Essence of Thailand

Upon arrival, you will meet the guide and transfer to the hotel. Free at leisure and overnight in Bangkok.

Transfer to visit the Grand Palace complex and it consists of not only royal and throne halls, but also a number of government offices as well as the renowned Temple of the Emerald Buddha. And then visit Wat Phra Kaew. After lunch, take a joint local public ferry crossing the Chao Phraya River. Along the way, stop at Wat Arun and then take a joint local public back to visit Wat Pho, you will also visit the Wat Traimit which is well known as the Golden Buddha. A walk to visit Chinatown before going back to the hotel for relaxing.

Transfer to South west of Bangkok – a green and wet delta area, criss-crossed by canals, highly fertile and full of coconut plantations and fruit orchards. You will enter the Damnoen Saduak floating market by long-tailed boat via a labyrinth of narrow canals through the orchards. After lunch, visit one of the hip markets in the world at Maeklong Railway Market where most stalls are placed on the railway. When the train comes through, all vendors must move, swing their stalls away from trails but return to normal in the short term.

Free time until transfer to the airport to take a flight to Chiang Mai. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel for check-in. In the evening, enjoy Khantoke dinner with a music show by local dancers and singers.

Visit the Mae Taeng Elephant Camp where you will see the demonstration of how the trained elephants are used as work animals in the teak forests including elephant bathing in the river, working in the jungle, dragging and pushing the logs and responding to commands. Then you will ride an elephant for 45 minutes through the jungle, stopping at Lisu village. After lunch, you will take the bamboo raft along the Maetang River and then return to the hotel. On the way, you will stop to visit the orchid & butterfly farm.

Transfer to Chiang Rai. On the way you will visit Wat Rong Khun, known for its famous white temple. Next, visit the famous Golden Triangle, where the borders of three countries meet. Enjoy the boat ride and the panoramic view of the Mekong River. Continue to the town of Mae Sai, the border between Thailand & Myanmar and the northernmost point of Thailand. Enjoy shopping for Myanmar products at the local market and then drive back to Chiang Mai. On the way, you will stop to visit the villages of Akha, Yao and Long Neck.

Visit Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, the most sacred temple containing a holy relic of the Lord Buddha. The temple compound offers a great view of Chiang Mai and surrounding countryside. A visit to Meo village will be made then transfer to the airport for your own departure flight home.