Thailand Tours | Culture and Art Tours

Essential Highlights of Thailand - Tripcode: EHOT10D
(10 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)

• Private tour with English/French speaking guide
• Daily departure from Bangkok

This tour features the best of Thailand’s cities, rural countryside, and beautiful beaches, with an emphasis on regional culture, history, arts and cuisine.

Accommodation is at Thailand’s most highly regarded luxury resorts and hotels, and private touring is with expert local guides who provide exceptional insight and connection to the local people and culture.

Begin with comprehensive touring in Bangkok. With your own private guide, enjoy a fascinating, private long-tail boat tour through Bangkok's canals. Visit the most important temples. Learn about Buddhist practices and influences on daily life.

Hear monks chanting at a morning ceremony. Explore colorful markets selling textiles, flowers, food and crafts. Visit small museums and interesting local neighborhoods. When not sightseeing, enjoy time at the world’s leading spa, swim, play tennis, shop for exquisite Thai silks and art work, and dine on some of Southeast Asia’s best cuisine.

Spend several days in rural Chiang Mai in northern Thailand at one of Asia’s most luxurious and atmospheric resorts, surrounded by mountains and lush fields of terraced rice paddies.

Browse craft districts specializing in celadon ceramics, silver, teak furniture, paper umbrellas, and beautiful silk weavings. Visit revered mountaintop temples, the royal family’s Winter Palace, an elephant camp, and local hill tribe villages. A day will be at leisure to enjoy the resort's spa, cooking school, golf, or pool. Additional cultural excursions are also available.

Next, fly to one of the islands of the south (Phuket or Koh Samui) and enjoy several days at one of Thailand's leading luxury resorts. Spend your days relaxing on pristine beaches, indulging at the spa, swimming, playing tennis or golf, taking cooking classes or yoga lessons, diving, or exploring nearby islands by luxury boat.

Return to Bangkok for some last minute shopping or touring before departing Thailand.

Outline itinerary:

Day 1: Bangkok arrival
Day 2: Bangkok city
Day 3: Bangkok Chiang Mai
Day 4: Chiang Mai
Day 5: Chiang Mai
Day 6: Chiang Mai- Phuket
Day 7: Phuket free
Day 8: Phuket free
Day 9:Phuket free
Day 10: Phuket – Bangkok departure

Essential Highlights of Thailand 10 days

Day 1: Bangkok arrival

Upon arrival in Bangkok , you are welcomed by our local guide and escort to your hotel. Fast Track Immigration & VIP Service at the airport, including a welcome garland and a deluxe transfer to your hotel is also available for deluxe option. Overnight in Bangkok .

Day 2: Bangkok city tour (B, L)

Start out with a visit to the Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha Temple – Wat Phra Kaeo . Before entering the main gate to the temple of the Emerald Buddha , stop by the Royal Regalia Museum to see the beauty of decorative jewelry, which used to be ornament of the royal officers and consorts. Continue exploring Wat Pho – the Reclining Buddha temple, the oldest and biggest temple with the largest number of pagodas (95 in all) in the city well known for its huge Reclining Buddha .

This afternoon, visit “ Arts of the Kingdom ” — a magnificent exhibition of exquisite but rarely seen traditional Thai crafts reflects the decades of work initiated under The Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques or the Support Foundation under the Royal Patronage of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit.

Day 3: Bangkok – Chiang Mai (B, L)

Free until time to transfer to the airport for the flight to Chiang Mai. Upon arrival in Chiang Mai, you are welcomed at the airport and transferred to your hotel for check-in.

Afternoon drive up to Doi Suthep to visit Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep located on a mountain overlooking the city and the most sacred temple in Northern Thailand , containing a holy relic of Lord Buddha, with a challenging climb of over 300 steps, flanked by enormous mythological Nagas. A panoramic view of the city can be seen from here at 3,500 feet above sea level.

We drive down to Chiang Mai's old town and proceed to Wat Suan Dok for an exclusive monk chat. Experience Dhamma of Buddhism and local lifestyle always related to Buddhism. The Monk Chat Session gives an opportunity to foreigners to have an interactive communication with Thai monks by talking informally. Buddhism and Thai Culture as well as general topics about Thai ways of living can be discussed at the session. Transfer to your hotel for check in and time at leisure. Overnight in Chiang Mai

Day 4: Chiang Mai – Elephant at work at Mae Sa (B, L)

After an early breakfast, head out on an excursion about 30 km from Chiang Mai to Chiang dao for a visit to an elephant camp where elephants of all sizes can be seen amid the beautiful jungle to the north of the city. In lush tropical jungle, you will see the elephants taking their morning bath in the running streams before starting working and being trained. The morning tour includes a demonstration around 09.40am of how trained elephants are used as work animals in the teak forests of Thailand . This is your chance to enjoy an elephant ride around camp.

Afterwards, board bamboo rafts along a very picturesque stretch of the river to see the beautiful scenery down the river. The rafting lasts about an hour but depends on the depth of the water and the speed of the current. Lunch will be at a local restaurant today.

