Impressive Thailand

Overview :THAILAND EXPOSURE HOLIDAY - 14 DAYS

Amazing Thailand adventure holidays; this trip has everything you come to expect of Thailand. Start with the fusion city of Bangkok where east and west culture/ architecture live side by side. Spend two days in elephant conservation center, then on to Chiang Mai for handicrafts and night bazaar. Kanchanaburi with the famous bridge over the River Kwai is your next destination. Stay in and be amazed by the Jungle Raft Resort here. On to Surat Thani and Khao Soke next; home to some of the most scenic rainforest in Thailand. What better end to these great holidays than about three day's beach holidays in Krabi!

Note: Due to possible fuel surcharges, domestic flights are not included in the price and would be quoted for at the time of reservation or inquiry.

Tour itinerary :

Day 1 Arrival in Bangkok

Arrival in Suwanaphumi Airport. Meet and transfer to Asia Hotel Overnight.
Overnight : at Asia Hotel Bangkok or similar  

Day 2 Bangkok - Rattanakosin Old Town

After breakfast, travel to see different places in the old town of Bangkok - the Ratchadamnoen Avenue, Grand Palace & Wat Phrakaew (The Temple of Emerald Buddha), Wat Pho, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, and China Town. Lunch & dinner at local restaurants.

Overnight at Asia Hotel.
Overnight: at Asia Hotel Bangkok or similar   
Meals :  Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Day 3 Bangkok-Canal Tour & Market

After breakfast, canal tour incl. Royal Barge and Wat Arun(The Temple of Dawn).

Then visit Wat Pho (The Reclinng Buddha Temple) and have Thai traditional massage, and end with visiting Pak Klong Talad, the biggest flower market. Take the night train sleeper to Lampang.

Overnight : On train

Day 4 Lampang - Elephant Conservation Center

Arrive Lampang, transfer to the Elephant Conservation Center. Check into Mahout homestay in the mahout village. Activities: study and experience the life of a mahout and his elephant. Activities include participating in mahout's daily life and join in various communal activities. In the morning, they will go into the woods to bring their elephant out, then practice basic riding and giving commands to the elephant and exchange experience with English-speaking staff who are familiar with elephants and mahouts. In the evening, students will return the elephant to the woods. Participants will also cook local foods, dine northern Thai style and listen to local music played by mahouts.

There are many projects at the Elephant Conservation Center:
     - Mahout Training School
     - Consumer Products from Elephant Waste
     - An Education Center for Veterinary Students
     - Elephant Release Project
     - Elephant Hospital
     - Elephant Sperm Bank Research Project
     - Pang La Elephant Nursery Center
     - The Lampang Elephant Art Academy
     - The Thai Elephant Orchestra
Overnight : at homestay   
Meals :  Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Day 5 Lampang - Chiang Mai

After lunch with mahouts, travel to Chiang Mai with stop to visit Rung Arun - Sankampaeng Hotsprings and Muang On Cave. At leisure, swim/hike.

Kantoke Dinner with watching Thai dances. After that visit the Night Bazaar, the biggest handicraft Center in Chiang Mai.

Overnight at The Empress Hotel.
Overnight : at The Empress Chiangmai or similar   
Meals :  Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

DAY 6 Chiang Mai - Long Neck Karent

After breakfast,Meet your private English-speaking guide in the hotel's lobby.Start your full - day excursion to Thaton, north of Chiang Mai.

On the way made a stop at Chiang Dao Cave, then drive on to Thaton, visit Thaton temple where you can be seen a panoramic view of the village, Lunch at local restaurant on the bank of Mae Kok River.After lunch,

continue to the north, approximately 30 minutes to visit the village of Long Neck Karen or Padong, the beauty of women is their long neck. Padong is originated from Shan state, The Union of Myanmar. Also visit Lahu Shi Balah or yellow Lahu, the smallest group of Lahu found in Thailand. Women of this tribe have large ear loops. They are originated from Tibet, China and Akha tribe, the most beautiful women's head wares, decorated with assorted coins, shells, beats feathers and animals for Akha is originated in Kwang Jao and Yunan China.

Return to Chiang Mai in the late afternoon

Overnight : at The Empress Chiangmai  or similar   
Meals :  Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Day 7 Chiang Mai - City Tour

After breakfast, city tour: start with visiting Chiang Mai Arts & Culture Center,where you will know about its history and present situation.

After that drive through many different parts of the Northern capital, passing residential areas, notable foreign establishments, handsome government buildings and shopping at the busy Ton Pa Yom or Som Pet Market where you can buy local products in season.

Drive through Ta Pae, the main street and shopping center, and on to two splendid temples: Wat Chedi Luang (AD 1411), where the Emerald Buddha was once enshrined; Wat Phra Sing (AD 1325), where a 1,500 year Lord Buddha image and fine carvings are to be found.

Overnight : at The Empress Chiangmai  or similar   
Meals :  Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Day 8 Chiang Mai - Bangkok - Kanchanaburi - Jungle Rafts

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport for the morning flight return to Bangkok. On arrival in Bangkok Domestic Airport, travel by van to Kanchanaburi. Drive north to Thong Papoom area. Arrive Hellfire Pass Memorial.

Take a walk downhill to glimpse the death railway remnants and learn the moving story of WWII from the comprehensive exhibition at the museum.

After lunch, return to Kanchanaburi visit the Bridge Over the River Kwai. Then take a long-tailed boat for about 20-30 minutes from pier to get to the Jungle Rafts, passing by unspoiled mountainous jungle scenery.

Check into the Jungle Rafts on arrival. You can swim off the raft and visit a Mon village nearby. Dinner followed by a 45-minutes presentation of Mon Dance and overnight.

Overnight : at River Kwai Jungle Raf or similar   
Meals :  Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Day 9 Bangkok - Lawa Cave - Surat Thani

After breakfast, visit to Lawa Cave, explore the fascinating rock formations inside. Transfer by boat and van to Ratchburi Railway Station. Travel to Surat Thani by the night train sleeper.

Overnight: Train sleeper.   
Meals :  Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Day 10 Surat Thani - Khao Soke

Arrival in Surat Thani Railway Station. Transfer to Khao Soke, check into a nature lodge. At leisure.

After lunch, a half-day hike with guide experienced in the lore and crafts of the jungle. Walk through a rainforest crisscrossed with waterfalls and streams and teeming with thick bamboo, thorny rattan, pandanus and other tropical flora. Plenty of chance to swim in the cool clear waters. Or tubing trip on the river for about 1 hrs. Before excursion to the beautiful view point. After that return to the lodge.

Dinner & overnight at a nature lodge.
Overnight: Nature lodge.   
Meals :  Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner

Day 12 Rafthouse - Krabi

Early morning, take the boat trip to see the beautiful view on the other site of the lake and observe wildlife, which often shows off at the edge of the lake. Following breakfast, the morning is at leisure to swim in the lake. After lunch, transfer to Krabi.

Check into Princeville Resort, located on Ao Nang Beach. Overnight at Princeville Resort. (Superior room)
Overnight : at hotel   

Meals :  Breakfast/Lunch

Day 13 Krabi

At leisure on the beach. Overnight at Princeville Resort (Superior room)
Overnight : at hotel   
Meals :  Breakfast

Day 14  Krabi-Bangkok-Departure

Take leisure on the beach. Take an afternoon flight return to Bangkok and have the connecting flight back home.

Meals :  Breakfast