Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Sawasdee ka & welcome to   enchanting Kingdom of Thailand - friendly & fun-loving, cultured & historic. Thailand radiates a golden hue, from its glittering temples & tropical beaches through to the ever-comforting Thai smile…...

Arrive in Bangkok - the city where the familiar & the exotic collide like the flavors on a plate of pat tai.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport, subsequent to Immigration & Customs, you will be met by The Journeys representative outside Door B, who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel. He / she will provide assistance during Check-in & also discuss the program for the next few days.

If, for any reason you are unable to make contact with our representative within 30 minutes of waiting, please call the local Emergency telephone # listed on your Contact List. Please follow the advice given by our 24 / 7 Duty Officer   Please do not exit the Airport & make your own way to the start hotel.

Enroute to the hotel, the Rep will introduce you to some landmarks of Bangkok & brief about the Yi Peng & Loy Krathong Festival.

Check-in at the hotel.

Fun Folks | Food | Urban Exploration | Contrasts

Bangkok is excess in all of its unrestrained glory. Bigger, better, more: the city is insatiable, a monster that feeds on concrete, shopping malls & diesel exhaust. The city demands that you be in the present & in the moment, not necessarily for a religious epiphany, but because the city is self-absorbed & superficial, blissfully free of wrinkle-inducing self-reflection. Smiles & sa·nuk (the Thai word for ‘fun’) are the key passports into Bangkok society. A compliment here, a joke there - the demands of social lubrication in this megalopolis are more akin to a small village than an anonymous city & a necessity for survival.

As Bangkok forcefully kneads out of you all demands for order & predictability, you will understand the famous Thai smile. It is the metaphorical brakes on the urban overdrive. Packed into these concrete corridors are religious spectacle, unapologetic consumerism & multi-flavoured hedonism - corrupting & purifying souls within footsteps of each other.

The language barrier can seem huge, but it is never prevented anybody from getting along with the Thai people. The capital’s cultural underpinnings are evident in virtually all facets of everyday life & most enjoyably through its residents' sense of fun (known in Thai as sa·nuk). Ordering food, changing money & haggling at markets will usually involve a sense of playfulness – a dash of flirtation, perhaps – & a smile. It is a language that doesn’t require words & one that is easy to learn.

Of the famous & infamous attractions, Bangkok’s best feature is its intermingling of opposites. A modern world of affluence orbits around a serene traditional core. Hop the Skytrain to the glitzy shopping malls where trust-fund babies examine luxury brands as carefully as the housewives inspect produce at the open-air markets. Or appreciate the attempts at enlightenment at the city’s famous temples & doorstep shrines, or simple acts of kindness amid the urban bustle. Or you can jump between all of these worlds - wining & hobnobbing at a chic club, eating at a street side market, getting plucked & pummelled into something more beautiful or sweating profusely on a long unplanned march. Bangkok is an urban connoisseur’s dream come true

With so much of its daily life conducted on the street, there are few cities in the world that reward exploration as handsomely as Bangkok does. It is the contradictions that provide the City of Angels with its rich, multifaceted personality. Here, climate-controlled megamalls sit side by side with 200-year-old village homes; gold-spired temples share space with neon-lit strips of sleaze; slow-moving traffic is bypassed by long-tail boats plying the royal river; Buddhist monks dressed in robes shop for the latest smartphones. A stroll off Banglamphu’s beaten track can lead to a conversation with a monk. Cap off an extended boat trip with a visit to a hidden market. Get lost in the tiny lanes of Chinatown & stumble upon a Chinese opera performance. . Or after dark, let the BTS (Skytrain) escort you to Sukhumvit, where the local nightlife scene reveals a cosmopolitan & dynamic city. And as Bangkok races towards the future, these contrasts will never stop supplying the city with its unique and ever-changing strain of Thai-ness.

And streets lined with food carts are overlooked by restaurants perched on top of skyscrapers & perhaps Bangkok has got to be one of the best-value dining destinations in the world. Until you have eaten on a Bangkok street, noodles mingling with your sweat amid a cloud of exhaust fumes, you haven’t actually eaten Thai food. It can be an intense mix: the base flavours - spicy, sour, sweet & salty - aren’t exactly meat & potatoes. But for adventurous foodies who don't need white tablecloths, there is probably no better dining destination in the world. And with immigration bringing every regional Thai & international cuisine to the capital, it is also a truly diverse experience.

