ITINERARY
 

Day 1: Mar 18 - Bangkok - Pickup
Arrival at Bangkok Airport. Transfer to the hotel, accommodation.
 

Day 2: Mar 19 - Bangkok - Bangkok Tour
After breakfast at the hotel, the guide will pick us up at the reception to head to the Golden Buddha or Wat Traimit in the heart of Chinatown. The Golden Buddha is one of the most important representations of Buddha in Thailand, as it is a 5.5-ton gold statue from the Sukhothai period, which holds incalculable value. We will then continue to the splendid Royal Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Both are located in the same complex where we will start by visiting Wat Phra Kaew, where we will see the Emerald Buddha, made from a single piece of carved jade. Next, we will visit the Royal Palace area, the pride of the Thai people and where the Kings lived until the 19th century. Later, we will visit "Wat Pho" or the Temple of the Reclining Buddha; in addition to the impressive image of Buddha, this temple was the first school of traditional medicine and Thai massage, and is considered the country's first university. We will return to the hotel around 12:00-1:00 PM and have the afternoon free.
*It is important to wear long pants and a t-shirt with sleeves to enter the Grand Palace.

Day 3: Mar 20 - Bangkok - Railway Market and Floating Market - River Kwai
After breakfast, we will depart for the market on the railway tracks or Talad Rom Huup (80 km away). This is a 100% local market where Thais from that province go daily to do their shopping. Six times a day, shopping is interrupted by the train passing through the market. If we are lucky and the train is operating normally, we can see how the vendors dismantle the market in record time to let the old train pass—incredible and surreal! Even if the train does not pass, we can explore the market and its wide range of daily products for local people. Afterward, we will go to the Damnoen Saduak floating market (15 km further), the most famous and touristy in the country and the image of many travel catalogs. There we will take a small boat through its canals while vendors offer us all kinds of souvenirs, fruits, and Thai food.
We will continue to Kanchanaburi (about 100 km more) where we will see the famous Bridge over the River Kwai, the museum, and the World War II cemetery. As surprising as it may seem given the current beauty of the place, during the war thousands of Allied soldiers perished in forced labor under Japanese orders while building the track that was to carry supplies to Burma, from where the Japanese tried to enter India, which at that time was a British colony. Malnutrition, mistreatment, and tropical jungle diseases caused thousands of deaths among the slave workers.

Day 4: Mar 21 - Kanchanaburi - Hellfire Pass - Erawan National Park - Bangkok
We will depart in the morning for what is known as the Hellfire Pass Museum. A mountain pass that Allied prisoners built during World War II, forced by the Imperial Japanese Army. Hundreds of them and Asian prisoners perished during the construction of this pass, which they named Hellfire Pass. They said that at night, when the work continued illuminated by fire torches, the scene looked like hell itself. There we will visit its small museum and go down the stairs to the forest to reach the pass (a 10-15 minute walk through the forest).
Later, we will go to the famous Erawan National Park where we can swim in the beautiful natural turquoise pools created by the river as it passes through the jungle. If we are willing to walk a bit more, we can reach the Erawan Waterfall. We recommend looking for a quiet natural pool where you can swim more privately. We will then head back to Bangkok.
*It is necessary to bring a swimsuit, towel, and a change of clothes for Erawan. Comfortable sandals that can get wet are also recommended.

Day 5: Mar 22 - Bangkok - Flight to Chiang Rai
Transfer to the airport. Flight to Chiang Rai. Pickup at the airport and transfer to the hotel.

Day 6: Mar 23 - Chiang Rai – Wat Huay Pla Kang – Tea Plantation – Golden Triangle – Boat trip on the Mekong River
We will head directly to the Chinese temple of the Big Buddha, Wat Huay Pla Kang, which stands out for its enormous statue of the Bodhisattva Guan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy. Although it is not actually a statue of Buddha, the place has become popular with the erroneous nickname "Big Buddha." Be sure to go up to the highest level of the huge and extravagant 9-story pagoda next to the gigantic statue to enjoy magnificent views of the city of Chiang Rai and its surroundings. We will continue to the tea plantation where we will taste fresh tea directly from its plantation. Then we will go to the Golden Triangle, the place where the Mekong River and the Ruak River meet and separate the borders of Laos, Burma, and Thailand. Historically, the area was world-famous for opium cultivation and trafficking. Today, the people who worked in opium develop other crops thanks to government projects or work in tourism. There we will take a boat trip on the river. Afterward, we will go to the hotel in Chiang Rai.

