Thailand Small Group
Description
Thailand is a destination that offers a vibrant culture, breathtaking scenery and delectable cuisine. Significant temples and floating markets give way to exploration along the Mekong River while Thai culinary delights can be enjoyed in street markets and in cooking classes. From Chiang Mai in the north, picturesque Phuket in the south and the capital Bangkok, Thailand delivers a world of wonder and surprises.
From$3,410
Starts in Bangkok
Ends in Phuket
Duration (days) 14
Group size 16
Thailand Small Group
Overview
Your 14 Day itinerary of Thailand will introduce you to the culture of Chiang Mai with a visit to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and a traditional Khantoke dinner. Walk the famous bridge over the River Kwai and uncover the secrets of the old towns of Lamphun and Lampang. Overnight in a floating hotel and enjoy a walking tour of Phuket before taking some time out on one of Thailand’s idyllic beaches.
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Basic Itinerary
Map
Itinerary
Day 1Arrive Bangkok
Upon arrival into Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi, your driver/guide will greet you with a friendly welcome and take you to your selected hotel. En route, your guide will share a brief orientation of the “City of Angels”, introducing you to the traditions of Thai culture with some handy tips from how to greet someone to expected customs while in the country.
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Day 2Bangkok
After breakfast at the hotel, embark on your “must see” tour of Bangkok. Your tour today will include visits to the iconic Grand Palace, the former residence of kings of Thailand and today used for various high profile ceremonies. Visit Wat Pho which features one of Thailand’s largest Reclining Buddha images and is said to be the birthplace of the Thai massage. Stand in awe of the magnificent, 700-year old Wat Traimit or as it is known, the “Temple of the Golden Buddha”. Be still in the sacred temple of Wat Phra Kaew, also known as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, a dark green statue carved from a single jade stone and marvel at the colourful mosaics and murals on the walls. The rest of the day is yours at leisure.
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Day 3Bangkok
Your tour of Bangkok today starts with a quick stop at a local coconut farm with a chance to sample freshly cooked coconut palm sugar. Continue on to the Railway Market, a fascinating experience as you witness vendors quickly whisk their wares off the tracks as the train rushes through. Head 110km outside of Bangkok to the Ratchaburi region where you will get to enjoy a ride in a long tail boat before visiting the famous Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. After the afternoon at leisure, experience the tradition of a Tuk Tuk ride through Bangkok, at night. With the sky above, admire the many historical attractions lit up at night. Engage all senses as you take in sights and sounds, smells and tastes with a chance to dine in restaurants favored by locals.
On your food journey, stop at a Northeastern Thai restaurant and sample dishes such as spicy raw papaya salad, then welcome an introductory dish comprising chicken crispy noodles with egg, and here you have a chance to step into the alley kitchen to watch the magic happen. Admire an amazing flower market accompanied by local snacks. A temple by night visit highlights the illuminated pagoda, followed by a bar stop and finally a plate of Bangkok’s most famous dish, Pad Thai noodles, at our last stop. Return to your hotel around midnight.
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Day 4Chiang Rai
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. You have option to choose your Choice of Activities. Either enjoy an “off the beaten path” Chinatown experience that has visits to old churches, old communities donning street art and savour local cuisine in street markets. Your tour will end with visits to a number of old Chinese Buddhist shrines and temples. Or visiting Thompson’s House. A house is a collection of Thai-style wooden buildings erected by Jim Thompson, a well-known American pioneer in Thai Silk who mysteriously disappeared in the jungles of Malaysia. The museum once served as Mr Thompson’s house and his personal Asian art
collection are on display today. This afternoon, fly to Chiang Rai.
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Day 5Chiang Rai
After breakfast at your hotel, your guide will meet you and your day begins with a visit to local villages. Meet the “Akha” tribe, originally from Tibet, known for their colourful attire, or the “Yo” from China who bring their strong traditions with them. Continue onto the Golden Triangle, the Ruak and Mekong Rivers meeting at the border between Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. Visit Wat Phra That Doi Pu Khao, a riverside temple overlooking mountains and the Golden Triangle riverine. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant then continue to the opium museum where you will learn all about the opium trade. Return to your hotel in Chiang Rai for overnight.
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Day 6Chiang Mai
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel after which you will head out on your day’s adventure. Begin by visiting the newly-built Wat Rong Suea Ten or “Blue Temple”, a uniquely exquisite design and brilliant colour that sets it apart from other Buddhist temples in the country. Continue onto Chalermchai’s Wat Rong Khun or the “White Temple” before departing for Chiang Mai. An impressive and shining example of magnificent architecture, the white colour depicts Buddha’s purity, the temple surrounded by examples of orthodox Buddhist teachings. The temple is an on-going project and is a great example of how ancient techniques and relics can be incorporated into today’s art and design. After lunch at a local restaurant, take a break at the Mae Kachan Hot Springs before transferring to and checking into your hotel in Chiang Mai.
The rest of the day is yours at leisure.
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Day 7Chiang Mai
This morning, enjoy the Choice of Activities that we prepare for you. Take the Vespa tour and enjoy an excursion that takes in the iconic Tha Phae Gate and the narrow lanes of the old city and opens up the rural landscape and winding forest roads around you. Take your Vespa up hills and through Bohemian craft villages and the Century Hilltop Temple plus a few others and ending up at Chiang Mai’s most famous market. OR Spend time with elephants rescued from all over Thailand and beyond its borders. The public is educated against the cruelty and abuse of elephants and all the Rescue Centre is doing to protect and
prevent while working with the local Thai community. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to visit the 600 year-old temple of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, near the summit of Doi Suthep. At the top of the winding mountain road, you will face a 306-stepped “Naga” or “dragon-headed serpent” staircase. Commanding incredible views of Chiang Mai, the copper-plated chedi is topped by a five-tier gold umbrella containing relics of Lord Buddha. This evening you will get a chance to enjoy a unique Lanna Dinner or “Khantoke”. Enjoy a traditional northern dance show introducing a variety of dance forms, as you savour dinner served in small bowls known as “khan” while seated on cushions in front of a low table or “toke”.