Balance of the day is at leisure to relax or explore the city, your way or opt for one of the optional activities (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Overnight.   

Meet the Tour-guide in the Lobby at 09:00 am and proceed on a 4 hour sightseeing to discover this amazing kaleidoscope of old & new cultures. You will see a well-groomed corporate Executive whizzing by in a BMW or a Mercedes or a Bentley amidst the chaos of the Bangkok streets.

It includes some of the most unusual Buddhist temples in Bangkok: Wat Trimitr with its invaluable Golden Buddha (5-1/2 tons of solid gold) has the largest golden Buddha in the world. Measuring 12’ in diameter with a height of 15’ from the base to the crown, this 700 years artefact is a valuable treasure of Thailand & Buddhism.   

First stop will be Phra Kaeo, the holiest Buddhist site in Thailand, and home of its holiest image, the Emerald Buddha. This ornately decorated and gilded temple sits in one corner of the huge Grand Palace complex, which is full of different structures, statues and buildings. The whole site is surrounded by an arcade with 178 different painted panels depicting the story of the Ramayana.

Next is Wat Pho, or Wat Phra Chetuphon as it is generally known to the Thais, is mainly famous for the huge Reclining Buddha statue it houses. At 20 acres large, it is the largest Wat in Bangkok, and is technically the oldest too, as it was built around 200 years before Bangkok became Thailand's capital. However, today the Wat today bears virtually no resemblance to that originally constructed, as it was almost entirely rebuilt by Rama I when the capital was moved to Bangkok. It holds the dual honors of having both Thailand's largest reclining Buddha image & the most number of Buddha images in Thailand. The highly impressive gold plated reclining Buddha is 46 meters long and 15 meters high & is designed to illustrate the passing of the Buddha into nirvana. The feet and the eyes are engraved with mother-of-pearl decoration, and the feet also show the 108 auspicious characteristics of the true Buddha. The large grounds of Wat Pho contain more than 1000 Buddha images in total, most from the ruins of the former capitals Ayuthaya and Sukhothai.

You will also visit the Grand Palace, one of the most beautiful sample of an ancient Siamese court. It used to be the residence of the Kings of Bangkok. In the complex, you will see palaces which were used for different occasions: the Funeral Palace, the Reception Palace, the Throne Hall, the Coronation Hall, the Royal Guest House, and Wat Phra Keo, the beautiful Emerald Buddha Temple. (Note: The Grand Palace is closed during special royal ceremonies and during visiting heads of state).

After a lunch (own expense) in a restaurant by the river, board a long tail boat for a private cruise around the Klongs (small canals) of Thonburi, the site originally chosen for Thailand's new capital after the fall of Ayuthaya, enjoying the natural scenery along Bangkok's surprisingly rural western suburbs which feel a world away from the chaotic streets of modern Bangkok, across the river. Observe the daily lives of the people who live along the canals.

See the boathouse where the Royal Barges are kept & maintained. Visit the Royal Barge Museum and & then head off the normal tourist route to visit an Orchid & Spice Farm and gain some karma by feeding the fish at a local temple. Stop for an opportunity to talk to some of the students attending the temple school or take a leisurely stroll through vegetable & herb gardens

Return to the hotel by late afternoon.

Evening is set aside to enjoy a superb dinner onboard either a traditional rice barge or a luxury modern boat (you can choose which you prefer), while cruising along the Chao Phraya River. The spectacular sights along the river make an impressive backdrop to the meal & a traditional Thai Classical Dance Show is also included on the modern boat.

Early morning, depart for historic Kanchanaburi where the remains of the famous bridge over the River Kwai can be seen.

The town of   Kanchanaburi sits in a fertile valley where sugar-cane fields bow in the breeze, measuring out an easy pace. In addition to outdoor appreciation, the limestone hills surrounding Kanchanaburi are famous for their temple caves, an underground communion of animistic spirit worship and traditional Buddhism. Winding arteries burrow into the guts of the caves past bulbous calcium deposits and altars for Buddha images, surrounded by offerings from pilgrims. Crawling out of the mountains to the sea, the surrounding rivers (Mae Nam Khwae Noi and Mae Nam Mae Klong) define much of the lazy character of the town. This quiet provincial capital also played an unlikely role during WWII. Here, occupying Japanese forces used captured Allied prisoners of war (POWs) and conscripted Southeast Asians to build a demanding, deadly rail route to present-day Myanmar.

