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SMILE OF 14D / 13N (guaranteed weekly departure with min. 2 travellers – current travel itinerary in 2012) (tour begins in Bangkok – tour ends in Bangkok)

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ITINERARY OUTLINE

 DAY 01: BANGKOK  DAY 02: BANGKOK / (KHORAT) / PHANOM RUNG  DAY 03: NAKHON RATCHASIMA / PHIMAI / PHITSANULOK  DAY 04: PHITSANULOK / LAMPANG / LAMPHUN /  DAY 05: CHIANG MAI  DAY 06: CHIANG MAI / PAI /  DAY 07: MAE HONG SON / KHUN YUAM / MAE LA NOI / MAE SOT  DAY 08: MAE SOT / UMPHANG  DAY 09: UMPHANG / MAE SOT / SUKHOTHAI  DAY 10: SUKHOTHAI / N. SAWAN / SUPHANBURI / KANCHANABURI  DAY 11: KANCHANABURI / RATCHABURI / HUA HIN  DAY 12: HUA HIN  DAY 13: HUA HIN / BANGKOK  DAY 14: BANGKOK

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ITINERARY DETAIL

Day 1 : Monday 00.00.2012 – BANGKOK (D)  TVIG: Meet and Greet your PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL TOURLEADER at the international airport Suvarnabhumi, in Bangkok - http://www.suvarnabhumiairport.com/index_en.php  TVIG: Services of a PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL TOURLEADER (English-speaking/available from 08:00am until 18:00pm)  TRIO: Transfer In – private airco vehicle – (Bangkok Airport) to (Bangkok Hotel) – 30Km / 19Mi – 00 Hrs 35’  INFO: Bangkok (Thai:’Krung Thep’) is the capital, largest urban area and primary city of Thailand. Known in Thai as “Krung Thep Maha Nakhon”, meaning "city of angels" for short, it was a small trading post at the mouth of the during the . It came to the forefront of Siam when it was given the status as the capital city in 1768 after the burning of Ayutthaya. However, the current Rattanakosin Kingdom did not begin until 1782 when the capital was moved across the river by Rama I after the death of King Taksin. The Rattanakosin capital is now more formally called "Phra Nakhon", pertaining to the ancient boundaries in the metropolis' core and the name Bangkok now incorporates the urban build-up since the 18th century which has its own public administration and governor. Since its inception as the capital of Siam, it was a target of European colonial plans, but due to its strategic location in Indochina, it acted as a buffer-zone and brokered power between the European forces. Through this, it gained notoriety in the world as an independent, dynamic and influential city. And in the span of over two hundred years, Bangkok has grown to become the political, social and economic center of Thailand, Indochina and one of Southeast Asia. As a direct result of the 1980s and 1990s Asian investment boom, numerous multinational corporations base their regional headquarters in Bangkok and the city has become a regional force in finance and business. Its increasing influence on global politics, culture, fashion and entertainment underlines its status as an Alpha global city. In 2009, it was the second most expensive city in South-East Asia behind Singapore. The city's wealth of cultural landmarks and attractions in addition to its notorious entertainment venues has made it synonymous with exoticism. Its historic wealth coincides with its rapid modernization, reflected in the cityscape and the urban society. The Grand Palace, Vimanmek Palace Complex, its thousands of temples, and the city's notorious red-light combine draw in 11 million international visitors each year, trailing just Paris and London. Bangkok has a registered population of 9,100,000 residents while the greater Bangkok area has a population of 11,971,000 (January 2008). The capital is part of the heavily urbanized triangle of central and eastern Thailand which stretches from Nakhon Ratchasima along Bangkok to the heavily Industrialized Eastern Seaboard. Bangkok borders five other provinces: Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon and Nakhon Pathom, and all five provinces are joined in the conurbation of the Bangkok Metropolitan Area. It is served by two international airports, Suvarnabhumi Airport and Don International Airport, four rapid transit lines operated by the BTS, MRT, and the SRT, with plans to add additional lines by 2020. The town of Bangkok began as a small trading center and port community on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River before the establishment of the Ayut- thaya Kingdom, the precursor of modern Thailand, which existed from 1350 to 1767. The etymology of the town's name is unclear. “Bang” is the Central Thai name for a town situated on the bank of a river. It is believed that "Bangkok" derived from either Bangkok,”kok” being the Thai name for the Java plum (ma-kok, one of several trees bearing olive- like fruits); or Bang Koh, koh meaning "island," a reference to the area's landscape which was carved by rivers and canals. After the fall of Ayutthaya to the Burmese Kingdom in 1767, the newly declared King Taksin established a new capital in the area of the then Bangkok, which became known as . When Taksin's reign ended in 1782, King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke reconstructed the capital on the east bank of the river and gave the city a ceremonial name which became shortened to its current official name, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon. The new city, however, also inherited the name Bangkok, which continued to be used by foreigners to refer to the entire city and became its official English name, while in Thai the name still refers only to the old on the west bank of the river. The city has since vastly modernized and undergone numerous changes, including the introduction of transportation and utility infrastructure in the reigns of King and King , and quickly developed into the economic center of Thailand.  OPTI: lunch at local restaurant Wan Fah, near the borders of the Chao Phraya river, in Bangkok.  TRAC: Transfer Intra Regio – (Bangkok) – private chartered airco vehicle – (available from 12:00pm until 18:00pm)  BOAT: short boat tour with a public shuttle ferry; we are able to observe life along the Chao Phraya River and will pass by the imposing Khmer style tower Wat Arun.  INFO: Bangkok – Wat Arun: Wat Arun Rajwararam ("Temple of the Dawn") is a Buddhist temple (wat) in the Bangkok Yai district of Bangkok, Thailand on the Thonburi west bank of the Chao Phraya River. Named after Aruna, the Indian God of Dawn, the Wat Arun is considered one of the most well known of Thailand's many landmarks. Drawn on a novel by Japanese writer Yukio Mishima (The Temple of Dawn-The Sea of Fertility). The outstanding feature of Wat Arun is its central prang (Khmer-style tower). Begun in 1809, it may have been named "Temple of the Dawn" because the first light of morning reflects off the surface of the temple with a pearly iridescence. Steep steps lead up to two terraces. The height is reported by different sources as between 66.8 m (219 ft) and 86 m (282 ft). The corners are surrounded by four smaller satellite prangs. The prangs are decorated by seashells and bits of porcelain which had previously been used as ballast by boats coming to Bangkok from . The presiding Buddha image, cast in the reign of Rama II, is said to have been moulded by His Majesty himself. The ashes of King Rama II are buried in the base of the image. The central prang is topped with a seven-pronged trident, referred to by many sources as the "Trident of Shiva". Around the base of the prangs are various figures of ancient Chinese soldiers and animals. Over the second terrace are four statues of the Hindu god Indra riding on Erawan. At the riverside are six pavilions (sala) in Chinese style. The pavilions are made of green granite and contain landing bridges. Next to the prangs is the Ordination Hall with a Niramitr Buddha image supposedly designed by King Rama II. The front entrance of the Ordination Hall has a roof with a central spire, decorated in coloured ceramic and stuccowork sheated in coloured china. There are two demons, or temple guardian figures, in front. The monastery has existed for many years since the days when Ayutthaya was capital of Thailand. At the time named Wat Mokok, situated in a place called Tumbol Bangmakok. The word Bangmakok, meaning " Village of Olive", has since been shortened to "Makok". The central prang symbolizes Mount Meru of the Indian cosmology. The satellite prangs are devoted to the wind god Phra Phai. Construction of the tall prang and four smaller ones was started by King Rama II 1809-1824 and completed by King Rama III (1824-1851). The towers are supported by rows of demons and monkeys. Very steep and narrow steps lead to a balcony high on the central tower. The circumference of the base of the structure is 234 meters, and the central prang is 250 foot high. The demons (yaksha) at the entranceway to the ubosot are from the Ramakien. The white figure is named Sahassa Deja and the green one is known as Thotsakan, the Demon Rāvana from Ramayana. 4 | P a g e

 TOUR: Bangkok – The Grand Palace & Emerald Buddha: the Grand Palace is a complex of buildings in Bangkok, Thailand. It served as the official residence of the Kings of Thailand from the 18th century onwards. Construction of the Palace began in 1782, during the reign of King Rama I, when he moved the capital across the river from Thonburi to Bangkok. The Palace has been constantly expanded and many additional structures were added over time. The present King of Thailand, King , however, resides at the Chitralada Palace. When King Buddha Yodfa Chulaloke (Rama I) decided to move the capital of Siam from Thonburi on the west to Bangkok on the east of the Chao Phraya River he decided to build a magnificent new palace as a place of residence as well as a centre of government. The area chosen was however occupied by Chinese merchants, whom he promptly asked to relocate (to the present day Yaowarat area). The tower of gold began construction on 6 May 1782. At first the palace consisted of several wooden buildings surrounded on four sides with a high defensive wall of 1,900 metres in length, which encloses an area of 218,400 square metres. Soon the King ordered the building of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha; as the Monarch’s personal place of worship and royal temple. Once the palace was complete the King decided to undergo a coronation ceremony to celebrate in 1785. The plan of the Grand Palace followed closely that of the old palace in Ayutthaya. The Palace is rectangular shaped, with the western side next to a river and the royal temple situated to the east side, with all structures facing north. The palace itself is divided into three quarters: the outer quarters, the middle quarters and the inner quarters. The palace became the centre of the Rattanakosin government and royal court for most of the early Chakri Dynasty until the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) who preferred to stay at the Dusit Palace, but still used the Grand Palace as an office and primary place of residence. This practice was followed by his sons (Rama VI and Rama VII) who preferred their own palaces. King Ananda Mahidol (Rama VIII) moved into the palace full time after his return from abroad in 1945. However after his mysterious death a year later in one of the palaces inside the complex, his brother King Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) who succeeded him decided to move permanently to the Chitralada Palace. The Palace is however still very much in use; as many royal rituals are performed here by the King every year. Other royal ceremonies celebrated here are coronations; royal funerals, marriages and state banquets. The Palace grounds also contain the offices and buildings of the Bureau of the Royal Household, the Office of the Private Secretary to the King and Royal Institute of Thailand. The most prominent parts of the Grand Palace are: Wat Phra Kaew, the temple containing the Emerald Buddha and Dusit Phra Chakri Mahaprasad Hall, a building in a style influenced by the Italian Renaissance. The Emerald Buddha (Thai: Phra Kaeo Morakot) is the palladium of the Kingdom of Thailand, a figurine of the sitting Buddha, made of green jadeite (rather than emerald), clothed in gold, and about 45 cm tall. It is kept in the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew) on the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok. According to the legend, the Emerald Buddha was created in India in 43 BC by Nagasena in the city of Pataliputra (today's Patna). The legends state that after remaining in Pataliputra for three hundred years, it was taken to Sri Lanka to save it from a civil war. In 457, King Anuruth of Burma sent a mission to Ceylon to ask for Buddhist scriptures and the Emerald Buddha, in order to support in his country. These requests were granted, but the ship lost its way in a storm during the return voyage and landed in Cambodia. When the Thais captured Angkor Wat in 1432 (following the ravage of the bubonic plague), the Emerald Buddha was taken to Ayutthaya, Kamphaeng Phet, and finally , where the ruler of the city hid it. Cambodian historians recorded capture of the Buddha statue in their famous Preah Ko Preah Keo legend. However, some art historians describe the Emerald Buddha as belonging to the Chiang Saen Style of the 15th Century AD, which would mean it is actually of Lannathai origin. Historical sources indicate that the statue surfaced in in the Lannathai kingdom in 1434. One account of its discovery tells that lightning struck a pagoda in a temple in Chiang Rai, after which, something became visible beneath the stucco. The Buddha was dug out, and the people believed the figurine to be made of emerald, hence its name. King Sam Fang Kaen of Lannathai wanted it in his capital, Chiang Mai, but the elephant carrying it insisted, on three separate occasions, on going instead to Lampang. This was taken as a divine sign and the Emerald Buddha stayed in Lampang until 1468, when it was finally moved to Chiang Mai, where it was kept at Wat Chedi Luang.  INFO: Bangkok – Wat Pho temple: is a Buddhist temple in Phra Nakhon district, Bangkok, Thailand. It is located in the Rattanakosin district directly adjacent to the Grand Palace. Known also as the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, its official name is Wat Phra Chettuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Ratchaworamahawihan. The temple is also known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage. Prior to the temple's founding, the site was a centre of education for traditional Thai medicine, and statues were created showing yoga positions. During the Rama III restoration, plaques inscribed with medical texts were placed around the temple. These received recognition in the Memory the World Programme on 21 February 2008, according to Thailand's Government Public Relations Department. Adjacent to the building housing the Reclining Buddha is a small raised garden, the centrepiece being a bodhi tree which is a scion (cutting) of the original tree in India where Buddha sat while awaiting enlightenment. The temple was created as a restoration of an earlier temple on the same site, Wat Phodharam, with the work beginning in 1788. The temple was restored and extended in the reign of King Rama III, and was restored again in 1982. In 1962 a school for traditional medicine and massage was established. Wat Pho is one of the largest and oldest wats in Bangkok (with an area of 50 rai, 80,000 square metres), and is home to more than one thousand Buddha images, as well as one of the largest single Buddha images: the Reclining Buddha. The Wat Pho complex consists of two walled compounds bisected by Soi Chetuphon running east–west. The northern walled compound is where the reclining Buddha and massage school are found. The southern walled compound, Tukgawee, is a working Buddhist monastery with monks in residence and a school. A reclining bronze Buddha from Thailand, brought back by local explorers Charles & Emma Henderson who travelled to the Far East in the 1880s, is displayed in the Ethnography gallery in Horsham Museum, Horsham, United Kingdom.  TOUR: Bangkok - Chinatown & Sampeng Lane: a Chinese trading centre for more than 200 years, Yaowarat, Bangkok's Chinatown, offers endless possibilities for the explorer, shopper and gourmet. Chinatown comprises a large and rather ill-defined area on either side of Charoen Krung (New) Rd and Yaowarat Rd. The one-way road system and large volume of traffic mean that basically once there, the only way to see Chinatown is to walk. Most of the shops in Chinatown are open daily, and it is crowded at lunchtime and weekends. Within the area are 22 shrines, 6 temples, (including Wat Traimit and Wat Chakkrawatratchawat), a Sikh temple, and even a mosque (Luang Kosha Isharle). As well as places of worship, this is perhaps Bangkok's busiest trading centre with a myriad of gold, hardware, fabric and food shops. With 132 gold shops alone it is the country's best known and biggest gold trading centre. At night the streets of Yaowarat turn into a large, outdoor eating area with stalls and shops selling various kinds of food, particularly Chinese delicacies. Typical for Yaowarat are its small crowded lanes filled with markets, that sell... well, anything you could possibly imagine. You'll stumble on items for sale as diverse as Chinese medicine, snake blood, Buddhist paraphernalia, toys, ant-killer chalk, car spare parts, typical teenager stuff and more. Parallel to the big Yaowarat Road lies Sampeng Lane (Soi Wanit 1) which is probably the most characteristic shopping lane of the area. 5 | P a g e

