Tour Detail

10 Days-9 Nights BANGKOK + KANCHANABURI + PANORAMA SIC

DAY 1 - BANGKOK - ARRIVAL. TRANSFER

DAY 2 - BANGKOK. UNUSUAL TOUR AMONG PALACES, TEMPLES, AND KUDI CHEEN. Full Day (B.L.)

DAY 3 - BANGKOK - KANCHANABURI, River Kwai: War Museum, Allied Cemetery, Train Ride, Prasat Muang Singh. (L.)

DAY 4 - KANCHANABURI: Erawan National Park - BANGKOK (B.L.)

DAY 5 - BANGKOK - AYUTTHAYA Maeklong Railway, Damnoern Saduak, Bang Pa In, Ayutthaya Historical Park (B.L.)

DAY 6 - AYUTTHAYA ANG THONG SUKHOTHAI. (B.L.) Temples Wat Muang & Wat Sang Kratai, Sukhothai Historical Park.

DAY 7 - SUKHOTHAI - SRI SATCHANALAI - PHAYAO - CHIANG RAI Si Satchanalai Historical Park, Wat Phra That Suthon Mongkol Khiri, Vonburi House, Phayao Lake (B.L.)

DAY 8 - CHIANG RAI - CHIANG MAI. Golden Triangle, Wat Phra That Pu Khao, Opium Museum, White Temple, Mae Krachan, (B.L.)

DAY 9 - CHIANG MAI - Elephant Sanctuary - Doi Suthep. (B.L.)

DAY 10 - CHIANG MAI. Transfer. (B.)

Day 1

DAY 1 - BANGKOK - ARRIVAL. TRANSFER

Arrive at Bangkok Airport. After collecting your luggage, head to GATE 4 where our English-speaking airport assistant will be waiting for you. Transfer to the hotel with a driver. Please note that rooms are guaranteed from 2:00 PM. Our Italian assistant will be waiting for you in the lobby or will contact you for an appointment. The rest of the day is at your disposal for individual activities.

Day 2

DAY 2 - BANGKOK. UNUSUAL TOUR OF PALACES, TEMPLES, AND KUDI CHEEN. Full Day (B.L.)

Breakfast at the hotel and meet your Italian-speaking guide. The first stop of the day is the “Temple of the Reclining Buddha.” Wat Pho is the oldest Buddhist monastery in the city and also houses the oldest Thai massage school. Then, we will take a public boat to reach Wat Arun, or the “Temple of Dawn.” From here, it is a short distance to the characteristic Kudicheen (Kudi Chin) neighborhood. Continue on foot to reach the small village and get to know the local community, where time seems to have stood still! We will visit the ancient bakery (Thanusingha Bakery House), which still produces delicious pastries, the small Baan Kudi Chin museum, and the exotic Kuan An Keng Shrine. After the visits, continue by car to the restaurant. Enjoy a panoramic view of life along the Chao Praya River and the old city. In the afternoon, the last stop is the majestic and stunning Royal Grand Palace with Wat Phra Kaew, the “Temple of the Emerald Buddha.” The Royal Palace also includes the Chakri Palace (visitable only from the outside), the Dusit Palace, and the Montien Palace, the latter two being visitable inside only at certain times. Visits end at around 4:30 PM and return to the hotel.

IMPORTANT

Please dress appropriately, covering shoulders and legs to the knees.

Please bring your passport, often required for entry checks.

Day 3

DAY 3 - BANGKOK - KANCHANABURI, River Kwai: War Museum, Allied Cemetery, Train Riding, Prasat Muang Singh. (L.)

Departure on a private basis at around 6:30 AM. At 6:30 AM, meet your guide and depart for Kanchanaburi, arriving at around 9:30 AM. Start the visits. Kanchanaburi is a city in western Thailand, famous for the death railway built during World War II. The line crosses the Khwae Yai River via the Death Railway Bridge. Exhibits at the JEATH War Museum honor the prisoners of war who died building the bridge. The Thailand-Burma Railway Center explores the wider history of the railway. Nearby, thousands of Allied soldiers are buried in the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. At 10:45 AM, board the train for a scenic ride to Tham Krasae. Stop for lunch and time to visit the area with the Tham Krasae Bridge next to the cave of the same name. In this area, the train slows to a crawl as it crosses the precarious-looking Wang Pho viaduct. A wall of rock towers is a short distance to the right, with a sheer drop to the river and phenomenal views to the left, another highlight of the journey. After lunch, visit the Prasat Muang Singh Historical Park, where traces of the once-flourishing Khmer Kingdom can be found in one of Thailand's most well-known religious structures. Historians estimate that Prasat Mueang Singh and its surrounding architectures on the banks of the Kwai Noi River were built between 857 and 1157 as a religious temple of the Khmer Kingdom. Later, the temple was abandoned until the reign of King Rama I when the Mueang Singh area became one of Kanchanaburi's border cities. Restoration of the structures, however, was not completed until 1987. The main remaining structure is Prasat Mueang Sing itself (the Lion City Tower), an architecture in Khmer style with influences from Lop Buri arts. It is framed by city walls measuring 800 x 1,500 meters. During excavations, historians found valuable artifacts, antiques, ceramics, and religious ornaments with over 2000 years of history. At around 3:00 PM, transfer to the hotel. Check-in. The rest of the evening is at your disposal.

