Rolling Through Northern Thailand Tour
Day 1: Bangkok - Arrival Day (-/-/D)
Arrive Bangkok and check in at the Ramada Plaza Hotel, grand deluxe room. Rest of the day at leisure until group meeting at 17.00. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 2: Bangkok Highlights (B/L/D)
After breakfast, visit Wat Pho, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha and the Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Visit the Rattanakosin Exhibition in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at the Ramada Plaza.
Day3, Ayutthaya History and Culture (B/L/D)
After breakfast, drive to Ayutthaya and visit some of the highlights of Ayutthaya Historical Park, including Wat Phrasi Sanphet, the most important temple in the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Lunch at a local restaurant and then visit Wat Phanan Choeng which was founded shortly before the establishment of Ayutthaya as the Kingdom’s capital. Its main building enshrines a huge, seated Buddha image that is 57 feet tall, and an object of particular devotion to Thais of Chinese origin. Head to the Japanese Village and then check in to your hotel and relax until the evening, when you will experience some of the best of Ayutthaya’s Street food at a local market. Overnight at Krungsri River or Kantary Hotels.
Day 4, Ayutthaya’s History and Culture (B/L/D)
After breakfast, drive to Bann Khorng Phor Sufficiency Economy Learning Center to learn Knowledge center based on “sufficiency economy philosophy” promoted by the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The center puts emphasis on learning by doing in all its outdoor classrooms, providing hands-on lessons on rice, vegetable and livestock farming. Lunch at a local Restaurant and then visit the Arts of the Kingdom Museum, Return to Ayutthaya and your hotel with some time to relax before enjoying an invigorating massage given by local blind people. Enjoy dinner at a riverside restaurant.
Day5, Ayutthaya – Phitsanulok – Sukhothai (B/L/D)
After breakfast check out and set off for Phitsanulok with a stop for lunch on the way. Arrive Phitsanulok by about 13.00 and visit Waat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat (Viharn, founded in 1357 by King Lithai of Sukhothai. The temple is famous for its golden Buddha image named Phra Buddha Chinnarat, considered by many to be the most beautiful Buddha image in Thailand. Afterwards visit Ramkhamhaeng National Museum. Highlights of the museum are the Sukhothai-style Buddha images, thought to be the most beautiful style of Buddha images in Thai history. Afterwards, check in at Sukhothai Treasure Resort & Spa, Dinner at the resort.
Day 6, Sukhothai Historical Park and local ways of life (B/L/D)
Get up early to go to Wat Traphang Thong to make merit by offering food to the monks there. "The temple of the pond of gold,” it is the only ancient temple within the old city walls that is still standing and in use. Afterwards visit the fresh market before returning to the hotel to have breakfast. Afterwards visit Sukhothai Historical Park by tram. Sukhothai was the very first capital city of Thailand. In its heyday, it was the major cultural and commercial centre in south-east Asia, and it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Towards the end of the morning head to the Naa Cooking School. Here you will learn about the authentic flavours of Thai cooking. Naa' and family will show you how to cook the Thai way, using recipes that have come down from generation to generation. Enjoy the lunch you have prepared yourself and then return to your hotel to relax. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 7, Chiang Mai Community Based Tourism (B/L/D)
After breakfast set off for Chiang Mai, with lunch at a local restaurant along the way. At around 14:30 arrive at the community of Baan Rai Kong Khing, located in Hang Dong District, just outside of Chiang Mai. Here visitors are invited to learn about and share in, their local culture. The local villagers of Ban Rai Kong Khing have worked together and taken a holistic approach to create a health-oriented community. By using the traditional knowledge of the villagers and blending it with modern medical practices, they have achieved a large degree of self-sufficiency. This knowledge they are happy to share with their guests. Dinner will be of traditional Northern Thai cuisine. Overnight at their homestay.
Day 8, Chiang Mai Explorer (B/L/D)
Get up early to prepare offerings for the monks on their morning alms round. Join the merit making ceremony, offer the food prepared and receive their blessings. Now it’s breakfast time for you before setting off to visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Ratchaworawihan. It is the most important temple in Chiang Mai and was started in the 14th century. Also visit Wat Suan Dok, built during the second half of the 14th century to house a sacred Buddha relic. A number of smaller white chedis contain the ashes of members of several generations of the Chiang Mai Royal Family. Have lunch at Khao Soi Samerjai Fa Ham. Although several northern classics are on the menu, Khao Soi rules the roost here. Tender noodles, in a rich, tangy and creamy broth, go well with the topping of extra-wide crispy noodles. After lunch, visit Wat Phra Sing Woramahawihan. Built in 1345, It houses the North’s most revered Buddha statue, Phra Phuttha Sihing, which is enshrined in Vihan Lai Kham, a Chapel that features exquisite woodcarvings and northern-style murals.
Midafternoon check into Imm Hotel Tha Pae with time to relax before heading off to a local restaurant for a traditional northern-style dinner.
