12 Days Classic Thailand Tour

Day 1: Arrival in Bangkok, Airport Transfer and Free Day

Upon your arrival in Bangkok, you will be met by your local guide in the arrivals area of the airport who will be holding a signboard with your name on it. After meet and greet, you will then be transferred from the airport to your hotel in Bangkok. Rest of the day will be at leisure.

• Overnight in Bangkok
• Included Meal(s): No meals are included on this day
• Accommodation: Avani Atrium Bangkok Hotel OR Hotel Clover Asoke OR Lancaster Bangkok or similar (Standard quality)

Day 2: Bangkok

On a half-day morning tour travel by motorboat on the Chao Phraya River and the klongs (canals) to see the serene family homes and temples along the waterways which have given the city the name “Venice of the East”. Along the way, stop at the Temple of Dawn (Wat Arun) before heading to the Grand Palace. Situated close to the Chao Phraya, Bangkok’s River of Kings, visit the Grand Palace, a “must-see” for all visitors to Bangkok. The Grand Palace complex, which includes the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Keow), is unquestionably one of the wonders of the world today. Within its enormous grounds is the most exotic Buddhist temple and at the heart of the temple itself is a fabulous Buddha image, carved from one piece of Jade, which is the holiest and most revered of religious objects in Thailand today. Nearby is the Grand Palace, once the official home for the Kings of Siam – built in traditional Thai architecture mixed with European designs. You can also see the Royal Funeral Hall and the Royal Coronation Hall. You will return to your hotel in Bangkok for the afternoon. Rest of the day is free at your leisure.

• Overnight in Bangkok
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: Avani Atrium Bangkok Hotel OR Hotel Clover Asoke OR Lancaster Bangkok or similar (Standard quality)

Note: Tour does not operate on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays and requires a minimum of 2 adults. Tour starts with pick up between 7:15 – 8:00 am with an actual tour start time of approximately 8:00 am. Tour duration is approximately 4 hours.

Day 3: Bangkok — Ayutthaya (return to Bangkok)

On this full-day tour, you will travel outside of Bangkok to visit the former capital of Thailand, Ayutthaya. You will have a choice of visiting Thailand’s ancient former capital by boat and returning by coach or vise-versa. Located 86 kilometers north of Bangkok Ayutthaya was Thailand’s capital from 1350 to 1767. Once a thriving international commercial centre, but today only the ruins of this splendid city are to be seen as the capital was invaded by the Burmese in 1767. The magnificent ruins of the Palace and temples are quite spectacular and many are still quite intact. From these ruins, you will be able to see how glorious this Ancient Capital used to be. You will visit all the most impressive ruins of this World Heritage Site. The Summer Palace of the late King Rama V, commonly known as “Bang Pa-In” is also included. This tour will take you into a time and place once known as Siam. You will return to your hotel in Bangkok in the late evening.

• Overnight in Bangkok
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Avani Atrium Bangkok Hotel OR Hotel Clover Asoke OR Lancaster Bangkok or similar (Standard quality)

Note: Tour starts with pick up between 6:15 – 7:00 am with an actual tour start time of approximately 8:00 am. Tour duration is approximately 9 hours.

Day 4: Bangkok — Chiang Mai

After breakfast at the hotel, you will meet with your local guide at the scheduled time to be transferred to the airport to take your flight to Chiang Mai. Upon your arrival in Chiang Mai, you will be met by your local guide in the arrivals area of the airport who will be holding a signboard with your name on it. After meet and greet, you will be transferred to your hotel in Chiang Mai. Rest of the day will be at leisure.

• Overnight in Chiang Mai
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: Melia Chiang Mai OR Novotel Journey hub Nimman OR Stay with Nimman Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 5: Chiang Mai – Chiang Rai (return to Chiang Mai)

Today you will enjoy a full-day tour of Chiang Rai and the Golden Triangle with a late evening return to Chiang Mai. Your day will begin with an early morning 3-hour drive through beautiful scenery, with a stop for fresh air at the Hot Springs at Maekajan. At the Golden Triangle, there are magnificent views over the Mae Khong River to the physical triangle made by Burma, Laos and Thailand at the confluence of the Ruak and Mekong River. For an additional small fee, you can also enjoy a boat ride to view the splendour of mighty Mae Khong River. Continue on to Mae Sai, the farther-most northern trading border between Thailand and Burma, where local lunch is provided. Then you will visit the Yao & Akha Hill tribe village in MaeChan. On the return journey back to Chiang Mai, a stop will be made at Wat Rongkhun (White Chapel), a unique temple, designed by Thailand’s most prominent artist, Mr. Chalermchai Kositpipat. You will return to your hotel in Chiang Mai in the late evening.

• Overnight in Chiang Mai
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Melia Chiang Mai OR Novotel Journey hub Nimman OR Stay with Nimman Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Note: Tour starts with pick up between 7:00 – 7:15 am with actual tour start time of approximately 7:15 am. Tour duration is approximately 12 hours with significant hours of drive.

Day 6: Chiang Mai

On a half-day morning tour, you will begin with a 15 km drive up 3,000 feet above sea level to visit the most sacred temple in the north, the Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. This 600-year-old temple is located near the summit of Doi Suthep. After a drive up the mountain’s winding road, the final climb to the site is via enormous mythological Nagas (Dragon-headed serpent) staircase of 306 steps (elevators are available). Inside the cloister is an intriguing copper-plated chedi topped by a five-tier gold parasol, which contains partial relics of Lord Buddha. This temple is a symbol of Chiang Mai. On a clear day, the incomparable panoramic views over the city of Chiang Mai from the temple grounds are spectacular. Located a further 18 km from Wat Doi Suthep into the mountains of Doi Suthep Pui National Park, is a White Meo Hill tribe, a relatively unspoiled hill tribe village where after the visit to Wat Doi Suthep, you’ll appreciate experiencing their simple way of life. You will return to your hotel in Chiang Mai for the afternoon. Rest of the day is free at your leisure.

