Three Week Tour of Thailand

• Breakfast at your hotel before early morning departure
• Travel to the region known as ‘The Golden Triangle’, where the countries of Myanmar (Burma), Laos and Thailand all meet
• Stop at the trading post of Mae Sai on the Thailand-Myanmar border
• Search the local market for souvenirs including jade, lacquer and gems
• There is a possibility of travelling for a brief spell into Myanmar, but this takes some time and will incur an extra cost for border crossings and entry visas
• Lunch is on the banks of the mighty Mekong river
• Visit the Hall of Opium and learn about the infamous history of the region
• A long-tail boat will then carry you down the Khong river and sample the rice-whiskey directly from the riverbank distilleries
• With no border control in this region, you are free to set foot in Laos
• You will return to your hotel in Chiang Rai to spend the evening as you wish

• Drive to the delightful town of Doi Mae Salong in the far north of Thailand
• Lunch in Doi Mae Salong
• Excursion to Chiang Dao National Park
• Visit the amazing Chiang Dao Caves with Buddhist statues amongst stalactites and stalagmites
• Return to Doi Mae Salong and sample some of their famous tea in a traditional teahouse
• We recommend that you take dinner in one of the many Chinese restaurants for which the town is renowned

• Breakfast at your hotel before early morning departure
• Early arrival at Mae Taman Elephant Camp
• Option to bathe the elephants (swimwear required)
• Elephant show
• Ox carting from hill tribe village
• Elephant ride through jungle
• Scenic riverside lunch
• Bamboo rafting
• Orchid farm
• Dinner at your hotel

• Breakfast at your hotel
• Travel to the picture-perfect town of Pai, nestling in a stunning mountain valley
• Pai is a lovely little community of markets, live music and guesthouses on the river
• Bathe in the Hot Springs and enjoy an hour-long northern Thai massage
• Take pleasure in the breath-taking sunset views over Pai Canyon
• We recommend that you dine out at one of Pai’s unique Thai/Jewish restaurants and then end your day at one of Pai’s celebrated live music venues

• Journey through miles of unspoiled countryside, along the renowned Mae Hong Son Loop
• The town of Mae Hong Son is home to two of the most spectacular temples in northern Thailand,
  o Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu with its awesome hilltop views
  o and the beautiful Wat Jong Kham on the edge of the lake in town
• Visit the exciting Night Market on the edge of Mae Hong Son Lake and enjoy a delicious Thai dinner in the company of locals
• After dinner, take a romantic stroll around the lake with its illuminated temple reflections

• Today we will breakfast early before we depart for a full-day’s excursion to Doi Inthanon National Park
• Visit the stunning waterfalls of Wachiratharn and Siritharn
• Take in the dramatic views across the park from the King and Queen’s chedis
• Enjoy a hillside Thai lunch
• Travel to the top of Thailand’s highest peak, Doi Inthanon, home of endemic plant and animal species such as the green-tailed sunbird
• Walk the short Angkha summit trail, amongst the lush jungle vegetation
• Those who wish to, may also take in a more strenuous 2-3 hour hike through rainforest, rice fields and hill tribes
• Visit a Karen hill tribe village and a Hmong hill tribe market
• You will then travel to Chiang Mai, where you will stay for three nights

• Today you will visit the most famous temples in and around Chiang Mai
• A short ride out of town brings you to the colourful temple on the mountain, Wat Doi Suthep
• We then see the message trees and underground tunnels of Wat Umong
• City tour of Chiang Mai old town
• Visit the most famous temples of Chiang Mai, Wat Suan Dok and Wat Chedi Luang
• Tonight your package includes a traditional Khantoke dinner with Thai dancing

• Breakfast at your hotel
• Early departure to a local market where you will buy fresh produce for today’s Cookery School
• You will learn how to cook five delicious dishes and will eat these with other cookery students
• Eat, drink and shop on Chiang Mai’s most fashionable street, Th Nimmanhaemin
• Tonight we recommend that you enjoy dinner under the stars at the famous Night Bazaar

