Ancient Wonders in Thailand and Laos 15D14N

Early in the morning, after having breakfast, we pay a visit to Maeklong Railway Market - a local market has grown up along the rail tracks. When a train pulls in or out of the station, the sellers quickly clear their stalls, and set them up again when the train has passed. We continue our way to the Damnoen Saduak Floating market. Arrival at the market, you can see the vendors who wear traditional farmer dresses and hats bring local Thai foods, fruits and products to sell on rowing boats. You should not miss the opportunity to experience sitting and giving them a try on one of these boats on the canal. You are free to explore around the market, take photos/videos or even hire a paddling boat to breathe the once-in-a-lifetime atmosphere here.  

We then take a boat ride out of the floating market and journey along the winding canals to see remote villages, gardens and plantations. 

Arrive at a jetty pier where you board on the vehicle and return to Bangkok. 

Accommodation: At the hotel in Bangkok 

Meals: Breakfast 

Breakfast at hotel and we will transfer back to airport for your flight to Chiang Rai. On arrival, you will be greeted and transferred to visit the world famous Wat Phra Kaew where the Emerald Buddha image was once enshrined. Move on to Wat Phra Singh where one of Thailand’s most beautiful Buddha images is now enshrined. Return to your hotel for relaxation.

Overnight in Chiang Rai.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Chiang Rai

Meals: Breakfast 

After breakfast, have a ride to visit Chiang Saen the ancient city which is located on the Khong River Bank. After that, visit to Opium museum where show about the opium’s history in the past in Thailand. Taking a boat trip along Mekong Kong River to see Thailand, Burma & Laos meet at the Golden Triangle.  Have lunch by your own account at the local restaurant at the Golden triangle. Afternoon we transfer back to Chiang Rai and visit Black House. Baan Dam (Black House) is the unique creation of national artist, Thawan Duchanee. Part art studio, part museum, part home, Baan Dam is an eclectic mix of traditional northern Thai buildings interspersed with some outlandish modern designs. Transfer back to Chiang Rai city for your overnight.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Chiang Rai

Meals: Breakfast 

Morning after breakfast, we will visit the local market to discover the local products. After that we visit the white temple, Wat Rong Khun. It nevertheless very recent temple is the most visited monument in the region, the work of Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, started in 1997. Its creator himself announces that he will only be completed 60 to 90 years after his death. Its uniqueness, its whiteness, making it a unique temple of its kind. In wihaan a fresco mixing Buddhist codes with Matrix, Star Wars, the bombing of the Twin Towers in New York and even Kung Fu Panda stands out from the usual decorations such monuments.

Then, we transfer directly to Chiang Mai. On arrival in Chiang Mai, you will be pick-up at 15h for the joined evening cooking class.

-           First, visit the main local Thai market out of the city center

-           Explaining and learning about herbs and ingredients at our organic farm

-           Pound and make a curry paste from scratch.

-           You will make your own curry paste, each person will have their own individual mortar.

-           You can decide how spicy or non-spicy you would like to make your own curry paste

-           Choose and make one curry paste, one curry, one soup, noodle dish and sweet dessert

-           You will learn to make every dish completely by yourself from start to finish and will be able to season to your own taste!

Included

Recipe book, lemongrass tea and drinking water, shared transportation in city center, all ingredients

The class ends about 21h00. Return to hotel for relaxation. Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Chiang Mai

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast served at the hotel. The morning will be mainly devoted to the walking tour of the old town with a stop at the old wall, the moat and a door of the old town. You will see the most beautiful temples of Chiang Mai: Wat Phra Singh temple, Wat Phan Tao temple, Wat Chedi Luang temple. Then you will stroll along small streets lined with traditional houses, where you will take rickshaw tour.  After that, you will take a walking through the central market of Warorot. In the afternoon you will visit the Doi Suthep hill. To brighten up your evening, browse the Night Market for yourself. Stay overnight in Chiang Mai.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Chiang Mai

Meals: Breakfast 

This day will start with a transfer to Doi Inthanon National Park. It will take approximately 2 hours to the highest peak of Thailand – Doi Inthanon National Park. On arrival, we will spend 2-3 hours trekking through the jungle following a narrow mountain trail which leads us to stunning hidden waterfall in the middle of lush jungle. Along the way before reaching the Pagagayaw Karen hill tribe village, we will pass through the farmland where you will see the coffee plantation, flowers farm and the beautiful rice terraces. Discover the Pagagayaw Karen hill tribe village and taste a cup of locally grown coffee then move on to Vachiratharn Waterfall, a 70 meters high thunderous waterfall. Enjoy the cool fresh air at the waterfall before we continue back to the ground.

After that you will visit the beautiful architecture of Napamaytanidol Chedi and Phra Mahatat Napaphon Bhumisiri which build to honor the 60th birthday of King Bhumipol and Queen Sirikit. Finally, transfer back to Chiang Mai for your overnight.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Chiang Mai

Meals: Breakfast 

Morning after breakfast, we drive to Elephant jungle sanctuary to visit as the program below:

Itinerary:

08:00 – 08:30  : Pick up from your hotel or accommodation

08:30   : Drive approximately 1.5 hours South of Chiang Mai through rolling hills, forest, and local farming areas.