• Overnight in Chiang Mai
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: Melia Chiang Mai OR Novotel Journey hub Nimman OR Stay with Nimman Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Note: Tour starts with pick up between 7:45 – 8:00 am with actual tour start time of approximately 8:00 am. Tour duration is approximately 4 hours.

Day 7: Chiang Mai

Today you will embark on a full-day tour of Elephant Jungle Trek and River Rafting by driving approximately 60 km north of Chiang Mai to the Elephant Camp. In an unspoiled setting, you can marvel at these colossal beasts of burden performing amazing feats of strength and skill, at the command of their “mahouts”. This is followed by an exhilarating elephant trek through the neighboring jungle, past bamboo trees and hanging creepers upwards towards a remote Lisu hill tribe village. The Lisu hill tribe people originated in Tibet and their villages are usually located in the mountains around 1000 meters. Local lunch will be provided. Next comes the time for your relaxing bamboo raft trip along the River. On return to Chiang Mai, the journey continues by road to an Orchid Farm at Mae Sa displaying a full variety of some of Thailand’s exquisite blooms. You will return to your hotel in Chiang Mai in the evening.

• Overnight in Chiang Mai
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Lunch
• Accommodation: Melia Chiang Mai OR Novotel Journey hub Nimman OR Stay with Nimman Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Note: Tour starts with pick up between 8:00 – 8:30 am with actual tour start time of approximately 8:30 am. Tour duration is approximately 7 hours.

Day 8: Chiang Mai — Phuket

After breakfast at the hotel, you will meet with your local guide at the scheduled time to be transferred to the airport to take your flight to Phuket. Upon your arrival in Phuket you will be met by your local guide in the arrivals area of the airport who will be holding a sign board with your name on it. After meet and greet, you will be transferred to your hotel in Phuket. Rest of the day will be at leisure.

• Overnight in Phuket
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: Melia Chiang Mai OR Novotel Phuket Resort OR Stay with Nimman Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 9: Phuket

On a half-day introduction to Phuket morning tour, you will get an ideal opportunity to familiarize yourself with your holiday island and to take in the island’s natural beauty on a drive along the beach roads through Patong, Karon, Kata and Rawai. For fabulous photo opportunities, there will be a stop at the Karon viewpoint and cultural sites such as the sacred Buddhist temple of Phuket ‘Wat Chalong’. Phuket town offers an interesting mix of architecture including Sino – Portuguese. This town has been the backdrop for many western movies as it is said to be very similar to Indochina. You will return to your hotel in Phuket for the afternoon. Rest of the day is free at your leisure.

• Overnight in Phuket
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: Melia Chiang Mai OR Novotel Phuket Resort OR Stay with Nimman Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Note: Tour starts with pick up between 8:00 – 8:30 am with actual tour start time of approximately 8:30 am. The tour duration is approximately 4 hours.

Day 10: Phuket

On a full-day tour of the Phi Phi Islands by speed boat from Phuket you will enjoy visiting two of the most famous islands in southern Thailand Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Lay and the beautiful surrounding seascapes. It will take just about 1 hour by speedboat to reach Phi Phi Lay; the smaller of the two islands which is home to Maya Bay the famous beach from the Hollywood film “The Beach”. An ample Thai lunch will be served at a beachside restaurant before the rest of the day unfolds when you can stop for great swimming and snorkeling opportunities. You will return to your hotel in Phuket in the evening.

• Overnight in Phuket
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: Melia Chiang Mai OR Novotel Phuket Resort OR Stay with Nimman Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Note: Tour starts with pick up between 8:00 – 8:30 am with actual tour start time of approximately 9:00 am. The tour duration is approximately 8 hours.

Day 11: Free day in Phuket to explore

Today you will have a free day in Phuket which you can use at leisure.

• Overnight in Phuket
• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: Melia Chiang Mai OR Novotel Phuket Resort OR Stay with Nimman Hotel or similar (Standard quality)

Day 12: Departure from Phuket — End of Tour Service

After breakfast at the hotel, you will meet with your local guide at the scheduled time to be transferred to the airport to take your departure flight from Phuket. End of services.

• Included Meal(s): Breakfast
• Accommodation: No accommodation is included on this day.

INCLUDED in the Tour Price:

• All tours per itinerary
• English-speaking guide during the tours
• Domestic flight tickets from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and Chiang Mai to Phuket only.
• 4-star hotel accommodation in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket as per itinerary
• Meals as per itinerary
• Transfer services as per itinerary

NOT INCLUDED:

• International flight tickets
• Flight ticket from Phuket Airport to Bangkok
• Optional tours and Extension Tours
• Boat ride on Mae Khong River (additional small fee to be paid in local currency)
• Swimming and snorkeling gear
• Gratuity
• Visa fees
• Airport departure taxes

IMPORTANT INFO:

• This is a regular shared group tour, but if requested at cost can be provided as a private tour.
• Please be advised that the order /sequence in which the daily tours occur within the above day-by-day package tour itinerary can be subject to change depending on the availability of domestic flight tickets per the itinerary, opening/closing of various historical sites, etc.