Immediately on arrival, proceed to visit the Allied War Cemetery, war museum & the bridge over the River Kwai. You might have heard of this minor war story thanks to Pierre Boulle’s “The Bridge on the River Kwai” & the movie of the same name. The bridge, several museums & cemeteries have respectfully preserved the history and memorialised the dead.

After a lunch (own expense) by the river it is time to take a Train journey on the Death Railway, over the bridges & a spectacular wooden viaduct built by the POWS during the Second World War. A short long-tailed boat trip along the Kwai Noi River is also included.

After the sightseeing, proceed to the hotel & Check-in.

Morning, drive to Erawan National Park. near the Myanmar border

The 550 sq km Erawan National Park is one of the most famous in Thailand. Just over 80% of the Erawan National Park is covered in verdant rainforest, with winding nature trails allowing visitors to marvel at the giant trees & spot the diverse wildlife that call the park home.

Its forests support an amazinq array of plants & a diverse range of wildlife, from minute brilliantly coloured insects to tigers, the mighty Asian elephants, cobras, wild boar, lar gibbons, sambar deer all live here, while avid bird-watchers should look out for hornbills, woodpeckers, parakeets, crested serpent eagle, black-naped monarch, blue whistling thrush, black-crested bulbul, blue-winged leafbird, dark-necked tailorbird, green-billed malkoha, grey peacock-pheasant & kalij pheasant.

The major attraction at the Erawan National Park, however, is Erawan Falls with emerald green ponds. Named after the three-headed white elephant of Hindu mythology, these stunning falls have seven levels cascading down over 1,500 meters & are widely regarded as among the more beautiful falls in Thailand. Walking to most levels of the waterfall is relatively easy to do, although to get to the very top is quite the hike, and some good walking shoes & a healthy dose of determination are both recommended!

Walk around to enjoy the scenery of rugged landscape of high elevation plateaus & steep valleys before returning to the hotel.

A series of trails & foot bridges will lead visitors all way up to 6^th tier, last tear is accessible by scrambling up to few cliffs for those who like a bit more challenge.

Most tiers are running into ponds, great for swimming. There are few picnic spots around the lower tiers & each tier also has number of smaller falls into ponds full of fishes.

Located 30 km from HQ at the south east corner of the national park, 700 - 800 meters into the forest near the Tha Thung Na village, are pre-historic Caves with evidence of past human habitation - pottery, used tools & rock paintings of trees and human shapes. There are more historic Caves in the vicinity.

There are plenty of activity & sightseeing options available or alternatively you can just relax & take it easy.

Get ready to return to Kanchanaburi by late afternoon,

 .

Morning, we head east to Ayuthaya, the former capital of Thailand (1350-1767AD) and a UNESCO heritage site.

Once one of the world's wealthiest & most cosmopolitan cities, Ayuthaya's gilded temples & treasure-laden palaces glittered from kilometres away. Today, the dozens of ruins offer a tantalising glimpse into its glorious past. Many sites have been partially restored, so it's easy to imagine how they must have looked in their prime.

Between 1350 & 1767, Ayuthaya was the capital of Siam, which at its peak ruled over an area larger than England & France combined. Home to over a million people, the island city was one of Asia's major trading ports & international merchants visiting from around the globe were left in awe.

The empire fell in 1767 when an invading Burmese army thoroughly sacked the city, looting most of its treasures & enslaving thousands of its citizens. As a city that was destroyed by an invading army, Ayuthaya is eulogised like a slain hero. Although, Independence was restored within a year, the capital was moved to what is now Bangkok & Ayuthaya was left largely abandoned for decades. The sacred city, the sacked city, Ayuthaya is complexly intertwined with Thai nationalism & religion.

