Highlights of Thailand and Jungle Trekking
TOUR 2: HIGHLIGHTS OF THAILAND AND JUNGLE TREKKING T-0002
Weekly tours start every Sunday and Wednesday from Bangkok, Thailand.
This tour will take you through the highlights of Thailand with a start in Bangkok, known as the city of Angels. This large and modern city nevertheless retains its old ways and history, giving the tourist a taste of Thailand’s ancient culture through its numerous temples and other ancient, well preserved, sites.
Leaving Bangkok, we will take you to the famous River Kwai to visit the famous bridge and marvel at the natural beauty of this province. Then to Sukhothai, the first capital of Thailand, to take in the ruins and old temples via a bicycle tour. From here we travel north to Chiang Mai for a taste of Lana culture and to experience a more laid back way of living. While in North Thailand, we will participate in a 3 day jungle trekking tour.
During the tour you will be travelling via air-conditioned minibus. From Bangkok to Sukothai via air- conditioned sprinter train. If the train is fully booked then we will be traveling via a comfortable night bus. From Sukhothai to Chiang Mai we will travel via local bus, and from Chaing Mai to Bangkok via 2nd. Class air-conditioned sleeping train.
Day 1: Arrival in Bangkok and transfer to your hotel and dinner at Baiyoke Suite restaurant.
Arrival in Thailand via Suvarnabhumi Airport where our driver will be waiting for you at the arrival hall holding a sign with your name. He will take you directly to your hotel. The rest of the day you are free to relax and recuperate from your flight. Reservations are made at Baiyoke Suite for your BBQ dinner at 18.30 (Excluding transfers, we will give you a map so that you can take your own taxi.
Day 2: Bangkok The Grand Palace and Canal tour
Bangkok is known as “the Venice of the East”. There are still areas around Bangkok which can only be reached by boat. After breakfast we will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the Chao Phraya River, also known as the ‘River of Kings’. Today you will board a Long Tail boat and, as we leave the dock, you will immediately notice that we have left behind the hectic life of the big city. Here farmers grow exotic fruits such as Mangos, Papaya, Durian and more in the time honored tradition of Thai farming. We will be visiting Wat Arun on the way, The Temple of Dawn, where King Rama 1 made his capitol after fleeing from Ayutthaya.
After Lunch, we will visit Wat Pho (reclining Buddha) and The Grand Palace to visit the most holy and revered Buddha statue in the country, the Emerald Buddha, and experience how the Thai honor and revere Buddha.
*Included in this tour is a delicous, authentic Thai lunch.*
Day 3: Bangkok free day
Today is a free day for you to explore the city. One great option is a cycling tour through Bangkok which enables you can experience a side of the city that is not often seen by tourists. With this tour you get a real feel for daily life in Bangkok.
Day 4: Kanchanaburi
Early in the morning our driver will pick you up at your hotel. Our first stop will be the famous floating market from Damnoen Saduak (in the province Rachaburi) which is approximately 90 kilometers south of Bangkok. To reach the floating market we will take a 30 minute trip by long tail boat along canals and through rice fields. At the market you can experience the wonderful colors and smells.
Then on to Kanchanaburi to visit the world famous bridge, made unforgettable by the movie The Bridge Over The River Kwai”. While here we will visit the cemetery and war museum to get a sense of atrocities committed when the Japanese used prisoners of war to build a railway from Bangkok to Myanmar (Birma). Next is a visit to Wat Tham Krasae, a cave temple which houses many Buddhist and Hindu statues. During the war the Japanese used this cave for their munition storage. Then off to our overnight accommodation where you can relax or go for a swim in the pool. *A delicious dinner is included in your tour.*
Day 5: Kanchanaburi and Hell Fire Pass
After Breakfast your guide will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the Hell Fire Pass. The museum, set up and funded by Australia, has a collection of pictures, paintings and drawings made by the prisoners of war. There is a film to show you the horrible conditions endured by the prisoners of war and forced laborers, and the abuses perpetuated by the Japanese. Your tour guide will lead you into the ravine where you will enter Hell Fire Pass and take in the 1.200 meter long and 5 meter wide passage that was cut through the mountain using only hand and chisel. During the night, this construction site was lit up with oil lamps, this is the reason it is called the Hell Fire Pass. *We will eat our lunch in the area of the train station from Ban Nam Tok.*
After lunch we will embark on a local train and travel to the area of Thakilen. The route through the natural beauty of Kanchanaburi uses the original surviving rail bed from this infamous period of history. One of the highlights of this train journey is when we pass over the famous wooden viaduct on the side of the River Kwai. It is said that the number of men who died building this railway was so great that every sleeper on the railroad represents one life. Around 180.000 people died constructing the railway of whom approximately 12.600 were Prisoners of War.
