World Heritage of Thailand (Tour code: 11875)

Welcome to Thailand. A friendly representative will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. You will meet with your tour guide later that evening (6 PM) at the reception area of the hotel for a complete briefing of the days to come.

Start exploring the City of Angel with a stop at China Town, one of the night street food tuk tuks in Bangkok and traditional Chinese architecture. Drive along the road around Ratnakosin Island (Ratchadamnoen Road).

Tonight, you will enjoy a welcome dinner at one of the great restaurants.

Overnight stay at Centre Point Pratunam Hotel or similar.

Bangkok Markets

After breakfast, enjoy a day of sightseeing and activities in lively Bangkok. Visit Wat Pho, a larger-than-life temple complex in the city. This is the home of the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. Wat Pho is among the six officially recognised highest-calibre temples in Thailand, and it's certainly one of the most impressive. Also visit the majestic Grand Palace, which has been the official residence of the kings since the 1700s. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.

Continue to Kanchanaburi and stop en-route at Wat Tham Sua. The temple features an impressive Buddha statue and chedi on top of a hill. The Buddha statue, seated in the posture of giving blessings, is covered with gold mosaic and protected by an unusual shell-like structure. The huge chedi, 69 metres high and 29 metres wide, is hollow. A staircase inside the building leads to the top. Each level has rows of Buddha statues and multiple windows from which photos can be taken of the statue below, set against a backdrop of rice paddies and mountains. There are also footprints of the Buddha and an ancient pond on the hill. Behind the chedi is the Chinese pagoda of the adjacent Wat Tham Khao Noi.

Overnight at Felix River Kwai Resort or similar.

Wat Tham Sua

After breakfast, a representative will meet you at the reception. Join a group and visit the Jeath Museum, the famous "River Kwai Bridge," and the beginning of the "Death Railway." Take a ride on the death railway with the scenic view of Kwai River. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.

Then, visit the Hellfire Pass walking trail and its memorial museum. The construction of the Hellfire Pass during the Second World War was a tragedy. Thousands of allied prisoners of war were forced to work long hours and under the most horrendous conditions. The excavation of the cutting was 75 metres long and 25 metres deep. Return to your hotel.

Overnight stay at Felix River Kwai Resort or similar.

Kwai River

After breakfast, continue to Ayutthaya. In 1991, part of Ayutthaya Historical Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site under criteria III as an excellent witness to the period of development of a true national Thai art. The inscribed area covered only 289 ha of the central and southwestern parts of Ayutthaya Island; as a result, only certain groups of historical sites are under UNESCO protection. We will visit Mahathat temple, Phra Sri Sanphet temple, and Wiharn Phra Mongkhon Bopit. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.

Then, check in at your hotel in Ayutthaya. late afternoon, drive to visit the Ayutthaya night market. There are a variety of goods and foods on the street. You will learn the Thai way of life and enjoy food on your own.

Overnight at the Classic Kameo Hotel or similar

Ayutthaya Historical Park

After breakfast, depart from Ayutthaya and stop en route at Phra Prang Sam Yot. The "Temple of Three Prangs" is regarded as Lopburi's chief landmark. Built as a Hindu monument, the prangs of the laterite-sandstone structure are said to represent the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. During the reign of King Narai, it was converted to a Buddhist temple, and some ruined Lopburi period Buddhas remain as evidence of this. Visit King Narai’s Palace, officially named Phra Narai Ratchaniwet, the former palace of Ayutthaya King Narai. The ruins of the palace, locally known as Wang Narai, are located in the old centre of Lopburi town. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.

Continue to Sukhothai via Phitsanulok and visit Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, known among the locals as "Wat Yai,"  which was founded in 1357. The temple is very famous because of its golden Buddha image, called Phra Phuttha Chinnarat, which is considered by some Thais to be the most beautiful Buddha image in the country. Arrive at Sukhothai and check in at the hotel.

Overnight stay at Legendha Sukhothai or similar.

