 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
Country: LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC, THAILAND
|
|
|
| Go Differently |
19 West Road
Essex
UNITED KINGDOM
CB11 3DS
Phone: +44 (0) 1799 521950
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Program description: |
|
|
A fascinating insight into this little explored part of Northern Thailand - learn about the culture, past and present of the charming Thai people. Explore magnificent monuments, ruined temples and prehistoric sites, brose in the local markets, relax as you travel down the Mekong river and experience the warmth of a local village welcome on two overnight homestays.
Day 1 - Arrive Bangkok
Upon arrival at the airport you will be met and taken to your hotel, the Fortune Hotel, Bangkok.
Day 2 - Bangkok
After a leisurely breakfast, drive to visit Jim Thompson's House and Textile Museum for lunch, and to see the art and textile collection of this fascinating man, credited at one time with reviving and revitalizing the Thai silk industry. Then continue to one of Bangkok's piers for a thrilling ride by long-tailed speed-boat or express boat on the picturesque Chao Phraya River and through the canals out of Bangkok to see rural lifestyles. Board a converted rice barge for a cruise through the backwaters while relaxing with cold drinks and tropical fruits. Observe the scenery and the simple life of the friendly canal folk. In the late afternoon return to your hotel for dinner at your leisure. (B, L, D)
Day 3 - Bangkok - Grand Palace - Vimanmek Palace - Wat Rajabopit
Visit the Grand Palace, one of the most beautiful samples of an ancient Siamese court and former the residence of the Kings of Bangkok. Continue to Wat Rajabopit which can be easily recognized by its distinctive doors, carved in relief with jaunty-looking soldiers wearing European-type uniforms. Western art with Thai traditional and blended with Italian Gothic to reflect King Chulalongkorn's interest. In the late afternoon return to the hotel for overnight and dinner. (B, L, D)
Day 4 - Phitsanulok - Sukhothai and Sri Satchanalai - Lampang
Transfer to Bangkok Domestic airport for your flight to Phitsanulok. Upon arrival continue to Sukhothai and visit the famous ruins of this first capital of Thailand (1257-1379). See Wat Maha Dhat, Wat Sra Sri and Wat Sri Chum. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and then continue to Sri Satchanalai, the northern outpost town of the Kingdom of Sukhothai. Visit Wat Chang Lom, Wat Jedi Jet Thaew, Wat Nang Phya and Wat Phra Sri Ratana Maha Dhat standing on site of the Khmer fort Chalieng. Continue to Lampang and check in to your hotel for the night and dinner. (B, L, D)
Day 5 - Lampang - Elephant Training Centure - Ban Thanon
Visit the Lampang Elephant Camp. In the old days there were at least 4,000 elephants employed to do logging work but this is now a sanctuary for abused elephants. It also houses the only Elephant Hospital in Thailand. Spend some time shopping in Lampang town and maybe buy some of the blue and white pottery for which this area is famous or enjoy a ride in a horse-drawn carriage. You will also have a chance to visit the Wat Prathat Lampang Luang - considered to be one of the most interesting monasteries in Northern Thailand. Lunch in Lampang town before heading for Payao - a unique rural town and where there is still some evidence of its former glory as a princely state. After a short visit we continue to Chiang Rai and Ban Thanon checking into the Maekok River Village Resort on the banks of the Kok River. Dinner will be served at the Resort. (B, L, D)
Day 6 - Maekok River Barge Tour
Depart Ban Thanon to visit the villages of Shan and Akha. Then board one of our customised river barges and raft down river through the stunning scenery. Enjoy a picnic lunch at a shaded river-bank spot and then continue down river through one or two light rapids. Canoes are carried on board for those who wish to use them. Upon arriving at the forestry research station, we take a short trek of 1.5 hrs to visit a Musur hill tribe village and then continue on to our river base camp for an overnight stop. Accommodation is in basic bamboo bungalows overlooking the river. Dinner is a BBQ meal served on linen clad trestle tables, after which you can relax around the campfire. (B, L, D)
Day 7 - Continue River Barge Tour - Chiang Rai
After breakfast, we continue rafting down river through gorges and past isolated hill tribe villages, stopping along the way to visit some hot springs. The children in the villages are always keen to wave and excitedly call hello! from the banks. Again, canoes are available for use if required. We stop for a short elephant safari into the surrounding jungle, before lunch in a local restaurant. Then re-board the river barge for the final leg of the journey down to Chiang Rai. Arrival is in the early afternoon. Rest of the day at leisure. Tonight explore Chiang Rai on your own and have dinner at one of the excellent restaurants in town. (B, L)
