Wonderful Thailand Package 7 Days

Bangkok

Bangkok is excess in all of its unrestrained glory. Bigger, better, more: the city is insatiable, a monster that feeds on concrete, shopping malls and diesel exhaust. The city demands that you be in the present and in the moment, not necessarily for a religious epiphany, but because the city is self-absorbed and superficial, blissfully free of wrinkle-inducing self-reflection. Smiles and sà·nùk (the Thai word for ‘fun’) are the key passports into Bangkok society. A compliment here, a joke there – the demands of social lubrication in this megalopolis are more akin to a small village than an anonymous city and a necessity for survival.

As Bangkok forcefully kneads out of you all demands for order and predictability, you’ll understand the famous Thai smile. It is the metaphorical brakes on the urban overdrive. Packed into these concrete corridors are religious spectacle, unapologetic consumerism and multi-flavoured hedonism – corrupting and purifying souls within footsteps of each other. A tragicomic confluence of human desires and aspirations best viewed through a detached smile.

Of the famous and infamous attractions, Bangkok’s best feature is its intermingling of opposites. A modern world of affluence orbits around a serene traditional core. Step outside the four-star hotels into a typical Siamese village where taxi drivers knock back energy drinks and upcountry transplants grill chicken on a streetside barbecue. Hop the Skytrain to the glitzy shopping malls where trust-fund babies examine luxury brands as carefully as the housewives inspect produce at the open-air markets. Or appreciate the attempts at enlightenment at the city’s famous temples and doorstep shrines, or simple acts of kindness amid the urban bustle.

You can jump between all of these worlds – wining and hobnobbing at a chic club, eating at a streetside market, getting plucked and pummelled into something more beautiful, or sweating profusely on a long unplanned march. Bangkok is an urban connoisseur’s dream come true.

Chiang Mai   Located more than 700km northwest of Bangkok, Chiang Mai has in excess of 300 temples (121 within the thêtsàbaan or municipal limits) – almost as many as are in Bangkok – a circumstance that makes the old city centre visually striking. Thais idealise their beloved northern capital as a quaint, moated and walled city surrounded by mountains with legendary, mystical attributes. In reality, Chiang Mai is a dynamic and modern city, which has successfully managed to combine its rich history and traditions with its increasingly modern side. However, a result of this rapid development has been the rise in traffic and pollution. Environmentalists are also voicing concerns about development of the verdant and auspicious Doi Suthep mountain (1676m), located to the west of the city, and sometimes referred to as Chiang Mai’s lungs.   Chiang Mai has always had many feathers to its bow with its cultural riches, relative peacefulness, fantastic handicraft shopping, delicious food and proximity to many natural treasures. Changes are afoot however, with the city becoming somewhere to watch in the style stakes. Chic, Thai-style boutique hotels are popping up everywhere, and one look at the trendsetters setting up shop (and bars and restaurants), particularly in the Th Nimmanhaemin area, shows that the city’s identity is changing. Yet, the northern capital still manages to retain the relaxed, temple-sprinkled, cultural capital atmosphere of yore, alongside these new hip happenings. With its many and varied attractions, the days of Chiang Mai just being a quick stop off point before heading to the hills are long gone.   Chiang Rai   The quieter neighbor of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai is a land of outstanding natural beauty, where visitors looking to avoid the hordes can visit remote hill tribes, spot exotic wildlife, and check out the golden triangle, the former center of the world’s opium trade.     Chiang Rai has been inhabited since the 7th century, but it was not until 1262 that King Meng Rai established it as the first capital of the Lanna Kingdom. The capital was later relocated to Chiang Mai and since that time Chiang Rai has lived in the shadow of its neighboring province, though for tourists this is a good thing.   Today, Chiang Rai is a traveler’s paradise, endowed with abundant natural attractions and antiquities. Attractions range from ruins of ancient settlements and Buddhist shrines to magnificent mountain scenery and hill tribe villages. For those interested in the natural side of Chiang Rai, jungle trekking is a magical experience; explore the mountains of the north along various hiking trails, many of which access the villages of diverse hill tribes groups, many of whom maintain their traditional lifestyles.    Chiang Rai town, which tends to be a little more ‘laid back’ than its more popular neighbor, now competes with Chiang Mai as a tourist attraction and is fast becoming a popular escape for tourists wanting to leave their troubles behind.    Chiang Rai, the former capital of the great Lanna Kingdom, is a fascinating province filled with cultural and natural wonders, including the Golden Triangle where Thailand, Laos, and Burma come together; an area that was once the hub of opium production, a trade that had much influence on cultural practices and lifestyles. Chiang Rai had stayed off the tourist radar for many years, its people enjoying very leisurely development and mostly traditional, rural lifestyles. Until this day, entire clans live together in bamboo houses and each village has its own individual character.    Recently tourism has boomed in Chiang Rai, where visitors have come to explore the pristine natural beauty of the countryside and immerse themselves in the indigenous culture, including those of a variety of different hill tribe communities. Fortunately for tourists, Chiang Rai is also a center for community development projects, helping rural villagers develop their attractions without adversely affecting their natural and cultural assets.    + The ancient Sukhothai   The ancient Sukhothai City walls consist of three concentric earthen banks, the in between spaces from which the earth was dug were originally moats. The eastern and western walls are 1,400 meters long and the southern and northern walls are 1,810 meters long. Each of the four walls has a gateway. These are made of laterite. The moats were supplied with water from the nearby Mae Ramphan Canal. Inside the walls are the ruins of 21 different monasteries or other buildings and 4 reservoirs. The art and architecture styles reflect the original Khmer, Mon, Sinhalese and finally Tai influences.

