ROCS Guided Holidays Amazing Thailand including Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phuket

Amazing Thailand incl Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai & Phuket Visiting: Bangkok, Ratchaburi, Ayutthaya, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phuket

€ 2949pp 15 DAY GUIDED TOUR FROM

06-20 SEP 2024

DAY 1 - MALTA – BANGKOK Meet your Tour Manager at Malta International Airport for your flight to Bangkok. DAY 2 - BANGKOK Upon arrival transfer to your 5* The Landmark Bangkok Hotel. Check in and spend the rest of the day at leisure. DAY 3 - BANGKOK Breakfast and today visit the landmarks of Bangkok, including Thailand’s most revered Buddha image, residing in Wat Phra Kaew and the magnificent grandeur of the golden famous Reclining Buddha. The tour also includes the Grand Palace, where you can visit the main sites, including the magnificent throne halls and the emerald Buddha. Walk to one of the oldest temples in Bangkok: Wat Pho (or the temple of the Reclining Buddha). The famous reclining Buddha, constructed in 1932, is enshrined in this temple. The 46-metre long and 15-metre-high gold-plated Reclining Buddha, with eyes and feet inlaid with mother of-pearl brings, to mind the Lord Buddha’s entry into Nirvana. Wat Pho was also the first centre of public education in the Kingdom. Nowadays, it is an important centre for the teaching and administering of traditional Thai massage. Set off along the Waterway of Chao Praya River on a private long-tailed boat to discover the Thonburi canal and get an in-depth look at daily life along the canals. Before returning to your hotel, discover some of the main landmarks of Bangkok. You will also visit the beautiful Wat Arun: Temple of Dawn. Breakfast and pick up from hotel, we’ll journey about 75 miles west of Bangkok to Ratchaburi, set on the banks of the Mae Klong River. We begin with a stop at the amazing Railway Market to witness a train running through the middle of the market and then continue our day to Damnoen Saduak floating market, to take a paddleboat ride along the canal. Then, after a walking tour of the market, we’ll stop at a palm sugar workshop and coconut farm to see how this staple of Thai cuisine is made. DAY 5 - BANGKOK – AYUTTHAYA Breakfast and drive north to the ancient city of Ayutthaya, where the temples and ruins of this great city have now been declared a World Heritage Site. The principal sights are Wat Monkol Borpit, Wat Phra Srisanpetch and Wat Mahathat. Continue trip to Bang Pa-In Palace and Wat Nivet Thammpravat, the gothic-inspired temple on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, see the summer palace, built by King Rama DAY 4 - BANGKOK – RAILWAY MARKET & FLOATING MARKET

IV and the contrasting palace buildings and surrounding temples inspired by European, Chinese and Thai designs.

surroundings.

DAY 9 – CHIANG MAI - PHUKET Breakfast and transfer to airport for your flight to Phuket. Upon arrival at Phuket Airport transfer to your 5* The Westin Siray Bay Resort & Spa. The rest of the day is free at leisure to explore your surroundings or simply rest and recuperate at the hotel. DAY 10 - PHUKET CITY Breakfast and proceed for tour of Phuket. Start by visiting Prom Thep Cape which is one of the most photographed locations in Phuket located at the island’s southernmost hill. Wind along Phuket’s southern shoreline, marvelling at white sands, lush tropical flora and the unique vibe of Patong, Karon, Kata and Rawai beaches. Then proceed in visiting Phuket’s Big Buddha, this is one of the island’s most important and revered landmarks. The huge image sits on top of the Nakkerd Hills between Chalong and Kata and at 45 metres high it is easily seen from far away. After that, you will stop to visit the Chalong Temple, Phuket’s most beautiful and renowned monastery. It enshrines the gilt statues of monk-hero Luang Pho Chaem and his assistant Luang Pho. Both were much revered by local people because of their roles in quelling the miner rebellion in 1876. Next, you will proceed to Phuket Old Town. Today, the Old Town is a testament to Phuket’s history, but it’s also the island’s hipster heart, attracting artists and musicians in particular, which has led to noticeable gentrification. DAY 11/12/13 - PHUKET Breakfast at hotel and spend your days at leisure to explore Phuket on your own or enjoy one of the optional excursions in Phuket: OPTIONAL Half-day: Thai Cooking Class with roundtrip shared transfer (SIC) Discovering foreign cuisine is always a delightful experience, and you can take it to the next level by learning how to prepare the delicious local dishes. Through the famous Thai Cooking, everyone from beginners to veterans will learn something new about crafting authentic Thai cuisine. All participants will be provided with equipment and a recipe book to follow along in this class as well as ingredients which, if you choose the market tour option, you would be able to pick out for yourself with the guidance of the experts. Each day brings a different menu for you to cook, each one comprised of a soup and two main dishes. Learn how to cook authentic meals from the locals and earn the knowledge to bring your new found skills back home.

DAY 6 - BANGKOK - CHIANG RAI - GOLDEN TRIANGLE Breakfast and transfer to Bangkok Airport for your flight to Chiang Rai. Upon arrival drive up to the golden triangle, a large geographic region including parts of Myanmar, Laos, and Northern Thailand. This region has infamy as one of the largest sources of opium production in the world, especially during the 2nd half of the 20th century. Begin your day with a cruise down the majestic Mekong River on board a traditional, hand-made, long-tail boat. Venture into the heart of the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos merge and take in the spectacular views as the three countries meet around the Mekong’s formidable shores. Next, visit the House Of Opium, where you will learn of the ancient history of humanity’s relationship with opium, the colonialism and global trade context of the opium wars, and the human impact of war, opium production, and consumption. In the evening, check-in at the 5* Le Meridien Chiang Rai Resort. DAY 7 – CHIANG RAI - CHIANG MAI Breakfast and proceed to Chiang Mai city with enroute visit to the temple of Wat Phra Rong Khun or better known as the White Temple, a privately owned art exhibit in the style of a Buddhist temple in Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. It is owned by Chalermchai Kositpipat, who designed, constructed, and opened to visitors in 1997. After lunch on own expense, start your exploration of Chiang Mai (known as the ‘Rose of the North’) takes you to the highlight at Doi Suthep. Set on a hillside overlooking the city, it is often thought of as one of the two most important temples in Thailand. Enjoy the atmosphere that hovers over the temple and with the possibility of listening to the evening chants of the Buddhist monks. In the evening, check-in at the 5* Empress Premier Hotel. DAY 8 – CHIANG MAI - HALF DAY ELEPHANT EXPERIENCE Breakfast and this morning we drive to Mae Tang District to visit Elephant Sanctuary, this is a real hands-on experience which is both educational and great fun. You will learn about Asian elephant life and observe their behavior and temperament in the park, learn how to cook healthy food for the elephants with your mahouts. You will feed them with the food you cook and walk them to the river where you will have the opportunity to bathe your elephant. In the afternoon, leisure time to explore the

AMAZING THAILAND INCL CHIANG RAI, CHIANG MAI & PHUKET 2024

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