Day 01: Bangkok
Arrive into Bangkok. Once you have checked into your hotel, we will do a city orientation tour. There is no finer example of Thai architecture and culture in Bangkok than the Grand Palace where we will stop. Here you can also see the most sacred Buddha image in Thailand which is the Emerald Buddha. Once you have seen this, we will take you to experience the River of Kings, the majestic Chao Phraya which we will cruise on the Chaophraya Princess. This dinner cruise will take you past a brightly lit waterfront which houses historical buildings, landmarks and 5 star hotels. The live band on board belting out the latest international hits will keep you entertained during the duration of the two hour cruise. Return to your hotel for a well deserved night's rest.
(Lunch/Dinner)
Day 02: Bangkok - Kanchanaburi
View Larger Map
After an early breakfast, we will depart for the Damnoen Saduak floating market which is 110 kilometres outside of Bangkok.
You can see how fruits and vegetable sellers ply their trade in little boats selling to villagers who live off the canals which form the highway network in these rural outposts. You will see all this from a little boat for yourself. You may join the morning market and bargain for souvenirs or food. After this we will drive north west towards Kanchanaburi.
Kanchanaburi first because famous because of its infamous "Death Railway," built by the Japanese during the 2nd world war using Allied prisoners of war. The story was covered very well in the movie "Bridge over the River Kwai." We would recommend that you watch this movie before visiting Kanchanaburi perhaps in the school auditorium so that the historical importance of the place is known to you before you visit. Today Kanchanaburi is a very picturesque province with waterfalls, rivers, jagged limestone hills and greenery. After seeing the "Bridge" we will drive just beyond Kanchanaburi from where we will take a long tail boat to your Hotel which is perched on a cliff overlooking the river. http://www.riverkwairesotel.net/
(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Day 03: Kanchanaburi - Chiang Mai
After breakfast, we go cycling on a nature trail. Once back at the resort, we then go kayaking to the River Kwae Jungle Rafts which are upstream. Once at the River Kwae Jungle Rafts, we visit a Mon Village and see this hill tribe's way of life. We then drive the 200 kilometres back to Bangkok to Hua Lum Pong (Bangkok Railway station) to catch the night train to Chiang Mai.
(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Day 04: Chiang Mai
Arrive Chiang Mai in the early morning. After checking into the Chiang Mai Orchid hotel which has played host to Princess Diana and other world dignitaries, and after freshening up, we go to visit an Elephant conservation farm at Mae Sa. You can see how elephants bathe, log and go about their daily routines...their use in the jungles in the days of yesteryear and how conservation efforts are underway in Thailand to protect these magnificent animals. You can ride these majestic beasts (optional) along the steep jungle paths and feel the thrill of life along your keel.
In the afternoon, we will visit a school just outside of Chiang Mai to meet Thai students and exchange views on each other's educational systems.We will also help to put up a new roof on the school building. This requires team work and you will also be contributing.
In the evening you will have a traditional khan toke dinner at the Old Chiang Mai cultural centre.
http://www.oldchiangmai.com/
Get ready for the exciting day ahead tomorrow.
(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Day 05: Chiang Mai - Chiang Rai
After a hearty breakfast, we depart for Thaton, which is 3 1/2 hours drive from Chiang Mai. This is a little riverside town that has some Swiss style chalets. After lunch here, we board bamboo rafts and raft our way on the Kok river to Chiang Rai. We reach Chiang Rai just in time to see the sun set and the novice monks playing in the river. We check into the Le Meridien which is alongside the river and spend a peaceful night at this luxury resort.
