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FULL ITINERARY: DAY ONE. ARRIVAL IN BANGKOK. From the Bangkok International Airport to our centrally located hotel, your taxi will bring you through some of the sprawl of modern Bangkok.Accommodations: FuramaXclusive Hotel 
DAY TWO.
TOUR OF BANGKOK. Sites on
today’s city tour include the Grand Palace, the Emerald Buddha, Temple
of the Reclining Buddha, and the Golden Buddha Temple. Along the route,
you’ll pass through lively markets, see important government
buildings, observe the bustling street scenes, and have an authentic
Thai lunch. That evening, you’ll board a long-tailed boat for a
pre-dinner cruise on the Chao Phray River. Enjoy the canals, temples,
orchards, orchid farms, and vignettes of water-borne life. In the
evening, Bangkok nightlife is very active along Silom Soi 2, a gay
street lined with bars and clubs. DAY THREE. THA KA FLOATING MARKET, CHANG RAI, SOP RUAK, AND THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE. Our day will begin with a drive into the countryside of Bangkok passing through the largest source of salt production in Thailand. Our first stop will be a first-hand lessen in how sugar is made right before your eyes. From there, we will board our private long-tailed boats again and meander our way through the narrow canals of this province passing rural homes and meeting boat vendors along the way. This fascinating way of life stems from ancient times and is practiced still today. Enjoy exotic fruits and choices of Thai handcrafts at the market before dining in traditional Thai style for lunch. We’ll then transfer to the airport and fly from Bangkok to Chang Rai, Thailand’s northern most province and one of the country’s most rural. In this mountainous area, one crop that used to thrive was opium. For centuries, traders used to congregate in the area that became known as the Golden Triangle. Three countries intersect at the confluence of the Mekong and Ruak Rivers. The Mekong River divides Thailand from Laos and the Ruak River divides it from Myanmar. While today opium has been replaced with other crops, the area remains a trading point for Southeast Asia. Our hotel is situated in the village of Sop Ruak
and overlooks the Mekong and Ruak rivers. This hotel offers a
spectacular view of the borders of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand. In the
later afternoon, we’ll take a short boat ride on Mekong River and view
the lush scenery. In the evening take some time to relax in the hotel
pool, have a massage, or sip a cocktail on the terrace. DAY FOUR. CHIANG RAI. After breakfast, we’ll board our junior James Bond boats to visit the border of Don Sound. Then it is on to Mae Sai Borders on Myanmar’s Tha Khi Lek Market. We’ll visit the crossroads town of Chiang Saen
on the banks of the Mekong. Scattered throughout the town are the ruins
of the 14th century Chiang Saen Kingdom. Surviving architecture includes
several stupas, Buddha images, pillars, and earthen city ramparts. DAY FIVE. THE ROUTE TO CHIANG MAI- HILL TRIBE PEOPLE AND RONG KHUN TEMPLE. On the way to Chiang Mai, we’ll stop at the Rong Khun Temple, a modern Buddhist temple built by the contemporary artist Mr. Chalermchai Kositpipat. While walking through this white temple, you’ll marvel at the intricate carvings and elaborate designs. In the late afternoon, we’ll check into the conveniently located Aruntara Hotel. The hotel is in the middle of the city near the Tha Pae Gate and Wat Chom Phu. Wat Chom Phu is the temple with the twin pagodas of Doi Suthep, a 700 year-old structure. Traditionally Chang Mai was a quiet, moated, and
walled city surrounded by mountains with legendary, mystical attributes.
Now, it’s a modern, cosmopolitan city, but it retains much of its
heritage. Highlights are the many temples and the Chiang Mai Night
Bazaar. DAY SIX. MOUNTAIN PEAKS AND WATERFALLS. Doi Inthanon National Park is well-known for its natural scenery and birdlife. Thailand’s highest peak, Doi Inthanon (2590 meters/ 8495 feet), has three impressive waterfalls cascading down its slopes. The mountainous area is often covered in mist. This climate produces orchids, lichens, and mosses. The region is also one of the last habitats of the Asiatic black bear and the Assamese macaque, a rare monkey. Today’s excursion includes a couple hours of easy to moderate level hiking along the Kew Mae Pan nature trail. Evening is back in Chiang Mai The afternoon is reserved for a little goofing
off. Get ready to fly from the tallest treetops and repel to the forest
floor below as we tackle a zip line canopy adventure in the hills above
Chaing Mai. 22 platforms, 2 sky bridges, 3 abseil, 1 spiral stairway,
and a hike to a waterfall will have you begging for your Thai lunch that
follows. DAY SEVEN.
ELEPHANT CAMP AND BAMBOO RAFTING. We
head to the forest to the Elephant Camp, where elephants are trained to
work in the dense jungle. We take a one-hour ride on an elephant through
the forest. Afterward, we’ll take a bamboo raft along the Mae Ping
River. The afternoon and evening is free to explore Chiang Mai at your
leisure. DAY EIGHT. PHRA THAT DOI SUTHEP TEMPLE AND RETURN TO BANGKOK. In the morning we’ll visit the Phra That Doi Suthep Temple, an important temple dating back from 1383. Located near the top of a mountain, the temple has views of Chiang Mai and the valley below. The temple’s gold pagoda contains holy Buddha relics and attracts pilgrims from across Thailand and around the world. In the afternoon, we’ll fly back to Bangkok
where we’ll say our farewells or continue on OutWest Global
Adventures’ “Cambodia: Angkor Wat” tour. MULTI-TRIP
DISCOUNTS. If you book "Thailand" with
"Cambodia," you save $100. |
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