Operation : Daily departure

Duration : 7 days / 6 nights

Tour route : Bangkok – Ayutthaya - Sukhothai - Lampang - Phayao - Chiang Mai - Hmong Hilltribe Lodge - Chiang Rai - Bangkok

Brief description : During this week-long trip you’ll visit Ayutthaya, Lampang, Lamphun, Lopburi, Sukothai, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Travelling by land and water, you'll see ancient pagodas, rivers, handicraft making, cultural shows, an elephant camp and orchid farm, and stay in a Hmong hill-tribe village close to the Burmese border. You'll reach the Golden Triangle, where the borders of Thailand, Burma and Laos convene, before taking a boat trip down the Mekong River. A tour that gives true insight into Northern Thailand's rural spirit, culture and beauty, and its peoples' unique charm and hospitality.

Day 1: Bangkok – Ayutthaya - Sukhothai

Pick up passengers from various major Bangkok hotels. Depart from Bangkok to Ayuthaya, the former capital of Thailand. The principal sights are Wat Pranangcherng, the three ancient pagodas at Wat Phra Srisanpetch and the gigantic bronze statues of Wat Mongkol Borpith. Drive to Chainat for lunch at a local restaurant, then continue Khampheng Phet and visit the historical park. Continue to Sukhothai for dinner and overnight at Ananda Museum Gallery Hotel.

Day 2: Sukhothai - Lampang

After breakfast, visit Sukhothai Historical Park, the Ramkamhaeng Museum and Wat Sri Chum with the gigantic Buddha statue. After lunch at a local restaurant in Sri Satchanalai, continue to Lampang and visit Wat Don Tao, where the Emerald Buddha was once enshrined (the same statue now installed in Bangkok), Wat Pa Fang and Wat Si Rong Muang, two Burmese-style temples with exquisite wood carvings.
Optional tour: Lampang is the only town in Thailand, where horse carriages are still used as a means of transportation. Take a leisurely ride on the colorful horse-drawn carriages along the river. Price per person: 300 baht (minimum 2 persons).
Dinner and overnight at Lampang Riverlodge.

Day 3: Lampang - Phayao - Chiang Rai

After breakfast, depart for Ko Kah to see Wat Phra Dhat Lampang Luang housing the only Emerald Buddha besides the one at Wat Phra Keo in Bangkok. Short stop at the colorful Tung Kwian Market, where handicrafts, fruit, vegetables, live animals and the famous Lampang Ceramics are on sale, then proceed to Lampoon for a visit to the famous Wat Haripoonchai, one of the most sacred monuments in the north. Continue to Chiang Mai and lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit the interesting Hill Tribe Museum (closed on Saturdays and Sundays) and see handicraft manufacturing, where the process of making lacquer-ware, spinning and weaving of Thai Silk and painting of paper umbrellas can be observed. Also visit a famous Thai wood carving factory with the possibility to buy Burmese antiques. Check-in at the Empress Chiang Mai Hotel. Tonight you will savor a traditional Northern Thai style dinner at the ‘Just Khao Soy’ Restaurant. After dinner, take a walk to the famous Chiang Mai Night Market or transfer back to the hotel.

Day 4: Chiang Mai

Visit the most interesting places in Chiang Mai such as Wat Phra Singh with its famous Buddha image, Wat Bupparam and Wat Doi Suthep, tucked away in the mountains at 1,056 meters above sea level. Lunch at a local restaurant. The afternoon is at leisure.
In the evening, enjoy a typical Thai dinner with a presentation of traditional dances from Northern Thailand. Accommodation at The Empress Chiang Mai Hotel. Note: Guests staying at The Empress Chiang Mai on Dec 31, 2005, will join the Gala Dinner held at the hotel instead (compulsory surcharge as per price list).

Day 5: Chiang Mai - Hmong Hilltribe Lodge

After breakfast, depart Chiang Mai to Mae Sa Valley. Visit the elephant camp to watch the elephants at work. Their strength and clever teamwork will amaze you.
Optional: Take a one-hour elephant ride into the jungle surroundings.
Cost per person: If pre-booked & prepaid 600 baht, if paid on spot 800 baht per person.
Continue to an Orchid Farm, lunch at a local restaurant. Proceed to visit the hill-tribe Village at Ban Meo Mae Ki (for group sizes of 7 or more persons, transportation to the Hill tribe village is on pick up trucks or Landrovers). Check in at the Hmong Hilltribe Lodge. The afternoon is at leisure, take a walk through the hill tribe village or rent a bicycle to explore the neighborhood. BBQ dinner at Hmong Hilltribe Lodge followed by presentation of tribal dances and songs. Accommodation at Hmong Hilltribe Lodge.

Day 6: Chiang Rai - Bangkok

After breakfast, depart for Fang and Thatorn. En route, visit to Huay Luek, a Hmong hill-tribe village. After arrival in Thatorn, a small village just a few kilometers away from the Burmese border, lunch is served at Maekok River Village Resort. Depart by long tailed motor boats from Ban Phatai for a three hour journey down the Kok River, passing tiny hill tribe villages consisting of simple bamboo huts among lush vegetation. A stop will be made to visit a Lahu hill tribe village along the way. Arrival in Chiang Rai in the early evening. Check-in at The Legend Resort. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 7: Chiang Rai - Bangkok

After breakfast, visit the Golden Triangle, where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos convene. Boat trip on the Mekong River to Chiang Saen. After lunch at a local restaurant, transfer to Chiang Rai Airport. Depart Chiang Rai by afternoon flight to Bangkok. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel in Bangkok.