DAY 1: BANGKOK – MEKHALA CRUISE (Dinner)

Arrive at Bangkok and Transfer from airport / hotel to pier and board on mekhala cruise at 2pm.

Commencing the cruise from Bangkok by the “Legendary River Cruiser Mekhala”, cruising up the

ChaoPhraya River pass by the Grand Palace and the Temple of Dawn. 

Just after dark the Mekhala dock at Wat Kai Tia, a Thai temple set in a tranquil rural village and an exquisite candlelight dinner of mouth-watering that cuisine is served on the deck and overnight on board.

DAY 2: MEKHALA – AYUTHAYA – NAKORNRATCHASRIMA (Breakfast, Lunch)

Breakfast on board after early morning call.

Optional of Monk offering at Wat Kai Tia early morning (Optional can be arranged and pay on spot

for everyone who would like to do a Buddhism merit style). Depart to Bang-Pa-In.

Disembarking at Bang-Pa-In and meet with our guide to visit the magnificent Summer Palace of King Rama V.  Continue by longtailed speed boats to Ayuthaya, the former capital of Thailand.  Visit the gigantic bronze statues of Wat Mongkol Borpitr,  the three  ancient  pagodas  at  Wat  Phra  Sri Sanpetch and Wat Pranangcherng.  Depart for Korat via Saraburi.  Lunch at a local restaurant in Saraburi.  Continue to Pimai to visit the museum and the magniicent Khmer temples, the “Angkor Wat of Thailand”, supposedly built by King Jayavarman VI in the 11^th century.  Return to Korat and check in at  hotel. Overnight at Korat.

DAY 3: NAKORNRATCHASRIMA – SARABURI – LOPBURI – SUKOTHAI (Breakfast, Lunch)

Breakfast at hotel. We begin our tour today with a visit to village of Daan Kwien, famous for its beautiful earthenware.  Continue to Lopburi via Saraburi.  Visit to Phra Buddha Badh in Saraburi, with its shrine of the holy footprint of Lord Buddha.  Lunch at a local restaurant.  Sightseeing in Lopburi, visit to the museum at Narai Raja Nives Palace, the Prang Sam Yod (Sacred Three spired Pagoda), and the ruin of Wat Phra Sri Ratana Maha Dhat as well as the Monkey Temple.  Proceed to Sukothai and check-in at hotel. Overnight at Sukothai.

DAY 4: SUKOTHAI – SRI SATCHANALAI – LAMPANG (Breakfast, Dinner)

Breakfast at hotel. We visit the famous ruins of this first capital of Thailand (1257-1379).  See  Wat Maha Dhat, Wat Sra Sri and Wat Sri Chum.  Continue to Sri Satchanalai, the northern outpost town of the Kingdom of Sukhothai,built by King Ramkamhaeng. Visit Wat Chang  Lom, Wat Jedi Jet Thaew, Wat Nang Phya and Wat Phra  Sri Ratana Maha Dhat which stands on the  site of the Khmer fort called "Chalieng".   Proceed to Lampang and check-in at hotel. Dinner and overnight at Lampang.

DAY 5: LAMPANG – PHAYAO – GOLDEN TRIANGLE CHIANG SEAN (Breakfast, Lunch)

Breakfast at hotel. Later we drive to Ko Kah to see Wat Phra Dhat Lampang Luang housing the only Emerald Buddha besides the one at Wat Phra Keo in Bangkok.  Depart for Phayao, a unique rural town and once the princely state whose former glory will be seen at Wat Sri Kom Kam.  Proceed to Chiang Rai and lunch at a local restaurant.   Continue to Chiang Saen,  the former capital of the first Thai Kingdom,  situated directly on the Mekong River at the border between Thailand and Laos.  Visit Wat Phra Dhat Jom Kitti by climbing up 383 steps to the top of the hill.   Also visit Wat Chedi Luang and the small museum near by. Continue by longtailed speedboat upriver on the Mekong  towards the Golden Triangle where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos convene. Check-in at hotel. Overnight at Chiang Sean