Back to our hotel where you can enjoy free time at your leisure. *Dinner is not included tonight.*
Day 6: Erawan Waterfalls and the Srinakarin Dam
After breakfast your guide will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the Erawan National Park to visit the most famous waterfalls in the country. The waterfalls have a total of 7 levels you may visit. Take a swim in this area if you wish, the pools of water have numerous algae eaters (small fish) that will attach to your skin and give you a tickling sensation. This is not dangerous and numerous Massage parlors in Bangkok use these fish in their massage services.
After our visit to the Srinakarin Dam, where we will enjoy our lunch, we drive back to our hotel in Bangkok. If we have time left we will stop at Nakorn Pathom to visit the world’s largest Chedi. Overnight in Bangkok.
Day 7: Sukothai
After breakfast our driver will pick you up and drive you to the local train station for your day train to Phitsanulok. The air-conditioned day train takes approximately 4 hours and you will be travelling through one of the most important rice growing regions of Thailand. After arrival in Phitsanulok, our driver will meet you at the train station to transfer you to your hotel in Sukhothai. The rest of the day you are free to relax in the resort.
Day 8: Sukothai
Planned today is a fun cycling tour to check out the area of Sukhothai and the wonderful ruins of this ancient capital.
Our guide will meet you at the hotel around 08.00 to drive you to the village of Ban Khuai, located just outside Sukothai. Here you will pick up your bicycle and, keeping a relaxed tempo, we will bike along small roads and through rice fields with the mountains of Ramkhamhang National Park in the background. We will arrive at the southern gate of Sukhothai Historical Park where you can visit ancient ruins from the 13th and 14th centuries.
Sukhothai is part of the Unesco world heritage sites and your guide will explain the history of this period and the philosophy of Buddhism. While in the park we will enjoy our lunch and then, following canals and cycling through small villages, ride back to our hotel in Sukothai.
Day 9: Chiang Mai
Midmorning we will be taking the local bus to the city of Chiang Mai, also known as the ‘Rose of the North’. The transfer to your hotel is not included in the tour package. The rest of the day is free to enjoy the city.
Day 10: 3-day All Inclusive Jungle Trekking Tour
After an early breakfast we will leave Chiang Mai using local transport to the Samoeng district of Chiang Mai. Our first stop will be at the local market at Mae Rim to pick up some supplies for our trekking tour. Then we drive to our start point and take a 45 minute trek to the village of the Shan hilltribes. After our lunch in this village we will leave for a walk to our next village.
Our next stop is in the village of the Hmong Hilltribe for a rest stop. The Hmong tribe originate from China and are also called the Meo tribe. The traditional clothing for the ladies is very colorful using patch work in the design. The Meo are spread throughout Birma, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand. They have their own language and culture. This hilltribe sells their handicraft at the Night Bazaar in Chiang Mai. After our rest stop we continue through rice fields and mountains to a Karen Village where we will spend the night. Dinner is with a local family in the village. The Karen hilltribes are from Birma and have several off shoots, one of which are the ‘Long Necks’ from Mae Hong Son.
Day 11: Jungle Trek, Elephant Camp and Camping By Waterfall
After breakfast we have a chance to go to an elephant camp and take a tour through the Jungle to a waterfall. After arriving at the waterfall we take a rest to enjoy our lunch. After another hike of about 2 hours, we arrive at a waterfall where we make camp, eat our dinner and enjoy a well earned sleep.
