Bite-size Break Bangkok

Sa-wat dee! Welcome to Bangkok, Thailand. The bustling capital is famous for its tuk tuks, khlong boats and street vendors serving up delicious Thai food. Your adventure begins with a Welcome Meeting at 4pm today. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask the hotel reception where it will take place. After meeting your guide, kick off this Bite-size Break with a ferry ride along the Chao Phraya River to Ratchawong Pier. Hop off and start a food crawl through one of the most dynamic dining destinations in the city – Yaowarat (aka Bangkok's Chinatown). With bright neon signs, a sea of red plastic chairs and precariously balanced street food stalls with smoking cauldrons of stock and sizzling barbeques, Bangkok's Chinatown comes into its own in the evening. Stop past an 80-year-old coffee shop for a traditional Thai-style coffee, then hop from stall to stall, tasting your way through classics such as pork satay, famous fried flat noodles and, of course, pad thai, probably the most famous of all Thai/Chinese fusion dishes. Cleanse your palate with a scoop or two of coconut ice cream, or try khao niew bing, a slightly sweet sticky rice dish, wrapped in banana leaves. Then wash it all down with a refreshing glass of ginseng tea or an icy cold Singha beer. At the end of your feast, stay and explore this vibrant world, or catch a tuk tuk back to the hotel.

Start today with a trip to the ‘wet’ market for typical Bangkok breakfast fare, including khao mun ghai (rice with chicken), khao moo daeng (rice with roast pork) and khanom bueang (Thai crispy pancakes). After breakfast, your leader will guide you around the market, introducing the core ingredients of Thai cuisine as you stroll past stalls selling fresh fruits, vegetables, seafood, meats and spices. Maybe stop to sample noodles, dumplings and sweets if you’re still peeling peckish. Next, hop in a taxi to visit a nearby farming cooperative, where produce is grown without the use of chemicals (approximately 30 minutes). The orchard is on the outskirts of Bangkok and operated by seven farming families according to organic principals. Learn about effective soil management and growing your own food, then pick vegetables from the orchard for a lunchtime cooking demonstration. After enjoying dishes such as fresh noodle rolls, watercress omelette and sweet ivy soup, say goodbye to your hosts and take a taxi back to the city. Your Bite-size Break finishes at approximately 3pm at the hotel. Please advise your booking agent if you wish to book additional accommodation. If you’re staying on in the city, maybe uncover the magnificent Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, wander down the tourist mecca of Khao San Road, or indulge in some Thai massage.