the much venerated Emerald Buddha image was once enshrined and Wat Phrasing where one of the most beautiful Buddha images in Chiang Saen style is enshrined. Visit the statue of King Mengrai who built Chiang Rai City and the Hilltribe Museum and a local market before returning to the hotel.

                   Dinner and accommodations.

 

Tuesday/Saturday

Day 7           Chiang Rai—Bangkok (B/lunch box)

Breakfast

07:30           Depart Chiang Rai by minibus to visit Golden Triangle where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet. Take short boat ride on Mekong River. Picnic lunch box provided. Transfer to Chiang Rai Airport.

12:35            Depart Chiang Rai by TG-133.

13:50            Arrive Bangkok with transfers to your Bangkok hotel.

 

HOTEL ADDRESSES:

 

%       Amarin Lagoon Hotel, 52/299 Pra-Ongkhao Road, A. Muang, Pitsanuloke 65000.  Tel.: (055) 220999, Fax: (055) 220944 

%       Lampang River Lodge, 330 Moo 11 Chompoo, A. Muang, Lampang 52000. Tel.: (054) 226922, Fax: (054) 336640

%       OR: Lampang Wiengthong Hotel, 138/109 Phahonyothin Road, Suandok, Lampang 52000. Tel.: (054) 225801, Fax: (054) 225803

%       Amari Rincome Hotel, 1 Nimmanhaemind Road, Suthep, Chiang Mai 50200. Tel.: (053) 221044, Fax: (053) 221915

%       Maekok River Village Resort, 84 Moo 3, Tambol Thaton, Amphur Mae Ai, Chiang Mai 50280.        Tel: (053) 459328, Fax: (053) 459329

%       The Legend Chiang Rai Boutique River Resort & Spa, 124/25 Moo 11, Kohloy Road, T. Robwiang, A. Muang, Chiang Rai 57000.  Tel. (053) 910400-29, Fax. (053) 719650

 

PACKAGE TOUR RATES – US$
Prices are per person in half-twin room
1	2	3-5	6-14	15-29	30-up	JOINT	SGL S/C
$ 2,855	$ 1,702	$ 1,463	$ 1,199	$ 1,128	$ 935	$ 1,172	$ 229
Validity: 01 November, 2007 – 31 October, 2008

 

 

Included in the tour prices are:

 

-                 Accommodation in air-conditioned room with bath (room with shower at Mae Kok River Village Resort) and meals as mentioned in the program.     

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

French/Italian/Spanish-speaking guide

-                 Boat trip

-                 Domestic air ticket Chiang Rai-Bangkok

-                 Domestic airport tax

-                 Service charges, room tax, and baggage handling

 

Not included in the tour prices are:

 

-                 Optional tours

-                 International airport tax

-                 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.

-                 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 $100 per person for customers with own air tickets. However, this deduction only applies if we are informed at time of booking that client will not require Chiang Rai-Bangkok air tickets.