8 Days 7 Nights Classic of Thailand

Place to visit: BANGKOK - CHIANG MAI - CHIANG RAI

DAY 01: ARRIVAL BANGKOK.
Upon arrival at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi airport, transfer to hotel to check in. Overnight in Bangkok

DAY 02: BANKGOK HIGHILIGHTS TOUR. (B/L)

AM: A visit to the Royal Grand Palace, the nation’s landmark and most praised royal monument in Thailand, with the enclosed and dazzling Wat Phra Keo with its revered Emerald Buddha, the Golden Chedi, the Pantheon of the Chakri Kings and the Eight Coloured Towers, is a must. In Thailand by many, it is considered to be a living example of classical Siamese Court, being the former residence of the kings of Thailand.
Then continue to visit Wat Pho, also regarded as the first centre of public education and is sometimes called ‘Thailand’s first university’. Mural paintings, inscriptions, and statues found in the temple-educated people on varied subjects such as literature, warfare, archaeology, astronomy, geology, meditation and to be considered, home of the Thai traditional massage. Here, you will enjoy a 30-minutes’ Thai massage as an excellent break after a morning sightseeing.
PM: experience an afternoon trip along the bustling Chao Phya River and the quiet Klongs (canals) in a long tail boat enjoy scenes of life by water. We bring you to a more traditional way of living, more serene and traditional, away from all the high-rise and modern buildings of Bangkok City Centre, as we gently pass Thonburi residential areas. A stop will be made at the “Temple of Dawn” (officially named Wat Arun).
Finally, a visit to the Flower and vegetable market will round off this day. Located close to the Chao Phraya River, this part of Bangkok brings you to a rural piece of Bangkok where they have a vast selection of all kinds of flowers, especially orchids and tropical flowers and see how the merchants create very special flower garlands. The end of this Bangkok day ends at the Golden Mountain.
Photography is permitted in the Royal Palace Grounds and in the compounds of the Emerald Buddha Temple, but not inside the buildings.
Note: Please dress respectfully by not wearing sleeveless, shorts or sandals, when visiting the Grand Palace and temple complex.

DAY 03: BANGKOK – PHITSANULOKE (B/L)

AM: Depart for Bang-Pa-In to visit the magnificent of Bang-Pa-In Summer Palace. Proceed to Ayutthaya; the old capital of Siamese Kingdom to admire the ancient ruins of Wat Panan Choeng, Wat Yai Chai Mongkol and Wat Chai Wattanaram. Continue to Lopburi. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant in Lopburi.
PM: visit San Phra Karn (the MonkeyTemple) and the Prang Sam Yod (the Three Spire Pagoda), the ancient Hindu Shrine in Khmer style architecture, a landmark of Lopburi Town. Leave Lopburi via the central plain of the kingdom for Phitsanulok. In late afternoon, arrival in Phitsanulok followed by a short visit of Wat Phra Sri Rattana Maha Dhat where houses the fine seated Buddha image “Phra Buddha Chinaraj”. Check in at the hotel and time at leisure. Overnight in Phitsanuloke

DAY 04: PHITSANULOKE – LAMPANG (B/L)

AM: visit the private Ethnic & Folklore Museum at the house of Mr. Thavee Buranakhet (closed on Monday). Transfer to Sukhothai to visit the Sukhothai Historical Park and its compound as well as Wat Sri Chum with its giant seated Buddha image. Depart Sukhothai via Sawankalok for Sri Satchanalai, a sister city of Sukhothai in the past, located by the Yom River. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.
PM: continue to visit Sri Satchanalai Historical Park, a World Cultural Heritage, designated by UNESCO. Afterwards transfer to Lampang.
In late afternoon, arrival in Lampang and followed by a horse carriage ride to visit Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao, one of the most revered Buddhist temples in town. Check in & time at leisure. Overnight in Lam Pang

DAY 05: LAMPANG – CHIANG RAI (B/L)
AM: a short visit will be made to Baan Sao Nak, a Lanna-style wooden house with a lot of wooden pillars and Wat Chedi Sao with twenty cute pagodas. Depart Lampang for Phayao to visit Kwan Phayao, the largest Fresh Water Swamp in Thailand. Also visit Wat Sri Khom Kham, one of the finest Buddhist temples by the Phayao Lake with a large, massive Buddha image.
Depart Phayao for Chiang Rai with an opportunity to visit a colorful pineapple plantation en-route. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant in Chiang Rai.
PM: Enjoy a boat cruise on the Mae Kok River to visit the White Karen Hill tribe before checking in at the hotel.
Overnight in Chiang Rai

DAY 06: CHIANG RAI – CHIANG MAI (B/L)
AM: transfer to Mae Sai, the northernmost town in Thailand, bordering Myanmar. Enjoy strolling, shopping and bargaining at the local market of the town before leaving for the Golden Triangle. Visit the Golden Triangle, where the border of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar converge. Proceed to Chiang Saen to visit the 1st Ancient Empire of the “Tai Tribe” Kingdom by the Mae Khong River, as well as the Chiang Saen Museum and Wat Pa Sak. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.
PM: Leave Chiang Saen for Chiang Mai via Chiang Rai and Wiang Pa Pao with an opportunity to visit the Hot Springs at Mae Kha Chan en-route. In the early evening, arrives in Chiang Mai and check-in at the hotel. Overnight in Chiang Mai

DAY 07: CHIANG MAI (B/L)
AM: depart hotel through the most historic areas of Chiang Mai, including a pass through the old city walls, city gates and moat. The drive continues into Chiang Mai’s tourist attraction area, past the local market, foreign consulates, government buildings and ‘Tapae Gate’ before continuing to the acclaimed temple Wat Phrathat 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 by King Gue-Na in 1383 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 Pui village, a community known for its unique culture and colourful costumes.
PM: Continue the city tour to visit 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 Chedi Luang 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 Chedi’s, containing the ashes of Chiang Mai’s former Royal family. The last temple also houses one of the most famous Monk Schools in the whole of Chiang Mai.

DAY 08: CHIANG MAI DEPARTURE. (B)
Breakfast at hotel,
Transfer to airport for flight departure back home.