• Today we travel south to the elegant former capital of Thailand, Sukhothai
• You will visit the magnificent Sukhothai Historical Park World Heritage Site
• In the morning, your guide will show you around the outlying temples and shrines. You will visit the famous seated speaking
• Buddha, Wat Sri Chum, and Wat Sorasak, the bell-shaped pagoda surrounded by stone elephants.
• After a tasty lunch, you have a choice of afternoon activities; you can explore the expansive site on bicycle, or we can continue through the park by car
• Your hotel is close to the park.
• For dinner, we recommend that you try goo-ay dee-o Sukhothai, the famous, local noodle dish

• Early morning transfer to Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Siam
• Visit the many pavilions and landscaped gardens of Bang Pa-In Summer Palace
• Take a long-tail boat up the Chao Phraya river to Ayutthaya island
• Catch an elephant taxi to the temple ruins of Ayutthaya including the famous three-chedi temple, Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Phra
• Mahatat and the magnificent Wat Ratburana
• Dinner at your guesthouse.

• Today you will travel to Bangkok, the pulsating heart of Thailand
• Your guide will take you on a city tour by sky train, tuk tuk and river express
• See the real Bangkok and enjoy fresh Thai food cooked to order
• Explore the markets of Chinatown
• Shop in the vibrant MBK centre and the ultra-modern Siam Discovery and Paragon malls
• Take a guided tour of the Jim Thompson House, a traditional teak mansion that belonged to the renowned founder of the Thai Silk Company
• Tonight you will dine and dance on an evening cruise through Bangkok along the Chao Phraya river

• Tour of famous Bangkok temples including those of the Reclining Buddha & Emerald Buddha
• Tour of the Royal Palace
• Walk through Amulet Market to Chao Phraya for riverside restaurant lunch
• Tour of Bangkok canals by longboat
• After dinner, the time is yours to enjoy. You may choose to experience the thrills and excitement of Muay Thai (kick boxing), or perhaps take a cocktail on one of the splendid rooftop or riverside bars or maybe visit one of the many live music venues for which the city is famed.

• Free day to relax in Bangkok – After two weeks travelling, we reckon that you deserve it!

This morning you will leave Bangkok early to travel to the world famous Damnoen Saduak floating market
Tour the floating market and the surrounding countryside canals by boat
Step out of the boat and wander through the myriad stalls on the canalside – this is a photographer’s paradise!
Next you will travel to the sleepy, regional town of Phetchaburi and visit the glorious gardens and palaces of Phra Nakhon Khiri. Lunch in Phetchaburi
A short drive brings you to ‘Thailand’s original seaside town’, Hua Hin
Famed for its seafood and night bazaar, we recommend that you dine outside amongst the market stalls

• Free day in Hua Hin
• Hua Hin is Thailand’s royal beach resort and a favourite destination for Bangkok’s inhabitants. There is a glorious white sandy beach that stretches for miles and a lively coastline with many fantastic places to eat. You may choose to lie back and relax, or perhaps hire a bicycle to discover more of the town and its surrounds.

• Transfer to Khao Sok National Park, which at 160 million years old is one of the oldest rainforests on our planet
• We will arrive in Khao Sok National Park late-afternoon and will head straight for your accommodation
• And what accommodation it is, for you will be staying in a floating bungalow right on the edge of the magical Cheow Lan Lake, surrounded by thick, lush vegetation and stunning rock formations
• You will have your own kayak with which to explore the water
• There are toilet facilities, but no shower – you swim in the cool lake if you want to wash!
• Enjoy the sunset over the water, before dining out under the stars

• After an early morning swim you will eat breakfast on the pontoon in front of your floating bungalow.
• Today you will be taken on a tour through the rainforest by a local guide who will tell you about the plants and animals that you see
• Lunch will be eaten out in the open
• Your jungle tour will continue after lunch and will take you past rivers and waterfalls and eventually back to your bungalow where you will be served cold drinks and dinner

• We leave Khao Sok for Surat Thani where we catch a lunchtime ferry to the idyllic island of Koh Samui
• Before you leave the jungle, you may wish to have an early morning swim, or another walk amongst the trees, or simply relax in this unique and unspoiled location

Koh Samui is just the most idyllic, tropical, resort island. With mile upon mile of stunning coastline, thick, lush rainforest in its interior and a plethora of bars, restaurants and street food, it is no wonder that the island is such a coveted and desirable destination. Included in our package is a day’s visit to the stunning archipelago of Ang Thong composed of 42 picture-perfect, jungle clad islets.