In this section you will find a short description of the daily possibilities. The tour leader will offer a program on almost every day but the program is informal and by no means obligatory leaving lots of room for your own initiative. Your guides will organize and accompany some activities and will also make suggestions so that you are free to dine or explore on your own.
Day 1 Depart USA
Day 2 In Transit
Day 3 Arrival Bangkok
At the airport our tour leader greets you arranges the transfer by privately hired bus to the hotel conveniently located in the Banglumpoo area. All rooms of the hotel are air-conditioned. Wat Prakaew, the Grand Palace, the National Museum, the Royal Barges and Wat Arun are easily reached on foot. A ride in a traditional (and fast!) longtail boat through the “klongs” is absolutely worthwhile. From the boat you will be able to see places that are hard to reach by road. Other parts of Bangkok, like the busy but interesting Chinatown, or the huge shopping mall called Siam Square can be visited in several ways: by local bus, the Chao Praya Express River Taxi, by cab or by that typical Thai three-wheel taxi: the “tuktuk”. If you use one of the latter two, make sure you have agreed on a price before you get in. Do not forget to bargain!
Day 4 Bangkok
Day 5 Bangkok - Nakhom Pathom - Damnoen Saduak - River Kwai
Early in the morning we will drive out of Bangkok towards the “chedi” of Nakhom Pathom, the highest Buddhist structure in the world and the oldest “chedi” in Thailand. The next stop will be the floating market of Damnung Saduak, a popular market where all sorts of products are sold from boats. From here we leave for Kanchanaburi, home of the notorious “Bridge over the River Kwai”. The cemetery and the JEATH war museum are certainly included in our program. The museum consists of rows of barracks with photos, paintings and paper cuttings on display.
Day 6 River Kwai
Day 7 River Kwai - Ayutthaya
From Kanchanaburi we will drive on to the river where we board a long tail boat taking us to our accommodation for the night, the “Jungle Rafts”. These are bungalows built on bamboo rafts, an ideal place to relax or to visit the Keang Lawa Caves.We drive to Ayutthaya, one of the former capitals of Thailand. Before the Burmese invaded this city in 1767, Ayutthaya was a center of prosperity, with influence extending all the way to China, Japan and Europe. The numerous ancient temples and ruins you find here are reminders of that time.
Day 8 Ayutthaya – Sukhothai Day 9 Sukhothai - Chiang Mai
Day 10 Chiang Mai
After some morning sightseeing in Ayutthaya we continue our trip to Sukhothai, like Ayutthaya, a former capital of the country from 1238 to 1350. Here, an impressive number of temples are scattered over a large area. Throughout this day we will stop at several interesting places along the way. These are great places to explore with a bicycle. The following day, we will travel to the city of Chiang Mai, situated at the bottom of the mountain Doi Sutep (5,055 feet) and on the bank of the river Ping. A bike is the ideal means of transportation around this town to visit, for example, the country house of the royal family or the many temples of the city like Wat Phra Sing and Wat Chedi Luang. On the outskirts of town you can see artisans such as silk weavers, woodworkers, silversmiths and umbrella makers at work. The night market is always busy and souvenir hunters will definitely find plenty for gathering. After two nights we will return to Bangkok on the night train. Some travelers prefer to bring along their own dinner on the train, as food is costly.
Day 11 Chiang Mai - Bangkok
Day 12 Depart Bangkok - West Coast flights arrive in U.S.
Day 13 East Coast flights arrive in U.S.
After returning to Bangkok you have time for activities. You may visit the Emerald Buddha, built by King Rama I, one of the best-known Buddha images in Thailand. You may instead decide to stroll through the gardens of the Grand Palace. The Flower Market is a wonderful place to spend some time. Nakhon Kasem (Thieves Market) has great little back streets, lots of antiques, and plenty of cheap, good eateries. Of course there are plenty of museums and temples and great shopping for the last day before departing for home. It is also possible to extend your Bangkok stay at the beginning or end of the trip. The cost of the hotel for a double room is $50. The flight extension is $100 per person.
PHUKET EXTENSION
If you book the beach extension, the final days of your program will be as follows. You may also request additional days in Phuket when you book your trip.
Day 12 Bangkok - Phuket (flight)
Day 13 Phuket
Day 14 Phuket
Day 15 Phuket - Bangkok (flight) Depart - West Coast flights arrive in U.S.
Day 16 East Coast flights arrive in U.S.
These final days of your trip are for sheer relaxation. You will lodge in a 4-star hotel in Phuket and you are free to enjoy the beaches and nightlife on your own. There is no guide for this portion of the trip.
