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.

Reach the hotel & Check-in.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals in the morning, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’.

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).

Meet the Tour-guide in the Lobby at 09:00 am & 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.

Come back to the hotel.

Full day at leisure for independent explorations or optional activities (we would be happy to offer suggestions or arrange).

Early morning, you will be picked up for transfer to the Airport to board your flight to Chiang Mai.

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

On arrival, as you exit from the Arrival Hall at Terminal? - Chiang Mai International Airport, you will be welcomed by a 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.

Reach the hotel & Check-in.

*Check-in time is 02.00 pm. For earlier arrivals in the morning, we will request the hotel for a complimentary early Check-in but cannot be guaranteed unless reserved & paid for ‘immediate occupancy’.

Founded in 1296 AD, Chiang Mai is a culturally & historically interesting city, at one time the capital of the ancient Lanna kingdom. Thais idealise their beloved northern capital as a quaint, moated & walled city surrounded by mountains with legendary, mystical attributes.

A sprawling modern city has grown up around ancient Chiang Mai ringed by a tangle of superhighways. Despite this, the historic centre of Chiang Mai still feels overwhelmingly residential, more like a sleepy country town than a bustling capital.

Chiang Mai's historical centre is the walled city (sections of the wall dating to their restoration a few decades ago remain at the gates and corners, but of the rest only the moat remains). Inside Chiang Mai's remaining city walls are more than 300 temples (121 within the municipal limits) - almost as many as are in Bangkok - dating back to the founding of the principality, in a combination of Burmese, Sri Lankan & Lanna Thai styles, decorated with beautiful wood carvings, Naga staircases, leonine & angelic guardians, gilded umbrellas & pagodas laced with gold filigree. And this is what makes the old city centre visually striking. The most famous is Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, which overlooks the city from a mountainside 13 km away.

Chiang Mai has always had many feathers to its bow with its cultural riches, relative peacefulness, fantastic handicraft shopping, delicious food & proximity to many natural treasures.  It is a dynamic & modern city, which has successfully managed to combine its rich history and traditions with its increasingly modern side. Chiang Mai has expanded in all directions, but particularly to the east towards the Ping River (Mae Nam Ping), where Thanon Chang Klan, the famous Night Bazaar and the bulk of Chiang Mai's hotels and guesthouses are located. 

Loi Kroh Rd is the center of the city's nightlife. The locals say you have not experienced Chiang Mai until you've seen the view from Doi Suthep, eaten a bowl of kao soi, & purchased an umbrella from Bo Sang. Of course this is touristic nonsense, but the Kao Soi, Bo Sang umbrellas & Doi Suthep are important cultural icons for Chiang Mai residents. Ratchadamneon Rd hosts the main Sunday night walking street market from Thapae Gate to the popular Wat Phra Singh.

If you drive in a straight line in any direction, you will soon find yourself in the lush green countryside and pristine rainforests dotted with churning waterfalls, serene wat & blissfully calm & laid back villages – as well as a host of markets & elephant sanctuaries.

Participate in a vast array of activities on offer, or just stroll around the backstreets & discover a city that is still firmly Thai in its atmosphere & attitude.

Balance of the day is at leisure for independent explorations or optional activities (we would be happy to offer suggestions or make arrangements).

Morning, meet the Tour-guide & proceed for a 3 hour Chiang Mai temple tour to explore the most famous & picturesque of the city’s 36 Buddhist Wats both inside the city walls & in the nearby countryside , the perfect introduction to Northern Thailand’s cultural & religious capital.

Visit Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, tucked away in the mountains at 3,280 feet. After a drive up the mountain's winding road, the final climb to the site is via an enormous mythological Nagas (Dragon-headed serpent) staircase of 306 steps. The Monastery was built by King Gue-Na in 1383. On a clear day, there is an incomparable view over the city of Chiang Mai from the temple grounds.

Pass through the city’s biggest market - Talad Wararot before going on to other famous temples.

Visit Wat Chedi, an ancient structure in central Chiang Mai first constructed in 1411. The Temple once had an enormous 278 feet (84 meters) Pagoda that rose above the city before it was partially destroyed by an earthquake in 1545. At one time, Wat Chedi Luang housed the revered Emerald Buddha image now enshrined in Bangkok's Wat Phra Kaew. One of Wat Chedi Luang's most striking architectural features is a magnificent Naga staircase adorns the chapel's front porch.

Move on to Wat Phra Singh temple dating from 1345 & one of the focal point of Songkran festivities each April, when people bathe the revered Phra Phutthasihing Buddha image. The Temple compound includes the lovely Lai Kham chapel with its exquisite woodcarving & northern-style murals, and a magnificent scriptural repository with striking bas relief.

Over the course of the sightseeing, gain first-hand insight into habits of the temples’ Buddhist monks as they go about their daily routines.