DAY6: CHIANG SEAN – DOI MAE SALONG – MAE SAI – CHIANG RAI (Breakfast, Lunch)

Breakfast at hotel.Depart from  Chiang Saen  to visit the Lisu Village at  Baan  Mae Kaotom and

continue to Doi Mae Salong passing through  beautiful mountain scenery.  The view from the top

takes in a large part of Thailand, Myanmar and the Mekhong Valley which makes this trip very

worthwhile.  Lunch at Mae Salong Villa in Doi Mae Salong.  Drive to Ban Lorcha, a Phami Akha

hilltribe community center.  This community-based tourism development project promotes

sustainable, self-reliant development to improve the quality of life of villagers of this Akha

Commnuity, and is a model for tourism in Hilltribe villages.  Continue to Mae Sai, the northernmost

Thai town on the  Myanmar border.   Walk around the local market with opportunity for shopping. 

Continue to Chiang Rai.   Check in at hotel and overnight at Chiang Rai.

DAY7: CHIANG RAI – CHIANG MAI (Breakfast, Lunch)

Breakfast at hotel. Depart for Mae Chan and short stop at a ‘Hot Spring’. Proceed to Chiang Mai and lunch at a local restaurant.  Afternoon visit to Handicraft Villages to see the manufacturing of lacquerware, spinning and weaving of Thai Silk and how paper umbrellas are made.  Also visit Thai wood carving factory with possibility to buy Burmese antiques.  Check-in at hotel and overnight at Chiang Mai.

DAY 8: CHIANG MAI (Breakfast, Lunch)

Breakfast at hotel.Visit the Mae Ping Elephant Camp to watch the elephants taking timber in the forest.  Their strength and clever teamwork will amaze you.  Take an one hour elephant riding into the jungle.  Continue to visit the Orchid Farm and lunch.  Afternoon visit Wat Doi Suthep, tucked away in the mountains at an elevation 1,056 meters, the temple is reached by a staircase with 290 steps, flanked by a NAGA balustrade on either side.  The monastery was built by King Gue-Na in 1383.  The center is a big Chedi (spired pagoda) which contains partial relics of Lord Buddha. Return to hotel and overnight at Chiang Mai.

DAY9: CHIANG MAI – BANGKOK (Breakfast)

Breakfast at hotel. Free leisure time till transfer to Chiang Mai Airport.

RATE OF ABOVE ITINERARY: IN USD/Person

SUPPLEMENT OF AIRFARE FOR FLIGHT CHIANG MAI – BANGKOK by TG: $190/pax

Kindly recheck airfare again before book/issue as likely to change

Hotels Used:

Sima Thani Hotel, Nakornrachasima  www.simathani.com

Ananda Musuem Gallery Hotel, Sukothai www.ananda-hotel.com

Lampang River Lodge, Lampang www.lampangriverlodge.com

Imperial Golden Triangle Resort,Chiang Sean www.imperialhotels.com/goldentriangle/

The Legend Chiang Rai Boutique River Resort & Spa, www.thelegend-chiangrai.com

Holiday Inn Chiang Mai Hotel,Chiang Mai www.holidayinnchiangmai.com

Include:

Accommodation in airconditioned room on twin sharing/double basis with daily ABF

Exclusive crew during cruise and services of local English-speaking guide on Mekhala Cruise
Tansfers, entrance fees, and tours by airconditioned car/minibus/coach with English speaking guide (Spanish,French,German,Portuguese, Italian – extra supplement applies)
Service charges, room tax, VAT and baggage handling.

Exclude:

Optional tours
International airfares or Domestic air ticket Chiang Mai-Bangkok and domestic airport tax
Surcharge if any upon booking
Expenditure of a personal nature, such as drinks, souvenirs and laundry etc.
Other tours & meals than mentioned in the program and services not mentioned in above itinerary

Remark:

Above quotation is for group of pax traveling (rate per pax) valid till 31^st Oct 2010

No reservations have been made at this time

Itinerary mentioned above is only tentative and is subject to guests’ flight timings.