February 21 - March 6, 2025
14 Days / 13 Nights
This tour starts in Bankgok, Thailand and ends in Luang Prabang, Laos
$7,660 per person/double occupancy $2,160 single supplement $380 additional night - single or double room, includes a private airport transfer Includes all fees and taxes
13 nights' accommodations in modern, upscale hotels: 3 nights in Bangkok, 4 nights in Chiang Mai, 3 nights in Phuket, and 3 nights in Luang Prabang
Fine dining: 13 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 8 dinners, including drinks
Bottled mineral water and cold towels on days when touring by bus
Professional local tour guides throughout the tour
Sights and Soul Travels' Tour Director throughout the tour
All transportation in Thailand and Laos: comfortable, air-conditioned buses and boats
2 domestic flights: Bangkok - Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai - Phuket and 1 international flight: Bangkok - Luang Prabang; all airline fees and taxes
Private airport transfers on arrival and on departure
All sightseeing fees and admissions for all attractions, activities and excursions mentioned in the itinerary
Yoga and meditation on the beach, a private Thai Cooking Class, snorkeling in Andaman Sea, and all other activities mentioned in the itinerary
All restaurants', guides' and drivers' gratuities
NOT INCLUDED
Optional single supplement fee, early hotel check-in, optional travel insurance, Laotian visa fee ($37US), overweight luggage fees, meals and activities not included in the itinerary, porterage, housekeeping gratuities, optional Tour Director's gratuities, spa and massage services, room service, mini bar, telephone charges and other personal expenses.
The tour cost does not include airfare to and from the tour’s location.
HIGHLIGHTS
Bangkok's opulent Grand Palace, the Emerald Buddha and the Temple of Dawn
The magnificent Ayutthaya, the former capital of the Siam Kingdom
Chiang Rai's White Temple
A day volunteering at the Elephant Sanctuary
Traditional Thai cooking class
Khantoke Thai Dance Show
Visiting ethnic tribes, including Long Neck Karen
Day on a private sailing boat in the Andaman Sea off Phuket
Snorkeling off Phi Phi Islands
Yoga and meditation on the beach in Phuket
Luang Prabang architectural gems
Wat Xiengthong Temple
Alms giving ceremony with Buddhist monks
Kuang Si Waterfall
Long boat excursion on the Mekong River
Pak Ou Caves
Testimonials
Loved the variety of sights, cities and countryside. Mr. Pat is the best tour guide ever. He gave us all a white rose because it was Valentine’s Day. I hope he is paid triple his wage. - Mary from Iowa
Simply, my best trip to date. The chance to experience a completely new culture of Thailand, an area of the world I had no real experience with was wonderful. I felt safe and well protected so that I was able to appreciate the new environment and experiences fully. Laos, Luang Prabang was an amazing contrast to Bangkok, I am so glad I did this portion of the trip. It enabled a perspective that was necessary to compare the political and economic climate, and Mr Pom, reflected a different type of existence in a Communist country. Very engaging and thought provoking. - Laurie from Pennsylvania
I am glad I went to Thailand. I love being immersed in different cultures and learning about the customs and mores of perole I knew little about. I came away from the Thailand trip having learned a lot about the country and I was pleased. Mr. Pat provided cohesion, clarity and knowledge on the trip. Since he was so informed about everything Thai… he gave us a grouding on appropriate cultural sensitivity. He is highly skilled as a leader and guide. The hotels and food destinations were very good. I really appreciated the Sheraton Hotel in Bangkok and the city of Chiang Mai generally. – Ellen from New York
It was great to immerse myself in a completely different culture… but my much needed vacation vibe really started and ended in Laos where I was seduced by its charms and quirks. The cooking class was a lot of fun. It gave us the opportunity to participate rather than be a spectator. The people running the school were organized, pleasant patient and present… definitely one of the highlights of the trip. - Julie from New York
Our local guide, Mr. Pat was wonderful and made the trip for me. His kindness, desire to help us understand Thai culture, Thai Buddhism (and Thai food), and attentiveness to our needs were outstanding. – Sue from Massachusetts
I love the Country. Local guide “Mr. Pat” made the trip for me and my friends. Hotels were nice, especially Sheraton Royal Orchid in Bangkok. – Theresa from Oregon