(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Day 06: Chiang Rai - Golden Triangle
We drive about 60 kilometres from Chiang Rai to the Golden Triangle. This is where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet. At one point this area was notorious for its drug running. It was not so long ago dangerous to drive on the single carriageway roads in these parts. You would be shot either by the DEA from the US or by the drug runners who might think you were DEA. Well Thailand has come a long way since then. There is an Opium Museum opposite the Anantara hotel which is state of the art and is an interactive educational experience on the Opium trade around the world. You might enter this museum thinking you will spend 10 minutes there and emerge a couple of hours later completely enlightened on drugs. After the museum we will take you on a long tail boat with a brief stop in Laos. Once back in Thailand, we will then take you to the Mae Fah Luang project. This is a Royal project that has transformed the lives of the local people who lived in this area. They have been weaned off slash and burn agriculture growing poppy to now growing coffee and making themselves economically independent. We will then go back to your Hotel in Chiang Rai.
(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Day 07: Chiang Rai - Bangkok - Koh Samet
Take a flight from Chiang Rai back to Bangkok.
On arrival in Bangkok, we will drive to Koh Samet. It is just 80 kilometres southeast of Pattaya http://maps.google.co.th/maps?q=koh+samet&ie=UTF8&hl=en&ll=12.578356,101.459427&spn=0.148441,0.22007&t=h&z=12&iwloc=AOnly 6 kilometres long, Koh Samet is a national marine park since 1981. This means that there is a restriction on development here. In recent years though there has been some very upmarket development on the island as well as a proliferation of bungalow operators. The dazzling white beaches though remain breathtakingly beautiful and are still at the time of going to press lapped by pale blue water.
You can get there from Suvarnabhumi International Airport by taking the motorway heading to Pattaya and continue to Rayong. http://maps.google.co.th/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=New+Bangkok+International+Airport&daddr=koh+samet&geocode=FWDF0AAdwUUBBiG7MeUQNavVEg%3B&hl=en&mra=ls&sll=13.13096,101.07784&sspn=1.184899,1.760559&ie=UTF8&ll=13.175771,101.060486&spn=1.184679,1.760559&t=h&z=9
The mainland departure point for Koh Samet is the tiny fishing port of Ban Phe, about 17 kilometres east of Rayong and some 200 kilometres from Bangkok. The easiest place to arrive at on Koh Samet is Na Dan pier on the northwestern tip of the island. This is good to access the beaches of Hat Sai Kaew, Ao Phai, Ao Thabthim, and Ao Nuan. Songtheaws meet the boats at Na Dan and will take you as far as Ao Wong Duan or you can walk to your chosen beach - the whole island is little more than 6 kilometres long.
The boats also go to Ao Wong Duan which is convenient for the beaches of Ao Cho and Ao Thian. Some of the resorts run their own boats as well.
Samet's beaches are along the east coast and this is where we will camp. A rough path connects some of them...if not you got to walk along the beach at low tide. The north coast has just one really beautiful stretch of beach but compensates with an appealing village atmosphere. The west coast is quite inaccessible.
The most popular beach on the island is Hat Sai Kaew named for its long and extraordinarily beautiful stretch of luxuriant sand, so soft and clean it squeaks below your feet. It is lined with bungalows, beachwear stalls, restaurants, deckchairs and umbrellas. At night we will do a barbeque dinner on the beach.
(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Day 08: Koh Samet
We are going to spend the day on a fishing boat...swimming, snorkeling and generally doing the island life. Keep your swimming trunks, beach volleyball and snorkel mask handy. Today is going to be a fun day.
(Breakfast/Picnic Lunch/Dinner)
Day 09: Koh Chang - Bangkok
Today we drive back to Bangkok. Once we reach Bangkok the rest of the day is at leisure.
(Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
Day 10:
The day is at leisure until you catch your flight back to your next destination. We are sure that you will take back many impressions of Thailand, its culture, its kind and gentle people and most important, we hope that this experience has enriched your experience.
Thank you for choosing our Chao Phraya Princess cruise. For anyone interested in the cruise, please feel free to check out our website for more information on what you will see, eat and experience!
Sawadeecup!
Albert W.
Tristar Floating Restaurant
Posted by: Albert W. | September 21, 2009 at 12:23 AM