Amazing Thailand

Known as "the land of smiles," taking a trip to Thailand is magical. Temples glisten with gold and colorful porcelain in the sunlight, and boats ply the mighty rivers that flow through this country, the fragrant jasmine scents the air and everywhere you look people smile. On this tour to Amazing Thailand, you will discover bustling Bangkok,  explore magnificent temples, go on an elephant safari, and relax on golden sand beaches.

Day One - In Transit

Overnight flight to Bangkok, the glittering capital city of Thailand.

Day Two - Bangkok- Welcome to Bangkok

Check into our hotel and take time to freshen up before meeting for our welcome dinner. Bangkok's rich cultural heritage, awe-inspiring temples, waterways and canals, bustling street markets, jungles, and golden sand beaches make Thailand simply amazing.

Welcome  Dinner

Day Three -  Bangkok - Canals and Temples

In days gone by, people referred to Bangkok as the Venice of the east, and today after breakfast we will begin our day with a boat cruise on the mighty Chao Phraya River. Visitors will see hidden attractions that dot the canals or khlongs including temples, small neighborhoods, colorful homes, and orchid farms. We may even visit one of Bangkok's floating markets. After lunch, we will take a city tour with visits to Bangkok's Grand Palace, the official residence of the King since 1782 where we will visit Wat Phra Kae to see the Emerald Buddha. Our final stop of the day is the temple of Wat Po, where we will see one of the largest reclining Buddhas in the world completely covered in gold leaf.  Returning to our hotel by boat, we will pass Wat Arun, made of thousands of broken pieces of porcelain. After we freshen up we will meet for dinner.

Day Four - Bangkok - https://www.houseoftastecooking.com/

One of the best ways of understanding this unique culture is to take a cooking class. After breakfast, we will participate in a hands-on Thai cooking class. This class includes a tour of a local market where we will learn about spices and vegetables used in Thai cuisine and a hands-on class where we will make four Thai dishes that we will eat for lunch. This afternoon we will visit the Jim Thompson House, a complex of six traditional Thai-styled houses that were collected from all over Thailand in the 1950s. The house, once owned by Jim Thompson, who made a fortune in silk in the mid-20th century is filled with a beautifully curated collection of objects de art and antiques. The most interesting part of our tour is the discussion on Jim Thompson's mysterious disappearance in 1967 at the height of his career. He went for a walk in the jungle of Malaysia and was never seen again. After dinner tonight, we will take a guided tour of the night markets of Bangkok.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day Five - Bangkok - Phuket Island

After breakfast, we fly to Phuket. Upon arrival, we will take a city tour of Phuket that includes View Point, Big Buddha, Wat Chalong, and Old Town. Afterward, we will check into our hotel, with the rest of the day, plus lunch and dinner on your own. 

Day Six - Phuket Island

Today is a free day to enjoy on the beach soaking up the Thai sunshine. You may also want to book a private boat tour of the Phi Phi Islands or James Bond Island. Lunch and Dinner on your own.

Day Seven - Phuket Island - Chiang Mai

This morning we say goodbye to the tropical paradise of Phuket and fly to Thailand's second-largest city, Chaing Mai nestled in the country's hills. Upon arrival, we will have a city tour including markets, Chaing Mai's Wat Chedi Luang known for having the largest wat in Chaing Mai, Wat Phan Tao known for its intricate wood-carved designs, and Wat Phra Singh with its mosaic-decorated sanctuary on a short walking tour. After checking into our hotel, we will have the rest of the afternoon to explore this ancient city. After dinner tonight, we will have the option to be dropped off at (unless the hotel is within walking distance) Chaing Mai's famous traditional night market.

Breakfast, Dinner

Lunch on own

Day Eight - Chaing Mai -  Elephant Camp & Rafting

After breakfast, we will embark on a one-of-a-kind experience. We will take a scenic drive past local farms and hill tribe villages to the Mae Wang Waterfalls. After cooling off at the falls, we will continue on to an elephant camp located deep in the Thai jungle. We will learn about the care of elephants and the history of the sanctuary. A highlight is to feed elephants bananas and to bathe with them. After lunch, we will take a scenic bamboo rafting trip along the Mae Wang River. Returning to our hotel, dinner is on your own.

Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9 - Hmong Hill Tribe Village

After breakfast, we take a scenic drive into the jungle to visit a Hmong Hill Tribe Village. Along the way, we will stop at a coffee research station to see how they process coffee. Our next stop will be at the Royal Winter Residence which has a beautiful orchid and rose garden. Additional stops will be made at Wat Prathat Doi Suthep and Doi Suthep, two of the most important Lanna temples. Next, we will visit a Hmong Village.  A small museum offers a glimpse into their culture and the market offers Hmong handmade items. Returning to our hotel dinner and the rest of the day are on your own.

Breakfast, Lunch

Day 10 - Chaing Mai  to Bangkok

After breakfast, we say goodbye to Chaing Mai and fly to Bangkok. After checking into our hotel the rest of the day is on your own.

Breakfast

Lunch and Dinner on my own

Day 11 - Bangkok -  Ayutthaya & Rice Barge Cruise

After breakfast, we leave for Bang Pa, the 18th-century summer palace of the kings of Thailand. From here we head to Ayutthaya, which was once the capital of Thailand for over four centuries.  We will have a guided tour of this ancient site that was destroyed by the Burmese in 1767. Today, it is a sprawling ruin of 67-plus temples, monasteries, and chedis. We will also stop at Wat Yai Chai Mongkoi, Wat Mahathat, and Wat Phra Sri Sanphet. Finally, we will board a traditional Thai rice barge for a meal and our cruise back to Bangkok, The rest of the day and dinner is on your own. 

Breakfast and Lunch

Dinner on your own.

Day 12 - Bangkok - Home

After Bangkok, we will head to the airport for our flight home, or you may also choose to take a three-day post-excursion to Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

Breakfast

Cambodia Post Excursion

Day One  - Bangkok- Siem Reap- Tonle Sap Lake

After breakfast will take a flight from Bangkok to Siem Reap, famous for the remarkable Khmer temples built in the 9th century. Lost for centuries in the jungle, these colossal stone temples are some of the most evocative religious sites in the world. After clearing immigration we will meet our local guide for a city tour and lunch on our own in Siem Reap's Old City. Our city tour will include Wat Dam Nak, the old royal palace, and Wat Preah Prom Rath, one of the most beautiful temples in Siem Reap. After our city tour, we will visit the Angkor National Museum, which is a good starting point for understanding the Khmer Empire. Tonight, after we check into our hotel, we will go to Phare, the Cambodian Circus for a one-hour performance that will be followed by our welcome dinner.

Breakfast 

Welcome Dinner

Lunch on own

Day Two - Angkor Wat -Short Circuit

After breakfast, we get an early start to follow the small circuit around the most impressive temples of Angor Wat. We will see the southern and eastern walls, the Hall of a Thousand Gods and climb the main temple for a view that seems to go on forever. Leaving the main temple, we go to Angkor Thom, a collection of temples including Bayon with its 216 smiling faces. Our next stop is Ta Prohm, and our final stop is Banteay Ldei, with its maze of chambers, buddhas, and bas-reliefs. Lunch will be on our own in the park. Returning to our hotel dinner is on your own.

Breakfast

Dinner and Lunch on your own

Day Three - Angkor Wat - Grand Circuit

After breakfast, we will leave for a tour of some of the lesser-known temples. We will visit Prasat Kravan, followed by the monumental pyramidal structure of Pre Rup, followed by East Mebon. Next, we go to Ta Som with its tree-consuming entrance and then we stop off at North Baray Lake to walk the boardwalk to the Neak Pean temple which has a maze of corridors to explore. On our ride back to Siem Reep, if it is before 5:30 p.m. we will have a photo stop at Angkor Wat which is beautiful at this time of day with the sun hitting its golden facade. Returning to our hotel, the rest of the day is yours to enjoy with dinner on your own.

Breakfast and lunch

Dinner on own

Day Four - Siem Reap - U.S.

Today we say goodbye to Siem Reap Cambodia and head for home.