I had a wonderful time sharing adventures in history and culture with women who became instant friends. I instantly felt welcome and included. This upscale tour company provides fantastic experiences in safe, welcoming environment, and I highly recommend it to anyone traveling alone or with a friend. - Eva from Massachusett
WHAT MAKES THIS TOUR SPECIAL
Carefully designed itinerary, including signature Thai and Laotian experiences
Exclusive experiences, not available to larger groups
Small group of maximum 16 women
Knowledgeable and passionate private guides
Visiting Long Neck Karen tribe, rarely seen by others
An experienced Tour Director throughout the trip
Accommodations in upscale, perfectly located hotels
Inclusion of most meals throughout the tour, including drinks
Inclusion of two domestic flights and 1 international flight in the tour price
Inclusion of all restaurants', guides' and drivers' gratuities
No forced shopping
Tour Director: Marlene Boyer
Thailand is a treasure trove filled with glittering temples, exotic markets, mystical Buddhist sanctuaries, dreamy white beaches and enhanced by sumptuous food. The country is rich in history and traditional culture which blend seamlessly with the contemporary lifestyle. From the gleaming ultramodern high rises and impressive temples of Bangkok, through tranquil waterways and lush jungle hideaways to the ancient beauty of Chiang Mai, the colorful hill tribes' villages in the North, and the world-class island beaches in the South, this trip will leave you dreaming of golden palaces and turquoise seas long after you leave. We'll tour Bangkok and the imperial Ayutthaya, the former capital of the Siam Kingdom, once considered the grandest city on Earth, spend an exciting day with Thailand's beloved elephants, study Thai cuisine and dance, offer alms to monks at some of Thailand's most sacred Buddhist temples, visit the exotic hill tribes, snorkel in the tropical paradise, as we sail off Phuket on a private speedboat, and enjoy the peaceful experience of yoga and meditation on the beach.
Known as the land of a million elephants, Laos is the most serene country in Southeast Asia. The landscape is a stunning mix of mist-shrouded mountain peaks flanked by jungle-clad valleys, beautiful French colonial towns, gilded temples, golden Buddhist stupas and the magic of the Mekong. Overused as a battleground in its time, Laos is now watching from afar as the rest of Asia is racing ahead. Both physically and spiritually, the world here moves at the pace of the saffron-robed monks who set out at dawn in search of alms. Laos is a place where the skyline is defined by mountains and temples rather than skyscrapers, where cicadas and waterfalls drown out the hum of city traffic and the only sound in the temples is silence. Exotic Laos is a laidback and charming place, characterized by scenic boat journeys, lush riverside settings, and the pervading Buddhist culture. During this journey, you will experience the essence of old Asia with glittering temples, unique hill tribe cultures, and the mighty Mekong flowing through it.
While inBangkok, we'll get an overview of the city with an elegant dinner cruise, then we'll tour Bangkok by a rice barge along the Chao Praya River and its ancient canals, stopping to visit the Wat Arun Temple, the Grand Palace, the Emerald Buddha, the Temple of Dawn and the Reclining Buddha, and drive tuk-tuks through Bangkok's flower markets, with their profusion of multi-colored orchids. We'll visit the Ayutthaya Historical Park, once the capital of the Siam Kingdom, with its ancient wats and royal compounds, as we enjoy the best of Thai cuisine on a traditional teak rice barge.
While in Chiang Mai, we'll visit the temple of Wat Phrathat on the Doi Suthep Mountain, spend a day volunteering at the Elephant Sanctuary, and learn about Thai cooking, as we try our hand at this ancient art. We'll experience the Khantoke Thai Dance Show, and Thai hot springs, tour the amazing White Temple and visit the Lisu and Long Neck Karen ethnic minorities tribes, famous for their long-necked women wearing their exotic neck coils and intricate local costumes.
In Phuket, we'll relax on the world-class beaches and maybe try Thai massage. We'll tour the Phi Phi Islands by a private speedboat, snorkel in the Andaman Sea, and enjoy the experience of yoga and meditation on the beach.
In Luang Prabang, we'll tour the ancient royal capital of Laos with its elaborately constructed temples and royal palaces, we'll visit the Kuang Si waterfall with its multi-level turquoise pools, cruise on the Mekong River to visit the mysterious Pak Ou Caves and meet the hill-tribe ethnic Hmong people.
Throughout the tour, we'll enjoy luxury hotels, fine dining, passionate and knowledgeable guides, and exclusive activities which will let us experience Thailand and Laos on a deep, personal level.