 This narrow lane, at some places having a width of less than one metre, used to be a shady area thriving on brothels, gambling houses and opium dens, but has now turned into a crowded lane of endless ramshackle department stores. The lane can roughly be divided into three sections, all of them selling different kind of products at bargain rates. The lower eastern part of Sampeng Lane focuses on cheap teenager accessories, such as cheap jewellery, toys and hair products. In the middle part, there is more of a focus on shoes, Chinese ceramics and lanterns. Indian merchants have mostly taken over the part west of Rachawongse Road, where you can find fabrics, silk and other clothing. Don't expect high quality here, just shop for the heck of it. While enjoying a relaxed walk through this district, you should at least incorporate a visit to Wat Mangkon Kamalawat and Wat Traimit. Other sights could be considered optional or more interesting for adventurous travellers. At Wat Mangkon Kamalawat (Dragon Flower Temple), you will be amazed by the impressive multitiered gateway when you enter the temple. It is a Mahayana Buddhist temple, the school of Buddhism that most Chinese follow, and it has mixed with other Chinese practices like Confucianism and Taoism. It is in Southern Chinese style built in 1871. There are plenty of statues and shrines inside, most interesting is the part right after the second entrance. Four golden statues will greet you, each with a symbolic object: a parasol, a pagoda, a snake's head and a mandolin. It is one of Chinatown's liveliest temples with many Thai-Chinese praying and burning incense. Wat Traimit (Temple of the Golden Buddha), is one of the highlights of Yaowarat, but is actually not part of China's cultural heritage. It houses the world's largest solid-gold Buddha image, which originates from the Sukhothai period. It’s over 3 metres tall and weighs 5 ½ tonnes, with an interesting history. The image was only rediscovered about 50 years ago when it dropped from a crane while being moved. This cracked the plaster exterior that was applied to hide the image from the invading Burmese army. There is an impressive white structure with a golden spire next to the temple, that reaches higher than many other buildings in the district.  MEAL: Bangkok – Welcome Dinner: we threat ourselves to a memorable night out aboard one of Bangkok's most luxurious boat restaurants. We relax in modern comfort and experience the warmth of Thai hospitality, dining on a variety of authentic Thai food and Sea food while cruising along the Chao Phaya River. We can take in the scenic sunset and river life by night. A truly exotic experience and unforgettable! During your romantic dinner, you will see Thai music and classical Thai dances which take some part from the story of Ramayana; others show displays are about the native story of some part of Thailand - http://www.wanfah.in.th/eng/dinner.html  HTLS: Overnight in Bangkok – HOTEL – CAT. STD – 2** - based DBL or TWN room

Day 2 : Tuesday 00.00.2012 – BANGKOK / NAKHON RATCHASIMA (KHORAT) / PHANOM RUNG (B)  MEAL: breakfast at your hotel in Bangkok  TVIG: Services of a PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL TOURLEADER (English-speaking/available from 08:00am until 18:00pm)  TRIC: Transfer Intra City – private airco vehicle – (Bangkok) to (Khao Yai NP.) – 259Km / 161Mi – 3 Hrs 52’

 INFO: – is a national park in Southern Isaan, Thailand. Established in 1962, Khao Yai was Thailand's first national park. Today it is the second largest national park in Thailand and, in 2005, the area along with the surrounding Dong Phaya Yen mountains was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The lower regions of the park seem to be around 350m above sea level. Even at this altitude and in general throughout the park you will find a more attractive climate than in nearby Bangkok. The average day temperature throughout the year is around 23°C. As for most areas in Thailand the year is split into three seasons. There is a hot season, cold season and a rainy season. The Hot Season lasts from March through April. The day temperatures can be a bit above the annual average but it is still very pleasant due to the higher altitudes. After the Hot Season the Rainy Season starts. This lasts from May till October. Average day temperatures are still high but humidity also increases. The Cold Season lasts from November till February. Night time might require a sweater as temperatures will drop further. You can take a night time jeep safari spotting deer or visit some of the spectacular waterfalls. They might not be the largest you have seen but the scenery is simply stunning. The Rainy Season is the best time to see spectacular falls. During the months of June, July, August they can have plenty of water. Under these wet conditions flora also will be at its best. 6 | P a g e

 Khao Yai NP. is home to wild elephants, tigers, bears, porcupines, gibbons, snakes and parrots. On the first day, you'll take a sunset trip into the spooky bat caves to see thousands of the creatures waking up for the night. The next day your guide will take you in search of tropical wildlife, stopping at the waterfall into which Leonardo DiCaprio dived during a scene from ‘The Beach’. At the end of the day, you can relax with a swim and herbal sauna back at your jungle bungalow resort.  OPTI: Lunch at local restaurant, PB Valley Khao Yai Winery: http://www.khaoyaiwinery.com/en/restaurant/res.html  TRIC: Transfer Intra City – private airco vehicle – (Khao Yai NP.) to (Buriram Phanom Rung) – 126Km / 78Mi – 2 Hrs  TOUR: Buriram – Phanom Rung Historical Park: is a Khmer temple complex set on the rim of an extinct volcano at 1,320ft above sea level, in Buriram province in the Isan region of Thailand. It was built in sandstone and laterite in the 10th to 13th centuries. It was a Hindu shrine dedicated to Shiva, and symbolises Mt. Kailash, his heavenly dwelling. Thailand's Department of Fine Arts spent 17 years restoring the complex to its original state from 1971 till 1988. The park was officially opened by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. In 2005, the temple was submitted to UNESCO for consideration as a future world heritage site. After the three-leveled lower stairway, the visitor finds himself on the first cruciform platform with a first peek at the main temple. On the right, northward, is the White Elephant House. The pavilion is believed to be the place where kings and the royal family would change attire before rituals. Royalty would then enter the Processional Walkway, one of the most impressive elements of the park. It’s 160m long and bordered by 70 sandstone posts with tops of lotus buds. The Walkway itself is paved with laterite blocks. The Walkway leads to the first of 3 naga bridges. The five-headed snakes face all four directions and are from the 12th century. This bridge represents the connection between heaven and earth. The naga bridge leads to the upper stairway, which is divided into five sets. Each set has terraces on the sides. The last terrace is wide, made with laterite blocks. It has a cruciform shape and 4 small pools. A couple more steps lead to the second naga bridge. It has the same shape as the first one, only smaller. In the middle the remains of an eight petalled lotus carving can be seen. This final terrace leads to the outer gallery. It probably used to be a wooden gallery with a tiled roof, but only a raised floor of laterite remains. After the outer gallery one reaches the inner gallery, which is divided in long and narrow rooms. It served as a wall around the principal tower. This last gallery leads to the third and last naga bridge, another small copy of the first one. The bridge leads you directly into the main sanctuary. After the antechamber and the annex, one reaches the principal tower. Double porches lead out in all directions. The inner sanctum used to have the "linga", the divine symbol of Shiva. Currently, only the "somasutra" remains which was used to drain water during religious rites. The entrances have various lintels and icons depicting Hindu religious stories, e.g. the dancing Shiva and the five Yogi's. The southern entrance is guarded by a sandstone statue. Apart from the main tower, other buildings in the compound are: a) two brick sanctuaries built around the 10th century, northeast of the tower. – b) The minor sanctuary southwest of the tower with a sandstone altar for a sacred image. It was built with in the 11th century. Prang Noi has only one entrance facing east. The sanctuary is square with indented corners, giving it a round feel. – c) two Bannalai south- and northeast of the principal tower. The buildings are rectangular and have only one entrance. They were built in the 13th century and used as a library for holy scriptures.  TRIC: Transfer Intra City – private airco vehicle – (Phanom Rung) to (Nakhon Ratchasima) – 105Km / 65Mi – 2 Hrs

 INFO: Nakhon Ratchasima – (“Korat”) is a city in the north-east (“Isan”) of Thailand and gateway to Isan. It’s the capital of the Nakhon Ratchasima Province. The municipal area has a population of 142,645. It is located at the western edge of the Khorat Plateau and historically marked the boundary between the Lao and Siamese territory, however now is considered a gateway to the north-east. Archeological evidence suggests that there were two ancient towns that later became named “Sema” and “Nakhon Raj” which currently are in Sung Noen district, 32 km west of present-day Nakhon Ratchasima. “Nakhon” means capital, “Raj” means kingdom or state in Hindi languages. Prior to the 14th century, the area of Nakhon Ratchasima was under the Khmer empire suzerainty (known in Khmer as Nokor Reach, Seyma/Nokor Reach Borei, and Koreach) while another town to the north, Phimai, was likely more important. Narai, king of the Ayutthaya from 1656 to 1688, ordered a new city built, to serve as a stronghold on Ayutthaya's northeastern frontier. Nakhon Ratchasima was subsequently mentioned in Siamese chronicles and legal documents as a 'second-class' city of the kingdom. A governor was named who ruled the city as a dynasty. Following the final phase of Ayutthaya that ended in that kingdom's complete destruction by the Burmese in 1767, Prince Theppipit, a son of the Ayutthayan King Boromakot attempted to set himself up the ruler of Phimai, holding sway over Korat and other eastern provinces. King Taksin of the successive Thonburi Kingdom (1768–1782) sent two of his generals to defeat the prince, who was then executed in 1768. Thong Duang became King Rama I of the kingdom in 1782, and Korat became a strategic stronghold on the northeastern frontier, supervising Lao and Khmer tributary states. The decisive defeat of the Burmese in the first Anglo-Burmese War (1824–1826) and the Burney Treaty with the British, made Siam appear weak to Chao Anouvong, the Vientiane-based King of (Million Elephants,) who attacked Korat in 1826 in a bid for independence. Lady Mo, the wife of the deputy governor at the time, is credited with having freed the city from Anouvong's army, and has been honored with a statue in the center of downtown Korat. The old, walled town of Korat east of the monument was designed and built by a French engineer who is believed to be the one who also built Naraimaharaj Palace in Lopburi. 7 | P a g e

 The French-based design is reflected in the moat system that surrounds the innermost portion of the city. Nakhon Ratchasima continued to be an important political and economic center, even after the administrative reform in the late 19th century. The first railroad to the northeastern region arrived in the early 20th century. Nakhon Ratchasima then became the main junction of railway in the region. In October 1933, after the 1932 Revolution had ended the absolute monarchy, the city became the headquarters of the Boworadej Revolt, an abortive uprising against the new government in Bangkok. A successive government, together with the royal family, took refuge in Korat from the attempted coup of 1981. Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base was host from 1962-1976 to components of the Royal Thai Air Force, the United States Air Force, and a compliment of the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). After the US withdrawal in 1976, the Thai Air Force assumed full control. During the 1980s and early 1990s, the airfield was jointly operated as a civil airport for Nakhon Ratchasima. This was ended with the opening of Nakhon Ratchasima Airport in the early 1990s.  OPTI: Dinner in a local restaurant, at Nakhon Ratchasima.  HTLS: Overnight in N. Ratchasima – HOTEL – CAT. STD – 2** - based DBL or TWN room

Day 3 : Wednesday 00.00.2012 – NAKHON RATCHASIMA / PHIMAI / PHITSANULOK (B)  MEAL: early breakfast at your hotel in Nakhon Ratchasima  TVIG: Services of a PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL TOURLEADER (English-speaking/available from 08:00am until 18:00pm)  TRIC: Transfer Intra City – private airco vehicle – (N.Ratchasima) to (Phimai) – 60Km / 37Mi – 1 Hrs 25’  INFO: Phimai - is a township in the Nakhon Ratchasima Province in the northeast of Thailand, which has a population of 9,768. In the aftermath of the fall of the Ayutthaya Kingdom in 1767, attempts were made to set up five separate states, with Prince Teppipit, a son of king Boromakot, attempting to establish Phimai as one, holding sway over eastern provinces including Nakhon Ratchasima. The weakest of the five, Prince Teppipit was the first defeated and was executed in 1768. Phimai had also been an important town at the time of the Khmer. The temple Prasat Hin Phimai, located in the center of the town, was one of the major Khmer temples in ancient Thailand, connected with Angkor by an ancient Khmer Highway, and oriented so as to face Angkor as its cardinal direction. The site is now protected as the Phimai historical park. Phimai has recently been the base of operations for the excavation of Ban Non Wat. Because of its physical territory located deep into the north-eastern part of Thailand which was once a territory of Khmer or what is modern day Cambodia, Phimai’s Architecture and cultural decorations are heavily influenced by Khmer cultures. Art and architecture shown on the temple itself shows a great evident of ancient Khmer civilization in what is modern day Thailand. Similar in its look and design to Angkor, it also has the same function of worshiping the gods in the Hindu religion. Despite the fact that Phimai has been built in a similar fashion to Angkor and other Khmer Buddhist temples, some religious structures located within Phimai’s walls are still being debated about its original religion. Evidence such as the sculpture of “the Wheel of Law” or the statue of Buddha that were built in Dvaravati style shows that Phimai was certainly an important Buddhist spiritual location. Though a large quantity of Buddhism has been shown in Phimai, evidence such as large pots that were embedded in some corners of the structure suggests that number of spiritual practices other than the ones that Buddhists do has been practiced in Phimai. In other words Phimai has always been an important religious landmark for Animists, Buddhists, and Hindu Cults.  TOUR: Nakhon Ratchasima - Phimai Historical Park: this park protects one of the most important Khmer temples of Thailand. The temple marks one end of the Ancient Khmer Highway from Angkor. As the enclosed area of 1020x580m is comparable with that of Angkor Wat, Phimai must have been an important city in the Khmer empire. Most buildings are from the late 11th to the late 12th century, built in the Baphuon, Bayon and Angkor Wat style. However, even though the Khmer at that time were Hindu, the temple was built as a Buddhist temple, as Buddhism in the Khorat area dated back to the 7th century. Inscriptions name the site Vimayapura (which means city of Vimaya), which developed into the Thai name Phimai. The first inventory of the ruins was done in 1901 by the French geographer Etienne Aymonier. They were put under governmental protection by announcement in the Government Gazette, Volume 53, section 34, from September 27, 1936. Most of the restorations were done from 1964 to 1969 as a joint Thai-French project. The historical park, now managed by the Fine Arts Department, was officially opened by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on April 12, 1989. In 1998, the Origins of Angkor Project (OAP,) a joint project of the Royal Thai Fine Arts Department Anthropology Department and the University of Otago, New Zealand, began excavations to investigate the underlying sequence. Temple construction during the Angkorian period involved the deliberate deposition of layers of fill, which can clearly be seen in the stratigraphy of the site.  TOUR: Phimai – Phimai National Museum holds an enormous collection art objects from the past.  TRIC: Transfer Intra City – private airco vehicle – (Phimai) to (Chaiyaphum) – 152Km / 95Mi – 2 Hrs 25’  OPTI: Lunch at a local restaurant, in Chaiyaphum –  INFO: Chaiyaphum – is one of the north-eastern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Lopburi and Phetchabun. The word Chaiya originates from the Sanskrit word Jaya meaning Victory, and the word Phum from Sanskrit Bhumi meaning earth or land. Hence the name of the province literally means Land of Victory. The Malay/Indonesian word Jayabumi is equivalent. The province is cut into two halves by the Phetchabun mountain range, with the highest elevation in the province at 1222 m. The east of the province belongs to the Khorat Plateau. Four national parks are located in the province. The Tat Thon National Park is in north-west of the province, featuring some scenic waterfalls and dry dipterocarp forests. The biggest attraction of the Sai Thong National Park in the west of the province is the Sai Thong waterfall, but also some fields of the Siam Tulip. Similar fields can be found in the Pa Hin Ngam National Park in the south-west, scheduled to be gazetted in the future. This park has its name from the strangely shaped rock formations found there (beautiful rock forest). Phu Laenkha National Park covers another 200 km² of forested hills northwest of Chaiyaphum city. The history of the city of Chaiyaphum dates back to the Khmer Empire in the 12th century, when it was a small city on the route from Angkor to Prasat Singh (). The Prang Ku still remains from this time. In 1817 the area was settled again by a group of Laotians led by Nai Lae, official from Viantiane Kingdom. At first they settled in Baan Nam Khun Nong E Chan (Nakhon Ratchasima province), but soon moved to the current site of Chaiyaphum, then called Baan Luang. When the Lao King Anouvong of Viantiane declared war on Siam, the local ruler Jao Phraya Lae changed allegiance and supported the Siamese troops. In 1826 he was killed by Laotian troops, before these were defeated and all of Laos became part of Siam. Jao Phraya Lae was renamed by the Thais to Phraya Phakdi Chumpon and is still a local hero. Most people in Chaiyaphum province are ethnically Lao. The first language of most people is the Isan language, a dialect of the . Principal crops in Chaiyaphum include rice, tapioca, sugar cane and taro root. Chaiyaphum is renowned as a center for the Thai silk industry.

