WONDERS OF

Blue-Roads | Asia

Thailand's glittering temples, bustling markets and traditional eateries are just waiting to be discovered on this unforgettable trip from Bangkok to spiritual . With cultural and historic experiences around every corner, you're sure to get caught up in the magic of this exotic country.

TOUR CODE:

BAHWTBB-0 Thank You for Choosing Blue-Roads

Thank you for choosing to travel with Back-Roads Touring. We can’t wait for you to join us on the mini-coach!

About Your Tour Notes THE BLUE-ROADS DIFFERENCE Journey off-the-beaten track in the mountainous region of Tak These tour notes contain everything you need to know Visit the iconic River Kwai Bridge and before your tour departs – including where to meet, discover more about WWII history what to bring with you and what you can expect to do on each day of your itinerary. You can also print this Take a fascinating tour of Chiang Mai's oldest Buddhist temples document out, use it as a checklist and bring it with you on tour.

TOUR CURRENCIES

Please Note: We recommend that you refresh + Thailand - THB this document one week before your tour departs to ensure you have the most up-to-date accommodation list and itinerary information available. Your Itinerary

DAY 1 | BANGKOK, THAILAND

Welcome to Thailand! Our journey will begin in buzzing Bangkok, a city alive with floating markets, gleaming temples, bustling tuk-tuks and busy street food stalls. After transferring from the airport to our hotel, we’ll come together for a welcome dinner (and our first taste of authentic Thai cuisine) at a local restaurant this evening.

MEALS: Dinner

DAY 2 | BANGKOK

First on today’s agenda: a morning of relaxation at the hotel. Later, we’ll set out on a tour of Old Siam – both by foot and by long-tailed boat, as we weave along Bangkok’s khlongs (a network of waterways that criss-cross the city). On our travels, we’ll stop off at Bang Luang Artist Village, where we’ll have the chance to meet a traditional Thai water puppet maker and watch a puppet show in action (subject to availability). More nautical adventures are in store this afternoon as our boat trip continues along the Chao Phraya River - with one final stop at the splendid Arun temple. This evening, we’re in for a culinary treat: a tuk-tuk street food tour through the city’s lively night-time streets. We’ll even have time to take a look at the magnificent temple of , which will be beautifully illuminated after dark.

MEALS: Breakfast Dinner

DAY 3 | BANGKOK - NONG KHAO - KANCHANABURI

After breakfast, we’ll leave Bangkok behind and make tracks to Kanchanaburi: a city filled with lush riverside resorts. After dropping off our bags at our hotel, we’ll travel to the rural village of Nong Khao, where a traditional lunch awaits us at the home of a local farming family. We’ll have some free time to relax at our hotel this afternoon before a delicious Thai dinner is served.

MEALS: Breakfast Lunch Dinner DAY 4 | KANCHAMABURI - RIVER KWAI - KANCHANABURI

Featuring a poignant train ride along the Death Railway (the infamous railway line constructed by Commonwealth, American and Dutch prisoners of war during WWII), today’s itinerary is set to be a history-filled one. Along the course of the day, we’ll pay visits to the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, which commemorates the lives of prisoners and slave labourers killed by Japanese troops, and the fascinating Thailand-Burma Railway Centre, where we’ll gain further insight into the area’s place in WWII history. Before the day is out, we’ll also pay a visit to the iconic River Kwai Bridge, a landmark made famous by the classic novel and film. This afternoon, there will be plenty of time to reflect on the day’s activities before dinner.

MEALS: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

DAY 5 | KANCHANABURI - AYUTTHAYA

This morning will see us make tracks to the ancient and mysterious city of Ayutthaya - once one of the world’s wealthiest cosmopolitan cities. After checking into our accommodation, we’ll enjoy a tantalising Thai meal with views across the river. Next, we’ll turn back time as we explore three of the main temple ruins strewn across the city including: Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Mahathat and Wat Chai Wattanaram. This evening, we’ll venture out onto the streets with our Tour Leader in search of some authentic street stall cuisine.

MEALS: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

DAY 6 | AYUTTHAYA - TAK

After breakfast at our hotel, we’ll move onto our next stop: the mountainous province of Tak. Thanks to the region’s relative isolation from the rest of Thailand, Tak remains quite untouched by the traditional tourist trail, making for a relaxing escape. After checking into our welcoming family-run hotel deep in the tropical countryside, we’ll watch the sunset over the river before learning about the traditional dishes and ingredients of the region with a hands-on cooking demonstration. We’ll enjoy our flavoursome creations for our dinner tonight.

MEALS: Breakfast Lunch Dinner DAY 7 | TAK - MAE SOT - TAK

Today we’ll continue our journey off the beaten track with a visit to the remote yet multicultural city of Mae Sot. Here, we’ll set out to explore the vibrant markets, where you can see a culturally diverse mix of Hmong, Karen, Burmese and Muslim people trading, bartering and browsing stalls full of exotic produce. After taking some time to meander the markets, we’ll head back to our accommodation for an afternoon of leisure time. And this evening? Another included meal awaits.

