Private Tour Highlights
- Witness the famous 45m Reclining Buddha
- Visit the Grand Palace, the most important and spectacular royal palace in Thailand
- Stop by Vimanmek Mansion, the largest teakwood mansion in the world
- Admire impressive collections of photographs, personal art, and more collected by King Rama V
- Vibrant Floating Market, featuring numerous small boats laden with colorful produce
- Board a rowing boat and make way through the small canals to buy fresh produce from vendors
- Thai cultural performances, including the colorful Buddhist ordination procession
- Learn about the Chao Phrya River, a truly magnificent waterway and one of the great rivers in Asia
- Enjoy a delicious Thai dinner and watch the panorama change to reveal fantastic treasures
- Stop by Wat Suan Dok, where the ashes of former kings and the Royal Family are kept
- Stop at a traditional Akha village for a chat with the shaman (spirit doctor)
- See dozens of monks head down the mountain to the city of Chiang Mai to receive alms from the locals
- Experience the monks' morning chanting ritual at one of the oldest and most extensive temples in Bangkok
Tour Overview
After experiencing the highlights of Bangkok, travel north to Chiang Mai to visit its stunning natural surroundings. As the capital of the early Lanna Kingdom, this area has a unique culture which you will experience through its colorful markets, hilltop temples, resident monks and delectable cuisine. This tour includes a venture out of town to the famous Elephant Jungle Sanctuary for a chance to meet these revered gentle giants.
Bangkok, meaning “city of angels”, the capital of Thailand, was established over 200 years ago and has proved irresistibly intriguing to traders and travelers ever since. Many visitors have made this city of contrasts their permanent and beloved home, transforming the city into a multicultural hub. Suiting all tastes and lifestyles, fast paced Bangkok rarely sleeps, yet houses many enticing nooks and crannies from yesteryear.
Popularly known as the “Rose of the North,” Chang Mai is blessed with stunning natural beauty and unique indigenous culture. While here, you will find yourself exploring old temples, colorful markets and mountain top temples, such as the elegant Wat Prathat Doi Suthep. The area is situated in a scenic valley, surrounded by orchards, green mountains and jungles, which remain verdant with plentiful flora and fauna.
Inclusions
Round trip domestic airfare from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, Accommodations with daily breakfast, All private transfers and activities by air-conditioned car, An English speaking guide to escort all transfers and tours, All entrance fees and activities as mentioned, Meals where specified (food only), Government tax and services charge
Notes:
* For Day 3, it is recommended that for religious reasons, ladies have their shoulders covered and do not wear shorts or very short skirts. No sleeveless top and the sleeve have to be part of the top. Gentlemen should wear trousers and short sleeved shirts. Shoes must be removed before entering the Emerald Buddha Temple. Full length trousers and pants are required.
* Additional supplements may apply between 19 December – 7 January with a set minimum of consecutive nights required for bookings between 23 – 5 January. Special conditions apply between 30 December – 2 January.
* Additional supplements may apply during the weeks immediately preceding and following the Lunar (Chinese) New Year. The dates vary each year, but fall sometime between January 21st and February 20th:
2016 – Monday, February 8th
2017 – Saturday, January 28th
2018 – Friday, February 16th
* Guests staying over the night of 31 December are subject to a compulsory Gala Danner at an additional cost.
Package Price: From £$ 3465
Prices shown above are per person. Hotel categories do not adhere strictly to international ratings; Yampu has evaluated the hotels according to destination and availability. Prices include local airfare (where applicable), hotel accommodation including daily breakfast; all transfers with baggage handling, all guided tours in English and all entrance fees.
Please note that prices are subject to change based on availability and seasonality, especially during the holiday season from December 20th through January 5th each year. Please contact a Yampu Travel Specialist for more information on best times to travel.
Trip Type:
All our trips are operated on a private basis unless specified otherwise. This is only a sample itinerary; your Yampu Tour Consultant will personalize this trip for you according to your available dates, interests and type of hotels. This is your trip and we will work on making it perfect!
Tour Itinerary
Flight to Bangkok
Overnight international flight to Bangkok.
Overnight international flight to Bangkok.
Bangkok
Upon arrival in Bangkok, airport reception and transfer to the hotel. Depending on arrival time, spend the remainder of the day at leisure.
Upon arrival in Bangkok, airport reception and transfer to the hotel. Depending on arrival time, spend the remainder of the day at leisure.