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 TOUR: Chaiyaphum – leasure walk in Ban Khwao Village: is famous for silk weaving. It is particularly well known for its "Mudmee" silk which is popular among those who favour Thai traditional fabrics.  TOUR: Chaiyaphum – leasure walk in Tat Ton National Park: due to the conditions of the steep and complex mountains, with a slope in the south and a long mountain ridge from Prachin Buri, passing Khao Yai and Chaiyaphum towards Loei, this national park is, therefore, located in a dry area with quite high temperatures. However, the general forest condition is still perfect, and it consists of deciduous dipterocarp forest and dry evergreen forest. The following attractions can be found inside this national park: - 1) Namtok Tat Ton: is a beautiful waterfall near the Office of the National Park with water flowing all year but it is particularly magnificent during the rainy season. – 2) Chaopho Tat Ton (Pu Duang) Shrine: it has been told that Pu Duang had Khmer ethnicity and lived in the similar period to Chaopho Phaya Lae. He behaved as a strict lay ascetic who lived a humble life, usually meditating and strictly following the dharma. He also had the knowledge and ability to treat people with herbs. Therefore, he received respect from a large number of people. – 3) Namtok Tat Fa: it is a stone terrace with a width of 15-20 metres, a length of 80-90 metres and a slope of approximately 30 degrees. It is similar to a natural slide board. – 4) Namtok Pha Iang: is a medium-size waterfall stemming from the Chi Long Stream. It is a cliff leaning (Iang) towards the stream making the water run to one side. – 5) Namtok Pha Song Chan: is a waterfall in the Tat Ton National Park above Namtok Pha Iang. It is a 2- layered cliff with a height of approximately 5 metres.- 6) Namtok Phanit: is a waterfall 1 kilometre south of Namtok Pha Iang. Its characteristic is similar to the latter.  TOUR: Chaiyaphum – leasure walk at Mo Hin Khao: a plateau of large rocks scattered in strange and rare shapes similar to mushrooms, boats, elephants, turtles and chedis. Moreover, there are large stone columns standing in a line. It is sometimes being referred to as the ‘Stonehenge from Thailand’.  TRIC: Transfer Intra City – private airco vehicle – (Chaiyaphum) to (Phitsanulok) – 278Km / 173Mi – 4 Hrs 35’  INFO: Phitsanulok – is an important and historic city in lower northern Thailand and is the capital of Phitsanulok Province, which stretches all the way to the Laotian border. Phitsanulok is one of the oldest cities in Thailand, founded over 600 years ago. It is probably best known as the birthplace of King , who freed the country from Burmese domination in the late 16th century, and his brother and successor King Ekathosarot (Sanphet III). As the cross-road between the northern and central regions of the country, it has long been important both for political and strategic reasons, and was fought over many times in centuries past. Phitsanulok was the capital of Thailand for 25 years during the reign of King Boromma Trailokanat of Ayutthaya. Located on the banks of the , the city was originally a small Khmer outpost known as Song Kwae, before the Khwae Noi River changed its course in the 11th century AD. Phitsanulok was also a provincial center of the Angkorian Empire during the Angkorian period. Phitsanulok is home to Naresuan University and Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University, as well as to a major Royal Thai Army base.  TOUR : Phitsanulok – nightmarket & daily Phak Bung Fai Daeng festivities: in the evening we can visit the night market and reach the banks of the Nan-rivier by rickshaw (bicycle taxi). Here we can soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the local tradition of ‘Fried Morning Glory Vine – vegetable throwing’.  OPTI: Dinner in local restaurant Tang Lak, at Phitsanulok.  HTLS: Overnight in Phitsanulok – HOTEL – CAT. STD – 2** - based DBL or TWN room

Day 4 : Thursday 00.00.2012 – PHITSANULOK / LAMPANG / LAMPHUN / CHIANG MAI (B)  MEAL: breakfast at your hotel  TVIG: Services of a PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL TOURLEADER (English-speaking/available from 08:00am until 18:00pm)  TOUR: Phitsanulok – Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahatat Woramahawihan: (Thai: also commonly referred to as Wat Yai) is a Buddhist temple (Wat) in Phitsanulok, Thailand, where it is located on the bank of the Nan River near the Naresuan Bridge. The cloister of the temple was established in 1357 during the reign of King Maha Thammaradscha I of Sukhothai. Wat Yai is famous throughout Thailand for its golden sculpture of the Buddha called the Phra Buddha Chinnarat. Many consider the Phra Buddha Chinnarat to be the most beautiful Buddha portrait in Thailand. It depicts Buddha in the posture of overcoming Mara, also called Mara submission. A stone inscription indicated that he was molded over 700 years ago by a King Mahathamaracha Lithai of Sukhothai dynasty. Several faithful copies of the Phra Buddha Chinnarat are displayed in other temples, including Wat Benchamabophit in Bangkok and Wat Saranat Thammaram in Rayong. Also, the Phra Buddha Chinnarat is depicted on the official seal of the Phitsanulok Province. The temple's large has an immense main entrance with mother-of-pearl inserts donated by King Boromakot in 1756. Beyond the vihara is a Khmer style prang, the inside of which can be accessed via a stairway. The Prang is said to enshrine relics of the Buddha. The Buddha Chinnarat National Museum, located on the temple grounds, houses a sizeable collection of Sukhothai period art. Festivals often take place on the temple grounds, including the annual Phra Buddha Chinnarat Fair. Also, on the first weekend of each October, the Phitsanulok Dragon Boat Races take place outside the temple in the river.

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 TOUR: Phitsanulok – Folk Museum & Buddha Casting Factory: located opposite the Buranathai Buddha Image foundry, Wisutkasat road, Muang. This museum is well known for its collections of all folk-arts, crafts, basketry, pottery and ancient kitchen utensils. In addition to these, there also are instruments for agriculture occupation and household living displayed. Museum of Folk Craft in Phitsanulok and the aforementioned device, one of the displays at the museum, was in days gone by, employed by monks in temples for catching temple boys going out for a night on the town. These boys, while not ordained as monks or novices, are expected to stay within the compound of the temple after curfew. So while the trap did not actually 'catch' its victim, it would leave behind telltale marks. The next morning on almsround, the monk could ascertain who had disobeyed orders by simply observing who had a bruised shin or was limping. This little contraption was one of many hundreds of objects on display at this unique museum. The museum is obviously a labour of love for Dr. Tawee who has amassed this astounding collection of traditional Thai household items: utensils of every kind, farming and hunting equipment, musical instruments, even textiles from this region and beyond. "I felt that it was important to collect many of these folk items now. The only people who still know how to use some of them are really old and after they are gone, the methods will be lost forever." In the museum we can see ingenious traps for catching all kinds of animals including snakes, birds, tigers, even porcupines.  While officially not yet open, the place is definitely worth seeking out, especially because next door is Dr. Tawee's workshop which casts Buddha images. Visitors are welcomed at any time and a guide will take you through, carefully explaining the various steps involved in making a Buddha statue.  TRIC: Transfer Intra City – private airco vehicle – (Phitsanulok) to (Lampang) – 243Km / 151Mi – 3 Hrs 33’  OPTI: lunch at the Riverside Restaurant, in Lampang: http://www.theriverside-lampang.com/restaurant/index.html  INFO: Lampang – also called Nakhon Lampang to differentiate from Lampang Province, is the third largest town in northern Thailand and capital of Lampang Province and Khelang Nakhon. The city is still growing rapidly as trading and transportation center. It offers much of the historic interest of Lanna as well as Chiangmai, but without the overt commercialization. Located in the hearth the Lampang district. Traditional names for Lampang include Wiang Lakon and of the North, Lampang is also a good base for excursions and travel within Northern Thailand. Lampang city is situated in the valley of the Wang River in the heart of Northern Thailand, bordered by the Khun Than Range on the west and the Phi Phan Nam Range on the east. The river, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya, flows directly through the city. The city focuses on the south side of Wang River, although the old parts of the city had been originally developed in the north side of it. Nowadays, the downtown of Lampang has grown in the south-east of the river along Bunyawat and Pahon Yothin roads, the main roads of the city are filled with dense commercial and residential buildings. The founding myth of Lampang. Hariphunchai Period. Lampang was a major city in the Lanna kingdom. However, its historical prominence is largely overshadowed by Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai which were the traditional seats of government, and whose histories were well recorded in chronicles. Following decades of warfare with both the Ava Burmese and Ayudhya during the 17th -18th century, the region was in decline, severely depopulated, and subject to Burmese control. In the late 18th century, the famed marksman and Lampang native Nan Thip Chang assassinated the local Burmese leader in the Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, and led an uprising which led to a rollback of Burmese rule over Lanna. Allied with Bangkok, the descendents of Nan Thip Chang, known as Chao Ched Ton (The Seven Princes), became the vassal rulers of the various Lanna cities until the annexation of Lanna into Siam (Thailand) proper under King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). Besides the traditional rice paddy farming, pineapple, and sugarcane constitute major food crops. Lampang has a large deposit of lignite in Mae Moh district, and hosted several coal-fired electricity generating plants, whose pollution has severely affected the local populations. Lampang also has a large deposit of kaolin which is widely utilized in the ceramics industry. Historically, logging was an important industry, since Lampang, together with nearby Phrae had a large stand of teak. Many elephants were employed to transport the logs to the river for transport to Bangkok, hence a founding of the 'Elephant School', the predecessor of the Thai Elephant Conservation Center. Much of the old growth teak stands in Lampang had been thoroughly harvested. Lampang, also called "mueang rot ma" in Thai, meaning "Horse Carriage City", is considered by some Thais as the last paradise in Thailand. It is located about 100 km to the southeast of Chiang Mai. Although well-connected by rail, and 4-lane highways to both Bangkok and Chiang Mai, it is here that tourists can still find the horse-drawn carriages in regular use for transportation. This, together with the relative lack of skyscrapers that have contaminated Chiang Mai's skyline of late, make Lampang an increasingly favored setting for period drama. One account attributes the horse-drawn carriage to the Portuguese, via Macau, although a more likely origin is colonial Burma—Lampang was an important center of timber industry in the early 20th century and saw an influx of migrants from British-controlled Burma. The horse-drawn carriage is one of the most memorable symbols of Lampang, as reflected in many traditional products. Lampang has a few institutions of higher learning, such as Yonok College, and a branch of Thammasat University.  TOUR: Lampang – Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao Temple: is Lampang's premier wat, holding the honor of being one of the few places known to have enshrined the Emerald Buddha, one of the sacred images of the Thai Kingdom. The Emerald Buddha, probably made of green jasper, is presently located in Bangkok but was originally discovered at Wat Phra Kaeo in Chiang Rai. Two years after its discovery, an elephant was recruited to bring the image to Chiang Mai for enshrinement. However, in the manner of Lanna elephants, the creature made its own choices and continuously headed toward Lampang. This was taken as an omen, and the Buddha image was instead kept here at Wat Phra Kaeo Don Tao, from 1434 to 1468, after which King Tilokaraj had it brought to Chiang Mai as originally intended. The full name of the monastery means "The Monastery of the Emerald Buddha on the Water Jar Knoll". This name partly derives from the legend of Mae Suchada, a religiously-inclined woman living around the year 500. At that time, the area was in the midst of an unusually severe famine. One day, a monk descended from heaven and offered Mae Suchada a watermelon. When she broke it open, she found a large green gem which turned into a Buddha image through the assistance of the god Indra. Although this helped alleviate the famine, the local king grew suspicious of the monk working so closely with a woman and suspected the two of them were secretly lovers. He ordered the two executed, but the monk managed to escape (Mae Suchada was not so fortunate). Another famine subsequently ravaged the kingdom, proving the error of the king's judgement. The image in question is now enshrined at Wat Phra That Lampang Luang.  TRIC: Transfer Intra City – private airco vehicle – (Lampang) to (Lamphun) – 76Km / 47Mi – 1 Hrs 10’  INFO: Lamphun – is one of the northern provinces (changwat) of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Chiang Mai, Lampang and Tak. Lamphun is located in the river valley of the , surrounded by mountain chains. It is some 670 kilometres from Bangkok and only 26 kilometres from Chiang Mai. Under its old name of Haripunchai, Lamphun was the northernmost city of the Mon kingdom of the Dvaravati period, and also the last to fall to the Thai. In the late 12th century it came under siege from the Khmer, but did not fall. However in 1281 King Mengrai of Lanna finally seized the city, and made it part of his kingdom. After Burmese expansion in the 16th century, Lamphun was also under Burmese rule for two centuries. 10 | P a g e