Day 8 - Pak Ou Boat - Laos
Catch the Pak Ou boat to cruise down the Mekong to Pakbeng stopping en route for a picnic lunch on the riverbank and again to discover a village of minorities (Yao or Lu Tribes). On the board, relax and watch the rural life along the river. We arrive in Pak Beng before sunset and check in at Luangsay Lodge - where dinner is served on the terrace, overlooking the Mekong River. (B, L, D)
Day 9 - Pak Ou Boat - Luang Prabang
Take a walk to Pakbeng market, where people from the surrounding villages exchange their goods, then re-board the Pak Ou boat for the second leg of the cruise - stopping again for a picnic lunch on a sandy river beach and a short stop to explore a Hmong Hill tribe village. We continue to Pak Ou village at the mouth of the Nam Ou River where we will visit the Tam Ting Caves, housing over a 1000 Buddha images of all sizes and shapes! Then on the way to Luang Prabang for another brief stop to observe the traditional process of making the local rice alcohol. We arrive in Luang Prabang before sunset. After time to freshen up, dinner will be at a local restaurant where we will be entertained by traditional singers. (B, L, D)
Day 10 - Luang Prabang - Tad Khuang Sii Waterfall
Take a half-day spin around Luang Prabang… and you will soon understand why it deserves the World Heritage title! Visit Wat Visoun, the site of impressive Thad Makmo stupa. Phou Sii hill stands right in the centre of this small city - climb its 350 steps to enjoy commanding views for many miles in each direction. Wat Phu Sii sits atop the mountain, along side the skeletons of Indochina war anti-aircraft guns! Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. In the afternoon drive with your guide by car to the Tad Khuang Sii waterfall. The falls cascade over many calcified tiers and down several hundred feet into a series of cool, turquoise pools. The water here has a clear blue-green tint due to the high mineral content. You can climb the stairs and look down from various high viewpoints on the way to the top! It's also possible to take a swim in one of the pools. In the late afternoon return to your hotel. Own dinner arrangements. (B, L)
Day 11 - Ventiane - Nong Khai
Time at leisure until we transfer to the airport for the flight to Vientiane. Upon arrival enjoy a city tour to Wat Sisaket with its thousands of miniature Buddha statues. Lunch in a local restaurant before continuing to visit Wat Simuang and Wat Prakeo, which was the original home of the famous Emerald Buddha, which today lives in Bangkok. In the late afternoon transfer to the Friendship Bridge to cross the border into Thailand. Continue to Nong Khai. Dinner will be served in a local restaurant. (B, L, D)
Day 12 - Phu Phra Bhat - Ban Chiang - Nakorn Phanom
Visit Phu Phra Bhat, an eerie, almost primeval place with very unusual rock formations including the Tao Barot or Nang Usa stone and learn the about the fascinating legend which surrounds it. Continue to Wat Kaek to see the rather bizarre and surreal statuary at this temple. The statues range in size from small dogs to over 30 meters in height. Some of the sculptures are beautiful, some are confusing, and some are just plain bizarre. We then drive to Ban Chiang which is considered to be the most important prehistoric settlement so far discovered in South-East Asia. After lunch in a local restaurant we continue to Kud Na Kham craft centre which produces earthenware for utensils and home decoration. Continue to Si Songkram for a village walk and enjoy the view at Chaiburi where the Si Songkram river meets the Mekong. Late afternoon arrive in Nakorn Phanom, time at leisure to visit this charming town on your own. Dinner will be served in a local restaurant. (B, L, D)
Day 13 - Ban Nong Hoi Yai village
Before breakfast take part in traditional merit making in the local style. Tak Baht or alms giving is an integral part of the Buddhist ritual across south east Asia. People give alms of food, medicine and clothing to monks in their area, which makes merit for them, and those relatives and loved ones who have already passed away, as well as for the living. Then drive to visit Ho Chi Minh's house, where he lived for seven years (1923 - 1930) and meet Uncle Dieu, who was a child at the time his father hosted Ho Chi Minh. Continue to Thad Phanom to see the Thad Phanom Temple, built 1500 years ago according to the official historical record (the local legend relates an earlier beginning only 8 years after the Buddha's death, when the temple was supposedly built to enshrine a bone of the Lord Buddha!). You may see pilgrims from countries as distant as Sri Lanka & Japan.