King Narai's Palace

After breakfast, join in a visit to the Sukhothai Historical Park, where the city walls form a rectangle about 2 km east-west by 1.6 km north-south. There are 193 ruins on 70 square kilometres of land. There is a gate in the centre of each wall. Inside are the remains of the royal palace and twenty-six temples, the largest being Wat Mahathat. The park is maintained by the Fine Arts Department of Thailand with help from UNESCO, which has declared it a World Heritage Site. Each year, the park welcomes thousands of visitors who marvel at the ancient Buddha figures, palace buildings, and ruined temples. The park is easily toured by bicycle (optional, extra cost) or even on foot. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.

Overnight stay at Legendha Sukhothai or similar.

Sukhothai Historical Park

After breakfast and checking out of your hotel, continue driving up north to visit the ancient city of Si Satchanalai. Located in the village of Phra Prang, Si Satchanalai, formerly known as "the town," changed its name. "Si Satchanalai" during the reign of the royal throne to the Sukhothai throne, and a new city was built as the centre of the city. Within the park, it's amazing with all the ancient sites and artifacts—215 of them and 204 discoveries. Each of them has the value of an ancient past.

Drive towards Chiang Mai. Stop en route for lunch. Then, visit Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, a paradigm of temple building in Lanna. The temple itself is prominently sited on a hillock surrounded by walls. The temple also has a large collection of ancient wooden utensils. Then take a horse carriage. a memorable and romantic experience, typical of Lampang, which is the only Thai city where horse-drawn carriages are still in use.

Overnight stay at Movenpick Suriwongse Hotel Chiang Mai or similar.

Lampang Luang temple

After breakfast, travel to the Elephant Nature Park. Learn about the various projects dedicated to rehabilitating and protecting elephants and other animals. There are many viewing platforms around the park that will get you up close with these wonderful creatures, and you can even help out with feeding them. Speaking of food, a banquet-style lunch is also included with the visit.

Spend most of the day at the park before travelling to Chiang Mai; freshen up at the hotel, then head out for a street food tour in the evening. Hidden down the back alleys of the city’s old town district, you will sample dishes like khao man gai and khao kha moo from many local shops unknown to the tourist eye. Chat with street food vendors who have been serving the same dishes for more than 20 years and understand the influences that Isan and Shan cultures have had on Northern Thailand’s culinary scene. Your local guide will also suggest many other places you can eat during your time in Chiang Mai.

Overnight at Movenpick Suriwongse Hotel Chiang Mai or similar.

Asian elephants

After breakfast, join in a visit to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the landmark of Chiang Mai. From the temple, impressive views of downtown Chiang Mai can be seen. Continue to visit Wat Chedi Luang. The construction of the temple started in the 14th century. In the early 1990s, the chedi was reconstructed, financed by UNESCO and the Japanese government. However, the result is somewhat controversial, as some claim the new elements are in Central Thai style, not Lanna style. For the 600th anniversary of the chedi in 1995, a copy of the Emerald Buddha made from black jade was placed in the reconstructed eastern niche. The icon is officially named Phra Phut Chaloem Sirirat but is commonly known as Phra Yok.

Then, drive to visit Wat Phra Singh. Wat Phra Singh is located in the western part of the old city centre of Chiang Mai, which is contained within the city walls and moat. The main entrance is guarded by Singhs (lions). Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. Return to your hotel and relax for a few hours before leaving for Khum Kan Tok for dinner. Experience Lanna dining with "Khantoke" or "Toke," a round rattan tray serving various kinds of authentic northern Thai dishes and national Thai food. As you enjoy the tasty food, you will be entertained by spectacular and fabulous classical dances from northern Thailand and from around the nation.

Overnight stay at Movenpick Suriwongse Hotel Chiang Mai or similar.

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Have breakfast at the hotel and spend the remainder of the morning at leisure until you check out. A transfer back to the airport is included.

Chiang Mai City