 In the 18th century, with the rise of Thonburi and Bangkok against Burmese rule, local leaders from Lampang agreed to be their allies. Lamphun was finally free from the Burmese and ruled by relative of Lampang's leader, gaining vassal status from Bangkok. Eventually after the administrative reform of Bangkok government in late 19th century, Lamphun became a part, as a province, of Siam or late Kingdom of Thailand. The provincial seal shows the temple Wat Phra That Haripunchai, which was already the main temple of the city Lamphun during the Mon times. The gold-covered chedi is said to contain a relic of Buddha. The provincial flower is the Flame of the Forest (Butea monosperma), and the provincial tree is the Rain Tree (Samanea saman).  TOUR: Lamphun – Wat Phra That Haripunchai Temple: a principal landmark is the 46-metre tall golden Chedi whose present appearance was the result of the restoration work in 1443 by a king of Chiang Mai. Other architectural works include the ancient-style brick arch adorned with fine designs and the pair of sculptured lions at the door.  INFO: Lamphun – Chawma Thewi temple: or Wat Ku Kut commonly referred to a Ku Kut, built in the Lopburi style. The Chedi is a square structure similar to Buddhagaya in India. Ashes of the queen are enshrined within the Chedi.  TRIC: Transfer Intra City – private airco vehicle – (Lamphun) to (Chiang Mai) – 30Km / 19Mi – 0 Hrs 30’  INFO: Chiang Mai – sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand, and is the capital of . It is located 700 km (435 mi) north of Bangkok, among the highest mountains in the country. The city is on the Ping river, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya river. In recent years, Chiang Mai has become an increasingly modern city and attracts approximately 1 million foreign visitors each year. Chiang Mai gained prominence in the political sphere in May 2006, when the Chiang Mai Initiative was concluded here between the ASEAN nations and the "+3" countries (China, Japan, and South Korea). Chiang Mai is one of three Thai cities contending to host the World Expo 2020. It has also recently positioned itself to become a Creative City and is considering to apply for Creative City Status with UNESCO. Chiang Mai's historic importance derived from its strategic location on the Ping river and major trade routes. The city has long been a major center for handcrafted goods, umbrellas, jewelry (particularly silver) and woodcarving. While officially the city of Chiang Mai only covers most parts of the Mueang Chiang Mai district with a population of 160,000, the urban sprawl of the city now extends into several neighboring districts. This Chiang Mai Metropolitan Area has a population of nearly one million people, more than half the total of Chiang Mai Province. The city is subdivided into four wards (“khwaeng”): Nakhon Ping, Srivijaya, Mengrai, and Kawila. The first three are on the west bank of the Ping River, and Kawila is located on the east bank. Nakhon Ping district comprises the north side of the city. Srivijaya, Mengrai, and Kawila consist of the west, south, and east respectively. The city center—within the city walls—is mostly with Srivijaya ward. King Mengrai founded the city of Chiang Mai (meaning "new city") in 1296, and it succeeded Chiang Rai as capital of the Lanna kingdom. The ruler was known as the “Chao”. The city was surrounded by a moat and a defensive wall, since nearby Burma was a constant threat. With the decline of the Lannathai kingdom, the city lost importance and was often occupied either by the Burmese or Thais from Ayutthaya. Because of the Burmese wars that culminated in the fall of Ayutthaya in April 1767, Chiang Mai was abandoned between 1776 and 1791. Lampang then served as the capital of what remained of Lannathai. Chiang Mai formally became part of Siam in 1774 by an agreement with Chao Kavila, after the Thai King Taksin helped drive out the Burmese. Chiang Mai then slowly grew in cultural, trading and economic importance to its current status as the unofficial capital of northern Thailand, second in importance only to Bangkok. The inhabitants speak “Kham Muang” (also known as Northern Thai or Lanna) among themselves, though Central Thai is used in education and is understood by everyone. English is used in hotels and travel-related businesses and many educated people speak English. The Kham Muang alphabet is now studied only by scholars, and Northern Thai is commonly written with the standard Thai alphabet.  OPTI: Dinner at local restaurant The Gallery, in Chiang Mai: http://www.thegallery-restaurant.com/about.html  HTLS: Overnight in Chiang Mai – HOTEL – CAT. STD – 2** - based DBL or TWN room

Day 5 : Friday 00.00.2012 – CHIANG MAI (B-D)  MEAL: breakfast at your hotel  TVIG: Services of a PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL TOURLEADER (English-speaking/available from 08:00am until 18:00pm)  TRAC: Transfer Intra Regio – (Chiang Mai) – private chartered airco vehicle – (available from 08:00am until 18:00pm)  TOUR: Chiang Mai – Doi Suthep: there are plenty of legends surrounding the mountaintop temple of Doi Suthep. Stories from long ago tell tales of a wandering 14th century monk and a dying elephant, a hermit and of villagers coming together to build a road to a holy shrine. Combined with the physical aura of the place, these stories weave a magic concoction for northern-bound travellers. Rising 1676 metres above the city of Chiang Mai, Doi Suthep is one of the most revered religious destinations in Thailand and is often packed with interested onlookers, especially when the weather is cooler and the days crisp and clear. But first a legend. A 14th- century monk from Sukhothai had a vision one day - he saw a fire and when he followed it, he found a relic (apparently a bone) from the Buddha himself. He took the relic to his king, but it failed to reproduce its magical powers and the king lost interest. However, King Keu Naone of the Lanna Kingdom heard of the monk and invited him north to Chiang Mai and offered to enshrine the relic. The building was completed and preparations were made to house the relic. 11 | P a g e

 When the time came to do this, the relic broke in two, leading the king to make a new plan. At the northern gate of the city, now known as Chang Puak (white elephant gate), he placed half of the relic on the back of a sacred white elephant and sent it off into the wilderness. The elephant headed due west, climbed slowly up the slopes of Doi Suthep, trumpeted a last call and then dropped dead. On that spot, legend goes, the temple was built in 1383. Doi Suthep is actually named for a legendary hermit, named Sudeva, who lived on the slopes. Before this, about 1,000 years ago, it was still known as Doi Aoy Chang (Sugarcane Elephant Mountain). We can travel the road 16 kilometres northwest out of Chiang Mai, past Chiang Mai University and ascend the winding road up the mountain to the base of the temple. There are two choices once you have reached the base of the temple - either hike up the 300 steps to the temple gate (admiring the longest Naga staircase in Thailand on the way) or, hop on one of the cable cars and get conveyed to the top. Most opt for the walk. Once inside Wat Suthep, you are free to wander the grounds, admiring what each section has to offer. Like many temples in Thailand, there are elements of Hinduism mixed in with Buddhism and an intriguing array of statues, including the god Ganesh, peek out from corners, cubby holes and from the sides of temple buildings. Metal bells, double-stacked, line a couple of walls and are kept busy throughout the day. Signs above the bells admonish visitors "not to push the bell." The lookout area is the other side from the entrance gate and viewers can gaze down at the city of Chiang Mai and its international airport far below. From here, you have a clear view of the winding Ping River and the surrounding mountains. In the middle of the temple is the sacred square cloister area, where, upon shedding shoes and ascending another dozen steps, visitors can see the Lanna-style, copper-plated chedi topped by a five-tiered gold umbrella. It is considered one of the holiest areas in Thailand. Monks inside are kept busy blessing the devout with holy water and the smell of incense and burning candles fill the senses as you circumnavigate the cloister. Another more recent legend about Doi Suthep concerns a monk in the 1930's: in 1934, there was still no road leading up the mountain and the faithful had to make the arduous climb in order to visit the temple. Pra Krubra Srivichai, a local monk, thought that the temple needed better access and organized the local villages in order to build a road. He asked each village to construct 10 metres and with this plan in hand, the locals finished the job in just six months. A recent expansion of the road covered over plaques honouring each village, but a statue honouring Srivichai still remains, at the base of the mountain. It is believed to be good luck to pay homage to him before ascending Doi Suthep. Many who visit don't realize that Doi Suthep is actually one part of the larger Doi Suthep National Park. The National Park encompasses 261 square kilometres. Evergreen hills, mixed deciduous and pine forest are all represented at the park and there are over 300 bird species and nearly 2000 species of fern and flowering plants that thrive there. During the late day and early morning, the bird species are much in evidence, flitting around the periphery of the temple. Phra Tamnak Phu Phing, the vacation palace for the royal family, is also in the immediate area and is often included in tours to Doi Suthep, along with a visit to a local Hmong hill-tribe village. Thanks to the industriousness of Srivichai, it is now easy to pay a visit to Doi Suthep, although the old hiking trail does still exist for those yearning for a more difficult challenge. Either way, the beauty, the holiness and the legends of Doi Suthep wait to be explored.  TOUR: Chiang Mai – bicycle rickshaw tour around Chiang Mai moat. Visit some remarkable ancient city temples (Wat Chedi Luang – Wat Phra Sing – Wat Chiang Man); we will get a good impression of the old city walls dating back to 1296. Visit Chiang Mai’s Chinatown at Warorot and stroll around neighbouring flower market.  OPTI: lunchbuffet at hotel-restaurant The Empress - www.empresshotels.com/empress_hotel_restaurants.html  TOUR: Chiang Mai – Local Handicraft Villages: - 1) Bo Sang: near Chiang Mai is renowned for its exquisitely hand- painted parasols made from mulberry paper and silk. The dainty parasols are decorated with beautiful floral motifs painted in dazzling colours. The designs are very distinctive and are instantly recognizable. – 2) Sometimes referred to as the "handicraft highway", the San Kamphaeng Road is very busy. See exquisite native handicrafts actually being crafted by master craftsmen and their assistants. Elaborate teak-wood carvings, intricate silverware, lustrous black lacquer ware, high-fired ceramics, famous Thai silk and cotton being woven the ancient traditional way on rustic wooden looms, paper-making being done in the ancient traditional way, hand-made paper and silk parasols in a rainbow hue of dazzling colors. Watch skilled artists deftly and swiftly paint art-work on parasols. It's absolutely amazing. – 3) Baan Tawai: is the village of wood-carving handicrafts. It has been known as the major cultural attraction of Chiangmai for Thai and foreign tourists. The best quality and bargains of wood carving items can be found in Baan Tawai. At present, a wide variety of wood carvings and other decorative items e.g. wood carving, wood-strips, gold leaf wood, antique wood, silverware, lacquer ware, hand-woven textile, basketry and earthenware, can be found in Baan Tawai at Baan Tawai handicraft Center and Baan Tawai Song Fang Klong Center.  TOUR & MEAL: traditional kanthoke dinner with ‘Lanna danses’, at the Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center. We’ll finish this evening attending a very spectacular ‘Hilltribe Show’.  OPTI: leasure walks along the atmospheric market at Wualai Street, as well as Chiang Mai’s famous night bazaar.  HTLS: Overnight in Chiang Mai – HOTEL – CAT. STD – 2** - based DBL or TWN room

Day 6 : Saturday 00.00.2012 – CHIANG MAI / PAI / MAE HONG SON (B)  MEAL: breakfast at your hotel  TVIG: Services of a PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL TOURLEADER (English-speaking/available from 08:00am until 18:00pm)  TRIC: Transfer Intra City – private airco vehicle – (Chiang Mai) to (Pai) – 163Km / 101Mi – 3 Hrs 55’  INFO: Pai – is a small town in northern Thailand's , near the border, north of Chiang Mai on the northern route to Mae Hong Son. It lies along the . The town has the saban status and covers parts of the tambon Wiang Tai of . As of 2006, it has a population of 2,284. Pai was once a quiet market village inhabited by “” (ethnic Tai whose culture is influenced by Burma), but nowadays Pai primarily thrives on tourism. Well-known among backpackers for its relaxed atmosphere, the town is full of cheap guesthouses, souvenir shops and restaurants. In the proximity of the town are spas and elephant camps. Further outside of town, there are several waterfalls and a number of natural hot springs varying in temperature from 80 to 200 degrees Celsius. Some resorts tap the hot springs and feed hot water into private bungalows and public pools. As Pai lies at the foot of the mountains, many tourists use it as a base for trekking and visiting hill tribes like Karen, Hmong, Lisu and Lahu. Another notable attraction is the town's excellent Wednesday Market which brings large and colorful crowds of local villagers and tribal people from all around the Pai Valley. Recently Pai has appeared on the Thailand tourist map and has received major infrastructure upgrades including an airport with several daily flights. This has done little to dampen the small and peaceful spirit of the town out of season. However, it has led to a recent influx of business investment and land speculation by both (non-Asian foreigners) and big city Thais. While some hail these sweeping changes as a new age of prosperity for Pai, others point to the loss of Pai's traditional customs and culture. In the tourist high season of November through March there are large numbers of tourists. 12 | P a g e

 Prior to 2006, foreign tourists predominated, but now Thai tourists make up the vast majority, particularly after Pai featured in two popular, Thai-made romantic movies, “The Letter”: Jod Mai Rak (2004) and Ruk Jung (2006). Pai has music festivals regularly as well as staging an International Enduro Championship. The area of modern-day Pai has been inhabited for more than 5,000 years. About 2,000 years ago, the “Lua” (or Lawa) Tribe was the dominant ethnic group all over the area of today's northern Thailand, and a few of their descendants still live in villages only about 20km away from Pai. The recorded history of the area starts about 800 years ago with the establishment of a settlement (today known as Ban Wiang Nuea) about 3km north of modern-day Pai. Ban Wiang Nuea was founded in 1251 AD by Shan immigrants from the region of modern-day northern Burma. Due to the area's remoteness and seclusion, people in those times were mainly cut off from news of the outside world and therefore not much concerned with the politics of Lanna and the rest of Thailand. That changed drastically in the course of the 14th and 15th century, when the first settlers arrived from Chiang Mai. It was part of Lanna policy of the time to send citizens loyal to the Lanna throne to the outposts of the empire, in order to consolidate and affirm Lanna's territorial authority. The result was a conflict that eventually led to a series of wars over territorial dominance in the Pai area. The Lanna troops finally defeated the Shan soldiers in 1481, forcing them to retire to Burmese territory. The Shan families who had lived in the area for a long time, establishing households, farming their land and raising their families, were granted permission to stay by the Lanna prince, along with a certain degree of cultural and social autonomy under the law and authority of the Lanna kingdom. Ban Wiang Nuea as a result became a village sharply divided into two parts by a wall into a "Shan" part and a "Lanna" part. In the second half of the 19th century, colonial powers France and England, who had already established their influence in , Cambodia, Laos and Burma, were viewing the area of modern-day Thailand with increasing interest. To consolidate Siam's influence and authority in the northern border region, the royal house encouraged Northern Thais from provinces like Phayao, Lamphun and Nan to migrate to those areas. The result again was conflict: the last fight between Lanna Thai and Shan in Ban Wiang Nuea took place in 1869, when Lanna soldiers finally defeated their Shan opponents in a battle that ended with the total destruction of the village. The entire village was burnt to the ground. All structures standing in Ban Wiang Nuea today are the result of the subsequent rebuilding efforts of the villagers. There was already a "road" (that took up to a week to traverse) leading from Chiang Mai to Pai in the late 19th century. Many of the new immigrants chose to settle in the area of the connecting road to Mae Hong Son, south of the village of Ban Wiang Nuea. This settlement was known as Ban Wiang Tai, and it developed into the modern town we know as Pai. During World War II , the Japanese began several projects to create efficient troop and equipment transport routes between Thailand and Burma, and (in addition to the well-known Death Railway through Kanchanaburi) one of these projects was the improvement of the existing "road" from Chiang Mai through Pai and Mae Hong Son. A wood and steel bridge built by Dutch, British, Australian and American Prisoners of War as well as Thai civilians pressed into service still stands about 10 km from Pai on the road to Chiang Mai, just parallel to the bridge later built in the course of more recent road improvement projects by the Thai government. As it turned out, just about when the Japanese supply line reached Burma, the war was over. The Thai government started developing the road leading from Chiang Mai via Pai to Mae Hong Son, known today as Route 1095, in 1967, but didn't finish paving the route until the early- to mid-1990s. Pai's recent history is one of waves of migration: in addition to the aforementioned waves of old Shan and Lanna immigrants, Karen immigrants arrived in the 18th century, Lisu and from areas of southern China arrived in the early 20th century, Muslim families from Chiang Mai began arriving to establish trade businesses starting around 1950, a group of “Kuomintang” fleeing Mao Zedong established a community in Pai in the early 1960s, and finally a new wave of refugees from the of Burma have arrived in the last few decades, fleeing the turmoil caused by the Burmese Junta to work as laborers in Thailand.  OPTI: lunch at local restaurant Baan Benjarong - http://paipost.wordpress.com/2010/10/16/editbaan-benjarong-eats/  INFO: Hill tribes in Thailand - Hill tribe is a term used in Thailand for all of the various tribal peoples who migrated from China and Tibet over the past few centuries. They now inhabit the remote border areas between Northern Thailand, Laos and Burma (Myanmar). These areas are known for their thick forests and mountainous terrain. The six major hill tribes within Thailand are the Akha, Lahu, Karen, Hmong/Miao, Mien/Yao and Lisu, each with a distinct language and culture. The hill tribes are subsistence farmers who use slash and burn agricultural techniques to farm their heavily forested communities. Tighter conservation of Thailand's virtually depleted forests, however, has forced hill tribe people to abandon their traditional agricultural methods. Traditionally, hill tribes were also a migratory people, leaving land as it became depleted of natural resources: - 1) The Akha: are closely related to the Hani of China's province. They are also known derogatorily in Thai as the Gaw or the E-gaw. The Akha are one of the dominant cultural influences in the area. There are 2 to 3 million Akha and Akha-Hani in total, 70,000 of whom live in Thailand. The Akha speak a language in the Lolo/Yi branch of the Tibeto-Burman language group, but have no traditional written language. Although many Akha, especially younger people, profess Christianity, Akha Zang (The Akha Way) still runs deep in their consciousness. The Akha are a shamanic group that share the ancient universal archetype that the Goddess spins a universe where nature is not distinguished from humankind. They embody the essence of its consciousness into a holistic continuum where there is no dichotomy between themselves and the natural world. The Akha Way, a prescribed lifestyle derived from religious chants, combines animism, ancestor worship, shamanism and a deep relationship with the land. The Akha Way emphasizes rituals in everyday life and stresses strong family ties and the hymn of creation; every Akha male can recount his genealogy back over fifty generations to the first Akha. – 2) The Lahu: are an ethnic group of Southeast Asia and China. They are one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China, where about 450,000 live in Yunnan province. An estimated 150,000 live in Burma. In Thailand, Lahu are one of the six main hill tribes; their population is estimated at around 100,000. The Tai often refer to them by the exonym "Mussur" or hunter. About 10,000 live in Laos. They are one of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam, where about 1,500 live in Lai Chau province. The Lahu population outside of Asia is extremely small. In the United States, the Lahu populace is most likely found in the states of Minnesota, California and North Carolina. The Lahu divide themselves into a number of subgroups, such as the Lahu Na (Black Lahu), Lahu Nyi (Red Lahu), Lahu Hpu (White Lahu), Lahu Shi (Yellow Lahu) and the Lahu Shehleh. Where a subgroup name refers to a color, it refers to the traditional color of their dress. These groups do not function as tribes or clans - there are no kin groups above that of the family. Lahu trace descent bilaterally, and typically practice matrilocal residence. – 3) : the Yao nationality (its great majority branch is also known as Mien; is a government classification for various minorities in China. They form one of the 55 ethnic minority groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China, where they reside in the mountainous terrain of the southwest and south. They also form one of the 54 ethnic groups officially recognized by Vietnam. In the last census in 2000, they numbered 2,637,421 in China, and roughly 470,000 in Vietnam. –

