THAILAND EXPLORER 8 DAYS

Breakfast at hotel. Thailand has over 26,000 ‘Wats’ or Temples. This tour brings you to the 3 most famous temples in Bangkok.

Wat Traimit (‘Temple of the Golden Buddha’) boasts a statue of Buddha which is made from solid gold. It weighs 5.5 tons and is a fine example of Sukhothai art.

Passing through Chinatown your next stop is Wat Po (‘Temple of the Reclining Buddha’) which is the largest and oldest temple in Bangkok, a great place also for a traditional Thai massage. It is also the seat of Traditional herbal medicine School.

Then continue visit to the The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (the Temple of the Emerald Buddha), these two sites form what many consider the greatest spectacle for visitors to Bangkok. Dating back to 1782 (when Bangkok was founded), the entire compound consists of over 100 brightly colored buildings, golden spires and glittering mosaics. Because of its popularity, this destination is often extremely crowded, but still an essential part of any trip to Bangkok.

Presently, the Grand Palace is used for the occasional ceremony and is no longer the royal home (the present King Bhumibol lives in Chitralada Palace, located in Bangkok's nearby Dusit district). The interiors of most of the buildings in the Grand Palace are closed to the public.

Wat Phra Kaew adjoins the Grand Palace in a common compound and is the home of the country's most famous Buddha statue (also known as the Emerald Buddha). This important figure has a long and interesting history that is tied to the royal family and once resided in nearby Wat Arun. It is relatively small (about 66 centimeters) and is situated in a high position in the Wat to signify its important status in the Thai kingdom. Rest of day, free to walk at your pace, "City of Angels" and discover the charms of one of the oldest cities of Southeast Asia. Take the opportunity to stroll around Sanam Luang, the royal park and venue of many religious events or watch the gorgeous sunset behind the Temple of Dawn, near the Chao Phraya river.

Return to your hotel and free at leisure for your own activities. Overnight in Bangkok.

Breakfast at hotel. The outing begins in Bangkok with an early departure, our first stop is at Bang Pa In, and the former summer residence of the kings of Ayutthaya built in the 18^th century. There we’ll visit the Royal Palace, the Thai pavilion, the Chinese-style Palace Vihat Chamrun with their trimmed bushes in elephant shapes. Continue to Ayutthaya, which used to be the capital of Siam from 1350 to 1767 and visit the most interesting temples like Wat Chaiwathanaram, Wat Phra Srisampetch.

Then, proceeding to Lopburi, to visit the ruins of War Phra Sri Ratana & Phra Prang Sam Yod, a temple with three towers and impressive ornaments then continue on to Phitsanuloke for over night. Overnight in Phisanulok.

Breakfast at hotel. After breakfast, visit to the Chapel Phitsanulok & Wat Phra Sri Ratana Mahathat - is a major city landmark and houses Thailand's most beautiful and significant Buddha image, Phra Buddha Chinnarat.

Proceed to Sukhothai, the first capital (13^th century) of the Thai Kingdom. Old Sukhothai is one of Asia’s most important historical sites and therefore under the supervision of UNESCO. After a visit of the temples Wat Sri Chum, we continue to Sri Satchanalai, the former sister town of Sukhothai for lunch and a visit to some of its most interesting temples and ruins.

We drive further North to Lampang. Overnight in Lam Pang.

Breakfast at hotel. Breakfast at the hotel. Check out and visit the famous temples in Lampang, Wat Phra Dhat Lampang Luang and Wat Phra Keo Don Tao before proceeding to Lamphun to visit Wat Haripoonchai Burmese style temple.

Finally arrive to Chiang Mai. Express check in your hotel and visit to a popular shopping destination, San Kampaeng is also famous for its range of local cottage industries and handicrafts, including authentic Thai silk and cotton weaving. Guests will be able to witness firsthand the skill of these local craftsmen as they consider which products to buy as souvenirs.

Overnight in Chiang Mai

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We suggest 02 options:

Breakfast at hotel. Today, after breakfast, enjoy an amazing sightseeing tour around the famous city for an up-close and personal look at some of its most notable temples, as well as stops at its old city walls, gates and moat, and the local market and Tapae Gate.

Highlight of this trip include Wat Chiang Man, the city’s oldest temple and famed for a Chedi supported by rows of elephantine buttresses; Wat Phrasing home of the beautiful Lai Kham chapel with its exquisite woodcarving and northern style murals; Wat Jedihuang and its enormous Pagoda (which was partially destroyed by an earthquake in 1545); and Wat Suan Dok, which dates back to the 14th century when it served as the pleasure gardens to the Thai monarchy. Nowadays it houses several white Chedis, containing the ashes of Chiang Mai’s former Royal family.

In the afternoon, visit to Doi Suthep and Meo Doi Pui. This tour features a scenic drive through the most historic areas of Chiang Mai to the acclaimed temple Wat Phrathad Doi Suthep, home to a holy relic of the Lord Buddha and considered by many to be the most sacred wat in northern Thailand. Built in A.D. 384 and situated 3,500 feet above sea level, this temple offers an interesting challenge as it contains a flight of over 300 steps to reach its top level. Once on top of the summit, visitors will be treated to a panoramic view of the city before leaving to visit the primitive Meo Hill Tribe village a community known for its unique culture and colorful costumes. The trip to the village will be made by local truck.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Breakfast at hotel. This morning, check out right after breakfast, then straight up to Chiang Rai - the first capital of Lanna Thai (Kingdom of a Million Rice fields).

The Chiang Rai tour takes travelers around Northern Thailand by means of roads that cross over mountains and wind through picturesque valleys. The first stop on this adventure is ‘Wiang Pa Pao’, an area known for its hot springs, followed by a trip to Mae Chan where the villages of the Yao and Akha hill tribes are located.

We will then proceed to Chiang Saen, an ancient city (A.D. 1260) situated opposite Laos on the steep banks of the Mekong River.

Next is a trip to the infamous ‘Golden Triangle’, the area where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet, followed by a local lunch (see supplement). After everyone has eaten, we will make several short visits to primitive villages in the area before proceeding to Mae Sai. This is the northern-most border trading town between Thailand and Myanmar and a place where you can shop for many interesting items from both countries. Free at leisure at hotel.

Overnight in Chiang Rai.

We suggest 02 options:

Breakfast at hotel. Today, after breakfast, check out and transfer to Chiang Rai airport for a flight back to Bangkok - Where you can catch your departure flight.