Highlights |
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Escorted Package Includes
- Round trip flights LAX-Bangkok▲
Other departure cities available. Click on date of departure for selection and prices.
- Airline fuel surcharges
- Flight Chiang Mai-Bangkok
- 10 nights First Class accommodations
- All transfers
- 11 meals: 10 breakfasts, 1 dinner
- Sightseeing per itinerary in a modern air-conditioned motor coach
- Services of an English-speaking tour manager
- Entrance fees per itinerary
Special Features
- Boat Ride to Golden Triangle
- Maesa Elephant Camp
▲ Flights from the USA may arrive early on DAY 3. Sightseeing commences in the afternoon of Day 3
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Itinerary |
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 DAY 1, Thursday - Depart USA
Depart the USA to Thailand. Your flight includes meals, drinks, and in-flight entertainment for your journey
DAY 2, Friday - Arrive in Bangkok
Arrive and transfer to your hotel in Bangkok.
Overnight: Bangkok
DAY 3, Saturday - Bangkok
Morning at leisure in Bangkok. This afternoon, enjoy a half day city and temples tour, including visits to three of Bangkok's most unusual Buddhist temples: Wat Traimit, Wat Po and Wat Benchamabophit. Visit Wat Traimit (Temple of the Golden Buddha) boasting the world's largest solid-gold Buddha, believed to be cast over nine centuries ago. The seated statue is nearly 10 feet high, weighing 5.5 tons, and carved in the ancient Sukhothai style. Pass through Chinatown to visit Wat Po (Temple of the Reclining Buddha), the largest and oldest temple in Bangkok, before continuing to Wat Benchamabophit (The Marble Temple) to view the "Phra Buddhajinaraja," or Bronze Buddha
Optional: Thai Dinner & Dances
Overnight: Bangkok
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 4, Sunday - Bangkok
Full day at leisure to explore Bangkok independently
Optional: Half Day Damnoen Saduak Floating Market (AM); Half Day Grand Palace & Emerald Buddha (PM); Calypso Cabaret at Asia Hotel
Overnight: Bangkok
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 5, Monday - Phitsanulok
Depart Bangkok for Ayutthaya, the historic capital of Siam. Here you will view the giant bronze statues at Wat Mongkol Borpitr, and continue to view Wat Yai Chai Mongkol, known as the "Great Temple of Auspicious Victory," built by King U-Thong in the late 14th century. Stop briefly at Wat Chai Watthanaram, before continuing to Lopburi and the massive stone sanctuary of Prang Sam Yod. Originally a Hindu temple in the early 14th century, the pagoda is famous for its three sandstone spires (prangs) signifying the sacred trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Proceed to Phitsanulok
Overnight: Phitsanulok
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 6, Tuesday - Phitsanulok, Chiang Rai
This morning, visit Wat Maha Dhat Phitsanulok with its grand Buddha statue, Phra Buddha Jinaraj. Following your visit, depart for Sukhothai, one of Thailand's earliest and most significant historical settlements, where you will visit Wat Maha Dhat Sukhothai. Continue to the historic city of Sri Satchanalai where you will find Wat Phra Si Ratana Maha Dhat. Standing on the site of the ancient Khmer fort "Chalieng," the temple features a massive Principal Buddha Image, ornately constructed in the Sukhothai style
Overnight: Chiang Rai
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 7, Wednesday - Chiang Rai
This morning visit the ancient fortified city of Chiang Saen, the former capital of the first Thai Lanna Kingdom, situated on the banks of the Mekong River. By long-tailed boat, visit the famed Golden Triangle where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar (Burma) converge. Enjoy the remainder of the afternoon at leisure
Overnight: Chiang Rai
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 8, Thursday - Chiang Rai
Morning at leisure. This afternoon, travel to the town of Mae Sai, the northern-most point of Thailand on the border of Myanmar, and visit a jade cutting factory and local market. Return to your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the evening at leisure
Optional: Half Day Boat Trip & Hilltribe Village (AM)
Overnight: Chiang Rai
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 9, Friday - Chiang Mai
This morning depart for Chiang Mai, the largest and foremost cultural city in Northern Thailand. En route, visit handicraft villages to view the spinning and weaving techniques of Thai Silk merchants, Bo-Sang paper umbrella makers, the high-fired stoneware, lacquerware, teakwood carvings, jewelry and silverware of the Celadon Kilns, and a local Jade and Gem Factory. Afternoon at leisure in Chiang Mai
Optional: Kantoke Dinner
Overnight: Chiang Mai
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 10, Saturday - Chiang Mai
Early today travel northwest along the Mae Sa Valley, with its scenic botanical gardens and tiered waterfalls, to visit the Maesa Elephant Training Camp. See the elephants bathing in the running streams or demonstrating their daily feats of skill and strength in a show with music and dance, a soccer match, or an abstract painting demonstration. Even more impressive is the camp's goal to protect the endangered Thai Elephant by controlled breeding, a program which has flourished since 1995. At an additional charge, you may choose to ride on the back of a Thai Elephant, making for a truly memorable experience. Afterwards, visit Sai Nam Phung Orchid Nursery and Butterfly Farm, home to more than 50 species of mountain orchid. Afternoon at leisure. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner at your hotel
Overnight: Chiang Mai
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 11, Sunday - Chiang Mai, Bangkok
Morning at leisure. This afternoon, transfer to the airport for your flight to Bangkok. Arrive and transfer to your hotel
Optional: Half Day Chiang Mai City & Temple (AM)
Overnight: Bangkok
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 12, Monday - Depart for USA
Transfer to the airport in Bangkok for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast
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Optionals |
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Book your Optional Tours before you travel and see more, save time, and save money. Tours purchased while traveling cost at least 10% more! Tours often sell out - avoid disappointment! Save your cash - many countries do not accept credit cards.
