10-day Cultural Thailand Tour

Upon arrival at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, be met and greeted by the guide for transfer to the hotel.
This late afternoon go on a half day trip to discover one of the least-known-by-foreigners street areas of Bangkok around Bangrak district. Once in the area, be introduced to some good restaurants, mainly local ones, while enjoying sampling some street snacks. Travel by local modes of transportation like the tuk tuk or local buses after the guide explains how they work.
Cool down with a local Thai iced coffee, kafe boran, or a fresh, cold fruit shake. After that, hop on a tuk tuk to River City Shopping Complex pier and take a ferry crossing to Khlongsan district and explore the local market in the area.
End the walking tour at the Jam Factory, a small industrial design complex with a modern book café and a unique furniture shop by a famous Thai artist. Located in the complex is The Never Ending Summer Restaurant, a cool industrial style Thai restaurant with authentic Thai taste and enjoy a nice dinner in a cozy atmosphere (at own expenses). After dinner, transfer back to the hotel.  
Overnight in Bangkok.

After breakfast at the hotel, drive just an hour south of Bangkok to Samut Songkhram, the province that offers visitors a glimpse into Thai countryside life. We will start the day with a stop at a local train station to experience a short regional train ride bounding for an amazing country market that has sprouted along the railway tracks. Here, witness the dexterity and speed of the vendors as they quickly pack their stalls right before 08:30 when the train approaches, hence bringing shopping to a brief halt. It is a standard practice and stall holders have learnt the art of assembling and reassembling their wares at a moment’s notice!
Then, visit Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and take a long-tail boat ride through the canals and see how Thai people live alongside the labyrinth of canals in this area. Arrive at the famous Damnoen Saduak market and stroll around the colourful floating marketplace bustling with boats and vendors selling tropical fruits and other delights.
Return to Bangkok and free afternoon at leisure.
Overnight in Bangkok.
 

Breakfast at the hotel and spend the day free at leisure.

PM OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Bangkok Architectural Odyssey
Today’s tour will begin at either 08:00 or 12:00. Travel through the city streets to the banks of the Chao Phraya River for the start of this insightful architectural tour. Board a private wooden barge, richly decorated with cushions and flowers. Slowly cruise along the river towards Chee Chin Khor temple. Although not very old, this pagoda is Bangkok’s best example of traditional Chinese pagoda design. Admire its eight-story high structure and the eclectic images of Buddha and learn how Chinese and Thai Buddhism have converged in modern day Bangkok.
Continue by boat to Wat Prayun Wongsawat for a study of classic Thai architecture. See the typical structures of a Thai pagoda including an ordination hall, assembly hall, meditation hall and library. Notice the 80-metre-high chedi at the centre, surrounded by 18 smaller towers, creating a remarkable visual effect.
Next up is Turtle Mountain, also known as Wat Prayoon. This site highlights Thailand’s deep-rooted spiritual beliefs. Examine the spirit houses, small shrines that the locals believe house spirits of the deceased. Then continue to Wat Arun, an iconic riverside monument. Admire Wat Arun from afar, and see how it represents Mount Meru, the spiritual centre of Buddhist cosmology. After years of hiding behind scaffolding, the incredible ceramic inlays on the chedis are now visible for everyone to see again.
Travel onto Bangkok Noi canal, a residential section of the waterways, filled with shop houses and local temples. Learn how this area was once a major trading route lined with impressive homes of aristocrats. On the way back to town make one last stop at Wat Cha Lo, a hidden temple that features a mythical swan sculpture, usually only found on royal barges.

Time: 08:00,1200 / 13:00,17:00
Note: Children between 2 and 11 years at the time of travel will receive a 15% discount
Overnight in Bangkok.

Early in the morning, meet with the guide and driver and head south from Bangkok towards Kanchanaburi with an en-route stop at Nakhon Pathom, for a visit to Woodland Muangmai Fantasy Museum. Here, enjoy the legendary “Tales of the Wood” through unique and beautiful wooden art pieces from various places. Following this, proceed to Kanchanaburi.
Upon arrival in Kanchanaburi, lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, embark on a longtail boat and cruise around the River Kwai. Disembark at the pier in Kanchanaburi, next to the ‘Bridge over the River Kwai’. Stop for a photo opportunity of the bridge from the ground-level. Then continue for a visit to Death Railway Museum & Research Centre and War Cemetery.
Dinner at the hotel, and overnight in Kanchanaburi.
 

