Thailand & Laos Hidden Treasures of Thailand and Laos - Itinerary
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Day 1: Arrival in Bangkok Welcome to Bangkok. Established as the capital of Thailand by Rama I, the first king of the Chakri dynasty, the city's name comes from Bang makok, meaning 'place of olive plums', and refers to the original site, which is only a very small part of what is today Bangkok. Upon arrival at the Bangkok International Airport, you will be met by our English-speaking guide and a driver for your private transfer to the hotel. In the evening, we'll get the first chance to meet and enjoy a welcome dinner, as we cruise the silky waters of the Chao Phraya River aboard a beautifully appointed riverboat while enjoying decadently prepared Thai dishes and gliding past Bangkok's most famous sites. Day 2: The Dazzle of Bangkok On our first full day in Thailand, we'll get immersed in the history and culture of this mesmerizing country, as we visit Bangkok's signature monuments. We'll start with a drive to Wat Po, or the Temple of Dawn, in time to experience the monks' morning chanting ritual. One of the oldest temples in Bangkok, Wat Po is home to the famous reclining Buddha, and it is also the original school of traditional Thai massage. From here, take a tuk-tuk ride via Pak Klong Talad Flower Market, with its amazing varieties of orchids, towards The Grand Palace, the most important royal palace in Thailand. The opulent palace complex houses not only the royal residence and throne halls but also the mysterious Emerald Buddha, the most revered Buddha image in Thailand. From here, we'll walk to a pier on the Chao Phraya River and board a boat which will take us to our lunch on the river. Afterwards, a long-tailed boat will take us on a magnificent journey along the Chao Phraya, the River of Kings, and through picturesque "klongs" (canals) of Thonburi, past cottages and temples lining the shore. We will stop along the way at Wat Arun, once the grand royal temple to King Rama II before returning to the hotel for free time. Day 3: Ayutthaya, the former Siam Capital In the morning, we'll travel to the Ayutthaya History Park, where in the romantic surroundings of the country's old capital, its precious treasures, its arts, and its culture are being preserved for future generations. Our first stop will be the Bang-Pa-In Summer Palace, an amazing architectural blend of East and West, dating back to the 17th century. Afterwards, we'll continue to Ayutthaya, the former capital of Thailand. Founded in the 14th century by the Thais of the lower Chao Phraya River, it soon was heralded as the grandest city on Earth. We'll visit several ancient wats and royal compounds which provide excellent photo opportunities. Then, we'll board a converted traditional teak rice barge and drift slowly along the majestic Chao Phraya, admiring the Island City of Ayutthaya from different angles and enjoying a traditional Thai lunch. The carefully selected dishes will offer an authentic Thai dining experience, an art that makes full use of the delicate balance between four different tastes: sour, salty, sweet, and spicy hot. After returning to the hotel, the rest of the evening will be at leisure. Day 4: Bangkok - Chiang Rai - Chiang Mai After breakfast, we'll leave Bangkok behind, as we take a short flight to Chiang Rai, known as the Rose of the North. This part of Thailand was once notorious for being the heart of the opium trade, but now it's visited for its spellbinding scenery and the exotic minority tribes living here. We will visit the colorful ethnic minority tribe of Long Neck Karen, famous for its women, who wear heavy brass necklaces around their necks from a very young age. We'll then visit the Rai Mae Fah Luang center, a project aimed at helping disadvantaged youth from impoverished communities and remote areas of the country. After lunch, served at a local restaurant, we'll visit the magnificent Wat Rong Khun, the White Temple, which mixes traditional Buddhist beliefs with modern art, from mythological figures to symbols of pop culture. We'll continue towards Chiang Mai, stopping along the way at the Hot Springs of Mekajan, and arriving at the hotel in the evening to enjoy a lavish dinner. Day 5: Thai Cooking This morning, we'll dive into the cultural heritage of Thailand, as we tour Wat Phrathat, the most sacred site of the Thai people, set amidst the mystical mountains surrounding Thailand’s second city. The Wat was founded in 1383, and people used to climb the 309 steps to the temple, but we'll have an option of taking a funicular to the top. Within the temple, we'll offer alms to monks to receive a blessing and admire elaborate pagodas, statues, bells, and shrines, then we'll top the experience with an amazing panoramic view over the city. In the afternoon, as we drive to our cooking class at the Garden Farm, we'll stop at a local market to learn about produce used in Thai cuisine: savory rice, garlic, onions, spices, exotic fruits, and seasonings. We will spend time carefully preparing six dishes, before enjoying them for dinner. Day 6: Elephant Sanctuary Today, we'll spend the day with elephants, Thailand’s most beloved animals, as we visit an elephant sanctuary: a rescue and rehabilitation center that cares for and provides a caring environment for distressed elephants from all over Thailand. In the morning, we'll travel north through the spectacular mountainous scenery surrounding Chiang Mai, until we reach the Elephant Sanctuary, set in the heart of the teak forest. We'll spend the day volunteering with these beautiful animals, learning about the issues facing elephants in Southeast Asia and how Elephant Nature Park is helping in the treatment and care of Thailand's dwindling elephant population. Halfway through the day, we'll take a break over a simple