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Arrival
Arrive in Bangkok, Thailand.
Overnight in Bangkok. Dinner if required.
Bangkok
The epitome of a modern Asian city, Bangkok is a great introduction to Thai culture, history, art and religion. Here we will have the opportunity to explore the rich treasures within the riverfront temples and palaces and wander through the active markets and streets. Today will start with a boat trip up the Chao Phraya River (River of Kings) to visit the Royal Barges before exploring the remote klongs (canals) of rural Bangkok.
After lunch we visit the National Museum, the largest museum in Southeast Asia. The collection of Thai art and various styles within the different galleries is truly exceptional. As Thailandís capital has previously been Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, you will be brought back to different periods through the assortment of arts and artifacts. The nucleus of the collection was first put on show in 1874 and was organized seriously as a national collection in 1933. The museum is housed in several different buildings, themselves fine examples of Thai architecture.
Overnight in Bangkok. Breakfast and dinner.
Bangkok - Pitsanolok - Sukhothai - Chiang Mai
Today we fly to Pitsanolok, the birthplace of King Naresuan the Great of Ayuthaya (reign: 1590 - 1605), and his brother Prince Ekathosarot. Phitsanulok has long been an important center for political and strategic reasons, and a major center of recruitment when Ayuthaya waged war with Burma. It was the capital of Thailand for 25 years during the 1448-1488 reign of Ayuthayaos King Boromtrailokanat.
On arrival, we are met by our bus and begin our sightseeing, including the monastery of Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, commonly called by the inhabitants as "Wat Yai." This is the most important monastery of Phitsanulok, the home of the famous Phra Buddha Chinnarat. It is located at the foot of Naresuan Bridge on the city side of the river. The monastery was built in the reign of Phra Maha Thamma Racha I (Phraya Lithai) In AD 1357. It houses the Phra Buddha Chinnarat regarded as the most beautiful Buddha image in Thailand. In 1631, King Ekatosarot bestowed some of his gold regalia to be beaten into gold plate and applied them to the image with his own hands.
We continue to Chiang Mai via Sukhothai, where we see Wat Mahatat, dominated by a 14th Century lotus-bud tower and encircled by a moat. Some of the best architectural ornamentation is found in the main tower. We also visit the remains of the Royal Palace. We finish our sightseeing at the Ramkhamhueng National Museum, an excellent introduction to the historic city, including much in the Sukhothai style.
We continue to Chiang Mai, arriving late afternoon.
Overnight in Chiang Mai. Breakfast and dinner.
Chiang Mai
We begin our tour of Chiang Maiís ancient temples and ruins including the famous Phrah That Doi Suthep temple, the landmark of Chiang Mai. Doi Suthep, which dominates the skyline to the west of Chiang Mai, is characterized by the eagles-nest temple of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. This is Northern Thailandís holiest shrine and one of Thailandís most important place of pilgrimage. The white elephant that carried a Buddha relic to Wat Suan Dok is said to have fallen and died on this spot. From the road where jade and ivory factory showrooms do a roaring trade, a 300-step staircase, flanked by a pair of huge nagas leads to the top. We also visit the Hill Tribe Ethnographic Museum.
Our afternoon is free to enjoy this areaís comprehensive selection of Thai crafts, from world famous silk to the impressive lacquerware and woodcarving. This evening after dinner we will enjoy a visit to Chiang Mai's famous Night Bazaar.
Overnight in Chiang Mai. Breakfast and dinner.
Chiang Mai - Trek
The most intriguing aspect of this area of Thailand is the abundance of Hill Tribes, most of which have been living a lifestyle virtually unchanged for centuries. Our trekking is reasonably easy, and can be achieved by most people of reasonable fitness. Generally we trek for about five hours per day, encountering both gradual slopes and hills. We try to keep our Trek to a somewhat free form style as we prefer to modify the speed and difficulty of the Trek according to the needs of the specific group. Sleeping bags are needed for the Trek. The accommodation is "dormitory" style, and is simple but clean. The Trek provides the perfect opportunity to really meet the fascinating people of this area.
After breakfast leave Chiang Mai by pick up truck or jeep for a 3-hour drive through the hills to Pai, stopping on the way at the local market at Mae Taeng. Have lunch by some hot springs in Pai and then continue the drive for another 1 ‡ hour to Lisu village of Ban Namrin. The Lisu tribe is a branch of the Lisu of Tibet who intermarried with the Mongols and who specialist in rice and opium cultivation. Start the safari with 1‡-hour walk to the Karen village of Ban Mae U-Mong.
Overnight in Hill Tribe village. Breakfast and dinner.
Trek
After an early breakfast of hot tea, coffee, toast, pancakes, eggs, fresh juice, we trek through the high mountains for 3 hours to a Red Lahu village for lunch. The Lahu are related to the Lolo of Tibet who migrated through China and Myanmar to settle in Thailand about 50 years ago. After lunch trek for about 3‡ hours through a bamboo forest to a Lisu village.