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 4) The Karen: the Bwa G'Naw, known to many as Karen, and to others as Kariang, are one of the largest hill tribes in Southeast Asia. The total population of is unknown, since they are spread throughout Burma, Laos and Thailand, and no reliable census has been conducted in Burma since the 1930's. Population estimates range from 7.5 million to 14 million people. (The more conservative estimate makes their population equivalent to that of Switzerland). The approximately 320,000 Karen in Thailand comprise half of the country's total hill tribe population. While the Karen still practice slash and burn farming as other hill tribes do, they differ in that they live in permanent villages at lower elevations and have been aggressive in developing environmentally sustainable terraced rice fields. These factors have allowed the Karen to better integrate themselves into Thai society. – 5) The Hmong: are believed to have been the original inhabitants of the Yellow River valley in ancient China. The expansion of the neighboring Chinese from the north, caused a disruption in the Hmong culture and forced them to migrate southwards to escape oppression and persecution. Over the centuries, many wars have been waged against the Chinese in which the Hmong would suffer heavy casualties from, being that they were outnumbered. The futile efforts to establish themselves as an independent people apart from the expanding Chinese led to their mass exodus further south of China, and eventually into Southeast Asia. From here, they made their way into the territories of the European colonies that later gained independence and became known as Laos, Vietnam, and Myanmar. While the Hmong came to inhabit the hillside of Thailand, the country had always maintained its sovereignty from the colonists. Today, the Hmong are located in the , although some are found elsewhere within the country. Among the hilltribes, the Hmong are becoming well integrated into Thai society as well as being among the most successful. The current population of Hmong in Thailand is estimated to be roughly 151,080. – 6) The : are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group who inhabit the mountainous regions of Burma (Myanmar), Southwest China, Thailand, and the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. About 730,000 live in Lijiang, Baoshan, Nujiang, Diqing and Dehong prefectures in Yunnan Province, China. The Lisu form one of the 56 ethnic groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China. In Burma, the Lisu are known as one of the seven Kachin minority groups and an estimated population of 450,000 Lisu live in Kachin and Shan State in Burma. Approximately 55,000 live in Thailand, where they are one of the six main hill tribes. They mainly inhabit the remote country areas. Their culture has traits shared with the Ayi culture.  TOUR: Pai – short walk to Ban Jabo, a village of the ethnic minority Lahu.  INFO: Lahu (Muser) Tribe – the Lahu population in the mountains of Northern Thailand is estimated about 60,000 strong and is composed of 5 major sub-clans. They entered Thailand near the end of the 19th century, establishing villages with houses built on high stilts, with bamboo walls, wooden plank floors and grass-thatched roofs, leaving the basement corral for their domestic animals like chickens, pigs and buffalos. The women have a reputation as skilled weavers of cloth, while men and women alike produce Thailand's finest baskets. The men also craft crossbows, musical instruments and other items made of wood, bamboo and rattan and take pride in their skills in hunting and trapping. In the dry season, the men would often stay in the forests for several days for that purpose. Agriculture traditionally focused on vegetables, but for decades, Lahu villages welcomed opium poppy cultivation as an opportunity to improve their economic conditions. During the last two decades, due to legal restrictions and the introduction of alternative crops, the cultivation of opium has been greatly reduced. The Lahu believe in a supreme spirit superior to the other spirits. Kinship and clan don't play a major role in their society and the decisive power usually stays with the village headman or the village elders. Decisions concerning the village aim at meeting general consensus. It’s quite common for Lahu people to move between villages, because within the tribe they consider each other to be brothers and sisters.  TOUR: Pai – short walk to Ban Nam Hu, a village of the ethnic minority Lisu.

Lisu ethnic minority Lahu ethnic minority

 INFO: Lisu (Lisor) Tribe – the two sub-clans of the Lisu tribe are spread over all of Northern Thailand, where they arrived only in the beginning of the 20th century. There are about 25,000 of them living in Thailand today. They are culturally closely related to the Chinese, with whom they share the New-Year's date. New Year is celebrated for many days, making it the Lisu tribe's biggest annual festivity. It has become popular amongst tourists to visit their villages during the New-Year's celebration to watch the women dancing around the village in different locations, wearing their brightest costumes for the event. The Lisu prefer altitudes above 1000m for their villages, where they live in houses built on the ground with a dirt floor. Traditionally, they make a living from agriculture and keeping livestock around the house. The Lisu are believed to have depended on the cultivation of opium for generations, but recently have mainly switched to other crops like corn and vegetables, as well as developing considerable skills in producing different kinds of handicrafts. As with every hill tribe, the Lisu have their legends. The Lisu believe themselves to be the only tribe to survive a global flood. Family is highly valued in Lisu communities. Family lines are carried by the male members of the tribe. The oldest man in the family has the highest authority concerning important matters. If there's a marriage in a Lisu village, there always has to be a dowry paid for the bride. Lisu men and women alike are often recognized as Thailand's physically most attractive people and, unlike with most other tribes, marriage outside the tribe is quite common. 14 | P a g e

 The Lisu women stand out amongst others through their highly colorful and picturesque dresses, which most of them still wear both inside and outside of their villages, making them easier to recognize than other tribal people who have switched to western clothing styles. The Lisu villages around Pai are Ban Nam Hu, about 5 km from downtown Pai on the road past Pai Hospital, which they share half-half with a KMT Chinese community, and Ban Pang Paek, about 14 km from Pai on the left side of the highway to Mae Hong Son. As with the other tribes, many more remote Lisu villages can be visited by doing a trek.  TOUR: Pai – Tham Lod Caves: Tham Lod (length 1,666m) is a tambon, village and a cave system near Soppong, , Mae Hong Son Province, northern Thailand. The Nam Lang River flows through the cave which is filled with stalactites and stalagmites. The cave is also home to large numbers of bats and swifts. In Tham Lod and other caves nearby, prehistoric 1,700-year-old teakwood coffins have been discovered which are thought to have been carved by the Lawa tribespeople thousands of years ago.  TRIC: Transfer Intra City – private airco vehicle – (Pai) to (Mae Hong Son) – 110Km / 69Mi – 1 Hrs 50’  TOUR: Mae Hong Son – City Temples: 1) Wat Jong Klang temple: was added later in the 19th century by Shans living in the area. Inside there is a collection of Burmese carved wooden dolls - tukata, depicting characters from the Jataka tales (stories of Buddha's previous life episode). There are also beautiful glass paintings, depicting aspects of Buddhism and simple local activities. – 2) Wat Jong Kham temple: is situated in the same compound as Wat Jong Klang. At the northern edge of the complex there is a colonial style building housing a large seated Buddha. The two temples are situated in front of the pond Nong Chong Kham, which acts as a public park and is a great resting place. – 3) Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu: is the oldest landmark in Mae Hong Son province. It stands atop Kong Mu hill and can be seen from anywhere in town. Formerly named "Wat Plai Doi", the temple has two Burmese-style chedi, the larger of which was built in 1860, and contains the relics of Phra Moggalana, one of the disciples of the Buddha. The smaller chedi was erected in 1874 by the first governor of Mae Hong Son, Phraya Singhanat Raja.  OPTI: dinner at Fern restaurant, in Mae Hong Son: http://www.fernresort.info/  HTLS: Overnight in Mae Hong Son – HOTEL – CAT. STD – 2** - based DBL or TWN room

Day 7 : Sunday 00.00.2012 – MAE HONG SON / KHUN YUAM / MAE LA NOI / MAE SOT (B)  MEAL: early breakfast at your hotel  TVIG: Services of a PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL TOURLEADER (English-speaking/available from 08:00am until 18:00pm)  INFO: Mae Hong Son – (also Maehongson, Mae Hong Sorn or Maehongsorn) is one of the northern provinces (changwat) of Thailand, and at the same time the westernmost. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Shan State of Myanmar, Chiang Mai and Tak. To the west it borders Kayin State and Kayah State of Myanmar again. It was formerly called “Mae Rong Son”. Mae Hong Son (“The City of Three Mists”) is nestled in a deep valley hemmed in by high mountain ranges. Mae Hong Son has long been isolated from the outside world. It is the most mountainous province in Thailand and composed of a total of 13,814 square kilometers. It is virtually covered with mist throughout the year, the name refers to the fact that this terrain is highly suitable for the training of elephants. Former governors of Chiang Mai used to organize the rounding up of wild elephants which were then trained before being sent to the capital for work. Today, Mae Hong Son is a "dream destination" for visitors. Daily flights into its small airport bring growing numbers of tourists, attracted by the natural scenery, numerous hill-tribe communities and soft adventure opportunities. It is believed that the lands of Mae Hong Son had already been settled before the arrival of Lord Kaeo of Ma (Chao Kaeo Mueang Ma) and his consequent resettlement in the area. However, there is no evidence as to what time or period they arrived, nor of their migrations thereafter. These former inhabitants have left evidence of their activity in the area and are believed to have been Lua, or “Lawa”, hill tribes' people. Evidence to date includes gravesites and discarded housing structures. These first settlers were likely depopulated by either malaria or war, with survivors then dispersing out to safer areas. The old, pre-Rattanakosin lands of Mae Hong Son was merely a collective of forest settlements without a central government, with Shan peoples who had crossed into the area from beyond the frontier with the Union of Burma in search of a means to find food, working in agroforestry and joint plantations as the seasons permitted. During this period the area was significant only as a passage for Burman troops marching on the capital at Ayutthaya or to the various Siamese capitals of Northern Thailand. Mae Hong Son historical records state that in the year 1831, which corresponds to the reign of King Nangklao (Rama III) of the Rattanakosin Period, in the lands of today's Mae Hong Son, was a geography of tall mountains and dense forests inhabited by a myriad of forest creatures of which wild elephants in particular were in great abundance, and thus ordered Lord Kaeo, who was a relative of his and a local military chief and governor, to herd these elephants out into the custody of mahouts, to survey the feasibility of this task on such western frontierlands and to be of further service in the capturing of the elephants so that they might be trained for labour thereafter. The village of Mae Rong Son flourished and prospered and Shan began migrating there in increased numbers. Aside from this wave, in around the year 1856 there arose much political unrest on the western banks of the which furthered the influx of peace-loving Shan, and again in 1876 when war broke out between the blood-princes of the principalities of Nai and Mok Mai respectively. 15 | P a g e

 In 1890, during the reign of Rama V, the Ministry of the Interior, completed an inspection tour of the cities in the Northwestern Mandala and consulted with the High Commissioner, who oversaw the Northwestern Mandala, to organise a new order of governance, namely, he would incorporate the partially independent city-states of Mae Hong Son, Khun Yuam, Mae Sariang and Pai into a single unit of government to be called Shire of Western Chiang Mai, and placed the government of the shire at Khun Yuem. In 1903, the seat of government was moved from Khun Yuam to Yuam and the administrative division was renamed from Western Chiang Mai to Northern Phayap. In 1910, a royal decree saw the merging of Mae Hong Son, Yuam and Pai, into a fourfold realm alongside the Mandala of Phayap, and moved the administrative capital to Mae Hong Son. In 1933, governance as a territory was ceased and then reinstated as a constitutional administrative government as per the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand as remains in place today.  OPTI: Mae Hong Son – Meo Microwave Village tour: is a scenic drive tour where you will see many great views of the Mae Hong Son province. The Meo Microwave Village is a Hmong Village. The Meo Microwave Village is called that way because it is so close to a microwave station. The tour takes you to a Hmong Village with beautiful scenery. However, the Hmong village itself looks like a countryside, uncivilized. The Meo Microwave Village is exotic but by no means a good place to live. During this visit you can poke your head into people’s houses in the Hmong Village. They make a living by showing off their homes. These are real houses where they actually live, not a display for show.  TOUR: Mae Hong Son – visit to a Karen Long Neck Hill Tribe Village: the Padaung are a sub-group of Karen (Bwe Group) living in Kayah state of eastern Burma on the Thailand border. They number less than 40,000 people in total. The Padaung call themselves "Lae Kur" or "Kayan". They have their own language which belongs to the Kenmic group in the Tibeto-Burman . The Karen themseves are not one homogeneous group but rather a loose confederation of heterogeneous and closely related tribes. Among the smallest of the Karen tribes in Thailand are the Karen Padaung. In Thailand, only a few families of Padaung have settled temporarily as refugees in Muang District of Mae Hong Son Province, near Ban Tha Ton in . Generally they live among other hilltribes groups, mostly Kayan and Kalaw tribes. The Padaung escaped from the Kayah State in Burma to Thailand in the mid to late 1900's and are actually refugees of a political turmoil. They belong to the Karenni sub-group of the Karen People, which are still fighting for their independence in Burma. The Karen-Padaung occupied central Burma before the Burmese arrived from the North and they, together with the ancient Mon, farmed the Irrawaddy and Salween Valleys and built civilizations based on their unique cultures. The Padaung women famously wear brass rings around their necks. This distorts the growth of their collarbones and make them look as if they have long necks - which they don't. This row of brass rings do not actually stretch their necks but in fact squash the vertebrae and collar bones. A woman generally has about twenty or more rings around her neck. This neck ring adornment is started when the girls are 5 or 6 years old. The rings on the arms and the legs are not quite as prominent as those on the neck simply because the neck rings are so pronounced. However, these rings are just as important. The rings on the arms are worn on the forearm from the wrist to the elbow. Those on the legs are worn from the ankles to the knees, and cloth coverings are kept over most of these rings, from the shins down to the ankles. Most of Padaung are animists, but about 10 percent are Buddhists. Now, the number of Christians is increasing because of the Roman Catholic mission. The annual festival for the fertility and prosperity of the whole community is usually held at the beginning of the rainy season. Sacrifices are made to the spirits for good health and bountiful harvests. Rice is the Padaung main crop.

