Sawadee and welcome to Thailand during the best time of year to visit! The coolest and driest period and the loveliest, as the Thai people celebrate their favorite festival with small rafts which float their troubles away, and candle-lit balloons arcing skyward! Start our visit with a beach break to decompress after long flights! Umbrella drinks, swimming pools, and sandy beaches start the vacation portion of our tour. Space is limited—please reserve today or call!
Included in your travels:
· Round-trip flights to Thailand from Seattle, SFO, LAX*
*Other gateways by request
· 3 nights 5-star beach resort
· 7 nights 5 star hotels
· Speedboat beach break tour with lunch
· Daily sightseeing included, with no optional tours
· All transfers and tours by bus or luxury vans
· Bangkok dinner cruise
· Elephant camp, longneck village, orchid farm
· Sanctuary of truth, Grand Palace, Doi Suthep Mountain
· Daily breakfast, and most lunches, dinners
· Domestic economy air tickets within Thailand
· Professional licensed guide of Thailand
· Experienced USA Tour Manager
· Caring and professional travel arrangements
PLEASE CONSIDER TRAVEL INSURANCE - Rail & Sail Offers all policies
Day 1— Wednesday Nov 6 — Depart for Bangkok! Make your way to your gateway airport. Check-in, sit back, relax and look forward to umbrella drinks, sandy beaches, and lots of pampering! (In flight meals).
Day 2 — Thursday Nov 7 — Welcome to Thailand! Arrive at Bangkok International Airport. Meet your local guide and tour manager and you are whisked off to your beach resort to put your toes in the sand and an umbrella drink in your hand! (in-flight meals, welcome dinner).
Day 3 — Friday Nov 8 — Speedboat beach break! Enjoy breakfast at our hotel. Today we speed off to a small island with white sand and crystal blue water for an island beach break with lunch. Enjoy a swim or catch up with your Kindle in the shade on your beach recliner. Free afternoon. (Breakfast, beach seafood lunch)
Day 4 –Saturday Nov 9 —Sanctuary of truth Well rested and ready? Let’s start touring and enjoy a visit to the largest teakwood structure in the world. Not a Buddhist temple, but a place of appreciation of all faiths. An amazing experience. Enjoy a local lunch together before an afternoon free for massage or relaxation. In the evening those interested may take a walk together down the infamous “Walking Street” of Thailand red light district. (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Day 5 — Sunday Nov 10 — Take a bite of Bangkok! Depart the beach this morning and arrive in Bangkok for an amazing visit to the American Red Cross and Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute that specializes in the husbandry of venomous snakes, and the extraction and research of snake venom and vaccines. The institute began after a young Thai princess died of rabies. After a lovely buffet lunch, check-in to our hotel and relax until our evening dinner cruise on the glittering Chao Phraya River. (breakfast, lunch, dinner cruise)
Day 6 — Monday Nov 11 — Grand Palace and Canal Tour This morning enjoy a city tour of Bangkok including Chinatown, the Flower Market, and the Grand Palace of Thailand. After lunch, enjoy a guided tour through the waterways and canals of Bangkok by long-tailed boat. (breakfast, lunch)
Day 7 — Tuesday Nov 12 — North to Chiang Mai! A one hour flight north and we are in the “cool green north”! Home of the most beautiful Loy Krathong Festivities. This afternoon enjoy a visit to Doi Suthep Mountain and a funicular ride to the summit and Doi Suthep Temple. (breakfast, local lunch)
Day 8 — Wednesday Nov 13 — Chiang Mai Explorations Enjoy local sightseeing, and in the evening Loy Krathong Festivities with a riverside dinner and our chance to release our own krathong (rafts) and candle-lit balloons to take our troubles away. (breakfast, dinner)
Day 9 — Thursday Nov 14 — Elephant Camp & Longneck Village Enjoy an our morning tour to the elephant camp and demonstration show. Elephant rides available for a fee. Next we visit an authentic hilltribe village with Longneck “Karen” peoples and other local tribes. Beautiful lunch at a local orchid farm. (breakfast, buffet lunch)
Day 10 — Friday Nov 15 — Home Industries & Loy Krathong Festival Today enjoy a visit to local handicraft industries to see northern arts and crafts being made including silk, silver, umbrellas, and lacquerware. In the evening an informal dinner as we enjoy the Loy Krathong festivities and parade. (breakfast, dinner)
Day 11 — Saturday Nov 16 — Free Day, Farewell Home Visit dinner Enjoy a fun and delicious morning at our local cooking school! Learn the favorite dishes and then make them and enjoy them! Afternoon at leisure. Gather in the evening for a home visit and dinner together in a local home with (breakfast, cooking class lunch, home dinner)
Day 12 — Sunday Nov 17 — Farewell Thailand! After another great breakfast it’s time to pack up and head home. Return flights to home cities as scheduled. (breakfast, in-flight meals)
Ready for more? Join us for our extension to Vietnam and our beautiful Ha Long Bay cruise!
¨ Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City
¨ Hanoi
¨ Ha Long Bay Cruise