Day 7: Mar 24 - Chiang Rai – Blue Temple – White Temple – Doi Suthep – Chiang Mai
In the morning, we will visit the white temple Wat Rong Khun. A temple very different from the rest of the Buddhist temples seen in Thailand. Its completely groundbreaking design, the strange figures that decorate it, and its immaculate white representing the purity of Buddha usually awaken the admiration of all who visit it. Construction began in 1997 and still has no clear completion date. We will also visit Wat Rong Suea Ten or the Blue Temple, the new jewel of Chiang Rai. A temple recently finished (in 2016, though it was started in 2005), where the color blue, the color of Dharma, dominates the space. Inside, we will find a large white Buddha image, which is also unusual.
Before arriving in Chiang Mai, we will stop at some hot springs for about 15 minutes to stretch our legs. If we feel like it, we can soak our legs in the hot waters. We will also ascend Mount Doi Suthep, from which we will get great views of the Chiang Mai province and visit the temple at the summit.

Day 8: Mar 25 - Chiang Mai – Doi Inthanon National Park Tour
We will depart for Doi Inthanon National Park, which contains the highest peak in Thailand at 2,565 meters above sea level. Once we enter the park, we will visit the beautiful Wachirathan waterfall, the most famous in the park and the province. Then we will go to the summit in the van where we will visit the 2 huge modern pagodas built in honor of the King and Queen of Thailand. If there is no fog, we will get beautiful views of the national park. We will have lunch (included) stopping at a local Hmong market and go on a 1.5-2h excursion (fairly flat and for all audiences) through the forest passing small waterfalls and rice fields, accompanied by a local guide from a tribal village. We will end at a Karen village where we can have coffee grown in that same area before returning to the hotel.

Day 9: Mar 26 - Chiang Mai – Half day at Kanta Elephant Sanctuary - Visit to the Long Neck Karen village - Lunch at Bai Orchid
Early in the morning, we will head north of Chiang Mai through mountains, forests, and rice fields until we reach the Kanta Elephant Sanctuary (50 minutes). Upon arrival, we will dress as mahouts – elephant caretakers – and get to know the Asian elephants up close. We will feed them in their natural environment and learn about them. Then we will accompany them to the river for their daily bath and, if we want, we will swim with them.
At the end, we will have coffee, tea, and fruit before saying goodbye to the elephants and returning to the Chiang Mai hotel, arriving around 12:00 PM. No riding takes place in this park.
*This excursion can also be done in the afternoon, but this must be requested at the time of booking. By default, it will be in the morning.
The visit is conducted in English and in small groups. It is recommended to wear a swimsuit, bring underwear for changing, sandals, sunscreen, and a hat. And of course, your camera or phone!
After the elephant sanctuary, we will be transferred to the Long Neck Karen village to meet them, followed by lunch at the Bai Orchid restaurant, where we can see a butterfly garden and botanical garden.

Day 10: Mar 27 - Chiang Mai – Flight to Krabi
Transfer to Chiang Mai airport. Flight to Krabi. Pickup at the airport and transfer to the hotel.

Day 11: Mar 28 - Krabi – Free
(Optional) During this excursion, you will enjoy the best corners of Phi Phi (at Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Leh, and its lagoon) and the area—spots whose exact names we cannot reveal to keep them quieter and less known, which will depend on the tides and also the number of tourists present, as we will try to avoid large groups. We will discover semi-secluded beaches and snorkel at the best points in the area. We will have lunch on the sand of one of the beaches we visit. In addition to food, snorkeling equipment, water, fruit, and soft drinks are included.

Day 12: Mar 29 - Krabi – Free day
Free day in Krabi.

Day 13: Mar 30 - Krabi – Transfer to Phuket
Morning road transfer to your hotel in Phuket, a journey of about two hours by road. Arrival in Phuket and check-in at your hotel. Rest of the day free.

Day 14: Mar 31 - Phuket – Free
Free days at your disposal.

Day 15: Apr 01 - Phuket – Departure flight
At the indicated time, transfer to Phuket International Airport to take a flight out of the country.