Padaung Long Neck ethnic minority Kalaw ethnic minority Kayan ethnic minority

 TRIC: Transfer Intra City – private airco vehicle – (Mae Hong Son) to (Mae Sariang) – 143Km / 89Mi – 2 Hrs 00’  OPTI: Lunch at hotel-restaurant River House in Mae Sariang - http://www.riverhousehotels.com/  TRIC: Transfer Intra City – private airco vehicle – (Mae Sariang) to (Mae Sot) – 250Km / 155Mi – 3 Hrs 37’  TOUR: rest stop at Mae Salit; short visit to ‘Tham Usu Cave’.  TOUR: rest stop at Mae Ramat, with enough time to visit a UN-refugee camp at Bae Ko Village.  OPTI: dinner at local restaurant Bai Fern, in Mae Sot: http://baifernrestaurant.blogspot.com/  HTLS: Overnight in Mae Sot – HOTEL – CAT. STD – 2** - based DBL or TWN room

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Day 8 : Monday 00.00.2012 – MAE SOT / UMPHANG (B)  MEAL: breakfast at your hotel  TVIG: Services of a PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL TOURLEADER (English-speaking/available from 08:00am until 18:00pm)  INFO: Mae Sot – is a town in that shares a border with Myanmar to the west. It is notable as a trade hub and for its substantial population of Burmese migrants and refugees. The town is part of the larger Tak Province and is the main land gateway between Thailand and Burma. As a result it has also gained notoriety for its trade in gems and teak, as well as black market services such as people trafficking and drugs. Neighboring districts are (North from clockwise): Mae Ramat, Mueang Tak and Phop Phra. The Moei River serves as a natural border between Mae Sot and the Burmese town of Myawaddy. Mae Sot is the location where Asian Highway AH1 links between Thailand and Burma; thus it is one of the most important gateways to Burma, along with “Three Pagodas Pass”. The Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge crossing the Moei River was constructed in 1997 completing the link between the two countries. As a gateway city, Mae Sot has its own domestic airport. Trade with Burma constitutes the largest portion of Mae Sot's economy. It has an established market for commodities such as wholesale gems and teak. Most of the towns service industries are supported by Burmese migrants who fill positions within sweat-shops and factories throughout the region. The town also suffers from a black market in illegal smuggling, people trafficking and narcotics. The Thai-Myanmar friendship bridge, is the primary gateway for trade with Burma. The border region, located several kilometres from central Mae Sot includes the Rim Moei Market that deals in imported goods and woodwork. Mae Sot also serves as a minor tourist destination, primarily used for those wishing to visit Myawaddy in Burma or as a stopover on the way to Amphoe Umphang, popular for trekking. The town has a substantial population of Burmese refugees and economic migrants. The exact number of Burmese in Mae Sot is unclear but estimates say that over 100,000 exist in addition to the 106,000 already recorded in the official census. In recent years the ongoing refugee situation has attracted NGO's and International aid agencies to set programs in the town and surrounding areas. The Mae Sot region has around 70 migrant schools that have started spontaneously to meet the needs of the 30,000 children who have crossed the border with their parents from Burma. The students are a mix of refugees and economic migrants. Of this number only 7000 currently are attending these schools. The schools range in size from 20 to over 650 students (“Has Thoo Lei School”). These schools receive no support from the Thai government and rely solely on resourcefulness and international support.  TVWG: Mae Sot – Local Markets: the Border market is well worth a visit for a whole range of locally made and Chinese and Burmese imports - including bootleg viagra, 'knocked off' cigarettes, whisky and designer goods, plus gems and plants. The vibrant Burmese market in the centre of town represents an amazing cultural mix. There are Indo-burmese textiles, food and teak; as well as Karen, Mon, Hmong and Burmese minority shops of all kinds. Turtles, eels and frogs all available at food stalls (mostly these are live) while pork, chicken, beef and lamb are also sold. There are numerous gem and jade shops but they are not for amateurs, if you can’t tell the difference between real and fake gems.  TRIC: Transfer Intra City – private airco vehicle – (Mae Sot) to (Umphang) - 164km / 102Mi – 4 Hrs 00’  INFO: Mae Sot to Umphang Road – Umphang is only accessible by road from the town of Mae Sot. Travellers take Highway No. 1090 (the Mae Sot - Umphang route) for 165 kilometres. This road, complete with 1,219 curves, winds its way up and through the magnificent Thanon Thong Chai Mountains. Known for its spectacular beauty, this route has been named "Sky Road". Mae Sot to Umphang requires four hours of driving time in a minivan. On the road to Umphang, there are two large UN refugee camps (refugees are Karen people from Burma oppressed by the government). A few large Hmong villages can be visited on the way.  OPTI: lunch at a local restaurant in Umphang  INFO: Umphang – is the southernmost district of Tak Province, Thailand at the Thai-Myanmar border. It’s also the name of the town center of the district. The western edge of the district has a long boundary with Myanmar. Surrounded by national parks and wildlife reserves, it’s one of the least accessible regions in Thailand. Nevertheless, it has one major tourist attraction, Thi Lo Su, the largest waterfall of Thailand. Umphang was established as a district in 1898. It was named Amphoe Mae Klong, back then and part of Uthai Thani Province. In 1906 it was renamed Amphoe Umphang and moved to Kamphaeng Phet Province. It was speculated that the name “Umphang” came from the Karen word “Umpa”, meaning the act of opening bamboo container, this was performed by Burmese to show passport stored in the bamboo to Thai immigration officers. Most of Umphang is mountainous, geographically separated from the east part of Tak Province via Thanon Thongchai Mountain Range. The southern part of Umphang belongs to Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary while the central part near Umphang town is Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary. Directly east of Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary is Mae Wong National Park (in Tak and Kamphaeng Phet Province) and Khlong Lan National Park (in Kamphaeng Phet Province). The area, due to its difficulty of access, were used as a base of Communist Party of Thailand. An important river in Umphang is Klong River which originates here and flows southward into Kanchanaburi Province. A large number of the population are hill tribes with Karen people making up the largest proportion. As Karens were the original settlers here before Thais began to migrate into the area, many place names are in Karen language. The Highway Mae Sot-Umphang is the only road linking Umphang to other parts of Thailand. This highway, 164 km in total, has two lanes during much of the way and contains 1,219 curves, a number proudly displayed at numerous places in Umphang. It is one of the toughest roads for those who suffer from motion sickness. 17 | P a g e

 INFO: Umphang – depending weather conditions & travel season, we’ll make a choice out of 3 possible optional activities:  OPTI: Umphang 1 – Bamboo Rafting on Huai Nam Yen-river (November-June): it is an incomparable adventure that we wish to share with you in presenting the national park of Umphang, one of the most beautiful region of Thailand classified World Heritage by UNESCO. We start with a descent of the river by rafts made of bamboo. Sailing gently southwards to join Ta Sai, we fully have the time to admire the green strands of the river. For people who might have an apprehension, the descent of the river is perfectly without danger and every raft is always framed by 2 local helmsmen. After a while, we arrive at Ti Lo Jo, a splendid cascade flowing out of a cliff with stalactites and stalagmites covered by ferns. You can enjoy bathing in this place before taking the rafts for the second discovery not far from there. On the sides of the river we’ll see small geysers springing by intermittence and we relax in a source of hot water. The descent to Ta Sai is full of beautiful sites like Phaluat, a very high precipice with a different variety of trees on its top and also hives of bees.  OPTI: Umphang 2 – Adventure Trekking to Ta Ko Bi Cave (3 kilometers) in monsoon season (June-October): this cave contains a big chamber with stalagmites and stalactites. It is possible to climb through the cave to a small temple on the top of the mountain. In the past the cave was used by the Communist Party of Thailand.  OPTI: Umphang 3 – Adventure Trekking to Tee Lor Su Waterfalls & Elephant Safari (November-December): after our arrival in Tai Sai, we’ll go for a short healthy walk of about four kilometers towards the jungle to Tee Lor Su waterfalls. This little walk, where each one can go his own speed, is a manner for the guides to judge the participants' level of fitness, in order to adapt the difficulty of the trek for the remainder of the day. At the end of the day we admire Tee Lor Su, the most spectacular waterfall of Thailand, that is also the sixth larger in the world with ninety-eight distinct cascades and 400 meters width. From Tee Lor Su to Khota, we have the time to ask all questions to our local park guide concerning the fauna and the flora of the place, and also take some photos. The villagers' way of life in Khota is very close to the nature, with their hands they grow rice and weave cotton. They also raise elephants that are essential for their transportation in the jungle. We start from there to trek in the jungle on the back of the elephants. The animals and their mahouts allow us to discover impenetrable places by other means, rocking us from the left to the right then the back to the front on a long distance. We are also in charge of taking care of our own animal in giving him food and bath in the river during the afternoon. We become more intimate with our pachyderms that continue their heavy walk through spectacular vegetation.  TVWG: those who do not wish to participate in trekking or rafting might go for an individual bicycle tour around Umphang.  OPTI: dinner (BBQ) at your resort, in Umphang  HTLS: Overnight in Umphang – RESORT – CAT. STD – 2** - based DBL or TWN room.

Day 9 : Tuesday 00.00.2012 – UMPHANG / MAE SOT / SUKHOTHAI (B)  MEAL: early breakfast at your resort  TVIG: Services of a PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL TOURLEADER (English-speaking/available from 08:00am until 18:00pm)  TRIC: Transfer Intra City – private airco vehicle – (Umphang) to (Mae Sot) - 164km / 102Mi – 4 Hrs 00’  OPTI: lunch at a local restaurant, in Mae Sot.  TRIC: Transfer Intra–City – private airco vehicle – (Mae Sot) to (Sukhothai) - 163km / 101Mi – 3 Hrs 30’  INFO: Sukhothai – is 12 km from the modern city of New Sukhothai. Sukhothai, which literally means "Dawn of Happiness", is about 427 km north of Bangkok and was founded in 1238. Sukhothai was the capital of the Thai Empire for approximately 140 years. Today 193 temples are excavated and partly reconstructed. Old Sukhothai is a very quiet town with almost no hotels but with a great way to experience life in a Thai village. It is possible to rent bicycles in order to reach the temples outside the city wall and with some luck (and some skills) one can meet some of the locals. Most tourists stay in New Sukhothai, about 12 km to the East. The Sukhothai Kingdom was an early kingdom in the area around the city Sukhothai, in north . The Kingdom existed from 1238 till 1438. The old capital is in ruins and has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage historical park. Prior to the 13th century, Tai kingdoms had existed on the northern highlands including the Ngoen Yang (centered on Chiang Saen; predecessor of Lanna) kingdom and the Heokam (centered on , modern in China) kingdom of . Sukhothai had been a trade center and part of “Lavo”, which was under the domination of the Khmer Empire. The migration of Tai people into upper Chao Phraya valley was somewhat gradual. Modern historians stated that the secession of Sukhothai from the Khmer empire began as early as 1180 during the reign of Po Khun Sri Naw Namthom who was the ruler of Sukhothai and the peripheral city of Sri Satchanalai (now a part of Sukhothai Province as Amphoe). Sukhothai had enjoyed a substantial autonomy until it was re-conquered around 1180 by the Mons of Lavo under Khomsabad Khlonlampong. Two brothers, Po Khun Bangklanghao and Po Khun Phameung (“Po Khun” was a Siamese title of high nobility) took Sukhothai from Mon hands in 1239. Bangklanghao ruled Sukhothai as Sri Inthraditaya – and began the Phra Ruang dynasty - he expanded his primordial kingdom to the bordering cities. 18 | P a g e

