Thailand Discovery

Upon arrival in Bangkok, you will be met by your local guide in the arrivals area holding a name-board. After a brief introduction, you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Experience a half day tour of Bangkok's key temples including Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha,and Wat Po's Reclining Buddha before a tour of Bangkok's Grand Palace. The Palace occupies nearly one square mile and is the former royal residence of the Chakri Kings and among the most popular of Bangkok’s attractions. Return to the hotel for the afternoon at your leisure and and this evening head to the Sala Rim Naam Restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel to enjoy a Thai dinner with dance performance. On the opposite bank of the Chao Phraya River from The Mandarin Oriental Hotel, a richly decorated traditional Thai pavilion sets the stage for an appreciation of two of the Kingdom's most rewarding cultural experiences, Thai cuisine and classical Thai dance. Tour does not operate on Sundays.

Visit the former capital of Thailand, Ayutthaya, situated approximately 75 kilometres north of Bangkok. The mixing of cultures in Ayutthaya began in the mid-16th century when ships from Ayutthaya plied the Asian seas, trading with neighbouring countries. Although the ancient villages of foreign traders lining the Chao Phraya riverbanks were abandoned, some remnants have survived to showcase the cities past glory. Your tour starts at the Summer Palace of the late King Rama V, commonly known as “Bang Pa-In”. You continue to the magnificent ruins of early splendour that Ayutthaya is most known for. We will pass or visit all the most impressive ruins of this World Heritage Site. We will return to Bangkok on a cruise down the Chao Phraya River on a comfortable, air-conditioned cruise ship, while enjoying a sumptuous buffet lunch on board.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and at the appointed time you will be met and then transferred to the airport for your flight north to Chiang Rai. Upon your arrival in Chiang Rai, you will be met in the arrivals area by your local guide holding a name-board and then transferred to the hotel for check-in. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. 

Visit the Golden Triangle where Thailand, Myanmar (Burma) and Laos meet, then continue to visit Chiang Saen located on the steep banks of the Mekong River. The once-powerful city of Chiang Saen is one of Thailand’s oldest and most historic towns. Founded in the 10th century by Thai commanders as the first independent principality in northern Thailand, Chiang Saen was later destroyed by Khmer forces and re-established by King Mengrai in 1259. It was then abandoned in favour of Chiang Mai but revived in the 14th-century by Mengrai’s grandson, a devout Buddhist who constructed most of the existing stupas and chedis.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then take a scenic drive approximately 3 hours to Chiang Mai where you will check-in for your three nights stay. Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Early this morning, drive to the Kruba Sri Vichai Statue, holy monk of Northern Thailand, to take part in the daily Buddhist ceremony ‘Tak Bat’ or ‘Merit Making’ by giving offerings to monks on their alms-rounds. After Tak Bat, continue to the local market and take a rickshaw to visit Wat Chedi Luang. Afterwards, return to the hotel for breakfast and then depart on a half-day tour to explore the city’s temples and the mountain Doi Suthep Temple.

Meet at the hotel for your full day Elephant Learning excursion at the Elephant Nature Park (group tour). Transportation to/from the park is by shared vehicle. A picturesque drive through agricultural Thai countryside, along Mae Taeng Valley brings you to Elephant Nature Park. You will hear the personal stories of our rescued elephants as told by expert guides. You will learn about the problems elephants face in Southeast Asia, and how the Elephant Nature Park is helping in the treatment, and care of Thailand's dwindling elephant population. After unloading and distributing the fruit treats you will have a chance to feed the elephants from the viewing platform. A sumptuous buffet lunch is included today as well. Walk with the staff to the river along the park for bathing time. After learning how to safely and properly bathe an elephant, plunge right in and help scrub these giants as they splash around. If going into the river is not for you then watch the elephants bathe and play while you stay dry on the sandy shore. Around 5pm it's time for goodbyes to the elephants and to Elephant Nature Park before the hour-long drive back to Chiang Mai where you will be dropped off at your hotel.

Fly to Phuket and transfer to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Stay three nights in Phuket.

This all-day excursion takes visitors to the unique and spectacular seascape of Phang Nga, one of nature’s most unusual and beautiful locations, and the site of the 1974 James Bond film “The Man with the Golden Gun”. From there, guests depart from Laem Sai in a speedy luxury cruiser (shared boat) to enjoy more amazing scenery including the dramatic limestone mountains of Panak Island and Hong Island, before approaching Koh Tapu which has become known as ‘James Bond Island.’ From there, the boat outing continues through the mangrove and silent caves, with cliff faces that seemingly rise majestically straight up from the sea. An afternoon lunch will be served at Koh Pannyi (also known as Sea Gypsy Island) which is built over the water on stilts, before the day concludes take a tour to the dreamy landscape of Koh Khai.

Enjoy the full day at your leisure.

After breakfast at the hotel and at the appointed time you will meet your guide for transportation to the airport.