Wat Pho
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After breakfast, drive to Wat Pho in time to experience the monks' morning chanting ritual. One of the oldest and most extensive temples in Bangkok, Wat Pho is home to the famous 45m Reclining Buddha. It is also the original school of traditional Thai massage. Next, visit the Grand Palace, the most important and spectacular royal palace in Thailand. The palace is an architectural wonder of golden stupas, walls and pillars encrusted in shining and colorful mosaics. Previously the residence of the Kings of Thailand, there are multiple palaces within the complex which were used for different occasions; including the beautiful Wat Phra Kaew, which houses the most revered Buddha image in Thailand: The Emerald Buddha. Continue with a walk to the public ferry pier for a short boat ride to Wat Arun, once the grand royal temple to King Rama II. After exploring, eat lunch (not included).
Then proceed with a visit to Vimanmek Mansion, the largest teakwood mansion in the world. Also referred to as Teakwood Palace, it was built in 1900 by King Rama V as part of the Dusit Palace Complex. In 1982, Queen Sirikit was granted permission from King Rama IX to renovate the building for use as a museum. Today, the museum holds an impressive collection of photographs, personal art, and handicrafts that were all personally collected by King Rama V.
Continue with a visit to the Thai-style house of Jim Thompson, the legendary American businessman who came to Thailand at the end of World War II and rediscovered the Thai silk industry. His house is now a museum filled with fascinating Asian antiques and historical memorabilia. It consists of six separate Thai teakwood houses from the Ayutthaya period put together as one. Jim Thompson's mysterious disappearance in the Cameron Highlands of Malaysia remains a mystery to this day. After the tour, return to the hotel for the evening.
Note: Wat Arun Temple is under renovation so travelers will be able to walk around the temple, but travelers will not be able to climb up the stupa. Ladies should wear a short-sleeved shirt with pants or a knee-length skirt and gentlemen should wear pants and a short-sleeved shirt for religious reasons. Sandals and flip flops are not allowed. If the trip starts on a Saturday, the Vimanmek Mansion part of the tour will be replaced with a tour of Suan Pakkad Palace Museum.
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Floating Market- Nakorn Pathom- Chao Phrya River Cruise
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Depart early morning for the 2-hour drive to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. This vibrant market features numerous small boats laden with colorful fruits and vegetables, paddled by Thai women wearing bamboo hats. For the best experience of the market atmosphere, board a rowing boat and make way through the small canals to buy fresh produce from the vendors. This is the only place to see the traditional way of selling and buying goods in Thailand.
Afterwards, visit the Nakorn Pathom; the site of the highest Chedi in Thailand called "Phra Pathom Chedi", which is the largest pagoda in Southeast Asia. Enjoy an excellent buffet lunch at the picturesque Samphran Riverside. After lunch, there will be Thai cultural performances, including the colorful Buddhist ordination procession, an elegant fingernail dance, a Thai boxing demonstration, Hill Tribe dance performances, sword fighting, elephants, charming folk dances, a traditional Thai wedding ceremony and more.
This evening, be picked up from the hotel and transferred to Manohra Pier (or Saphan Taksin Pier), where travelers will board a boat for an evening cruise. Learn more about Bangkok and the Chao Phrya River, a truly magnificent waterway and one of the great rivers in Asia. The river has been a principal factor in the development of Thai heritage, culture, and economy, and is considered the nation's life and soul.
Cruise down the Chao Phrya River and enjoy a delicious Thai dinner and watch the panorama change to reveal fantastic treasures from the country's rich past, as well as fascinating modern architectural creations. The Manohra Luxury Cruise will take travelers to the King Rama VIII Bridge, where the boat will turn around and head back to the pier. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel.
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Chang Mai
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Transfer to the airport for the flight to Chiang Mai. Upon arrival, airport reception and transfer to the hotel. This evening, enjoy a Khantoke dinner. The first Khantoke dinner was held in 1953, when local politician Kraisi Nimanhemin invited honored guests to sit with him and enjoy this special dinner.
Dinner is served in small bowls ("Khan") and guests are seated on cushions at a low table ("Thoke"). Northern Thai cuisine is served and during dinner, entertainment is provided by beautiful dancers who perform the Forn Leb, known as the finger dance; Forn Thien, known as the candle dance; Ramwong, referred to as the circle dance; and the Ram Dab, known as the sword dance. After dinner, there will be an option to see an additional hill tribe show from various members of Yao, Lahu, Meo, Lisu, and Karen tribes.