 At the end of his reign in 1257, the Sukhothai kingdom covered the entire Upper Chao Phraya valley. Traditional Thai historians considered the foundation of the Sukhothai kingdom as the beginning of their nation because little was known about the kingdoms prior to Sukhothai. Modern historical studies demonstrate that Thai history began before Sukhothai. Yet the foundation of Sukhothai is still a celebrated event. Po Khun Banmeaung and his brother Ramkhamhaeng expanded the Sukhothai kingdom at the expense of neighboring civilizations. For the first time a Tai state became a dominant power in Southeast Asia. To the south, Ramkamhaeng subjugated the “kingdom of Supannabhum” and Sri Thamnakorn (Tambralinga) and, through Tambralinga, adopted (buddhism) as state religion. Traditional history described the extension of Sukhothai in a great fashion and the accuracy of these claims is disputed. To the north Ramkamhaeng put Phrae, and Mueng Sua () under tribute. To the west Ramkhamhaeng helped the Mons under Wareru (who is said to have eloped with Ramkamhaeng’s daughter) to free themselves from Pagan control and established a kingdom at Martaban (they later moved to Pegu). So, Thai historians considered the Kingdom of Martaban a Sukhothai tributary. However, in practice, such Sukhothai domination may not have extended that far. On culture, Ramkhamhaeng requested the monks from Sri Thamnakorn to propagate the Theravada religion in Sukhothai. In 1283, the Thai script was invented by Ramkamhaeng, formulating into controversial Ramkamhaeng Stele discovered by Mongkut 600 years later. From the Stele is almost what we know about Sukhothai. Ramkhamhaeng’s government characterized the governance of Sukhothai kingdom – the patrocracy – in which the king is considered “father” and people “children”. He also encouraged the free trade, stating: …“those who wish to trade elephants, trade them then. Those who wish to trade horses, trade them then”… It was also his time that the first relation with Yuan dynasty was formulated and Sukhothai began sending trade missions to China. The well-known exported good of Sukhothai was the Sangkalok (i.e. Song dynasty pottery) – the only period that Siam produced Chinese-styled ceramics and fell out of use by the 14th century. The Sukhothai domination was, however, short. After the death of Ramkhamhaeng, the Sukhothai tributaries broke away. Ramkhamhaeng was succeeded by his son Loethai. The vassal kingdoms, first Uttaradit in the north, then soon after the Laotian kingdoms of Luang Prabang and Vientiane (Wiangchan), liberated themselves from their overlord. In 1319 the Mon state to the west broke away, and in 1321 Lanna placed Tak, one of the oldest towns under the control of Sukhothai, under its control. To the south the powerful city of Suphanburi also broke free early in the reign of Loethai. Thus the kingdom was quickly reduced to its former local importance only. Meanwhile, Ayutthaya rose in strength, and finally in 1378 King Thammaracha II had to submit to this new power. In 1378, the armies from Ayutthaya kingdom invaded and put Sukhothai under her tributary. Suffering the urban decline, Luethai moved the capital to Pitsanulok. In 1424, after the death of Sailuethai, Paya Ram and Paya Banmeung the two brothers fought for the throne. Nagarindrathirat of Ayutthaya intervened and further divided the kingdom between the two. Their sister had married to Borommaracha II of Ayutthaya and produced a son, Prince Ramesuan. When Boromban died in 1446 without any heirs, the throne passed to Ramesuan or Trailokanat. Ramesuan was also crowned as the King of Ayutthaya in 1448, thus began the personal union between the Kingdom of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya. The Silajaruek Sukhothai are hundreds of stone inscriptions that form a historical record of the period. Among the most important inscriptions are the Stone Inscription of King Ramkhamhaeng, Silajaruek Wat Srichum (an account on history of the region itself and of Srilanka), and Silajaruek Wat Pamamuang (a Politico-Religious record of King Loethai).  TOUR: Sukhothai – Old City & Sukhothai Historal Park: located 12 km to the west of today's Sukhothai, this was the capital of the Sukhothai Kingdom from 1238 to 1438. The site contains many ruins from that period. Its importance has been internationally recognised and it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old city is a popular tourist attraction, and the site has seen much restoration since the 1960s. It is well maintained, exceptionally clean and well furnished with vendors, though with only a minimum of touts. The heavy restoration is worth noting, since with some ruins and Buddha figures it can lead to a feeling that it is a little over-sanitised, especially in the central zone. The other zones are much less "restored" and trips down unmarked tracks can lead to ruins in their untouched state. The best way to see the ruins in the Sukhotai National Historic Park is by bicycle. These can be rented from a shop opposite from the main park entrance. It is feasible to walk around the central and northern zones in 6 hours or so. The whole site covers an area of approximately 70 km and is divided into multiple zones: -1) Central zone: It contains 11 ruins in 3 square kilometres, interspersed with moats, lakes and bridges to some island-bound ruins. Wat Mahathat is one of the most spectacular, with a large seated Buddha figure set amongst the pillars of a now ruined sala, and a central chedi flanked by two standing Buddha figures. Wat Sra Sri also has a large chedi and Buddha figure, but is reached by a bridge to the island. There are some nice views from the other side of the lake. – 2) North zone: Wat Phra Phai Luang contains the remains of a number of buildings plus a large prang with stucco reliefs. More impressive is Wat Sri Chum, which contains a massive seated Buddha figure peering through an opening in its enclosure. Look for a stairway on the left as you enter the enclosure; it leads up and behind the buddha image, though the passage is not always open.  OPTI: dinner at local restaurant Dream Cafe & Cocoon House, in Sukhothai.  HTLS: Overnight in Sukhothai – HOTEL – CAT. STD – 2** - based DBL or TWN room

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Day 10 : Wednesday 00.00.2012 – SUKHOTHAI / / SUPHANBURI / KANCHANABURI (B)  MEAL: early breakfast at your hotel  TVIG: Services of a PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL TOURLEADER (English-speaking/available from 08:00am until 18:00pm)  TRIC: Transfer Intra–City – private airco vehicle – (Sukhothai) to (Nakhon Sawan) - 262km / 163Mi – 3 Hrs 42’  OPTI: lunch at local restaurant Huan Talab, in Nakhon Sawan.  INFO: Nakhon Sawan – is a city ( nakhon) in Thailand, the name literally means "Heavenly City". The city is the capital of , and covers the complete subdistrict (tambon) Pak Nam Pho and parts of Khwae Yai, Nakhon Sawan Tok, Nakhon Sawan Ok and Wat Sai, all of Mueang Nakhon Sawan district. As of 2006 it has a population of 93,141. Nakhon Sawan is about 250 kilometres (160 mi) north of Bangkok, and marks the point of confluence of two of Thailands major rivers, the Ping and the Nan. These converge in Nakhon Sawan to form the Chao Phraya which flows south to Bangkok and out into the . It is located in a valley, thus resulting in some of the highest overnight lows in the country, often reaching 33 °C (91 °F) in the summer, and up to 43 °C (109 °F) in the day. Bueng Boraphet located east of Nakhon Sawan is Thailand's biggest freshwater swamp.  TOUR: Nakhon Sawan – Mountain Temple Wat Woranat Banphot: (Khao Kop) is an old temple of the province on the peak of Khao Kop 185.5 meters above sea level. There are 2 ways up: a stairway of 439 steps and an asphalt road 3 meters wide. The peak has a replica of Lord Buddhas Footprint and a pagoda encasing the relic of Lord Buddha built when Sukhothai was the countrys’ capital. The temple was praised by the Department of Religious Affairs as the best development temple of 1966. A nearby hill is the site of some television relay stations.  TRIC: Transfer Intra–City – private airco vehicle – (Nakhon Sawan) to (Suphanburi) - 195km / 120Mi – 3 Hrs 18’  INFO: Suphanburi – is one of the central . Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Nakhon Pathom and Kanchanaburi. The word Suphan originates from the Sanskrit word Suvarna, meaning gold, and the word buri from Sanskrit Purī, meaning town or city. Hence the name of the province literally means City of Gold. The terrain of the province is mostly low river plains, with small mountain ranges in the north and the west of the province. The southeastern part with the very low plain of the Tha Cheen river is paddy rice farming area. Suphan Buri might be the site of the legendary Suvarnabhumi, which is mentioned in very old Buddhist writings. However the first confirmed historical settlement was in the Dvaravati period, when the city was known as Mueang Thawarawadi Si Suphannaphumi. Its founding did take place 877-882. Later it was called U Thong, and was the home city of Prince U Thong, the founder of the Ayutthaya kingdom. King Khun Luang Pha Ngua finally gave it the current name. Suphan Buri was an important border city, and also the location of several battles with the neighboring Burmese. The provincial seal shows the elephant battle between King Naresuan the Great and the crown prince of Burma in 1592, which took place in Suphan Buri. Provincial tree is the Ebony Tree (Diospyros mollis).  INFO: Suphanburi Local Products: famous products from Suphanburi Province include bamboo and rattan basketry. Suphanburi artisans show their talents by putting patterns of bullet wood flowers, plumeria blossom and Suphan Buri’s durian thorn in the basket. Suphanburi is famous for local chiffon soft cake Sali Suphan, canned water chestnuts, canned bamboo shoots, termite mushroom, honey roasted duck, baked chicken, small-scale croaker, sun dried fish, and sun-dried beef.  TOUR: Suphanburi – Buffalo Village: the theme village is occupying over a 100-rai (40-acre) plot of land, the Buffalo Villages feature the rural lifestyle in the central region such as Thai farmer villages, rice-threshing ground water, buffalo ranch, traditional Thai houses on stilts. Visitors can enjoy exploring various corners, which feature different local wisdom such as Thai medical knowledge, traditional Thai massage, local herbs, and Thai astrology. Visitors can enjoy a 30’ buffalo show at 16:30pm.  TRIC: Transfer Intra–City – private airco vehicle – (Suphanburi) to (Kanchanaburi) - 97km / 120Mi – 1 Hrs 30’

 INFO: Kanchanaburi – is a town (thesaban mueang) in the west of Thailand and the capital of Kanchanaburi province. In 2006 it had a population of 31,327. Kanchanaburi, which is located where the Khwae Noi and Khwae Yai - rivers converge into the Mae Klong river, spans the northern banks of the river and is a popular spot for travelers, its location at the edge of a mountain range keeping it much cooler than the other provinces of central Thailand. The city has two major commercial districts: the downtown area consists of a grid of several streets with office buildings, shop fronts, and a shopping mall; and the riverfront area businesses are mostly located further west along River Kwai Road. Once a year a carnival comes to town and is set up in the area next to the bridge. At night there is a small pyrotechnics display that re-enacts the wartime bombing of the bridge. Kanchanaburi is also the birthplace of the Buddhist monk Phrabhavanaviriyakhun. It is 5 km SE of the Buddhist temple Wat Tham Phu Wa which features a series of grotto shrines within a large limestone cave system. Each grotto features a statue of The Buddha at a different stage of his life. It is the easiest access point to the nearby ”Tiger Temple” and is also home to a Vipassana meditation center. In 1942 Kanchanaburi was under Japanese control. It was here that Allied POWs, building the infamous Burma Railway, constructed a bridge; an event immortalised in the film “Bridge on the River Kwai”. More than half of the prisoners working on the project died from disease, maltreatment and accidents. 20 | P a g e

 At Kanchanaburi, there is a memorial and two museums to commemorate the dead. In March 2003, the Thailand-Burma Railway Museum opened and the JEATH War Museum dedicated to the bridge and the Death Railway. The city is also home to the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. Near Kanchanaburi, about 3 km from Wat Tham Phu Wa is the Chong Kai allies cemetery. A province in the Central Plains, Kanchanaburi borders Burma to the west with the Tanaosi range as a borderline. The province is also famous for its natural attractions such as forests, mountains, caves and waterfalls. Several National Parks are located in the forests of the mountain area of the province - the Erawan, Sai Yok, Khao Laem, Khaoen Sri Nakarin and Chaloem Rattanakosin National Parks are located in the province. The Thungyai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in this province is also listed in the UNESCO world heritage list. Archaeology found in Kanchanaburi dates back to the 4th century which proves of trade with surrounding countries even in that time. Very little is also historically known about the actual Khmer influence in Kanchanaburi but there is evidence of their occupation with Prasat Muang Singh – one of the country’s most well-known Khmer sites. Not much was historically recorded about Kanchanaburi province before the reign of King Rama I, but some historians believe that the province played much strategical importance during the Ayutthaya period. In 1982 the Fine Arts Department found many human and elephant skeletons and swords in . Thus, this site might even have been the location of the famous battle of King Naresuan against the Burmese crown-prince, most commonly assigned to the in Suphanburi province nearby. With the rise of the Chakri Dynasty and General Chakri (who would later become King Rama I) Kanchanaburi certainly played a distinctive strategical point as defense against the invading Burmese. For foreigners however, it is only Kanchanaburi’s recent history which really stands out with the name ‘The Death Railway’. During the Japanese occupation of Thailand in 1942 POWs both allies and Asian laborers were ordered by the Japanese to build a Thailand-Burma railway. Eventually, an unprecedented more than 100,000 POWs (16,000 allies and 90,000 local Asian laborers) died from horrific working conditions.  OPTI: dinner at local restaurant Keree Taraa, in Kanchanaburi -  HTLS: Overnight in Kanchanaburi – HOTEL – CAT. STD – 2** - based DBL or TWN room

Day 11 : Thursday 00.00.2012 – KANCHANABURI / RATCHABURI / DAMNOEN SADUAK / HUA HIN (B)  MEAL: breakfast at your hotel  TVIG: Services of a PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL TOURLEADER (English-speaking/available from 08:00am until 18:00pm)  TOUR: Kanchanaburi – Bridge On the River Kwai & Railway Museum: The Bridge on the River Kwai is a 1957 British World War II film by David Lean based on The Bridge over the River Kwai by French writer Pierre Boulle. The film is a work of fiction but borrows the construction of the Burma Railway in 1942–43 for its historical setting. It stars William Holden, Jack Hawkins, Alec Guinness and Sessue Hayakawa. The film was shot in Sri Lanka (credited as Ceylon, as it was known at the time). The bridge in the movie was located near Kitulgala. The largely fictional film plot is loosely based on the building in 1943 of one of the railway bridges over the Mae Klong (renamed Khwae Yai) in the 1960s—at a place called Tha Ma Kham, five kilometres from the Thai town of Kanchanaburi. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission: …"The notorious Burma-Siam railway, built by Commonwealth, Dutch and American prisoners of war, was a Japanese project driven by the need for improved communications to support the large Japanese army in Burma. During its construction, approximately 13,000 prisoners of war died and were buried along the railway. An estimated 80,000 to 100,000 civilians also died in the course of the project, chiefly forced labour brought from Malaya and the Dutch East Indies, or conscripted in Siam (Thailand) and Burma. Two labour forces, one based in Siam and the other in Burma worked from opposite ends of the line towards the centre." Leasure walk around the bridge area, continued by a visit to an interactive museum, with information and research facilities dedicated to presenting the history of the Thai-Burma "Death Railway". The Centre is fully air-conditioned offering visitors an interactive, educational experience of one of recent history's most horrific chapters!  OPTI: Kanchanaburi – Trans River Kwai Death Railway Ride: if you visit Kanchanburi today, the train ride departing from Tha Kilen to Nam Tok is an experience not to miss. A journey into the past, moving on the infamous stretch of The Death Railway between Tha Kilen Railway Station and Tham Krasae Railway Station. It takes one to experience passing on the wooden viaduct alongside River Kwai which was once predicted as 'mission impossible'. However, the project of 400 m wooden track that hugged the cliff adjacent to River Kwai (Noi) was completed in 17 days on the backs of prisoners of war (POWs) and Asian laborers! Grab a window seat. The train will slow down along the wooden viaduct. If you are facing the train movement direction, on the left (or river-side) was the former prisoners of war camp site. Stands by the river banks, it had been converted to a beautiful resort whilst limestone cliff appears on the right window simultaneously. Catch the spectacular sight of train moving on wooden viaduct from river-side window. Then, move to opposite window to capture a glimpse of cave near Tham Kra Sae, followed by a statue of reclining Buddha shortly after. About half an hour later, the nunnery temple on mountain top is visible from the river-side window.  INFO: Ratchaburi – those who do not wish to participate for the Trans River Kwai Death Railway Ride, can leave early from Kanchanaburi to Ratchaburi, in time to visit the famous floating market at Damnoen Saduak.  TRIC: Transfer Intra–City – private airco vehicle – (Kanchanaburi) to (Ratchaburi) - 62km / 39Mi – 1 Hrs 00’ 21 | P a g e