Day 4

DAY 4 - KANCHANABURI: Erawan National Park - BANGKOK (B.L.)

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel. Meet the guide around 8:30 AM, we will set out for a visit to Erawan National Park. Upon arrival at Erawan Falls, we will begin our exploration. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes suitable for a short trek, bringing swimwear and towels. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant or as a takeaway. Erawan National Park is one of Thailand's major national parks, located in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. The park has received numerous recognitions, the most prestigious of which was the award in the natural attractions category at the sixth Thailand Tourism Industry Awards in 2006. Here you will discover the largest and most spectacular waterfall in Kanchanaburi, Erawan Falls, which flows from a mountain 2,100 meters above sea level, originating from the Huai Mong Lai River. The waterfall extends for 1,500 meters and comprises seven levels, each offering a spacious and safe area for swimming and relaxing. Additionally, you can take a 30-minute walk along the Erawan nature trail to appreciate the beauty of the evergreen hills and deciduous forests. Around 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM, we will start our journey back to Bangkok, with an estimated travel time of 3-3.5 hours. Upon arrival, you will check-in at the hotel for the overnight stay.

Day 5

DAY 5 - BANGKOK - AYUTTHAYA Maeklong Railway, Damnoern Saduak, Bang Pa In, Ayutthaya Historical Park (B.L) 260 KM

Breakfast at the hotel. At 6:30-7:00 AM, meet your Italian-speaking guide and depart for a wonderful day of visits to the nearby provinces of Song Khram and Ratchaburi, about 100 km from Bangkok. We start with the Railway Market (Hoop Rom Market), commonly also known as the Life-Risking Market. It is considered one of Thailand's fantastic attractions. Spanning a length of 100 meters, the market is located on the railway near the Mae Klong train station. We then proceed to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, arriving at the pier and with a long tail boat ride of about 30 minutes through the canals, we reach the Floating Market. The Damnoen Saduak Market in Ratchaburi is one of the most popular floating markets in Thailand. Every day many Thai and foreign tourists come here to shop, eat, and absorb the atmosphere of Thailand's water markets built over a hundred years ago. Around 11:00 AM, depart to discover the ancient capital of Thailand. Bang Pa In is located about 60 kilometers north of Bangkok along the banks of the Chaopraya River and is one of the summer palaces of the Thai Royal Family. The palace dates back to the seventeenth century, before Bangkok became the capital, then fell into disuse for a long period. All the buildings you will visit date back to its renaissance, made possible by King Mongkut (Rama IV) in the nineteenth century. We proceed with the Ayutthaya Historical Park, the city was founded around 1350 and became the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai. It flourished from the 14th to the 18th centuries, during which it became one of the largest and most cosmopolitan urban areas in the world and a center of global diplomacy and commerce. Ayutthaya was strategically located on an island surrounded by three rivers that connected the city to the sea. This site was chosen because it was above the tide of the Gulf of Siam as it existed at that time, thus preventing the city from being attacked by maritime warships of other nations. Lunch is served at a local restaurant during the excursion. Check-in at the hotel is expected between 5:30 PM and 6:15 PM.

Day 6

DAY 6 - AYUTTHAYA – ANG THONG – SUKHOTHAI. (B.L.). Temples Wat Muang & Wat Sang Kratai, Sukhothai Historical Park. 390 Km

Breakfast at the hotel. At 7:00 AM, meet your Italian-speaking guide, and continue to Ang Thong, where we visit Wat Muang Temple. This temple located in Ang Thong, about ten kilometers from the city center, is best known for its enormous 95-meter-tall golden sitting Buddha. It is the tallest in the country. The curiosity here is the Buddha's right hand that visitors can touch from a small stage and under which they appear really tiny, and Wat Sang Kratai Temple, an ancient temple surrounded by the Bodhi tree, the Tree of Enlightenment. At 9:30 AM, departure for Sukhothai, with a stop at a local restaurant for lunch. In the afternoon, around 2:00-2:30 PM, we arrive at the Sukhothai Historical Park. The park is open daily and also offers tram services as well as bike rentals to explore the vast area. Main points of interest are: The city walls are located in the center of the Historical Park and are surrounded by ramparts. The rectangular city measures 1,330 meters in width and 1,800 meters in length. The walls contain four main gates. A stone inscription mentions that King Ramkhamhaeng placed a bell on one of the gates. If his subjects needed help, they could ring the bell, and the King would come out to settle disputes and dispense justice. Inside the city, there are 35 monuments, including Buddhist temples and many other structures, such as the Royal Palace and Wat Mahathat. Arrival at the hotel in Sukhothai is expected between 5:30 PM and 6:15 PM. Overnight stay.

