Thailand Explorer - Bangkok, Golden Triangle & Chiang Mai (10 days)

Bangkok Arrival

On arrival at BANGKOK Suvarnabhumi Airport. for International Arrivals, on leaving the Customs Area, Please turn to your Right and make your way to the Meeting Area at Exit Door Number 3, (This is well signed) – At the Meeting Area please look for your WANNA TOURS GUIDE, who will be showing your Name on our WANNA TOURS Meeting Board.

Here Your Wanna Tours Guide will commence your Program and transfer to you The Peninsula Hotel Bangkok, where your reservation is for the next 3 Nights and includes Breakfast.

En route to the Hotel, your Guide will give you an introduction to Thailand and your Program.

(Specific aspects of your Sightseeing, etc. can also be discussed with your Guide).

Bangkok’s Grand Palace & Private Boat Trip

This morning we travel by Private Boat through the Klongs (Canals) of Thonburi where we get an insight to why Bangkok was once known as "the Venice of the East", we also call in to see the Royal Barge Museum and Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn).

After lunch at a local restaurant we visit Bangkok's most revered site - The Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha. We can also visit Wat Pho, one of Bangkok's oldest and largest Temple complexes, among the many sites of interest here is the Viharn which is home to a 46 meter Reclining Buddha, before returning to the Hotel.

Bangkok Environs, Floating Market & Jim Thompson’s House

Leaving the Hotel early (around 07.00am) we drive South of Bangkok through the local countryside stopping at Palm Plantations and the unusually located, Rom Hoop (train) Market to Damnoen Saduak, to visit Thailand's most impressive floating market.

Here we travel by small boat around the quiet waterways and the bustle of the main floating market. After looking around the market we drive back to Bangkok, taking lunch at a local restaurant en route.

This afternoon is at your leisure or available for local sightseeing (Again specific aspects of your Sightseeing, etc. can be discussed with your Guide) a possible suggestion would be to see Jim Thompson's House, the classic Thai-style former home of a Pioneer of the Thai Silk Industry (to your interest, as time and energy permits !) before returning to the Hotel.

Fly to Chiangrai – Private River Trip at The Golden Triangle

This morning is at your leisure in the Hotel or available for any local sightseeing (Again specific aspects of your Sightseeing, etc. can be discussed with your Guide).

After checkout, we transfer you to Bangkok Airport for your flight to Chiangrai.

On arrival at CHIANGRAI Airport, we drive North to Chiangsaen to visit the Ruins & Temples of this ancient City.

From here we take a Private boat trip on the Mae Khong River, around the Golden Triangle, before transferring to The Anantara Resort & Spa, Golden Triangle, located overlooking the Golden Triangle.

Your reservation here is for a 3 Nights inclusive Package.

Morning Elephant Program (Part of Anantara Package).

WALKING WITH GIANTS

Accompanying our elephants on foot for their daily free roam offers an intuitive experience. Walk and interact with the

elephants and their mahouts as you meander through the forest and grasslands. Observe how they behave and interact in their natural habitat, hearing enlightening facts from the vet or biologist about how these intelligent creatures think.

Following the elephants at whatever pace they choose illustrates just how much they consume. Matching an enormous appetite with a cheeky, fun loving character, there’s nothing more joyful than watching bath time, whether it’s playing in the mud or wallowing in the pond.

After lunch at the resort, this afternoon we travel to Doi Tung, famous for its mountain Temple with spectacular views, and take a look around the King’s Grandmothers Home (styled as a beautiful Swiss Chalet.) and a walk around the beautiful gardens of this Royal Palace.

Morning Cooking Class at the Resort (Part of Anantara Package)

Learn the delicate art of Thai cuisine, including some distinctly northern specialties. Visit the local market with the chef, learn to choose fresh produce and indigenous ingredients, then spend the morning preparing rustic but delectable curries, soups, appetizers and traditional desserts.

After lunch (that you have prepared), this afternoon we can visit the unique Hall of Opium (minimum “walk through” time 1½-2 hours – and a great educational experience.).

From here we stop at a view point overlooking the picturesque confluence of the Mae Khong and Ruak Rivers on Thailand’s Northern most borders with Laos & Burma before returning to the Resort.

Scenic Drive to Chiangmai

After Breakfast & Check out we drive South through the mountains to Chiangmai, stopping a various different point of interest en route. These can include Bandaam Museum The Black Temple –(which is a cluster of houses that accommodates large and unusual collections of Art & Sculptures by a Thai Famous Artist.- Thawan Duchanee. Wat Rong Khun (the white temple) which is designed and built by another Famous Thai Artist - Chalermchai Kositpipat, also opportunity to visit his associated Art Gallery.

We can also visit a Hill Tribe Village that has Akha, Lahu and Long-Neck Hill Tribes.

(Please note that this is quite a long day travelling - Specific interests & routing etc. can be discussed with your guide, once you are here.)

We should arrive in Chiangmai in the late afternoon and here we transfer to 137 Pillars House Chiangmai, where your reservation here is for the next 3 nights and includes Breakfast

Today we can spend in and around Chiangmai City.

Our Guide and Driver will be available for independent use throughout the day and specific interests, etc. can be discussed with your Guide on arrival.

Some possible suggestions might be:

On the Cultural & Historical side we could visit the Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Centre., as well as some of the Principle Temples inside Chiangmai old moated City, such as -

Wat Phra Singh, Chiangmai City's most important Temple. Constructed in the 14th Century, of particular interests here are some well preserved murals.

Wat Chedi Luang, once home to the Emerald Buddha (Now in the Grand Place in Bangkok) built over 600 years ago, is dominated by it's massive Chedi, which was partially destroyed by an earthquake in the mid 1500's. and Wat Chiang Man, the City's oldest Temple.

Also Chiangmai is Thailand's center for various Local Handicrafts, Craft villages and Shopping.

Among some of the activities we could see are: Silk & Cotton Weaving; Silver working, Teak-wood carving; Laquerware production; Celadon Ceramics; the Earthenware Pottery Village at Muang Khung and a village community producing Sa-paper.

(Again Specific aspects of your Sightseeing, etc. can also be discussed with your Guide and we can visit as much as you wish in the time available!!).

Special early Morning experience

This morning we leave the Resort early (around 06.00am) to arrive early at the foot of Doi Suthep, where we can take part in a local make merit ceremony by giving Alms (some food & drink, etc.) to the local Monks from Wat Sri Soda. This is an amazing and moving site with usually hundreds of Saffron Robed Monks walking out of the Temple.

After this we continue with a drive up to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the most venerated Temple in Chiangmai, situated on the hill-side some 3000 ft. above the City in the Doi Pui National Park.

On the way up the mountain we stop for a short coffee break before visiting The Temple itself (before all the crowds arrive !!).

Here we can climb the 306 stairs, to reach the Temple which encloses a large traditional, "Lanna" style Chedi covered with gold plates (A small mountain Tram is also available if the stairs are too much effort !!) From the Temple Grounds there are also panoramic views over Chiangmai and the surrounding area.

On our descent we return to the Hotel, where the Rest of the afternoon is at your leisure, or available for any local sightseeing (Again specific aspects of your Sightseeing, etc. can be discussed with your Guide)

Meals included: Morning Coffee Break

Chiangmai Departure

After Breakfast & checkout we transfer to Chiangmai Airport for your flight to Bangkok

~~//~~ End of Wanna Tours Services