North-Thailand with Golden Triangle

7 Days Overland Thailand with Golden Triangle

Discover a panorama of Thailand, its rich history and culture, with this seven-day overland tour taking you to the far north beyond Bangkok. The itinerary will include visits to many of the Kingdom’s most important ancient former capitals and majestic monuments. The journey by road up to the historic northern cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, so different in character from Bangkok, will illustrate the scenic and social diversity of Thailand. An opportunity to explore areas close to the Myanmar (Burmese) border and notorious Golden Triangle, once a centre for opium, where Thailand shares borders with Laos and Burma along the Mekong River will add extra dimensions to this full programme, offering you an in-depth experience of ‘Amazing Thailand’.

Note: This tour can be extended for extra days in Chiang Mai, or Bangkok, by prior arrangement.

DEPARTURES; Pre-convention: April 29-May 04, 2012 Post-Convention: 10 May 2012-14 May 2012 MEAL BASIS : As specified (B = Breakfast, L= Lunch, D = Dinner)

ITINERARY:

PRE – TOUR

DAY (0) BANGKOK – ARRIVAL (For pre-convention tour only) (NO MEALS) Arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Meet on arrival and transfer to Holiday Inn Silom or similar. Overnight

MAIN PROGRAM (all tours)

DAY (1) BANGKOK – AYUTHAYA – LOPBURI – PHITSANULOK (B/L/-)

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out procedures.

Pick up from your hotel and drive up north to Ayuthaya. Visit the Phra Mongkol Borpith with the gigantic bronze statue and the three ancient pagodas at Wat Phra Srisanpetch in Ayuthaya. Continue to Lopburi. Sightseeing on the bus around the monkey temple.

Lunch at local restaurant. Then proceed up north to Phitsanulok.

Dinner and the rest of evening at your initiative.

Overnight at Topland Hotel (Superior room) or similar. (Possibility of meeting with local Rotary Clubs).

DAY (2) PHITSANULOKE – SUKHOTHAI – LAMPANG (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out procedures.

Visit Wat Maha Dhat with its revered Buddha statue, Phra Buddha Jinaraj before proceeding further north to Sukhothai, the former capital of Thailand. Visit Sukhothai Historical Park and take a walk in the well kept and attractive park grounds to see temples, monuments with fabulous sculptures and stuccowork. West of the old city, we will visit Wat Sri Chum with an impressive; much photographed 11-meter seated Buddha.

Continue to Lampang visiting Wat Phra Dhat Lampang Luang housing the only Emerald Buddha besides the one at Wat Phrakaew in Bangkok.

Dinner & Overnight at Lampang River Lodge Hotel (Standard room) or similar. (Possibility of meeting with local Rotary Clubs).

DAY (3) LAMPANG - CHIANG RAI (B/L/-)

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out procedures.

Drive up north via Phayao for Chiang Rai en route stop at Kwan Phayao Lake. From Chiang Rai, drive north to Mae Sai, the northernmost Thai town near Burmese border. You can watch Thai and Burmese people walking across the bridge separating the two countries. Browse along the local market with lots of handicrafts from Burma then onto the Golden Triangle where the borders of Laos, Burma and Thailand meet at the Mekong River. (Optional: boat trip on the Mekong River - cost is not included in the package price).

Return to Chiang Rai. Dinner and rest of the evening is at your initiative.

Overnight at Wiang Inn Hotel (Superior room) or similar. (Possibility of meeting with local Rotary Clubs).

DAY (4) CHIANG RAI - CHIANG MAI (B/L/-)

Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out procedures.

Depart Chiang Rai via Wiang Pa Pao for Chiang Mai, the rose of the north. Enjoy the scenic landscapes in this Northern Province.

After lunch visit to Chiang Mai’s most impressive temple of Wat Doi Suthep on the hill which is the city’s landmark. On a clear day, the panoramic views of the city from the temple grounds are magnificent. Then continue by pick-up truck to a Meo hill tribe. The Meo hill tribes originated in South China and usually live on mountain peaks or plateaus.

Dinner and rest of the evening is at your initiative.

Overnight at Amora Tapae Chiang Mai Hotel (Superior room) or similar. (Possibility of meeting with local Rotary Clubs).

DAY (5) CHIANG MAI (B/L/D)

Breakfast at the hotel.

Drive north out of Chiang Mai to see an Elephant Camp. Watch the elephants taking their daily bath in the stream before beginning Elephant at Work show. (Optional: elephant ride - cost is not included the package price). On the return we stop for a visit at an orchid farm.

Lunch in a selected local restaurant. Then continue to visit Chiang Mai’s well known local handicraft district at Sankampaeng.

In the evening, enjoy farewell dinner at Riverside Bar and Restaurant where is located on the bank of Ping River.

Overnight at Amora Tapae Chiang Mai Hotel (Superior room) or similar.

DAY (6) CHIANG MAI - BANGKOK (B/L/D)

Breakfast at your hotel. During the day transfer from hotel to Chiang Mai Airport for your flight back to Bangkok.

Upon arrival in Bangkok connect to onward international flight or transfer to your hotel in Bangkok.

For those who wish, an extension of stay in Bangkok, or to join another Thailand tour is available on request with separate reservation.

*** End of Program ***

Rates per person in Thai Baht (minimum 7 Sharing double room In Single room passengers) Superior class hotel 26’000 30’000 **All package-prices are on "sit-in-coach"-basis (assembled groups), with a minimum participation as basis for the indicated price. Private/Individual booking of this package is possible against a small surcharge.

Included in the price:

 Arrival and departure transfers in Bangkok to/from selected hotels  Tours as mentioned in the program by air-conditioned vehicle  English speaking local guide (or other language as requested)  5/6 nights accommodation at the hotels mentioned in the program or similar  Meals as mentioned in the program (5 Breakfasts / 5 Lunches / 2 Dinners)  Admission fees during sightseeing excursions  Luggage porterage at hotels  Thai Rotary Districts Foundation contribution US$ 50 per-person

Not included in the price:

 Optional tours other than mentioned in the program (or optional tours mentioned)  Other meals than mentioned in the programme  Air ticket – please see the separate price sheet  Any expenses of personal nature, such as optional tours or services, laundry, shopping, etc.  Early check-in & Late check-out  Tips

* Domestic flights Chiang Mai-Bangkok currently cost Baht 4’500 (subject to change. Please verify at date of purchase) and have to be added to the package- price.