lunch and watch the elephants. In the evening, we can visit the famous Chiang Mai Night Market to stroll, shop, people watch, and take in the ambiance of this dynamic nightly event that takes over the city. Day 7: Chiang Mai, Thai Dance This morning, we'll enjoy a guided tour of the ancient and sophisticated town of Chiang Mai. The afternoon will be free to relax, explore the picturesque town of Chiang Mai according to our personal interests, or indulge in some excellent shopping offered here. In the evening, we’ll take in the traditional Khantoke Thai Dance Show, showcasing the traditional fingernail dance, candle dance, and circle dance. This fascinating cultural experience, named after the highly decorated round table that dinner is served on, Khantoke, will take us back to the 13th century when Northern Thailand was the Kingdom of Lanna, and will be accompanied by a traditional Lanna dinner. Day 8: Chiang Mai - Phuket After breakfast, we'll transfer to the airport for our flight to Phuket, Thailand's largest island. Phuket faces the Andaman Sea and is known for some of the world's best beaches, with excellent swimming, snorkeling and diving, and is considered the most popular spa destination in the world. We'll start with a panoramic tour of the island, seeing the town of Phuket, and the Chino-Portuguese architectural treasures scattered throughout the town. After some rest at our beautiful hotel to enjoy the beach, the spa and maybe a Thai massage, and we'll meet in the evening to dine surrounded by palm trees swaying in the wind and the sound of the surf. Day 9: Phi Phi Islands by a Private Speedboat The twin Phi Phi Islands in the Andaman Sea are home to some of the best diving and snorkeling sites in Thailand. The larger Phi Phi Don is rimmed with silky sand beaches, crystal clear water, and some extraordinary marine life, and is an ideal place for swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, sunbathing, and relaxing. The smaller Phi Phi Le offers more dramatic scenery with small secret coves, rocky cliffs, and several caves with an abundance of stalactites and stalagmites. We'll spend the day cruising on a private speedboat around these two superb islands, exploring the caves, swimming, snorkeling, enjoying lunch on a tropical island, and relaxing on the white sand beaches before we return to Phuket late in the afternoon. Day 10: Yoga on the Beach Today, we'll start the day with a private, morning yoga and meditation session on a secluded beach. Then, we'll have the rest of the day to spend at leisure, taking advantage of the many amenities of the hotel, the beach, and the nearby town of Phuket. In the evening, we'll share the memories of our best experiences in Thailand over a romantic dinner. Day 11: Phuket - Luang Prabang This morning, we'll leave Phuket on an early morning flight to Luang Prabang, Laos's most charismatic town, where we'll arrive shortly before noon. After a little time to rest at our beautiful hotel, formerly a royal palace, we will enjoy a private city tour. We'll visit the Royal Palace Museum and the magnificent Wat Xiengthong Temple which with its roofs sweeping low to the ground and intricate paintings covering the exterior walls, represent the traditional Laotian architectural style. The tour will conclude with visits to the impressive stupa of Wat Visoun and the shrines of Wat Aham and Wat Mai. In the evening, we'll relax over dinner to share our first impressions of the Laotian way of life. Day 12: Khuang Si Waterfall Today, we'll wake up before dawn to participate in the ceremony of alms offering to hundreds of saffron-robed monks, an awe-inspiring, early morning ritual dating back generations. After the ritual, we'll watch the town come to life while enjoying breakfast before we set out on our drive to the three-tiered Kuang Si Waterfall. En route, we'll stop to visit a fresh produce market of Talad Phosy, then continue to Ban Na Oune, a small village of a hill-tribe ethnic Hmong people, the best-known minority group in Laos. We'll also visit the village of Ban Tha Pane, home to the K’mu tribe. We will then arrive at the iconic green-hued waterfall, accessed only by a wooden boardwalk leading through a tropical jungle. Its gentle cascades flow into turquoise pools among the surrounding mists and create a surreal impression. After an al fresco lunch, served at a shady spot near the Kuang Si Waterfall, there will be plenty of time for relaxing and swimming in the cool water before we head back to Luang Prabang. Day 13: Pak Ou Cave Today, we'll travel on a long-tailed boat on the fabled Mekong River, passing quaint Laotian villages, barely visible behind a screen of riverside foliage, as slender canoes bob by the shore and bamboo poles and floats mark the location of nets and fish traps. At the end of the journey, we'll visit the mysterious Pak Ou Caves carved into the side of a limestone cliff near the mouth of the Mekong and Nam Ou Rivers. The sanctuaries at Pak Ou consist of two large caves, containing a collection of thousands of Buddha images, in various sizes, shapes and colors. We'll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant on the bank of the Mekong River, then we'll return to Luang Prabang by the same boat, stopping on the way to visit Ban Xangkhong, a village known for its wood paper making and Laotian silk weavings with natural dyes. In the evening, we'll celebrate our adventures with a farewell dinner at one of the town's elegant restaurants. Day 14: Luang Prabang Departure Depending on your flight's departure time, you may have some time in the morning to enjoy the hotel's amenities as well as the ambiance and shopping of Luang Prabang before your private airport transfer which will be scheduled in accordance with your departure flight.
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