DAY 1
Depart on your scheduled flight to Bangkok.
DAY 2
Arrive in Bangkok, where you will be met by your Tour Guide and transferred to your hotel for a four night stay.
DAY 3
Enjoy an included morning tour of the Grand Palace and City Temple today, one of the most beautiful examples of the ancient Siamese Court, where the kings of Bangkok resided. Here you will see palaces for all different occasions and the exquisite Emerald Buddha Temple. Exquisite detail is everywhere you turn. Look out for the tiered, Thai-style roofs, towering statues and intricate golden details on walls and pillars. Construction of this stunning set of buildings began in the late 18th-century, and it includes a monastery, royal residence, galleries and court houses. Although some of the buildings are not open to the public, this somehow adds to the intrigue of the place. Continue to visit Wat Pho, home to the incredible reclining Buddha and Chedi of the Kings and Wat Traimit with its Golden Buddha, made from more than five tonnes of solid gold. The afternoon is at leisure. Alternatively, you can go on the optional Thai dinner and dance where you will get to watch dancers in exquisitely crafted traditional costumes, elegantly perform stories from classical Thai literature and folk tales whilst eating Thai cuisine.
DAY 4
Today is at leisure, or you can join the optional full day excursion to the Damnern Saduak Floating Market and Rose Garden. Travelling west of Bangkok, you’ll be taken to the rural floating market of Damnern Saduak and the Phra Pathom Chedi at Nakorn Pathom, the tallest Chedi, or religious mound, in south east Asia. Lunch will be at the famous Rose Gardens, where many aspects of Thai culture are on display, including Thai boxing, folk dancing and monks’ ordination ceremonies, this is a wonderful day spent away from the city.
DAY 5
Today is at leisure, or you can join the optional excursion to the River Kwai. Here you will get to visit Kanchanaburi on the River Kwai, site of the infamous bridge and the start of the ‘Death Railway’. The drive from Bangkok is a fascinating one through rice fields and sugar cane plantations. Pay your respects to the estimated 9,000 Allied soldiers buried in the cemetery who lost their lives whilst building the bridge and railway. This will be an emotional day.
DAY 6
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Chiang Rai located in the most northern province of Thailand. Chiang Rai is home to stunning mountain scenery, ancient settlements and Buddhist shrines. The nomadic hill tribes who live in this region ensure ancient traditions are kept alive.
DAY 7
Our included excursion takes you along narrow, mountain roads, visiting a number of villages on your way to Doi Mae Salong, a settlement founded in the 1960’s by Chinese anti-communist Kuomintang soldiers. From here you will continue to Mae Sai, where you will have an included lunch at a local restaurant, then on to the renowned Golden Triangle, where the Ruak and Mekong Rivers meet. Why not take the optional boat trip along the Mekong River to Chiang Saen, a ruined 13th century city on the banks of the river?
DAY 8
From Chiang Rai, you will drive through splendid mountain scenery and tropical jungle to Chiang Mai – the ‘Rose of the North’, where you will stay for three nights. The historic walled and moated city of Chiang Mai is surrounded by lush mountains.
DAY 9
Included visit to an elephant camp, where you will see a demonstration of working elephants. These mighty animals were a vital part of the King’s army and play a very important role in Thai history. Lunch is included on this excursion.
DAY 10
At leisure to explore Chiang Mai. Take the opportunity to visit the many cottage industries for which Chiang Mai is famous. These include silk, paper, umbrellas, silverware, lacquerware and jewellery.
DAY 11
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Bangkok and return flight to the UK. (If you are flying to Heathrow you will arrive later the same day. If you are flying to Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle or Glasgow, arrival in the UK will be on Day 12).