The evening is at leisure. Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Day 5: Chiang Mai – Cooking class(B, L)

Enjoy a cooking class in an organic farm. Experience a morning visit of local market for ingredient shopping. Wade through the organic farm and learn more about various ingredients growing here as well as the essential ingredients for your own dishes. Enjoy cooking Thai dishes such as Curry, Tom Yam, Papaya Salad, Spring Roll and Mango with Sticky Rice. For lunch you will enjoy what you have prepared. Return to the hotel in the afternoon, the rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Chiang Mai. At Authentic Thai house.

Day 6: Chiang Mai – Phuket(B)

Time at leisure until transfer to Chiang Mai Airport for departure to Phuket. Upon arrival in Phukhet airport, transfer to your hotel for check-in. Overnight in Phuket.

Day 7: Phuket free (B)

You will be picked up from the hotel at approximately 07:30 a.m. and transferred to the embarkation pier at Yacht Haven Marina by air-conditioned bus. Embark on board the "June Bahtra" for 09:00 a.m. departure and enjoy your cruise through the enchanting and breathtaking Phang Nga Bay .

Around noon, you will arrive at James Bond Island and continue your journey by long tail boat through the mangrove delta and the Grotto Cave to the Sea Gypsy village. A delicious Thai buffet lunch is served back on board, then the afternoon is free to relax, sunbathe and swim. Cruise back to Phuket Island and transfer to the hotel. You will arrive back in your hotel at approximately 18:00.

Note: (SIC, German/ English speaking guide: Every Wed, Fri & Sun) (SIC, French / English speaking guide: Every Mon, Tue, Thu & Sat) . Overnight in Phuket.

Day 8: Phuket – Phiphi Island (B)

In the early morning take a cruise to Phi Phi Island and sight seeing Maya Bay from the cruise. After disembarking, enjoy swimming in crystal clear water or sun bathing on the white sand beach. Have a buffet lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon take your time to snorkel or explore the Island .

Day 9: Phuket(B)

Today is free at leisure for relax and unwind. A wide variety of optional activities are available upon request. Overnight in Phuket.

Day 10: Bangkok Departure(B)

Time at leisure until transfer to the airport for flight to Bangkok to connect your homeward flight. Tour ends.

Package price includes:

• All transfer & Transportation by private air-conditioned car
• English / French, speaking guide
• Meals as indicated in the program (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
• Admission fees where applicable
• Accommodation shared in twin rooms with daily breakfast
• Service charge and applicable government tax

Package price excludes:

• International airfare and airport tax
• Domestic airfare and airport tax
• All In-tour flights: BKK/CNX/HKT/BKK
• Compulsory meal during festive event
• Hotel's early check-in and late check-out charge
• Alternative or optional services
• Other meals or services than mention in the program

Expenditure of a personal nature such as; drinks, tips, laundry, insurance etc.,

Group size	Valid From 01 Nov 2011 – 20 Dec 2011 & 16 Mar, 2012 – 15 Apr, 2012 Price per person in USD in party of
	1	2	3-4	5-6	7-9	10-14	SglSup
Superior	2,343	1,325	1,200	1,096	1,065	N/A	503
First Class	2,979	1,643	1,518	1,415	1,383	N/A	822
Deluxe	4,306	2,311	2,181	2,078	2,047	N/A	1,486
Luxury	8,403	4,355	4,230	4,122	4,095	N/A	3,533

Group size	Valid From 21 Dec, 2011 – 20 Jan, 2012 Price per person in USD in party of
	1	2	3-4	5-6	7-9	10-14	SglSup
Superior	2,594	1,451	1,325	1,222	1,191	N/A	629
First Class	3,284	1,796	1,670	1,567	1,536	N/A	822
Deluxe	4,683	2,500	2,370	2,266	2,235	N/A	1,486
Luxury	8,403	4,355	4,230	4,122	4,095	N/A	3,533

Group size	Valid From 21Jan, 2012 – 15 Mar, 2012 Price per person in USD in party of
	1	2	3-4	5-6	7-9	10-14	SglSup
Superior	2,405	1,361	1,231	1,128	1,096	N/A	535
First Class	3,055	1,684	1,554	1,451	1,419	N/A	822
Deluxe	4,306	2,311	2,181	2,078	2,047	N/A	1,486
Luxury	8,403	4,355	4,230	4,122	4,095	N/A	3,533

Group size	Valid From 16 Apr, 2012 – 31 Oct, 2012 Price per person in USD in party of
	1	2	3-4	5-6	7-9	10-14	SglSup
Superior	2,186	1,249	1,119	1,016	984	N/A	425
First Class	2,621	1,469	1,339	1,235	1,204	N/A	822
Deluxe	3,544	1,930	1,800	1,697	1,666	N/A	1,486
Luxury	7,193	3,755	3,625	3,522	3,490	N/A	3,533

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Contact Person: Mr. David Nguyen E-Mail: sales@luxurytravelvietnam.com Tel: +84 4 3927 4120 - Fax: +84 4 3927 4118 Hotline:+ 84.12 34 68 69 96 Opening Hours ( GMT+0700 ) Mon - Sat: 09:00 A.M - 06:00 P.M Sunday: 10:00 A.M - 04:00 P.M

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