We then continue to Ban Nong Hoi Yai. Several years ago the villagers of Ban Nong Hoi Yai created what they call the 'Isan cultural heritage conservation project'. They gather together to show you important aspects of their daily life, and in this sense you will experience the real Thailand few foreigners have been privileged to share. Depending on the weather, take a walk around the village and learn about the actual process and work of growing and harvesting rice. See the entire hand-production process of cotton fabric - from cotton boll to thread, and finally to lovely Matmee fabrics. Fall in love with the village children who, under the guidance of their teachers and to the music of local musicians, will perform a number of traditional dances for you. Village elders will confer the Bai Sii Su Kwan welcome ceremony upon you. This is normally only done for and by villagers and their elders for themselves, when going on, or returning from a long journey. In modern Western parlance, this ceremony might be thought of a spirit centering ritual. Spend the rest of your day with the villagers, overnight in home stay. (B, L, D)
Day 14 - Indochina Market - Ban Panna Monkeys - Pha Taem Pre-Historical Park - Mekong Riverboat Ride - Khong Jiam
After breakfast, continue to Mukdaharn and explore the Indochina Market. Products ranging from Chinese power tools and Burmese Cheroots, to Vietnamese silks and many others from the surrounding Mekong Countries of Vietnam, China, Laos & Cambodia make their way here and are sold to local people. On the way to Khong Jiam stop in Ban Panna, a typical country Isan town. Few westerners have ever been here but the townspeople are very friendly, and usually curiously ask you questions, try out their basic English, or invite you over for a snack, especially if near meal time. Buy some fruit for the monkeys in the local park before continuing on to Khong Jiam town for lunch. After lunch drive to Pha Taem National / Historical Park to view the pre-historic paintings. Enjoy lovely views of the Mekong and Laos. Walk the length of the trail around the cliff if you like (about 2km +). Drive down to the village called Ban Goom on the Mekong river below the cliff we have just visited. There is a lovely little - and very Lao style - temple here just where we will board our boat to Khong Jiam. Enjoy a ride on a local style Mekong river boat on this narrow and interesting part of the river. (B, L, D)
Day 15 - Khao Phra Viharn Khmer temple - Ubon
Drive to the Cambodian Border to visit Khao Phra Viharn Khmer temple complex - started even before Angkor Wat in the heart of Cambodia! Unlike other Khmer Temples in Thailand, this one has not undergone the restoration efforts of the Fine Arts Department. If Indiana Jones were real, he would have found this place! Walk up steps to graded causeways through awesome gopuras and arrive at the extensive but dilapidated centre, which is on a cliff-top overlooking the virgin Cambodian countryside. On the way back, stop off for a look at the Maw-I-Daeng cliff carvings. Lunch will be in Kantaralak. Visit a number of city sites in Ubon including Wat Sri Muang, built in a very unusual mixture of Thai, Lao & Burmese styles. Your guide will have much local knowledge, so if last minute shopping does not interest you, he/she can take you to see a few more cultural attractions before the flight to Bangkok. (B, L, D)
Day 16 - Trip Ends
Depending on your flight schedule, spend some time shopping before transferring to Bangkok International Airport for your flight back home or onward journey.
Small group departures of this itinerary run throughout the year and it can also be run as a tailor-made trip to suit your requirements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General program information: |
|
|
Program open to: Everyone
What are the dates of this program: Small group departures of this itinerary run throughout the year and it can also be run as a tailor-made trip to suit your requirements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost or price of this program: |
|
|
Please contact us for details.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