 TOUR: Ratchaburi – Damnoen Saduak Floating Market: Damnoen Saduak floating market has a worldwide fame for its beauty as a market on the water. Probably you have seen it on many pictures already, but now you get the chance to experience it yourself! In the morning is the best time to visit the market, all the vendors come out and sell many varieties of fruits and food. All exotic fruits such as banana, pomelo, guava, coconut, mango, pineapple, durian, rose apple and other local fruits are found. They offer a sensational taste since they all are home grown and offer you a refreshing and healthy snack during the hot tropical days. Many other product are sold as well, life’s necessities, handmade products, vegetables and other food. It is great to see a complete kitchen built into a small rowing boat! The best way to taste an original Thai noodle soup or Pad Thai is here on the water. It is freshly made for you, and you can see it made while you are floating around on a rowing boat. We will take you out on a rowing boat to go along the canals for photography or for shopping. Exploring the waterways by boat is the best way to get close and experience the real culture.  TRIC: Transfer Intra–City - private airco vehicle – (Ratchaburi) to (Hua Hin) - 125km / 78Mi – 2 Hrs 00’  OPTI: lunch at a local restaurant, in Hua Hin: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=181469741874395  TVWG: remainder of the afternoon at leasure; you can enjoy the white sandy beaches of Hua Hin.  TOUR: visit to the atmospheric night bazaar  OPTI: seafood dinner at local restaurant Bird Chilli, in Hua Hin  HTLS: Overnight in Hua Hin – HOTEL – CAT. STD – 2** - based DBL or TWN room

Day 12 : Friday 00.00.2012 – HUA HIN (B)  MEAL: breakfast at your hotel  TVIG: Services of a PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL TOURLEADER (English-speaking/available from 08:00am until 18:00pm)  INFO: Hua Hin – is a famous beach resort town in Thailand, in the northern part of the Malay Peninsula, some 220 km south of Bangkok. It has a population of 84,883 in an area of 911 km², and is one of eight districts (Amphoe) of the Prachuap Khiri Khan province. Hua Hin is closely associated with the Thai royalty. Merely 25 kilometers apart, Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan province enjoys a wealth of satellite attractions; prominent among them are national parks and historical cities. In 1834, before the name “Hua Hin” was coined, some agricultural areas of Phetchaburi Province were hit by severe drought. A group of farmers moved southward until they found a small village that had bright white sands and a row of rocks along the beach. They settled here and gave it the name ´“Samore Riang”, which mean rows of rock. In 1921 the director of the state railway, Prince Purachatra, built the Railway Hotel close to the beach. King (Rama VII) liked the place so much that he built a summer palace there. The palace was named Wang Klai Kang Won ('Far from Worries'). It is now the full-time residence of His Majesty the King of Thailand. His Royal Highness Prince Krom Phra Naresworarit was the first member of the royal family to build a group of palaces at Ban Laem Hin, called Sukaves, and he give the name Hua Hin to the beach next to his palace. In 1932 Hua Hin was part of . In 1949 Hua Hin was promoted to be a district of Prachuap Khiri Khan province. After the building of southern railway, Hua Hin became the first and most popular beach resort of Thailand. Hua Hin Town is on the coast of , the town has 50,169 inhabitants. It’s a popular beach resort getaway for Bangkok residents.  The Railway Hotel, now more generally known as The Sofitel Hotel, is a famous old building which was used as The Hotel Pnom Penh in the film "The Killing Fields". Hua Hin has a tropical climate with high humidity and occasional rain. It is typically pleasant. Generally, the cool season is from November to February. The hottest months are March thru May. The rainy season begins in June and ends in October, however, since the weather is tropical, the rain outbursts are short, sporadic and heavy. Hua Hin is a district of Prachuap Khiri Khan province surrounded by: Northern part connects to Cha-am district, Petchburi province; Eastern part connects to the Thai gulf; Western part connects to Burma and the Southern part connects to Pranburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan province. Hua Hin’s most famous local product is Khommaphat printed cotton which can be made into shirts, handkerchiefs, wraps, even elephants or fish, as well as decorative pieces such as pillows, bags and fans. Other local products include hand-woven cotton and a traditional Hua Hin-style duster.  OPTI: Hua Hin – Hua Hin Hills Vineyard: Wine has been a huge part of many cultures for centuries. And wines from particular vineyards like France, Chile, Canada are widely deemed popular. But who would have thought there can be vineyards in the tropical country of Thailand? The Hua Hin Hills Vineyards in Thailand are among the newly sort after tropical vineyards, producing great wines. For a few years now Hua Hin Hills Vineyards have been cultivating grapes for wine making purposes. Though their wines may be different from the traditional vineyards (from the cooler countries), Hua Hin Hills Vineyards have most definitely created their very own place in the wine markets of the world. Hua Hin Hills Vineyards have fertile soil and suitable climate for grapes farming by the valley. Their wine tasting sessions with great food and elephant rides along the vineyards are fascinations you cannot miss. So get ready to taste Thailand’s finest on your next trip! – more info: www.huahinhillsvineyard.com/2011/index.php (budget: 1500 THB / pp ; lunch included) 22 | P a g e

 OPTI: Prachuap Khiri Khan – Khao Chong Krachok Temple & Ao Manao Bay: Thailand is famous for many things, one of which is its wonderful beaches. In particular, there is a special one called Ao Manao in Prachuap Khiri Khan. The Ao Manao translates as Lemon Bay, with miles and miles of white sand, this beach is a romantic location of peace and quiet. Just around the corner is one of the locations that Japan invaded Thailand during world war 2 and also the historic location of their surrender to the Thai. It is now a peaceful place, loved by all tourists who have been there. The clear water and the serene atmosphere is all you ask for on your vacation to the most exotic place in the world. Ao Manao is a wonderful beach for a lazy swim, relaxing on the sand and fresh seafood dishes to satisfy your appetite. It is in fact a secret treasure of Thailand which is not as crowded as many other beaches are. (budget: 1500 THB / pp ; lunch included)  OPTI: dinner at Bird Chilli Restaurant, in Hua Hin.  HTLS: Overnight in Hua Hin – HOTEL – CAT. STD – 2** - based DBL or TWN room

Day 13 : Saturday 00.00.2012 – HUA HIN / BANGKOK (B-D)  MEAL: breakfast at your hotel.  TVIG: Services of a PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL TOURLEADER (English-speaking/available from 08:00am until 18:00pm)  TVWG: morning at leasure for beach activity in Hua Hin.  OPTI: lunch at a local restaurant, in Hua Hin: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=181469741874395  TRIC: Transfer Intra–City - private airco vehicle – (Hua Hin) to (Bangkok) - 197km / 122Mi – 3 Hrs 00’  OPTI: Bangkok – Shopping Time: Shopping in Bangkok is an experience to thrill and delight the most discerning of shoppers - whatever it is you're looking for. From the gleaming chrome and towering size of modern, air-conditioned malls, to the hustle and bustle of its famously buzzing street markets, Bangkok has all kinds of places to blow your baht. With everything from antiquities and the latest pair of trainers to designer jewellery available, Bangkok has an equally exhaustive, and potentially exhausting, variety of things to buy. Bangkok has more than enough shopping malls to suit all kinds of lifestyles and budgets. But these Top 10 Shopping Malls offer the best shopping experiences, in terms of diversity of products, accessible location in downtown areas and overall shopping satisfaction. Whether you are looking for the most upscale, the trendiest, the funkiest, or the most specialised, you will find them among these shopping malls here mentioned: Siam Paragon, Central World, Mah Boon Krong, Terminal 21, Platinum Fashion Mall, Central Chidlom, The Emporium, Gaysorn Shopping Mall, Siam Discovery and Pantip Plaza.  MEAL : Bangkok – Farewell Dinner at Siam Niramit - Siam Niramit is a world-class performance of Thailand's arts and cultural heritage. This must-see spectacular show is performed on a gigantic stage listed in the Guinness World Records! The show features over 100 performers, lavish costumes and stunning set designs. Enhanced special effects and the world's most advanced technology are used to produce a very realistic, stimulating and inspiring experience. Before the start of the show (at 20:00pm) we are delighted to offer you an exclusive farewell dinner buffet. For more information, please visit the website: http://www.siamniramit.com/oldweb/  HTLS: Overnight in Bangkok – HOTEL – CAT. STD – 2** - based DBL or TWN room

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Day 14 : Sunday 00.00.2012 – BANGKOK (B)  MEAL: breakfast at your hotel  TRIO: Transfer Out – private airco vehicle – (Bangkok Hotel) to (Bangkok Airport) – 30Km / 19Mi – 00 Hrs 35’  INFO: Say farewell to your private international tour leader at the international airport of Bangkok. We hope to see you again in the future and to welcome you elsewhere in Asia.

END OF SERVICES SMILEOFASIA

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PRACTICAL INFORMATION - SMILE OF THAILAND – OUR SERVICES:

 Logistics organisation of a landarrangement as described hereabove: Smile of Thailand 14 DAYS / 13 NIGHTS  Travel period: weekly guaranteed departures on Mondays  Hotel accommodation based on double or twin sharing room  Services and all tariff are valid from 01 January 2012 - 31 December 2012  Minimum 2 travellers

Travel without Guide: Included Services: Non-included Services:  Hotel accommodation within category of choice  Airport Departure Tax on Day 14  Transfer IN - Day 1 of your trip  All meals & Special Welcome- & Farewell dinner (2 people only)  Transfer OUT - Day 14 of your trip  Tours / Sightseeing / Excursions / Activities -  Intra Regional Transport - Day 2 until Day 13 admission- & entrance fees Code TVWG  Intra City Transport - Day 2 until Day 13  Services of a local asian tourassistant  Guaranteed Departure Date with 2 people only  Services of a private international tourleader  Liability travel license SMILE OF ASIA: TAT 24/0045  Boat transfers  Local Taxes & VAT.  Express Bus transfers  Intra continental flights  Intra asia flights  Intra domestic flights  Expenses for travel documents – visa  Expenses for travel insurance  Expenses of personal nature  All other…

Travel with a Local Asian Tour Included Services: Non-included Services: Assistant:  Hotel accommodation within category of choice  Airport Departure Tax on Day 14  Transfer IN - Day 1 of your trip  Lunches & Dinners  Transfer OUT - Day 14 of your trip  Special Welcome- & Farewell dinner (2 people only)  Intra Regional Transport - Day 2 until Day 13  Services of a private international tourleader  Intra City Transport - Day 2 until Day 13  Intra continental flights  Services of a local asian tourassistant  Expenses for travel documents – visa Code TVLG  Daily breakfast  Expenses for travel insurance  Tours / Sightseeing / Excursions / Activities -  Expenses of personal nature admission- & entrance fees  All other…  Boat transfers  Express Bus transfers  Intra asia flights  Intra domestic flights  Guaranteed Departure Date with 2 people only  Liability travel license SMILE OF ASIA: TAT 24/0045  Local Taxes & VAT.

Travel with an International Western Included Services: Non-included Services: Tour Leader:  Hotel accommodation within category of choice  Airport Departure Tax on Day 14  Transfer IN - Day 1 of your trip  Lunches & Dinners  Transfer OUT - Day 14 of your trip  Intra continental flights (2 people only)  Intra Regional Transport - Day 2 until Day 13  Expenses for travel documents – visa  Intra City Transport - Day 2 until Day 13  Expenses for travel insurance  Services of a private international tourleader  Expenses of personal nature Code TVIG  Services of a local asian tourassistant (whenever  All other… deemed necessary by international tourleader)  Daily breakfast  Special Welcome- & Farewell dinner  Tours / Sightseeing / Excursions / Activities - admission- & entrance fees  Boat transfers  Express Bus transfers  Intra asia flights  Intra domestic flights  Guaranteed Departure Date with 2 people only  Liability travel license SMILE OF ASIA: TAT 24/0045  Local Taxes & VAT.

Tariff in € (US$) / per traveller

Nett. Expenses per traveller Hotels 2** STD Hotels 3*** SUP Hotels 4**** DLX

2 travellers without guide Contact us for details Contact us for details Contact us for details 2 travellers w/ Local Asian Contact us for details Contact us for details Contact us for details Tour Assistant 2 travellers w/ International Contact us for details Contact us for details Contact us for details Western Tour Leader Sales Conditions Single Room Surcharges on special request Group Travel 4-6-8-10-12 people Discounts on special request Travel Advance: TVWG (500€/700$) – TVLG & TVIG (1000€/1400$)/ Should reach us not later than 120 days before actual departure date pp. Travel Balance Should reach us not later than 60 days before actual departure date

Tailor-Made itinerary THAILAND - contact us with Itinerary outline & price estimate within 1 hour!

Tailor-Made itinerary THAILAND - contact us with Itinerary detail & price accuracy within 72 hours! 25 | P a g e

Glossary APTX Airport Departure Tax – included for intra domestic flights – not included for intra asia & intra continental flights BOAT Intra city transportation between major places, covered by local BOAT / JETFOIL / FERRY – advanced seat reservation DOCU Additional information about necessary travel documents EBUS Intra city transportation between major places, covered with an EXPRESS AIRCONDITIONED BUS – advanced seat reservation IAFL Intra asia flight – Airline – Flight Number – Est. Time of Arrival/Departure; to get to start/finish point for your journey – departs any asian airport hub ICFL Intra continental flight – Airline – Flight Number – Est. Time of Arrival/Departure; expenses are not included in our tours IDFL Intra Domestic Flight – Airline – Flight Number - Est. Time of Arrival/Departure; expenses are included in our tours ISRC Insurance of any kind – Medical, Cancellation, Bagage, … at your own expense HTLS Hotel accommodation – Pictures displayed are 2** facilities – based on dbl/twn sharing room – surcharges for 3 or 4- star hotel and single room apply LBTY Liability covered by Travel License – SMILE OF ASIA – TAT 24/0045 MEAL Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner – mostly organized for you at selected local restaurants which can ensure quality and hygiene to western standards SDNR Specially arranged Welcome- & Farewell Dinner, with local traditional dance and music TOUR Sightseeing / Tours / Excursions / Activities - admission- & entrance fees included in your journey TRAC Intra regional transport – private car & driver available from 08:00am to 18:00pm – approx. distance covered usually no more than 80km-50mi TRIC Intra city transport between overnight stops - private car & driver available – approx. distance covered usually no more than 350km-220mi TRIO Transfer in/out a major city – private car & driver are available for transfers from/to your Hotel – Airport - Railway Station - Boat Jetty Terminal… TVIG Services of a PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL TOURLEADER, who will guarantee the quality of your journey up to Western standards. TVLG Services of a LOCAL ASIAN TOURASSISTANT, who will communicate with your driver and give you an insight to the local customs of your destination TVWG Travel individual and independent, without assistance of a GUIDE - you will need to rely on your own abilities to organize sightseeing & meals yourself OPTI Sightseeing / Tours / Excursions / Activities / Meals ... any other activity NOT included in your journey and to be organized by yourself at own expense. VISA Document issued by a country's government allowing the holder to enter or to leave that country – expenses are not included. WEBS Website – Link – URL notifications; for hotels we plan to include information is usually supplied after payment of your deposit.

Background information about major cities, highlights, history, local customs, practical things etc… - no rights can be derived whatsoever - all content provided is for informational purposes only. SMILE OF ASIA makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of any information. INFO We will not be liable for any errors or omissions in this information nor for the availability or lack of it. SMILE OF ASIA will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of this information. Pictures about hotels, major cities, highlights, history, local customs, practical things etc… - no rights can be derived whatsoever - all images provided are for informational purposes only. SMILE OF ASIA makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of these images. We will PICS not be liable for any errors or omissions displayed nor for the availability or lack of it. SMILE OF ASIA will not be liable for any losses, injuries, or damages from the display or use of these images.

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