Essential Thailand

Itinerary

1. Day 01

   BANGKOK ARRIVAL (B)
   Welcome to Bangkok! Upon arrival, pick up by our local guide for transfer to the hotel. At leisure in the rest of the day. Overnight in Bangkok.  Note - Check-in time is 3:00 p.m. - Depending on your arrival time, the program will be adjusted accordingly.  
2. Day 02

   BANGKOK – CITY TOUR (B)
   Breakfast. Today we will take a half-day tour of the city. We will start by visiting Wat Traimit, located at the edge of Chinatown on Yaowarat Road, near Hualampong Train Station. Wat Traimit houses the world's largest solid gold Buddha, measuring almost five meters high and weighing five and a half tons. The tour will continue to Wat Pho, the largest temple in Bangkok, located behind the Temple of the Buddha. Here you will find the enormous reclining Buddha and the Chedis of the Kings. It is one of the largest temples in the city, famous for its gigantic reclining Buddha, which is 46 meters long and covered in gold. We will also visit the Grand Palace, one of the city's most famous monuments. Built in 1782, it served for 150 years as the home of the King of Thailand, the royal court, and the administrative headquarters of the government. Within the complex is Wat Phra Kaew – ‘the Temple of the Emerald Buddha’ (officially Wat Phra Sri Rattana Satsadaram) – considered the most important Buddhist temple in Thailand and home to the country's most revered Buddha image, meticulously carved from a single block of jade. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Bangkok. 
3. Day 03

   BANGKOK – AYUTTHAYA – ANG THONG - PHITSANULOK (B/L)
   Breakfast. Departure for Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Siam and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will visit some of its temples and the remains of ancient palaces and understand why, between the 14th and 18th centuries, it was considered one of the most spectacular cities in the world. Walking through the ruins of this ancient civilization is like traveling back in time, when in its golden years, more than 400 temples made up the city. Next, we will head to the city of Ang Thong to visit Wat Muang Temple, famous for housing the largest seated Buddha statue in Thailand and the ninth largest in the world at almost 100 meters high. We will have lunch along the way. Continuing north, we will witness the change in the landscape, which becomes increasingly lush and green, giving way to the jungle landscapes of the north of the country. We will arrive in Phitsanulok in the afternoon, a town located in the heart of Thailand and considered one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage centers in the country. Overnight in Phitsanulok.
4. Day 04

   PHITSANULOK – SUKHOTHAI – CHIANG RAI (B/L)
   At dawn, for those who wish to do so, we will set out to witness one of the most important rituals in Buddhist culture: the morning offering to the monks. Every morning, the monks walk in procession through the streets, completely barefoot and in silence, to collect food offerings from those who wait each day, standing or kneeling, for their blessing.  After breakfast, we will depart for the Sukhothai Archaeological Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the incredible beauty of its temples and ruins surrounded by vegetation and because it is a testament to several centuries of prosperity of Thai civilization, which built monumental cities and sophisticated constructions. We will visit some of its temples, impressive Buddha statues, centuries-old trees, and ruins surrounded by nature. Once this visit is over, we will head to Chiang Rai, crossing the province of Lampang, enjoying the wonderful landscape and views of Lake Prayao. We will have lunch en route. Arrival in Chiang Rai in the afternoon, the former capital of the Lanna Kingdom and known for its peaceful tea and coffee fields and curious temples. Overnight in Chiang Rai.   
5. Day 05

   CHIANG RAI – GOLDEN TRIANGEL – CHIANG MAI (B/L)
   Breakfast. Today we will visit the famous Mekong River area, known as the “Golden Triangle”, because it encompasses areas of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar and because for hundreds of years it was the most important commercial center for opium cultivation. Today, this route represents the beauty and history of these three countries. We will learn about culture and history at the Opium Museum and enjoy panoramic views of the Mekong River and neighboring countries from the Golden Triangle viewpoint. From there, we will head to the innovative Wat Rong Suea Ten or Blue Temple. Built over an ancient temple by the local architect who also participated in the construction of the White Temple, it surprises with its striking color, with its two large Nagas or mythological figures guarding the entrance, its blue mosaics and statues, and a large white Buddha. The next stop will be at the spectacular and contemporary Wat Rong Khun, or White Temple. This temple breaks with traditional norms and stands out for its originality in every detail. The color white represents purity and the crystal represents the wisdom of Buddha. It is an unfinished work, and construction is expected to continue for several more decades, as it is a complex project and every detail is full of meaning. We will have lunch en route. In the afternoon, arrival in Chiang Mai. Overnight in Chiang Mai. 
6. Day 06

   CHIANG MAI (B/L)
   Breakfast. Transfer to Eco Valley, where we will have the opportunity to spend a wonderful morning in a natural setting and learn a little more about the life of elephants through its museum (the only one in the country dedicated exclusively to elephant culture), the preparation of their food with a variety of fruits, vegetables, and sugar cane, and discover one of the center's most interesting projects, the production of recycled paper made from elephant dung. During the visit, we will be able to walk alongside the elephants through the center's majestic gardens and, when we reach the waterfall, we will witness how the elephants enjoy playing with the water and we will even be able to accompany them for a refreshing bath. Once we have said goodbye to our new friends, we will visit the enclave where multiple tribes of different ethnic groups from the country coexist, among which the striking Long Neck Women stand out. We will have lunch and visit an orchid plantation where we will witness the unparalleled beauty of this beautiful floral species. In the afternoon, we will climb the mountain to the well-known Doi Suthep Temple, an important Buddhist pilgrimage center at the top of the mountain of the same name. The legend of its origin, its beautiful panoramic views of the city of Chiang Mai, and its spiritual significance have made it a sacred and mythical place for Thais. Transfer back to the hotel. Overnight in Chiang Mai. 
7. Day 07

   CHIANG MAI – DEPARTURE (B)
   Breakfast. Check out at 11:00 a.m. Free time until transfer to the airport for your flight back home. End of services.  Note -    The regular check-out time is 11:00 noon.

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