You will have plenty of opportunities to photograph historic environs of Chiang Mai & the majestic views from the foothills surrounding the city

Return to the hotel.

Balance of the day is at leisure for independent explorations or optional activities (we would be happy to offer suggestions or make arrangements).

Morning, you will be transferred to the Airport for the flight to Phuket.

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

Reach the hotel & Check-in.

Jade-hued waves concealing rainbows of fish wash white-gold beaches wrapped in Phuketian heritage: Phuket, Thailand's dazzling largest island, is so diverse you may forget to leave.

Fun Folks| Beach Bliss| Cultural Heritage |Underwater Wonders| Fabulous Food

Spectacular scenery, stunning tropical sunsets & warm blue sea awaits you at Asia's most popular beach destination. Phuket nestling in balmy Andaman Sea waters on Thailand's Indian Ocean coastline is blessed with magnificent coves & bays, powdery white beaches, sincerely hospitable people & lushly forested mountains - everything necessary for a truly memorable holiday

Those tropical-island beaches are glorious, of course, but venture just a little beyond and you will uncover astonishing Phuketian cultural riches that many visitors zip right past. It was on one of the major trading routes between India & China & was frequently mentioned in foreign trader’s ship logs. Its predominantly Muslim culture has made it a unique place - different from any other part of Thailand.

Of course, there are also many Buddhist temples in Chalong & Thalang and the Christian influence, left over from the early European settlers & traders, blends in with the Southeast Asian cultures to provide a fascinating backdrop. East-coast capital Phuket Town delights with its eye-opening Museums, Peranakan cooking, Chinese shrines, historic mansions & shop-houses done in characteristic Sino-Portuguese style. Even a speedy trip up into the hills behind Kata to Big Buddha connects you to modern-day Phuket's pulse

The pearly white, palm & casuarina-fringed beaches that ring Phuket's southern & western coasts are the island's key bounty. Each beach is different, from the north-west's upmarket Surin & Ao Bang Thao (with their luxe resorts &, in Bang Thao, glossy beach clubs) to mellow, jungled Rawai on far south Phuket, or the infamous west-coast sin city of Patong, home of hangovers & go-go bars. So there is space for everyone, whether you are a flash-packing couple, a luxury jetsetter, a wandering budgeteer or a travelling family on the hunt for seaside fun.

Some of Thailand's most magnificent landscapes lie hidden away beneath the Andaman's glittering surface & Phuket sits blissfully within day-tripping distance of both Ko Phi-Phi's popular dive sites & the famed, national-park-protected, impossibly beautiful Similan Islands. A wealth of local dive schools will have you strapping on a mask & communing with denizens of the deep in no time. For those who don't fancy diving straight in, snorkelling trips offer a tantalising taster, while kayaking expeditions into Ao Phang-Nga's hushed horng (semi-submerged island lagoons) reveal awe-inspiring seascapes of towering limestone karsts.

On Phuket, as in other regions across the Land of Smiles, Thai cuisine takes on its own distinct character. Soulful, spicy, salty southern-Thai cooking collides with Chinese & Malay flavours and influences – so you get, say, Thai-style dim sum or roti dipped in curry for breakfast, along with local culinary creations like mee pad hokkien (stir-fried hokkien noodles in a broth), moo hong (pepper & garlic-braised pork), mee gaang poo (crab-meat curry with noodles) and pak miang (scrambled spinach-like leaves). You will also uncover a world of exquisite fusion menus, elegant international cuisine & freshly caught seafood.

See Phuket town with its delightful mixture of Chinese, Thai & Portuguese buildings & shops. 2 National Parks & a smattering of wildlife sanctuaries await exploration in the island's northern reaches.

Balance of the day is at leisure for independent explorations or optional activities (we would be happy to offer suggestions or make arrangements).

Morning, meet the Tour-guide at 08.00 am & proceed for a sightseeing tour.

Start with a scenic drive to a viewpoint along some of Phuket’s beautiful beaches. See an elephant family and enjoy a 10 minute ride on elephant back.

Visit Phuket’s most famous temple, Wat Chalong and then continue to Phuket town.

There is a great Chinese influence in Phuket, also in religion. One of the highlights of this tour is a visit to an old Chinese mansion in Phuket Town which will give you a historical perspective of Phuket. Your guide will explain the uniqueness of its antique Chinese and European interiors which was illustrated & depicted in many famous Hollywood movies.

Return to the hotel.

Balance of the day is at leisure for independent explorations or optional activities (we would be happy to offer suggestions or make arrangements).

Full day at leisure for independent explorations or optional activities (we would be happy to offer suggestions & make arrangements).

Alas, this wonderful glimpse of Thailand comes to end & 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 & to 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? - Phuket International Airport for your onward journey. B

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