MEALS: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

DAY 8 | TAK - LAMPANG LUANG - CHIANG MAI

Next stop: the relatively undiscovered city of Lampang, where we’ll spend some time exploring the beautiful Lanna temple. After that, we’ll pay a visit to the impressive Lanna-style house of Baan Sao Nak before stopping in at the Dhanabadee Ceramic Museum for an overview on the area’s iconic ‘chicken bowls’. After a tasty lunch, we’ll move on to for a culture-filled visit to a local art and craft centre. Tonight, you’ll be free to dine where you please in the spiritual city of Chiang Mai.

MEALS: Breakfast Lunch

DAY 9 | CHIANG MAI

Chiang Mai’s spiritual atmosphere and ancient Old City will act as the backdrop for today’s tour of the city’s most fascinating Buddhist sites. After breakfast, we’ll visit the majestic Wat Chedi Luang – an excellent example of 14th-century Lanna-Buddhist architecture. We’ll take some time to explore the intricate carvings and stunning hand-painted murals inside the main temple building before moving on to and Chiang Mai’s oldest temple: . We’ll conclude the morning’s temple explorations at Wat Suan Dok – an ancient monastery that houses an awe-inspiring 500-year-old Buddha statue. After a delicious lunch at a local restaurant, the afternoon will be yours to spend at your leisure.

MEALS: Breakfast Lunch

DAY 10 | CHIANG MAI

After a leisurely breakfast at our hotel, we’ll say our goodbyes.

MEALS: Breakfast Tour Information

Meals Blue-Roads Travel App INCLUDED MEALS

Breakfast (B) is included daily. Why not check in for your tour using the Back- Some of your lunches and dinners are also Roads app? included, either in hotels or local restaurants. This handy tool allows you to view your These are indicated by (L) and (D) in the bookings, check your itinerary, see tour maps itinerary. and more – making it the perfect travel Please note that drinks will not always be companion for your Back-Roads trip. included. How to Download the Back-Roads app We will do our best to accommodate any specific dietary requirements you may have. 1. Launch the App Store or Google Play on Please ensure to make these clear to us your device before your tour begins so we can 2. Search ‘Back-Roads’ and click ‘OK’ communicate them to our hotels, restaurants 3. Select the Back-Roads app in the search and suppliers. results 4. Click the download/install button 5. The app should be installed in your device’s applications page

Other Information

Finances

CHANGING MONEY SPENDING MONEY CASH: Foreign money can be changed at Naturally, everyone’s spending varies. Many of banks, airports, railway and tube stations, and your meals are included in the price of your at major hotels (though at a less favourable tour, so this just leaves a few meals and your rate) personal spending to budget for. CREDIT CARDS: Visa and MasterCard are widely Tips for the Tour Leader and Driver are not accepted. American Express is only accepted in included. Tipping is entirely at your some larger establishments discretion; however, if you feel you have CASH MACHINES: ATMS are widely available received exceptional service, it is recommended that you tip £1-2/€ per day for Drivers and £4-5/€ per day for Tour Leaders.

Insurance Passports and Visas

You will need to take out full travel insurance We advise you either to carry a photocopy of before travelling with Back-Roads Touring. your passport (and visa, if applicable) with you Please ensure that you have adequate medical, while abroad, or to ensure that you leave a personal effects and cancellation cover. copy with relatives back at home. We recommend that you carry your insurance This will enable the local embassy or high details with you at all times. You may be asked commission to arrange a replacement if the to provide details of your medical insurance or original should be lost or stolen. a payment guarantee in some countries before If you do take copies with you on your trip, medical assistance can be provided. please ensure that you keep these separate Your insurance company may not assist you from your original documents. with your claim if the instructions given in the It is your responsibility to obtain any visas policy have not been followed. necessary to enable you to travel in Europe or Asia. Contact your local consular office for more information. Transport

We travel in premium mini-coaches equipped with comfortable seats, air conditioning and large windows for enjoying the view. With far more flexibility than a standard-size coach, we’re able to take the scenic route – winding through beautiful countryside to the heart of tiny villages and coastal towns. What to Bring

Suggested Packing List Wondering what to take with you on tour? Our packing list can be used as a guide. Please Note: What you pack will depend on the countries you’re visiting and the time of year you plan to travel. The following is a suggested clothing list only, based on our experience:

Sun hat Sunglasses Shorts/skirts Long-sleeved tops Short-sleeved tops Trousers Light jacket Waterproof jacket and Warm jacket umbrella Walking shoes/comfortable shoes Smart casual evening Sleepwear Swimwear and towel wear

Other things to pack:

Multi-use travel adapter Camera Batteries Phone Personal medication Sunscreen Paracetamol or aspirin

OPTIONALS TO CONSIDER:

Motion sickness tablets Anti-diarrhoea tablets Sewing kit Lip balm

That's it!

We look forward to seeing you on tour.