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Thai Dinner & Dances
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Day #3 |
01 Apr 2008 - 31 May 2008 $40
01 Jun 2008 - 31 May 2009 $44
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Tonight, enjoy an authentic Thai buffet dinner. Delightfully surrounded by beautiful decoration and set in a rich atmosphere, you'll experience dinner Thai-style, accompanied by classical Thai music and dance (D).
Departs at 7 p.m. Pick up from hotel 15 minutes prior to departure time. Drop off at hotel.
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Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
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Day #4 |
01 Apr 2008 - 31 May 2008 $35
01 Jun 2008 - 31 May 2009 $38
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Depart early this morning to visit the colorful floating market of Damnoen Saduak. On this exciting tour, you'll witness boat-to-boat bartering as hundreds of agricultural vendors float side-by-side in their small rowing boats: buying, selling, or exchanging a variety of farmed goods. The market is at its best in the early morning before the crowds arrive and heat of the day builds up. You may bargain if you'd like, but don't expect to get the price down more than a few baht.
Departs at 7:00 a.m. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to departure time. Pick up and drop off at the hotel.
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Grand Palace & Emerald Buddha
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Day #4 |
01 Apr 2008 - 31 May 2008 $35
01 Jun 2008 - 31 May 2009 $38
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Enjoy an exciting tour of Bangkok's Grand Palace, Thailand's finest and most appealing example of an ancient Siamese court. For centuries, the Grand Palace was used as a royal residence for the Kings of Bangkok and their administrative parties. Here, you'll tour the beautiful courtyards and various palaces within the complex, including the Funeral Palace, the Reception Palace, the Throne Hall, the Coronation Hall, the Royal Guest House, and the Emerald Buddha Temple.
Departs at 1:30 p.m. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to departure time. Pick up and drop off at the hotel.
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Calypso Cabaret at Asia Hotel
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Day #4 |
01 Apr 2008 - 31 May 2008 $48
01 Jun 2008 - 31 May 2009 $52
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This evening, experience the first transvestite impersonation show in Bangkok. Transfer from your hotel to the Asia Hotel, home of the famous Calypso Cabaret. Upon arrival, enjoy a buffet-style dinner and show as over 50 "female" performers act-out various theatrical routines. The dinner and show takes place in a non-smoking, air-conditioned theater, with each performance running about 1 hour and 15 minutes (D).
Departs at 7:00 p.m. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to departure time. Pick up and drop off at the hotel. *The program contains material that may be unsuitable for children.
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Boat Trip & Hilltribe Village
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Day #8 |
01 Apr 2008 - 31 May 2008 $38
01 Jun 2008 - 31 May 2009 $42
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This morning, enjoy an exciting tour into the rural scapes of Chiang Rai. Board a long-tail boat and sail the Kok River to the water shed at Pa Kaew Village. On arrival, visit the Akha Village and discover the daily way of life of the Akha tribesmen and women.
Departs at 8:00 a.m. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to departure time. Pick up and drop off at the hotel.
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Kantoke Dinner
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Day #9 |
01 Apr 2008 - 31 May 2008 $28
01 Jun 2008 - 31 May 2009 $30
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This evening, delight in a Kantoke dinner with traditional dances from Northern Thailand. As guests of this unique event, you will be seated on the floor, as is customary, and enjoy acted scenes depicting the local culture as you dine. After dinner, villagers from various hilltribes will perform an exciting array of cultural dances, including the Fon Lep (Fingers Dance), Sword Dance, Fon Thien (Candle Dance), and Ramwong, in which all guests are invited to participate (D).
Departs at 7:00 p.m. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to departure time. Pick up and drop off at the hotel.
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Chiang Mai City & Temple
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Day #11 |
01 Apr 2008 - 10 Jun 2008 $33
11 Jun 2008 - 31 May 2009 $36
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On this half day Doi Suthep and temples tour, you will visit the most interesting temples in Chiang Mai. Visit Wat Phra Singh with its famous Buddha image, and Wat Suan Dok, where the remains of the Chiang Mai Royal family are enshrined. The tour continues to visit Wat Phrathad Doi Suthep, erected in 1384 A.D. Located 3500 feet above sea level, Wat Phrathad Doi Suthep is Northern Thailand's most sacred temple, containing a holy relic of Lord Buddha and a copper-plated chedi topped by a tiered-gold parasol in its interior cloister. Equally impressive is the mythological Naga (Dragon-headed serpent) staircase, consisting of 290 steps leading up to the temple grounds.
Departs at 8:30 a.m. Please arrive 15 minutes prior to departure time. Pick up and drop off at the hotel.
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Book your Optional Tours before you travel and see more, save time, and save money. Tours purchased while traveling cost at least 10% more! Tours often sell out - avoid disappointment! Save your cash - many countries do not accept credit cards.
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Rates & Hotels |
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What is Airfare Type?
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- Gate 1 Travel Airfare - These are Gate 1 Travel fares which allow you to book your trip while paying a minimal deposit at time of booking.
- Instant Purchase/Published Airfare - These are fares that airlines have published which require payment in full at time of purchase. In some cases, these fares may be displayed as Gate 1 Airfare with Instant Purchase Requirement.
To find the lowest available airfare, select [ANY] and you will get results for both kinds of airfare.
Each of these fare types has its own set of restrictions which cover changes, cancellations, fuel surcharges, etc.
Please refer to our terms and conditions for full details.
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Airfare Type
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