Day 1 Departure from London Heathrow
This adventure into the exotic starts at Heathrow where you meet your companions and Tour Manager, who is with you from start to finish of your tour, for complimentary drinks and snacks in the Executive Lounge – a service only offered by Journeys of Distinction. Then comes your nonstop Qantas scheduled flight to Bangkok.
Meals: Inflight
Day 2 Arrival into Bangkok
It’s an afternoon departure. so relax at your hotel.
Meals: Inflight
Hotel: Royal Orchid Sheraton
Day 3 Bangkok
Today you visit the Royal Grand Palace, once the home of the King, including the Royal Funeral Hall and Royal Coronation Hall. This extraordinary blend of traditional Thai and European architecture has in its vast grounds the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Thailand's holiest religious site which holds the Emerald Buddha – carved from one piece of Jade. Nearby Wat Phra Chetuphon has over 1,000 Buddha images and some of Asia’s finest murals, but the sight is a massive reclining gold plated Buddha which occupies a whole building. After relaxing in the afternoon there’s drinks and dinner – and a chance to get to know your fellow travelers.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Royal Orchid Sheraton
Day 4 Bangkok
This is a day few forget. You visit Kanchanaburi province, where sugarcane, rice paddies and pineapple plantation dominate the landscape, which is often stunning, but the day’s focal point is the famous bridge over the River Kwai and the start of the “Death Railway” - a poignant reminder of the thousands of POW’s and forced laborers who lost their lives there. You pay your respects at an Allied War Grave cemetery and visit the war museum, housing houses pictures and paintings from this period. You take lunch at a local restaurant and then take exhilarating long-tailed speedboat ride to the bridge itself. There’s time to explore and reflect, and you also take a ride on a local train before returning to the city.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Royal Orchid Sheraton
Day 5 Bangkok to Sukhothai
Today you see the ancient capital of Ayuthaya - once one of the biggest cities in Southeast Asia – with as many as a million inhabitants in 1700 Ayuthaya itself is full of splendid ruins of palaces temples and memories of past glories and invasions. Its remains, characterized by the prang - tall reliquary towers - and gigantic monasteries, give you an idea of its past splendour. Afterwards we go to the airport to fly to another ancient capital, Sikhothai, where you continu to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Sukhothai Heritage Resort
Day 6 Sukhothai
Sukhothai was Thailand’s capital before Ayuthaya. You visit the historical park, which has some wonderful monuments including the vast, ruined Wat Mahathad and 700 years old Wat Sri Chum with a colossal (48ft) statue of Buddha, where the oath of allegiance to the Kings of Sukhothai was taken. Then you tour the ruined temples of Sri Satchanalai – once the second city of the Sukhothai - followed by lunch at the highly praised Nam Kang Restaurant, before an afternoon at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Sukhothai Heritage Resort
Day 7 Sukhothai to Golden Triangle
After breakfast you leave for the famous Golden Triangle, Chiang Rai, with some fascinating stops en-route including the Wat Phrathad Lampang Luang - one of the most architecturally beautiful and unspoilt temples in Northern Thailand. Near Lake Payao is Wat Analayo, with an impressive 50 ft sitting Buddha and Heaven Hell sculpture garden. After lunch we continue to your hotel beside the Mekong River.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Anantara Resort & Spa
Day 8 Golden Triangle
After breakfast you are off to see two of the hill tribes that survive here. The Akha are particularly known for the artistry of their village gates, whilst the Padong – of whom only some 7,000 remain - have heavy brass coils which the women fit around their necks to give them an elongated “giraffe-necked” look. Afterwards you visit flower-rich Doi Tung with its Royal Villa, gardens and Commemorative Hall followed by lunch at a local restaurant and the rest of the day at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Anantara Resort & Spa
Day 9 Golden Triangle
The halfway point of your tour, so why not relax at the Infinity Edge swimming pool over looking the lush green jungle? For those feeling a little more energetic how about a visit to the Mahout Elephant Training Program to see how the special bond between man and beast is formed? Alternativly, a Thai Cooking Class could be just what you need.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Anantara Resort & Spa
Day 10 Golden Triangle to Chiangmai
Today off to the Golden Triangle – long an opium smugglers’ haven - where Thailand, Burma and Laos meet. You take a boat on the mighty Mae Khong River to the ruins and temples of the ancient capital city, Chiang Saen. One of the most memorable sites is the temple of Wat Phra Thad Jom Kitti overlooking the Mae Khong River. After that, continue to Chiangmai, sightseeing en-route includes the utterly unconventional, still unfinished modern White Temple, Wat Rong Khun, decorated with fragments of reflective glass. It will certainly amaze you. There’s also a stop at Mae Kajan Hot springs and Sankampaeng, the umbrella-making village.Your deluxe hotel is Shangri La Chiangmai.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Shangri La Chiang Mai
Day 11 Chiangmai
This is a wonderful day. First you visit the Chiang Dao Elephant Camp, where you watch elephants being trained to work, and being bathed – with the option of an elephant ride and bamboo river rafting (at an extra cost). You stop for lunch at an Orchid Farm then go to visit the 600 year old temple of wat phrathat doi suthep. After a drive up a winding road, you can climb an enormous mythological Nagas (Dragon-headed serpent) 306 step staircase – or cheat and take the elevator of (elevators are available). Inside the cloister is a five-tier gold parasol, containing partial relics of Lord Buddha. Spend this evening at your leisure.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Shangri La Chiang Mai
Day 12 Chiangmai to Krabi
A unique experience: you visit the monument to Phra Kruba Srivichai, perhaps the most revered Monk in Chiang Mai where you may offer food to Buddhist monks and novices, before breakfast. There is also time for an optional half-day Thai cooking class (at an extra cost) before you leave in the afternoon to fly via Bangkok to one of the finest resorts in one of Thailand’s most beautiful beach resorts – Krabi.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Centara Grand Beach Resort
Day 13 Krabi
Your choice here is simple. Relax at the resort – or relax nearby. The resort itself is in a beautiful setting, surrounded by limestone rock formations in its own private beach and cove. But you are only one cove away from the main town "Ao Nang" beach area.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Centara Grand Beach Resort
Day 14 Krabi
Another day in this beautiful resort to simply relax and enjoy the magnificent surroundings.
Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas
Day 15 Krabi
Your final day at Krabi provides another chance to relax befor bidding farewell to this lovely country. A fairwell dinner is included this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel: Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas
Day 16 Krabi
You leave in the late afternoon for your flight to Bangkok and connection to London. If you meant to buy souvenirs, but forgot a few people, Bangkok Airport really is hard to beat for shopping.
Meals: Breakfast, Inflight
Day 17 Arrive London Heathrow
You arrive at London Heathrow, perhaps having made some new friends, certainly relaxed after your stay on the beach – and with lasting memories of the astonishing range of places, smiling people and rare experiences that Thailand offers.
Meals: Inflight