13-day Thailand Family Fun Holiday

Upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Sonasia’s guide & driver will pick you up and transfer directly to the hotel in the old quarter of Hanoi.
Same same, but different. This Thailish T-shirt philosophy sums up Bangkok, a city where the familiar and the exotic collide like the flavors on a plate of pàt tai.
Overnight in Bangkok.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Asiatique Night Bazaar. Asiatique the Riverfront is themed according to the city’s architecture of old Siam, and features a very distinctive atmosphere during the night time. Divided into several sections, the Charoenkrung District has over 1,000 boutiques. The Town Square combines Eastern and Western culture with a variety of eateries, beer gardens and an outdoor activity square, the Factory District is set in a 100-year old refurbished sawmill with over 500 fashion stores, international restaurants, wine bars and a panoramic view of the Chao Phraya River.

Optional for early risers: Enjoy a stroll in the Bangkok Central (Lumpini) Park to witness local people activities i.e. morning Exercise (Tai Chi, Yoga, Aerobic Dance… etc) in the green heart of this big Mango – the capital city - with the backdrop of Metropolitan’s skyscrapers and return to your hotel.
After breakfast at your hotel, meet with your guide and head out of your hotel for an original full day of sightseeing in the City of Angels using exclusively public means of transportation. Walk to the nearest BTS Station and get on the Skytrain for a short ride to the terminal station of Saphan Taksin on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. Continue by public boat to Tha Thien pier where you disembark to visit Wat Pho, the home of Thai massage and the reclining Buddha. Continue to visit the Grand Palace. The Royal Grand Palace is the nation’s landmark and the most revered royal monument and host of the mysterious Emerald Buddha, the most revered Buddha image in Thailand. Appropriate dress is required.
Lunch might be taken in a local restaurant nearby the palace.
In the afternoon, walk or Tuk Tuk across the royal fields of Sanam Luang to visit Rattanakosin Exhibition Hall (Closed on Mondays). The exhibition displays the Thai way of life from every period of Rattanakosin and Thai tradition and beliefs with interactive light and sound performance. 
Board the khlong “bus-boat” and cross the city to the west. Disembark at Ratchathewi boat station for a short walk to the area of shopping complex for your own shopping design, or simply return to your hotel by BTS.
Overnight in Bangkok.

Early in the morning, drive south from Bangkok to the garden province of Samut Songkhram (80 kms) in the Mae Klong River Delta area. Visit a unique country market along the railway tracks where a stalls full of goods completely surround the train tracks. Afterwards, continue to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and stroll around the colourful floating marketplace bustling with boats and vendors selling tropical fruits and other delights.
Then drive further to Kanchanaburi and find the famous bridge on the River Kwai, built by Allied prisoners of war during World War II. Ride the famous train and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. The restaurant is situated near the famous bridge on the River Kwai.
Afterwards, hop on a longtail boat and cruise up the river to the hotel for the evening.
Dinner at the hotel.
Overnight in Kanchanaburi.

After breakfast at the hotel, depart for Erawan Waterfall, a beautiful 7-tiered waterfall located in Erawan National Park. Be sure to bring proper walking shoes and a swimming suit, as the waterfall has multiple swimming areas that can be accessed with a bit of hiking.
On the way back, stop at a local temple for private blessing and to make merit (Thai way of earning good karma).
Dinner in Kanchanaburi.
Overnight in Kanchanaburi.

After breakfast, we leave the beautiful nature of Kanchanaburi behind and head to historic Ayutthaya. Visit some important ruined temples in the historical park. Stop lunch on the way.
Arrive in Ayutthaya in the afternoon, meet Thanatharee at the pier in Ayutthaya to join the afternoon program, take a bike or walk to local community to experience the life of local people. Afterward, embark on Thanatharee, a unique teak wood boat, and dinner onboard. Accommodation in comfortable private air-conditioned twin cabins, each with 2 beds
Overnight on Thanatharee (Ayutthaya).

Rise early to join activities like preparing some traditional Thai Sweets – “Khanom” or offering food to the monks on their morning alms round. After breakfast, continue on the transfer departing Ayutthaya for Sukhothai. Lunch at a local restaurant on the way.
Arrive Sukhothai in the late afternoon.
Visit Sukhothai Historical Park, which was once a walled city surrounded by moat. Explore the main historical site by tram.
Overnight in Sukhothai.