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Wat Suan Dok- Lamphun
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Start this morning with a visit to a food and flower market and then continue to Wat Suan Dok, where the ashes of former kings of Chiang Mai and the Royal Family are kept. From there, proceed with a visit to Wat Phrathat on Doi Suthep Mountain, which was founded in 1383 AD. In 1935, a road was built to the top, but today people climb the 309 steps from the car park to the top or take a tram for a small surcharge. From the top, enjoy a superb panoramic view of the city. After exploring, return to the car park for your transfer back to Chiang Mai, where you will take a 20-minute rickshaw ride through the quiet streets of the old town.
Enjoy lunch (not included), and then visit the historic, laidback town of Lamphun, an important site for arts in Thailand. Continue to Wieng Kum Kam, an ancient city that was built by King Mengrai in the 14th century and rediscovered by archaeologists in 1984. The ancient capital was frequently flooded and eventually abandoned and forgotten. Explore the royal temple of Wat Kanthom (Wat Changkam), the shrine of King Mengrai, and Wat Hao Nong, a temple which is still home to the remains of the old-style temple entrance. Then head to Wat Pu Pia and Wat E-Kang, which were also recently discovered during archaeological excavations. Finally, visit Wat Chedee Liam, an important landmark in the architectural heritage of Chiang Mai.
Note: Ladies should wear a short-sleeved shirt with pants or a knee-length skirt and gentlemen should wear pants and a short-sleeved shirt for religious reasons. Sandals and flip flops are not allowed.
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Elephant Jungle Sanctuary
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This morning, transfer approximately 1.5 hours through scenic agricultural areas, hills, and forest to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. On arrival, receive an introduction on the elephants and then change into traditional Karen clothing. After being allocated bananas and sugar cane to feed to the elephants, walk through the Sanctuary, where one will find free-roaming elephants and hear their individual stories. Visitors can touch, feed, photograph, and interact with the elephants at leisure while learning about their lifestyle and behaviors. After meeting all of the elephants, accompany them to a nearby mud spa. Get muddy with the elephants while applying a healthy cosmetic mud treatment to their skin. Next, walk them to a nearby river and join them in the water for a refreshing bath. Take a swim and help bathe and brush the elephants while they wade through and play in the water. Once the elephants are clean, take some final photos with them, and then it will be time to part ways and change into some dry clothes. Eat some snacks and seasonal fresh fruit, before leaving. ...read less
Doi Suthep
Rise very early and drive to Doi Suthep to see dozens of monks head down the mountain to the city of Chiang Mai to receive alms from the locals. This is their daily routine, and you will be able to participate. Stop at a local market to purchase goods, and offer them when the monks pass by.
Afterwards, transfer to the airport for a flight to Bangkok to connect with the flight home or continue with the Yampu Tours add-on of choice.
Rise very early and drive to Doi Suthep to see dozens of monks head down the mountain to the city of Chiang Mai to receive alms from the locals. This is their daily routine, and you will be able to participate. Stop at a local market to purchase goods, and offer them when the monks pass by.
Afterwards, transfer to the airport for a flight to Bangkok to connect with the flight home or continue with the Yampu Tours add-on of choice.
Places You'll See
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Bangkok
Dubbed the “World’s Best City” by Travel + Leisure, Bangkok is home to a plethora of attractions, and activities. Enjoy a variety of shopping and dining experiences, or the city’s bustling night life. Or immerse yourself in the city’s rich culture by visiting the Grand Palace, any of the several Buddhist temples, or the Bangkok National Museum.
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Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai, meaning “New City”, is overflowing with sites to see and activities to partake in. Visit the Chiang Mai Zoo, the oldest Zoo in Northern Thailand, or spend time shopping and haggling in the city’s night bazaar. For those feeling more ambitious, climb the 300 plus stairs up the slopes of Doi Suthep, to Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep Buddhist temple. There is also a cable car offered.
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Testimonials
Sergio M, from Canada
Traveled February, 2013
We had a great time.
We had a great time. We enjoyed some very special and memorable experiences in Thailand and Bali was truly magical. I am going to build an album and I will send it to you.
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Pamela
Traveled March, 2014
The outstanding service that we received during our trip to Thailand is the reason I chose you
It is the professionalism and understanding of Yampu that keeps me coming to your company for all my Southeast Asia travel. The outstanding service that we received during our trip to Thailand is the reason I chose you and your company for my daughters’ memorable trip.
Traveled To
Traveled October, 2014
So overall great trip and MERCI BEAUCOUP
My congratulations on the organization, very balanced and diverse.Very nice choice of hotels. Guides all very different but very nice, particularly Sinat in Siem Reap. Great boat and team in Ha Long. So overall great trip and MERCI BEAUCOUP!!!!
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