As the former royal capital, Ayuthaya earned the emerging Thai nation a place among the great empires of Southeast Asia, and placement on the map used by the international merchants sailing between India & China during the era of the trade winds. Major restoration work began in 1969 and now the entire city has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site full of intact temples, monasteries, palace ruins & beheaded Buddhist statues.

The ancient monuments retain little of their bygone majesty, with only a handful in recognisable forms. The modern city that grew among the rubble is busy & provincial, adding a distracting element of chaos to the meditative mood of crumbled kingdoms.

On arrival in the city, meet the Tour-guide & set out on a ‘walking’ sightseeing tour.

Ayuthaya's many ancient temples are scattered throughout the site and along the encircling Chao Phraya River. We will visit several of the most important temples and Ban Pa-In, the former summer palace.

Set out on foot with your knowledgeable guide who leads you to notable Ayutthaya temples lining the riverbank, such as Wat Phra Si Sanphet - part of the Ancient Royal Palace ruins - as well as Wat Mongkhon Bophit, Wat Yai Chai Mongkol & Wat Phanan Choeng, known for its gilded seated Buddha statue.

Marvel at the Buddha's head resting in the tree roots overtaking Wat Mahathat and visit the well-preserved summer palace of King Rama IV with its mixture of Thai, Chinese & Gothic architecture. 

As it is quite a large area to walk, it works better, with limited time, to use one of the city provided golf carts to drive between the buildings.

Enjoy a typical Thai lunch aboard a traditional rice barge.

End the tour with a riverboat cruise on the Chao Phraya River & enjoy views of the houses on stilts & temples lining the riverbank.

Disembark & spend some more time exploring the town before being transferred to the Station to board the train for Chiang Mai.

On arrival in the morning, you will be met by The Journeys representative (holding a placard with your Name) who will ensure your comfort and transfer you to the hotel. He / she will provide assistance during Check-in and also discuss the program for the next day.

Chiang Mai is a lively, bustling city and its charming character makes the province "a must" to visit. One of the many questions Thais may ask a foreign visitor is ‘Have you been to Chiang Mai yet?’ underscoring the feeling that Chiang Mai is a keystone of any journey to Thailand.

Chiang Mai has in excess of 300 temples (121 within the municipal limits) - almost as many as are in Bangkok - a circumstance that makes the old city centre visually striking. Thais idealise their beloved northern capital as a quaint, moated & walled city surrounded by mountains with legendary, mystical attributes. In reality, Chiang Mai is a dynamic & modern city, which has successfully managed to combine its rich history & traditions with its increasingly modern side.

Chiang Mai has always had many feathers to its bow with its cultural riches, relative peacefulness, fantastic handicraft shopping, delicious food and proximity to many natural treasures. Changes are afoot however, with the city becoming somewhere to watch in the style stakes. Yet, the northern capital still manages to retain the relaxed, temple-sprinkled, cultural capital atmosphere of yore, alongside these new hip happenings. With its many & varied attractions, the days of Chiang Mai just being a quick stop off point before heading to the hills, are long gone.

Check-in at the hotel.

Rest of the morning is free to relax.

Afternoon, meet the tour-guide at 01.30 pm & embark on a 3 hour sightseeing tour of this ancient city.

This Chiang Mai temple tour explores the most famous & picturesque of the city’s 36 Buddhist temples (Wats), both inside the city walls & in the nearby countryside – a perfect introduction to Northern Thailand’s cultural & religious capital.

Experience Chiang Mai’s most visually stunning Buddhist temples out of over 36, including the gorgeous & highly revered 600-year-old Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep which contains a holy relic of the Budhha atop the 5,300 foot (1,615 meter) Doi Suthep Peak. Situated amidst a forrested mountain top, the temple affords spectacular views of the city & surrounding countryside & plenty of great photo-ops.

You will visit Wat Chedi, an ancient structure in Central Chiang Mai first constructed in 1411. The temple once rose over 278 feet (84 meters) above the city before it was partially destroyed by an earthquake in 1545. Glance inside the temple to observe statues of guardian spirits that some say protect the temple to this day. 

You will ascend the rolling hills surrounding the Chiang Mai to experience the immaculate Wat Phrathat Doi Sutep, perched high above the urban center near the summit of the peak of Doi Suthep. The final staircase leading to the site is adorned with the impressive body of the mythical dragon-headed serpent, or Naga, snaking its way down 306 steps.