Day 7

DAY 7 - SUKHOTHAI - SRI SATCHANALAI - PHAYAO - CHIANG RAI Si Satchanalai Historical Park, Wat Phra That Suthon Mongkol Khiri, Vonburi House, Phayao Lake (B.L.) 400 Km

7:00 AM meet your Italian-speaking guide, departure for Chiang Rai, with pleasant stops along the way. Si Satchanalai Historical Park is located on the banks of the Yom River. The ancient city, formerly called Muang Chaliang, was renamed Si Satchanalai during the reign of Phra Ruang when a new administrative center was established to replace Chaliang. The ruins of 134 monuments have been discovered within this park. Although not an ancient temple, Wat Phra That Suthon Mongkol Khiri has beautiful architecture inspired by traditional styles, such as the Ubosot (Celebration Hall) and Lanna style, with a teak building. The Vonburi House, built of teak, was constructed in the late 1800s, early 1900s in European colonial style, and today is an interesting house museum, very well preserved. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant. Phayao Lake is very popular among local tourists and is also an important fishing resource. Early in the morning, fishermen go out and return mid-morning to supply the lakeside restaurants that will prepare for another day of dining, with grilled lake fish prominently on the menu. The lakeside is a popular recreational area with afternoon aerobics classes, families picnicking, couples strolling in the evening along the promenade among the adjacent cafes and restaurants. Here various activities are available (not included in the quotation, to be paid directly on-site) including renting a boat to cruise the waters to Wat Tilokarum or renting a bicycle to wander around the lake. Arrival in Chiang Rai around 6:00-6:30 PM. Check-in at the reserved hotel. Evening at your disposal.

Day 8

DAY 8 - CHIANG RAI - CHIANG MAI. Golden Triangle, Wat Phra That Pu Khao, Opium Museum, White Temple, Mae Krachan (B.L.) 320 Km

Breakfast. Today we start exploring this province, the northernmost in Thailand, starting with the famous Golden Triangle, the point where the borders of Myanmar (ancient Burma), Thailand, and Laos meet. The visit includes Wat Phra That Pu Khao, which offers a wonderful view of the Golden Triangle, the Mekong River, and the forested mountains. Two large multi-headed Naga snakes at the bottom of the stairs protect the temple. Continue with the Opium Museum. The museum educates visitors on the production of opium and its use in the life of the hill tribes, from which we can learn much about the history of opium as it developed in this notorious area. Lunch is served at a local restaurant. Along the way to Chiang Mai, we stop at the famous White Temple, Wat Rong Khun, one of Chiang Rai's numerous religious sites. Created by the great devotion of the famous Thai artist Chalermchai Kosipipat, the temple is dedicated to Lord Buddha with the intention of building a reachable paradise on earth that represents justice and encourages good karma. Stop also at Mae Krachan Hot Springs. Arrival in Chiang Mai in the evening between 5:00 PM and 5:30 PM. Check-in at the reserved hotel. Evening at your disposal.

Day 9

DAY 9 – CHIANG MAI – Elephant Sanctuary – Doi Suthep. (B.L.)

Breakfast at the hotel. Today we expect a beautiful day at an elephant sanctuary, to learn more about these pachyderms, a half-day visit that offers visitors an enjoyable experience with the opportunity to spend time with the elephants in their natural environment, and have an overview of their history and behavior, creating pleasant memories for their time spent with these wonderful animals that will accompany you throughout your life. APPROXIMATE ITINERARY

6:30-7:00 AM: Pick up at your hotel or accommodation by the Elephant Sanctuary. Drive for about 1.5 hours south of Chiang Mai through rolling hills, forests, and local agricultural areas.

8:30 AM: Arrive at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. Discover the elephants and change into traditional Karen clothing.

9:00 AM: Meet the elephants. Feed, interact, and play with the elephants in a natural environment while learning their behavior and history. Take photos with the elephants.

9:45 AM: Mud spa with the elephants.

10:30 AM: Walk with the elephants to the river and bathe them.

11:30 AM: Lunch with a traditional meal and then farewell to the elephants.

12:00 PM: Leave the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary and drive for about 1.5 hours back to Chiang Mai.

In the afternoon, complete the day by visiting the most famous temple in Chiang Mai, Wat Pratat Doi Suthep, located on a mountain with panoramic views of the hilly area of Chiang Mai. Built in the early 19th century Buddhist era (now we are in the 26th), the beauty of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is marked by seven-headed serpent statues flanking the stairs to the temple where there is a golden pagoda in Chiang Saen style and all its exquisite Lanna architecture. The view of Chiang Mai from here is simply phenomenal. Return to the hotel around 4:30 PM, time to relax.

Day 10

DAY 10 – CHIANG MAI. Transfer. (B.)

Breakfast at the hotel. Room available until 12:00 PM. 2.5 hours before the flight, meet the driver and transfer to the airport. End of services.