THAILAND CENTRAL & NORTHERN HIGHLIGHTS

FROM 2893 pp

11 Days

Our Thailand Central and Northern Highlights starter itinerary is the perfect guide to what these beautiful areas have to explore. From city markets and delicious street food to trekking with tribesman and elephants this package boasts variety and bucket list blend of nature and culture.

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INCLUDED

ACCOMMODATION:

3 star hotels for 11 nights

Treat yourself upgrade to 4* or 5*
MEALS:

Breakfast x 10, Lunch x 7
ACTIVITIES:

Highlights of Bangkok tour, Day trip to Ayutthaya, Bridge over the River Kwai, Erawan Waterfalls Trek, Death Railway, Chiang Mai Temples and Markets tour, Elephant Nature Park visit, Hill-tribes tour, to Myanmar and back again day tour.
TRANSFERS:

PRIVATE ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE TRANSFERS
Included

Accommodation

Flights

Guide

Meals

Transport
Not Included

Guides

Insurance

THAILAND CENTRAL & NORTHERN HIGHLIGHTS

FROM 2893 pp

11 Days

Thailand

ITINERARY

DAY 1: ARRIVAL DAY IN BANGKOK

From the moment you land at Bangkok airport, we will be with you every step of the way on your Central and Northern Highlights Thailand holiday. If this is your first holiday to Thailand, don’t stress. Our driver will be waiting at the arrival gate holding a sign with your name.

DAY 2: HIGHLIGHTS OF BANGKOK

Highlights of Bangkok tour - private guided tour using tuk-tuks, public transport and boats. Your guide will meet you in the lobby at 9 am to start your foray into the exhilarating, ever-changing city of Bangkok. First, we head to the vibrant, heaving streets and laneways of Chinatown, bursting with coffee shops, stalls stacked with fresh fruit, and the gorgeous aroma from the flower markets wafting through the crowd. After wading through the brilliant chaos, we head to Wat Pho - the famous Temple of the Reclining Buddha. It’s now time for lunch at a local restaurant before you board a private long-tail boat to cruise the Chao Praya River and nearby canals. When the boat ride comes to an end, you will visit one of the most photographed spots in Bangkok - Wat Arun, the Temple of the Dawn. A private car will then take you back to your hotel.

DAY 3: DAY TRIP TO AYUTTHAYA

At 7 am, your guide will meet you the hotel lobby to start this cultural tour of Bangkok. Please dress appropriately for this tour, keeping as much skin covered as practical. It is a 2 hour drive to the Ayutthaya province where you will visit Bang-Pa-In, also known as the Summer Palace. Next, it’s time to head over to Wat Maha-That, a restored ruin of a Buddhist monastery. It is perhaps the most famous and most photographed temple in Ayutthaya. The main attraction here is a Buddha’s head implanted in tree roots. From there, you will head to Wat Phra-Si Sanphet, known for its impressive stupas. After a lunch break (included), you will have a chance to take in the views of Ayutthaya from a private long-tail boat, while it cruises around the island. Before heading back to Bangkok you will stop at another famous Ayutthaya attraction, the 42 metre long statue of the Reclining Buddha at Wat Lokaya Sutharram. A private car will take you back to Bangkok in the afternoon.

DAY 4: KANCHANABURI HISTORY TOUR

At 7 am, your guide will meet you in the hotel lobby in preparation for this full day history tour. The drive to Kanchanaburi takes roughly 3 hours. Upon arrival, you will visit the War Museum - dedicated to the history of WWII in Thailand, in particular the events of the Japanese invasion. You will also have a chance to walk on the famous Bridge over the River Kwai. After the tour, you will continue to your hotel for check in, before taking a relaxing boat trip along the River Kwai.

DAY 5: KANCHANABURI NATURE TOUR

At 8 am, your guide will be waiting for you in the hotel lobby in preparation for this half day nature tour. First, we head to the Erawan National Park for a short trek to the Erawan Waterfalls - a stunning 7-tiered waterfall. If the weather is right and the water level at a good level, you can take a tip in the main pool of the waterfall. After lunch in a local restaurant you will board a train for a 1.5 hour ride along the infamous Death Railway passing over the River Kwai. Your guide will provide a detailed explanation of the brutal history of the area. You will then return to your hotel for a free afternoon.

DAY 6: BANGKOK TO CHIANG MAI

Transfer from Kanchanaburi to the airport in Bangkok for the flight to Chiang Mai Flight BKK - CNX You will be transferred from the airport to your hotel.

DAY 7: CHIANG MAI TEMPLES & MARKET TOUR

You will be picked up at your hotel at 9:30 to commence your Chiang Mai Temples and Markets day tour. The first stop is the Buddhist Temple of Wat Phra Singh, which currently houses the Phra Chao Thong Tip - the most revered Buddha statue in Northern Thailand. From Wat Phra Sing you will make your way to Wat Chedi Luang with its giant Chedi. You will then visit a beautiful, ornate wooden temple by the name of Wat Phantao. Next, it’s time to explore the wonders of Chiang Mai’s most popular markets, before stopping for lunch at a local restaurant. The culture trip continues after lunch with a visit to the Bosang umbrella and handicraft village. Chiang Mai’s most famous temple, Wat Doi Suthep, is the final stop on the temple and culture tour. The views from the temple are unparalleled and there is even an opportunity to chant with a monk.

DAY 8: ELEPHANT NATURE PARK

Day visit to the Elephant Nature Park - join-in tour, join-in transfers Your guide will meet you at the hotel at 8 am, ready for full day nature and wildlife excursion. The purpose of the Elephant Nature Park is to provide a sanctuary for elephants to live in a peaceful natural environment. Alongside the elephants, there are also plenty of other animals such as buffaloes, dogs, cats, birds and many other rescued animals. Activities at the nature park include feeding the elephants, observing elephants in their chosen herds, and watching the elephants take a bath in a nearby river. Your personal guide will educate you on the behaviour of the elephants as well as the ongoing conservation efforts. Lunch consists of a buffet with vegetarian Asian and Western dishes, before we say goodbye to the elephants and head back to your hotel around 3:30 pm.

DAY 9: CHIANG RAI SCENIC JOURNEY

Your driver and guide will meet you shortly after checkout at your hotel to start the scenic journey to Chiang Rai. Stops along the way include the Mae Aha Chan hot springs for a dip and the famous White Temple, which was designed to balance the changing modern world and ancient Thai Buddhist Traditions. From there you will learn about Thailand’s cultural diversity by visiting multiple hill-tribes including the Paduang people, better known as Long Neck Karen tribe, and the Lahu Shi Balan people, better known as the Long Ear tribe. We will reach our destination of Chiang Rai in the afternoon where you will check into your hotel in the city centre.

DAY 10: CHIANG RAI TO MYANMAR EXPEDITION

Your guide will meet you in the lobby at 8 am for this full day expedition to Myanmar and back again. You will be driven through green hills to Mae Sai - a town on the border between Thailand and Myanmar. Please pack your passport for this short trip to the Tachilek district of Myanmar. Travelling by rickshaw or tuk-tuk, you will explore local neighbourhoods, markets, and a Shewdagon Pagoda, in an experience to give you a small taste of the various cultures of Myanmar. After a day of sightseeing in Myanmar, you will return to Thailand and visit the Mae Sai Market - a busy area where locals from both Myanmar and Thailand trade homewares, clothes, souvenirs, and food. Next you will visit the Golden Triangle, a point on the map where Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos all meet. Finally, you will take a long-tail boat ride along the Mekong and Ruak Rivers, before heading back to Chiang Rai in the late afternoon.