Day 12: Jungle trekking, bamboo rafting and overnight in Chiang Mai
After breakfast we begin a fairly intensive hike of about 2 hours to reach the village of the Shan. The Shan are from Birma where they have been fighting to become an independent state. In the past, one of the most important leaders of this Hill tribe, Khun Shan, dealt in Heroine as a way to raise funds to try to gain freedom and independence for his people.
After our arrival at the village, we will travel via open pick-up truck to our lunch location. After lunch we will take a bamboo raft downriver. The river travels through a beautiful jungle. After about 1 hour we arrive at our landing point where we will make our way back to Chiang Mai.
Day 13: Chiang Mai Free Day
Enjoy a free day to explore this wonderful city. A must is a visit to the famous Night Bazaar and the Old City Walls which surround the Old Inner City. Of course, if you choose, we would be happy to book a tour of the Golden Triangle for you, or perhaps a fantastic Thai cooking class. (exclusive of tour package)
Day 14: Chiang Mai, Doi Suthep and Hand Work Industries
After breakfast, our guide will pick you up at your hotel and drive you up the mountain to Doi Suthep which is located approximately 1300 meters above sea level and is located 16 kilometers from Chiang Mai. Your drive to this Temple will take you along winding roads through spectacular scenery and give you incredible views as you climb the mountain to finally arrive at Doi Suthep, the most important Temple to the Thai of the north and the second most important Temple in all of Thailand.
At the parking lot you will see the stairway protected by Naga: the mythical, 7 headed snake protecting the Temple. To reach the Temple site you are invited to climb the 300 stairs or, there is a modern cable car that will take you quickly to the top. *Tickets are for sale on site and not included in tour package.* Entering the Temple you will be struck by the magnificent and scale of this ancient spiritual site. The Temple grounds offer a spectacular view over Chiang Mai. Returning to the city we will enjoy lunch at San Kampaeng located just outside Chiang Mai. This area is well known for its hand made products such as silk production and weaving, teak wood carving, hand crafted and hand painted umbrellas and more. A must see for visitors to Chiang Mai.
Day 15: Chiang Mai and the Night Train Back to Bangkok
After breakfast enjoy some free time until the transfer from your hotel to the local train station. Here we will board a 2nd class night, airconditioned sleeping train to Bangkok.
Day 16: Bangkok
Upon arrival at the train station, the transfer to your hotel is not included in your tour package.
After checking in there is plenty of time to relax and reflect on your amazing tour through Thailand.
Day 17: Bangkok – Transfer to Suvarnabhumi Airport
Breakfast and free time until our driver picks you up for your transfer to Suvarnabhumi airport and your flight home. Enjoy a safe journey and we hope to see you again!
Note
Most hotels in Thailand have a policy of check in time of 13.00 and check out 12.00
Extension for beach vacation can be added to this tour, please contact us for more details.
If you prefer to fly from Chiang Mai to Bangkok with a transfer we would be happy to make the arrangements for you. The costs are based on availability of the flight, one extra night in Chiang Mai or Bangkok and a refund for not using the train ticket. Contact us for more information if you would like to discuss this option.
Depending on local conditions, weather, road conditions etc., the route or hotels might need to be changed. We reserve the right to make these changes if deemed necessary, in order to ensure the comfort and safety of our guests and staff. The intention of the tour will be maintained and we would do our best to substitute a hotel of the same quality.
Included in the tour
All mentioned meals, entrance fees and transfers as described. Excursions as described are accompanied by a professional, English speaking, tour guide. Transportation by air-conditioned minibus. 2nd class air-conditioned day train, 2nd class air-conditioned day bus and 2nd class air-conditioned night sleeper train. If the train is fully booked, we will take a day bus. Accommodations are in good tourist class hotels with daily breakfast and private bathroom.
Excluded in the tour
Meals, transfers and flights not mentioned in the program. Personal expenses, visa costs, baggage handling and optional excursions. We encourage all of our clients to have travel, medical, cancellation and other insurance in order before traveling to Thailand.