Gain first-hand insight into habits of the temples’ Buddhist monks as they go about their daily routines, plus plenty of opportunities to photograph historic environs of Chiang Mai and the majestic views from the foothills surrounding the city.

Return to the hotel or continue exploring on your own.

In the evening around 06.30 pm, you will be transferred to best place in Chiang Mai to enjoy a traditional Khantoke Dinner - an important part of the northern Thai people's culture & hospitality.

The customary northern Thai style of eating involves a variety of northern dishes being served in large lacquerware & wooden platters at low tables while you sit on mats on the floor. About 7 dishes are put on this wooden plate & shared by the guests. You will have the chance to experiment:

During the dinner there will be a performance of traditional northern Thai hill-tribe music & dancing. As traditional as the food, these dances are exclusive to the Chiang Mai district & you will not see them anywhere else.

Let yourself be entertained by a selection of northern cultural performances including the charming Fon Lep (Thai Finger Dance) - a traditional dance that the Northern Thai people are very proud of. It is usually perform on special occasion, such as when greeting honourable guests or state visitors; Ram Dab (Thai Sword Dance) - this dance was developed from an ancient martial art. It was transformed in to a dance because of its ferocious beauty. The dancer will dance with twelve swords; the Celebration Dance - was composed & choreographed by Chao Dara Rasmi’s court poets & dance instructors in the year 1927. It was part of celebrations on the occasion of the royal king Prajadhipok’s visit to Chiang Mai and replicates & rejoices in the presentation of a white elephant to him. And many more styles.

To end the evening, there is a special show performed by various members of Yao, Lahu, Meo, Lisu & Karen hill-tribes.

Early morning at 06.00 am, depart for a full day excursion to the city of Lampang, enjoying a scenic 1.5 hour drive passing through the beautiful countryside, mountains & small villages.

Enroute, visit the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre (TECC). The Center, founded in 1993 under Royal Patronage, has been bringing travelers up close to one of the jungle’s largest mammals & cares for more than 50 Asian elephants in a beautiful forest conveniently located near the famous city of Chiang Mai.

Visitors can spend time enjoying the grounds while following expert guides who know just about everything there is to know about these massive animals. The camp employees work diligently to educate travelers about animal conservation & environmental protection.

Beyond being an exciting tourist experience, the TECC is also known for its pioneering work in conservation & science. The TECC also proudly houses six of HM King Bhumibol's ten white elephants in the Royal Elephant Stables.

Active in Conservation, the TECC operates an onsite Hospital & manages Thailand's first mobile clinic, treating needy elephants free of charge. The TECC has an excellent natural breeding rate, usually producing at least two baby elephants a year.

The TECC has also done cutting-edge research in Science, especially in reproduction & artificial insemination as well as major studies in the biomechanics of how elephants move ("locomotion").

The TECC has broken new ground in Arts & Culture. It was the first place in Thailand where elephants learned painting. It is also the home of the internationally famous Thai Elephant Orchestra.

The Centre also houses the National Elephant Institute of Thailand, a center of learning which shares its vast library & trained specialists with other agencies & organizations working to help the country's 2,700 domesticated elephants. They also support mahouts (elephant keeper), researchers & vets in good animal welfare practices.

On arrival at the Center, watch a short video about Mosha & Motala, two elephants who survived landmine injuries, including one who received the world’s first elephant prosthetic. You will meet these gentle giants at the elephant hospital and learn about the Foundation’s efforts to improve the fate of Thailand’s elephants.

Proceed to the Friends of the Asian Elephant Hospital - the world’s first elephant hospital, where you will tour the facilities where free transportation & medical care is provided to the sick & injured elephants brought from all over the country, and also see how young elephants are weaned from their dependence upon humans in preparation for releasing them into the wild. The visit is best early in the morning because that it is when most treatments are done. Calves, in a nursery area between the bathing pond & the hospital, arrive early in the morning. They have treated & cared for over 4,000 elephant cases uptp now.

Then tour the private stables where the elephants sleep & live before watching elephants bathing in the pond at exactly 09.40 am.