After breakfast, depart for Erawan Waterfall - a beautiful seven-tiered waterfall located in Erawan National Park. The best time to visit is during rainy season from May until September. It’s possible to walk up to each tier of these picturesque falls, so be sure to bring good walking shoes. Also remember to bring a swimming suit to cool off in the falls’ natural pools. Then continue by car through the national park area to Phra That Cave - a large mountain cave filled with stunning stalactites and stalagmites.
After lunch, take a short train ride along the infamous ‘Death Railway’ through Kwai Noi Gorge.
After the ride, transfer to the resort.
Dinner at the resort.
Overnight in Kanchanaburi.

After breakfast at the hotel, start a day trip to Elephant World, located just half an hour from the famous River Kwai Bridge. Elephant World is a sanctuary for elephants with nowhere else to go. Here they can enjoy the natural jungle landscape in peace and harmony.
Following a warm welcome and introduction from the volunteers at Elephant World, it’s off to meet the elephants themselves. Be introduced to each elephant and have the opportunity to work for them under guidance from the ‘mahout’ – the local elephant handler. This includes enjoyable activities like cutting sugar cane or banana plants to feed the elephants.
After a Thai lunch at the camp, have the incredible opportunity to take a bath with the elephants in the Kwai Yai River! Help give them a good scrub, before walking the elephants back into the camp, and then on into the forest where they will spend the night.
Return to the hotel.
Dinner and overnight in Kanchanaburi.

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out and transfer from Kanchanaburi to Bangkok Airport for flight to Chiang Mai.
Upon arrival in Chiang Mai, explore the old and modern city, including its old crumbling city walls, gates, moat, eclectic markets, residential areas, majestic foreign consulates, government buildings and Tapae Road, one of Chiang Mai’s main streets. Continue with a drive up to Doi Suthep Mountain for a visit to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Built in 1384 AD, this is the most sacred temple in Northern Thailand. Inside the temple, see one of the most sacred stupas in all of Thailand. A fantastic panoramic view over the city can be seen from here.
In the early evening, be met with the guide at the hotel and transfer by van Chiang Mai city to explore evening street food markets on foot. Taste some northern Thai delicacies and learn how to order food in Thai. The tour ends at around 21:00.
Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Breakfast at the hotel.
Today, experience a typical day in the life of a Thai person- no tourists, no sightseeing, just real life home cooking in a truly Thai neighbourhood.
Join Mr.Prapat in his family car and be transferred for 20 minutes to Hang Dong to spend the day with a typical Thai family. In true Thai style, slip into a pair of local ‘fisherman’s pants’ and discover the architecture of a traditional Thai house and rice barn. The Thai family will also demonstrate their basket weaving skills, a tradition that has been in Thailand for centuries. Stroll around the small, family orchid and select fresh ingredients to add to the day’s cooking extravaganza. Learn to cook traditional home cooked recipes with authentic northern Thai flavours that are different from standard dishes offered in commercial cooking classes. Best of all, have the opportunity to get to know a real Thai family and be their house’s guest for the day. Enjoy a delicious home cooked lunch with the family (cooked together). In the afternoon, go for a stroll around the neighborhood to see some cottage industry goods being made before returning to Chiang Mai.
Overnight in Chiang Mai.
 

Wake up early morning at 05:30. Enjoy an unforgettable hot air balloon ride in Chiang Mai. Awake early and transfer in the dark to the launch site on the outskirts of town (Note: A takeaway breakfast box from the hotel will be provided). Enjoy a cup of coffee while the crew inflates the balloon, watching as the canopy rises gently into the air.
Following a safety briefing from the pilot, climb into the basket. Once everyone is on board the pilot will fire up the burners, release the ropes, and start navigating the balloon into the sky. Soar higher and higher as the sun peeks over the horizon. The gentle breeze will help the pilot fly the balloon over the countryside. Pass fields and rice paddies, see the lush Ping River Valley and dip low over rural Thai villages. Enjoy the solitude of the open skies while soaking up the panoramic views.
After 1-1.5 hours, the pilot will begin to descend back to the ground. Land in the countryside and celebrate with a champagne toast, a ballooning tradition.
Armed with a certificate of achievement and a camera-full of memories.
Continue to be transferred to the Elephant Discovery Camp, located in a private natural area up on a hill which is not open to the public. Meet the staff of the camp to change and be transferred by 4WD drive to the campsite.
Upon arrival at the camp, enjoy lunch served at the camp. After that meet an elephant mahout, be introduced to the elephants, and learn about their story and daily lifestyle. Interact and play with the elephants under mahouts’ supervision and form a bond with them. Enjoy a walk alongside hem and enjoy watching them play in the mud pond. Learn to communicate with them and how to prepare nutritional food and desserts for them using various natural ingredients. Also, have fun bathing and soaking the elephants in a big pond.
Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Breakfast at the hotel, check out and transfer to Chiang Mai Airport for the onward flight.