10:30   : Arrive at the Sanctuary. Meet your guide and walk for 10-15 minutes through the Jungle to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. Change into traditional Karen clothing. Enjoy an introductory lesson about elephant anatomy, history, and behavior.

11:00   : Meet the elephants. Feed, interact, and play with the elephants in a natural environment as you learn about their behavior and history. Take photos with the elephants.

12:00   : Enjoy a lunch of traditional Thai food and fresh fruit.

13:00   : Learn how to make herbal medicine balls, feed the Elephants and then walk with the elephants to the river. Bathe and brush the elephants.

14:00   : Join the elephants for a therapeutic mud spa. Swim in the river and take photos with the elephants.

15:00   : Change clothes and say good bye to the elephants

15:30   : Leave the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary and drive approximately 1.5 hours to Chiang Mai.

17:00-17:30     : We then pick up and transfer you to the railway station for your overnight train to Bangkok.

Accommodation: On overnight train (Second Class)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Having a breakfast and today we will pay a visit to some sites of Ayutthaya Historical Park. Being a ruin with many temples which characterize the handicraft architecture, the park was recognized as World’s Heritage Site by UNESCO.

• Wat Phu Khao Thong is a massive pagoda towering in the middle of paddy fields. There is a high golden plated chedi on the top, which makes the pagoda outstanding.
• Wat Phra Sri Sanphet was the most important temple of Ayutthaya with 3 towers standing high together in Ceylonese style.
• Vihara Phra Mongkhon Bophit is the pagoda in which the bronze Buddha statue in the attitude of subduing Mara is situated. This is one of the biggest Buddha statue in Thailand.
• Wat Lokaya Sutha is considered as the sacred place for pilgrims since it’s famous for the reclining Buddha statue. It is also the most important relics in most of those in Wat Lokaya Sutha.

Heading back to Bangkok. En route, we visit the Royal Summer Palace in Bang Pa-in district.

Being a favorite resort of royal, the Royal Summer palace showcases an eclectic collection of buildings that blend European, Khmer, Thai and Chinese architectural styles.. Transfer back to your hotel in Bangkok for your overnight.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Bangkok 

Meals: Breakfast 

You have free time until we arrive to pick up and transfer you to the airport for your flight to Luang Prabang. Arrival at Luang Prabang international airport and meet your guide, then transfer to your hotel. Check-in time is between 13h30-14h00. Time for resting at hotel

Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Luang Prabang

Meals: Breakfast 

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning alms giving ritual to saffron clad monks. This tradition is unique to Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving this procession. Stop and visit fresh local markets and back to hotel for breakfast.

This morning, depart to visit Wat Visoun, the site of impressive Thad Makmo stupa. The rounded dome is stylistically more Sinhalese than Lao The Continue to visit Wat Aham. Then, visit to the most photographed temple, Wat Xiengthong. Located at the end of peninsular closed to the confluence of Mekong and Khan River.

This afternoon, continue to former Royal Palace, now the National Museum. Visit Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief. During Pimai, the Lao New Year, the Prabang normally housed in the Royal Palace Museum is brought and put on public display in this temple.

Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel

Accommodation: At the hotel in Luang Prabang

Meals: Breakfast 

This morning, you will be driven to the Elephant Village, a center with a focus on the protection and rehabilitation of elephants in Laos. Upon arrival you will be provided the information about the work in caring for the elephants. Next, enjoy your time with elephants in camp.

This afternoon, travelling outskirt of Luang prabang, driving through green rice paddies and farms. Stop for visit few villages of H’mong and Lao loum people, your guide can introduce you to local people and its great opportunity for you to involving with their daily activities such as wooden cotton spinning, weaving, rice harvesting and green vegetable farms. On your arrival at the Kuang Sy fall, enjoy your short walking on trails of falls to visit the bear rescued centre and enjoy front main waterfalls with spectacular views and surrounding of orchids inside the park and falls cascade over many calcified tiers and down several hundred feet into a series of cool, turquoise pools. Driver back to Luang Prabang.

Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Luang Prabang

Meals: Breakfast 

After breakfast, drive to Vang Vieng, drive passes through splendid scenery and past many panoramic lookout points on the winding mountaintop road.  There are several stops en route to take photos in the scenery. 

Arrive in Vang Vieng and descending the Nam Song by long tail boat leads us through idyllic scenes of rural life: a unique sight with the limestone mountain in the background.

Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel

Accommodation: At the hotel in Vang Vieng

Meals: Breakfast 

After breakfast, heading to Tham Jang cave 172 steps where you can see the spectacular views of the city and the landscape. Then drive to Vientiane.

Arrival in Vientiane and visit Wat Sisaket with its thousands of miniature Buddha statues. Next, visit the huge golden That Luang monument, where all Lao citizen respect as holy pagoda.

End your day by Victory Monument Patuxay, which looks like the Arc de Triumph. This was built at the end of the Indochina wars with money rumored to be American, and earmarked for the airport’s new runway. Thus the departing Americans dubbed this monument the vertical runway! Have a look at the lovely arches inside the monument.

Meals on your own.  Overnight in hotel

Accommodation: At the hotel in Vientiane 

Meals: Breakfast 

Free time until your transfer by our driver to the airport for your international flight.

Accommodation: NA

Meals: Breakfast