Watch the 40 minute Show featuring demonstrating their traditional logging techniques & skills at hauling timber and elephants painting pictures, making music, demonstrating agility & more. Perhaps the most unique experience of all, is watching the animals paint & play instruments - truly impressive feat that is worth the cost of admission.

You can even take a ride high atop one of these gentle giants.

Then visit the dung paper factory provides an interesting look at one of the conservation center’s truly unique crafts. You can buy different products made with the craft paper.

You will also stop at Ban Chang Nak - a Museum & artist workshop founded by a renowned Thai master carver of wooden elephants. Admire hundreds of works by local artists on display, and later have the opportunity to paint your own miniature elephant during a crafts workshop (optional – own expense)

Activities happen until 3:30 pm when the elephants are taken into the forest for the night.

Enjoy Lunch at the Center & get ready to leave for Lampang city which sees relatively few visitors, giving it more of an undiscovered feel than some of the more touristic destinations in the north and so it still has a lot of traditional housing & buildings left.

Boasting lumbering elephants, the elegant mansions of former lumber barons and impressive (and in many cases, timber-based) Lanna-era temples, Lampang seems to unite every northern Thai cliché  -  but in a good way.

One legend relates how an early king of Lampang mistakenly executed an innocent goddess, Nan Suchada. Before dying, however, she cursed the city - so the city’s current provincial backwater status is all her fault.

The city began life known as Kukut Tha Nakorn, or City of the Roosters, supposedly founded in the 7^th century by the Mon queen, Cham Thewi.. The name was derived from a legend describing an upcoming visit by Buddha. The god Indra was worried that the locals would not wake up in time to give him alms, so he created a white rooster to crow at dawn. It has remained the city’s symbol ever since.

Lampang grew in the shadow of Lamphun. It was rebuilt in the 13^th century by King Mengrai as a regional outpost to his new capital at Chiang Mai. But the town had its heyday in the 20^th century when, as the centre of the hugely profitable teak industry, French & British entrepreneurs, Chinese & Burmese traders, American missionaries, plus Shan & Lao workers flocked here. The city became the most important & cosmopolitan business and transportation point in the region. North Thailand’s first university was built here.

Today, it is famous for ceramics, horse carts & its prestigious Temples.

Tour one of the most sacred temples in the north, Wat Phrathat Lampang Luang - one of the best preserved of Lanna style temple architecture  as well as the Burmese-style temples Wat Phra Kaew Dontao & Wat Sri Longmuang..

Spend some time wandering around the temples and admire this beautiful architecture.

Stop for lunch break at a local restaurant.

After lunch, continue on to Mae-Ta Market and where you will see a lot of different & exotic foods. Try some local foods such as fried insects (if you are brave), North Thai chili dips & famous pork sausages.

Finally, you will visit Wat Hariphunchai, one of the most beautiful royal temples in Northern Thailand that was built during the reign of King Arthiyayarat, a descendant of Queen Chamthewi 800 years ago.

Depart by Chiang Mai by evening.

Balance of the evening is at leisure to relax of walk around on your own (we would be happy to offer suggestions). 

Overnight.  B L 

Full day at leisure to relax or explore   Lot of options for you to choose from, in this exciting city (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Overnight.   B    

Morning, proceed for the charming & laid back city of Chiang Rai.

Chiang Rai Province has such a diversity of attractions that its capital is often overlooked. This small, delightful city is worth getting to know, however, with its relaxed atmosphere & great local food. It is also the logical base from which to plan excursions to the more remote corners of the province.

Founded in 1262 by King Meng Rai, Chiang Rai was the first capital of the Lanna Thai Kingdom (Kingdom ofa million rice fields), which was later conquered by Burma. It was not until 1786 that Chiang Rai became a Thai territory and was proclaimed a province during the reign of King Rama VI in 1910.

Things are on a smaller scale here, from the night market to the amount of sites to see, but the city has a more relaxed atmosphere, less pollution, and its trekking areas are quicker to get to. Chiang Rai is endowed with abundant natural attractions & antiquities; the province itself is evidence of past civilization.

But today, Chiang Rai also known as ‘Siang Hai’, is being marketed as ‘the gateway to the Golden Triangle’.