Overnight in a traditional village. All meals.
Trek
Up with the roosters to the aroma of cooking rice and the welcome sun breaking through mists over the hills. After a hearty mountain breakfast we have a look around the village before continuing by foot through a region of winding streams and bamboo groves.
Before leaving we take a walk around the village, visit the primary school, then start the trek for about 2 hours through the bamboo and chestnut forest to the market at Sup Pong. Lunch at the small Shan settlement nearby. After lunch drive for about 20 minutes to a Lahu village and from there trek for about 1‡ hours to the ìGhost Caveî, Tham Pee Maeng. Trek back downhill for 45 minutes to the Lahu village.
Overnight in a village. All meals.
Trek - Mae Hong Son
After breakfast walk for about 20 minutes on a dirt road to meet the pick-up truck for the short drive to the Pai River for an exciting 2-hour bamboo-raft trip down the river. After this we take another short drive to an elephant camp for a one-hour elephant-back ride through the forest. After lunch we plan to visit a village of the Padong people.
Mid-afternoon drive to Mae Hong Son in Thailand's second northernmost province, sheltered by several high mountains with a cool climate almost all year round. This charming small provincial capital has kept his Burmese influence from the past and is home of numerous interesting Hill Tribe villages. After breakfast we drive to the Pai River and travel by boat through forested countryside with charming views to the Burmese border and return to the Paduang ("Longneck" ) Karen village of refugees from Burma. Originally semi-nomadic farmers in the jungle, they now rely for income from the sale of handicrafts and donations from visitors. The women wear striking clothing and the neck rings from which the name derives. We return by boat and drive to the elephant camp for a ride on elephant back into the forest. After lunch drive to Mae Hong Son for afternoon tour of the temples of Kong Moo, Phra Non, and the twin temples of Jong Klang and Jong Kam.
Overnight Mae Hong Son. All meals.
Mae Hong Son - Chiang Mai - Overnight train
We fly back to Chiang Mai and then take the overnight train to Bangkok.
The Kingdom of Thailand has a very good inter-province connecting rail system. It is a cheap and comfortable way to travel for Thai's and visitors alike, with room to stretch out while you enjoy the passing scenery of small villages, farmland, and old temples.
Overnight train. Breakfast and dinner.
Bangkok
This morning we arrive in Bangkok with the balance of the day free.
Overnight in Bangkok. Breakfast and dinner.
Bangkok - Ayuthaya - Bangkok
Today we travel to Ayuthaya, capital city of Thailand from 1350 to 1767. During this period Thai culture flourished and so did international relations with the Dutch, French, Portuguese, Japanese and Chinese. Ayuthaya is in the middle of the Pasak River and boasts uncountable ancient temples, monuments, ruins and stupas. The Ayuthaya Historical Park is a UNESCO declared World Heritage site. In 1767, the Burnese Army sacked and burnt down Ayuthaya to complete ruins. Although it suffered a great destruction, Ayuthaya is still a very attractive ancient city to visit. A highlights of this trip: The Royal Grand Palace, which was built by King Trilokanart (1448-1488) and was added at later reigns. The royal palace has only its ruined foundations and partial remains of the many great splendid halls and walls.
Other attractions in Ayuthaya that we incorporate as part of our tour are the Bang Pa In-Summer Palace, the famous summer palace of the royal family where different buildings reveal different architectural designs, such as Thai, Italian, and Chinese; and Wat Mahatha. It is said that a holy relic of The Lord Buddha was enshrined here though historians cannot tell who built this temple. It is believed that either the second king or the fourth king of Ayuthaya may have built it.
Overnight in Bangkok. Breakfast and dinner.
Bangkok - Kanachanburi - Bangkok
Kanchanaburi lies in the elevated valley of the Mae Khlong River amidst hills and sugar-cane plantations. It begins at the confluence of two tributaries, the Kwai Noi and the Kwai Yai. The most famous monument of this region is the bridge spanning the Kwai River. We will see this bridge today, a rather sombre reminder of the brutality of World War II. The materials for the bridge were brought from Java by the Imperial Japanese Army during their occupation of Thailand during World War II. It is estimated that 16,000 POW's died while building the Death Railway to Myanmar (Burma), of which the bridge was only a small part. The strategic objective of the railway was to secure an alternative supply route for the Japanese conquest of Burma, and other Asian countries to the west.
The city of Kanchanaburi is surrounded by spectacular scenery. Mountains rise in misty haze along the rivers; waterfalls abound as the jungle stretches away. There are fields of tapioca, tobacco, and sugarcane. We return to Bangkok in the late afternoon.
Overnight in Bangkok. Breakfast and dinner.
Depart
Departure from Bangkok.
Breakfast