After breakfast at the hotel, head north to Lampang with a stop on the way to the villages of Sri Satchanalai and Baan Na Ton Chan. Take a walk through these charming small villages and experience the heartbeat of Thailand on an experiential tour that seeks to bring travelers and locals together while exposing a side of the country that is rarely seen by outsiders. On the visit, you pick fruit alongside locals and see what it is like to work in rice paddy fields. This is the perfect opportunity to learn how communities in this region are adopting sustainable living practices. Observe the innate craftsmanship of locals with a visit to a wooden toy manufacturer and a local silk weaver.
Stop on the way at Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, one of the most spectacular temples in Thailand dating back to 1486. Here, have an opportunity to take a horse cart ride through town. Also, visit Wat Pong Sanook, a temple awarded by UNESCO for cultural heritage conservation due to its inspirational model for community-led conservation in saving a unique Lanna temple.
Continue driving to the northern capital, Chiang Mai.
Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Depart your hotel at 06.00 AM and arrive at the foot Hill of Doi Suthep Mountain, in time to buy offerings and join the locals during the daily alms giving ceremony. This is a serene Buddhist procession where dozens of monks walk barefoot through the street collecting food and everyday items. Continue up the mountain to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and climb the 309 steps of the Golden Naga staircase to reach its golden pagodas. Proceed to Wat Umong, built in the 14th century, a heavily forested temple covered by moss and small plants offering a unique yet charming sense of natural decay. After a walk through its mysterious tunnels you reach the Viharn of the temple to experience your own private blessing ceremony. After this, you have the option to return to the hotel for a late breakfast or Take away breakfast from hotel. Or enjoy this lovely day with a delicious bowl of Khao Soy. This famous Northern Thai dish is a combination of coconut cream, crispy noodles and plenty of spice that is sure to delight!
Depart for Lisu Lodge via the winding mountainous route. A traditional welcome drink will be served upon arrival followed by a short briefing. We will propose a choice of activities and you can decide how you want to spend the afternoon. Our Lisu guide will take you for a walk through the village. You will start from the Ton Lung temple to view the herbal garden and visit some local families with a stop for a cup of tea and a spot of traditional medicine at the shaman’s house. Return to Lisu Lodge for a tasty Thai Lunch.
Afterwards you have a choice of activities:
Guided bike tour around the Lisu Lodge area.
Steam bath.
Massage.
Time at leisure until the Thai dinner with a traditional Lisu dance show.
Overnight in Lisu Lodge.

After a scrumptious breakfast in the morning, depart from Lisu Lodge to Mae Rim District, stopping at an orchid nursery along the way to check out 50 types of beautiful orchids that bloom year-round. There are also numerous beautiful and rare butterflies that frequent the area.  
After lunch, change the transportation and take a modern pick-up truck through a beautiful hilly road to a Hmong hilltribe village -home for the evening. Check into Hmong Hilltribe Lodge and enjoy the lush tropical surroundings during a barbecue dinner and cultural presentations.
Overnight at Hmong Hilltribe Lodge.

Breakfast and depart for Chiang Mai.
Check-in at the hotel in Chiang Mai and free time to relax at leisure.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: Cooking Class at Baan Hongnual. Depart to Sarapee district in a Lanna-style teak house. Learn the art of Thai cooking from master cooks in a typical Thai kitchen. Roll up your sleeves and try your hand at cooking famous food and desserts of the country. Gather herbs and local vegetables from the garden and prepare them to create various types of mouth-watering dishes. During the course, you will gain a sound knowledge about local herbs and ingredients.
Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Depart to the airport in Chiang Mai after breakfast in the morning and take a direct flight to Phuket.
Upon arrival at Phuket Airport, be picked up by the local guide and drive to the Khao Sok National Park entrance and headquarters.
Arrive in the afternoon and, after a short briefing, start hiking up the main trail in Khao Sok. This trail winds through enormous bamboo groves, old growth trees and strangler figs. With a bit of luck, we might see dusky langurs, long-tail macaques, hornbills, small lizards and more.
We hike at a leisurely pace, taking short breaks from time to time, so that anyone reasonably fit can enjoy this hike. From time to time we get off the main track and go down across hiking trails towards the Sok River, if there’s enough water it’s even possibly go for a refreshing dip. Keep in mind that the trails are very basic; be prepared to climb across rocks and tree trunks occasionally! Once back in the ranger station at Bang Hua Red we stop for a cold drink. After this relaxing break we follow the main dirt track back to the park headquarters.
Return to Anurak Community Lodge between 16:30 and 17:30.
Overnight at Anurak Community Lodge. 

Breakfast at the hotel.
Enjoy a full-day Chiew Lan Lake tour which will give you not only the opportunity to marvel at the magnificent ‘fairy-tale’ like scenery but to spot wildlife in its natural habitat as well. 
This one-day, join-in tour starts with a 9AM pick-up from Anurak Community Lodge. As part of a small group of like-minded adventure and nature enthusiastic travelers, you will be transported to the lake pier some 40-minute drive from the lodge. 
Once on the lake your local guide will take you on a jungle hike, leading up to a cave or a viewpoint (depending on the weather conditions). You will have the opportunity to swim in the lake before lunch at the floating raft houses that will capture your imagination with their rustic charm. Afterwards return to the lodge between 17:30 and 18:30.
Overnight in Anurak Community Lodge.

After breakfast, get picked up at 09:00 and hop on a longtail boat. Take in the area’s majestic scenery while gently floating down the Sok River in the morning. The journey starts a few kilometres upstream, leading past the towering cliffs of Khao Sok! Halfway through the trip, stop for a swimming and a coffee break (depending on the season). Then return to the canoe and continue paddling downstream. Along the way, the expert guide will point out brightly coloured birds, monkeys, monitor lizards or even a snake or two resting high up in the tree canopies. The local guides come from the local villages and, although their English language skills may be limited, they more than make up for that with their infectious enthusiasm for the unique natural environment and their deep knowledge of the jungle.
Elephant Experience
The Elephant Bathing and Feeding Experience provides a great opportunity to get close these beautiful gentle giants. Spend one magical hour feeding and bathing an elephant. This is the least harmful experience for the elephant, and the best way to interact with these majestic animals. By offering this ‘low impact’ experience we support the elephants and contribute to their ethical upkeep. After the Elephant Experience, be driven to Phuket for the onward flight.