Attractions range from magnificent mountain scenery, ruins of ancient settlements, historic sites, Buddhist shrines like the unique, sparkling white Wat Rong Khun temple & ethnic villages as the province is also home to several hill tribes who maintain a fascinating lifestyle

Check-in on arrival.

After a short rest, enjoy a leisurely boat cruise along the Mae Nam Kok River, which affords an excellent opportunity to see the stunning natural jungle scenery.

Return to the hotel.

Early morning around 06.30 am, depart for a full day 12 hour excursion to the border on a scenic drive through the countryside.

Enroute to the Golden Triangle, listen to the Tour-guide sharing details of the day ahead & interesting facts about this former opium-producing capital, where fields of opium poppies were cultivated for thousands of years.

Make a stop at the Mae Ka Chan hot springs, where you can soak sore muscles in three natural pools & let the tiny fish nibble dead skin from your feet, or purchase quail eggs to cook in the boiling waters

Drive on to Chiang Saen - the gateway the notoriously famous or infamous Golden Triangle, where the borders of Thailand, Burma & Laos converge, overlooking the mighty Mekong River.

The sleepy riverside town of Chiang Saen was once the seat of the powerful Lanna kingdom that ruled northern Thailand for several hundred years, starting in the 13^th century.

Take a look at old temples & other ruins as you learn a bit about the region's history, and then head to a lookout point to see the Golden Triangle, that is / was one of the world's largest opium-producing areas.

You may also want to visit (optional - not included) Chiang Saen’s Hall of Opium - a museum & research center. Learn the history and impact of illegal drugs & support a campaign that works to eradicate drug trafficking & abuse in modern day Thailand.  Hall of Opium was built to educate people about the dangers of the drug through an entertaining exhibition which traces opium’s history from its first use 5,000 years ago to current issues of drug abuse and addiction. Many publications regard this as one of the best Museums in Thailand.

Snap some photos, then hop back in your vehicle to drive toward the town of Chiang Khong, stopping along the way at Baan Kiew Karn, a hilltop village populated by the people of the White Hmong & Lahu hill tribes.

Chat with some of the villagers with the assistance of the Tour-guide & take in stunning views of jungle-clad mountains.

Enjoy lunch (included) at a restaurant in Chiang Khong. Choose from a Thai menu that includes vegetable & meat dishes served with rice, flavorful soups, & possibly even a rare Mekong River catfish dish.

After lunch, drive further inland (10 km) to reach the recently opened Fourth Thai - Lao Friendship Bridge, which crosses the Mekong River to link Thailand & Laos.

The Tour-guide will help you with the visa-on-arrival process, which involves going through Thai & Laos immigration offices on both sides of the bridge and paying the Visa fee in either US dollars or Thai baht. (Passport holders from some countries cannot get a Visa on arrival; please check requirements)

Once you have entered into Laos, hop on to another vehicle & proceed to visit a hill- tribe village about 30 minutes away.  You have about an hour to see the village, visit a local market & take in the sights of rural Laos before returning to the bridge to cross back into Thailand & head back to Chiang Rai.

On the return journey to Chiang Rai you will visit the hill tribe villages of Yao & Akha hill- tribe to observe their distinctive dress & traditional ways of life.

Depending on the available time, you may also get to visit Mae Sai - the most northern point of Thailand - on the border with Burma, where Burmese lacquer ware, gems, jade & other goods from Laos & Burma are sold in the shops along the main street.

Drive back to Chiang Rai.

Full day at leisure to relax or explore   Lot of options for you to choose from, in this exciting city (we will be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Overnight.  B    

In time, you will be transferred to Chiang Rai airport for the flight back to Bangkok.

After you exit in the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport,  you will be met by The Journeys representative (holding a placard with your Name) who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to the hotel. He / she will provide assistance during Check-in and also discuss the program for the next few days.

Finally, it is time to say good-bye to the "Land of Smiles" & go home.  We sure hope that you may want to discover a bit more of Siam on your next visit. 

Check-out of the hotel by 12:00 noon (if the departure time is later in the evening, we will request the hotel to allow the use of the hotel facilities & leave the luggage at the Bell Desk if you have the time to walk out). 

In time, you will be met by a Journeys Rep, who will ensure your comfort & transfer you to Terminal? - Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport for your onward journey. B

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