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Day 8Sukhothai
An early breakfast and start today. Your driver will pick you up from your hotel at around 8am from where you will drive about 40km to the old town of Lamphun City. Your first visit is the Wat Phra That Hariphunchai which is one of Thailand’s most salient temples, it’s 46m-high golden pagoda encompassing the glory of the Lord Buddha. Continue driving to Lampagn stopping at Wat Phra That Lampang Luang on the way. This walled temple is said to be the oldest and most attractive surviving wooden structure in Thailand. Lunch will be enjoyed at a local restaurant en route to Sukhothai, where upon arrival a stop at the Sukhothai Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is on the cards. Admire the beautiful standing Buddha statues as you explore the ruins of Buddhist temples, royal palaces and their city walls and gates.
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Day 9Ayutthaya
Partake in the practice of giving alms to Buddhist monks or “Sai-bat” this morning. This sacred religious tradition takes place very early in the morning and sees local residents “making merit” or ensuring “good karma”, by donating food to monks. Breakfast will be enjoyed back at your hotel after Sai-bat. Our first stop after checking out of the hotel is at Wat Mahathat in Phitsanulok, home to one of the most revered Buddha images in Thailand. Continue on to Ayutthaya, the second capital of Siam after Sukhothai and formerly the trading capital of Asia due to its fortunate location between China, India and the Malay Archipelago. Lunch will be enjoyed on the way with your first stop to Ayutthaya Historical Park. Temple ruins lay across the metropolis, contrasting with the modern look but a reminder that it once was a wealthy city. Visit three immense temples which have added to the reason Ayutthaya is today a UNESCO World Heritage site. Overnight in Ayutthaya.
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Day 10Kanchanaburi
After breakfast, check out and meet your driver who will take you to Kanchanaburi City, located at the meeting point of Khwae Noi and Khwae Yai rivers, forming the Mae Klong River. This popular tourist town is home to your first top, the famous Bridge over the River Kwai, a site of bloodshed in World War II. Continue on to Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, a commemoration site for those who perished during construction of the bridge. Our journey today then takes us to the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre, an interactive museum highlighting the Thailand-Burma Railway. Enjoy lunch before your long-tailed boat on the River Kwai to the Float House River Kwai for check-in. Dinner and overnight at the Floathouse River Kwai.
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Day 11Phuket
After breakfast, check out and continue to your next destination, Nakhon Pathom. Stop at Asia’s largest Stupa, the Wat Phra Pathom Chedi, 120 metres at its highest peak. This spiritual hub has been an important institution for locals for over 200 years. An easy vibe fills the restaurant and surrounding area. Return to Bangkok and fly to Phuket. Upon arrival in Phuket, you will be greeted by your driver/guide and transferred to your hotel in Phuket.
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Day 12Phuket
After breakfast, your guide will meet you and take you down to Phuket’s “Old Town”, the start of your walking food tour. Admire the Sino Portuguese architecture, quaint retail shops, bustling morning market and taste some local fruits. Visit the Baan Chinpracha mansion and walk through the old quarters of Phuket. Try local Thai snacks like roti and refreshments along the way and see how “Cha Chuk”, Thai iced
milk tea that is “pulled” in a fascinating process, is made. Visit the well-preserved historical Thai Hua Museum, used today as an exhibition space with larger exhibits displayed in lovely gardens. Enjoy roadside fresh coconuts and a Southern style local lunch at one of the boutique “Sino Portuguese style” restaurants in Phuket old town.
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Day 13Phuket
Breakfast at the hotel and rest of day free at leisure at the hotel or feel free to join our Choice of Activities. Enjoy full day at Koh Phi Phi - Koh Phi Phi is a highlight of the Andaman coast made famous by the movie “The Beach”. Located between Phuket and Krabi and only reachable by boat, this stunning island comprising beautiful white sandy beaches, turquoise waters and forested hills is a must see for many tourists. Diving coral reefs and marveling at colourful marine await visitors as they hop from Phi Phi island to island by speed boat. OR explore Tapu Island, known as the “James Bond Island” and Phang Nga Bay, some of the most stunning natural attractions in Thailand. Spectacular scenery with limestone cliffs rising out of green water, caves, lagoons and secluded beaches invite you to experience the unique splendour of Phuket.
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Day 14Depart Phuket
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and the rest of your day is at leisure. After check out, drive to Phuket airport in time for your onward flight.
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Day 6 and more
Dates & Prices
Accommodation
Day
Where
Accommodation
1
- 4
Bangkok
Eastin Grand Sathorn (Superior) or similar
4
- 6
Chiang Rai
Le Meridien Chiang Rai (Deluxe Garden View)
6
- 8
Chiang Mai
Melia Chiang Mai (Melia)
8
- 9
Sukhothai
Sriwilai Sukhothai Resort & Spa (Superior)
9
- 10
Ayutthaya
Kantary Ayutthaya Hotel (Studio)
10
- 11
Kanchanaburi
Float House River Kwai (Floating Villa)
11
- 14
Phuket
Cape Panwa Phuket (Junior Suite)
Other information
Price includes: Hotel accommodations including daily breakfast, private transportations throughout the trip, English speaking guided tours with admissions included as per itinerary stated, domestic flight tickets based on lowest booking class in economy class, cultural activities and some meals. Group size is based on 16 person max.