Travel with Gina New Year’s in Thailand Dec 30, 2020 - Jan 7, 2021 (9 days) Land Price: $1695 + Int’l Air Starting at $900 (single room supplement $295)

OUR ITINERARY: DAY 1 Dec 30 (W) Arrive CHIANG MAI (2N CM hotel). Arrive Chiang Mai by noon on Dec 30 (or fly Chiang Mai earlier-Gina can help with your arrangements). Depending on what USA city you depart from you will need a flight leaving the USA on Dec 28 or 29 in order to arrive to Chiang Mai by noon on Dec 30. Remember our flight crosses the international date line so we lose 12 hours flying to Thailand. We gain this time back on our return!

At 1pm meet in the hotel lobby for a walking tour with Gina of the local neighborhood, Warorot Chinese Market & the Chiang Mai Night Market. Early evening monk chant at the local temple! Optional group dinner at 6pm (get to know the other people in the group).

DAY 2 Dec 31 (TH) NEW YEAR’S EVE in Chiang Mai. Morning tour with our local English-speaking guide to visit the Old Walled City, Buddhist temples & the sacred Doi Sutep Mountain Monastery (a spiritual destination all Thai’s make a pilgrimage at least once in their life). Lunch at a traditional Thai noodle shop. Afternoon “Thai- style Siesta” (remember we are staying up to midnight & you are jet- lagged!) New Year’s Eve Group Dinner & celebration on the hotel rooftop restaurant overlooking all of Chiang Mai with fireworks and sky lanterns. (Meals: B, D).

DAY 3 Jan 1 (F) CHIANG MAI to LAMPANG (1N Lampang). Two hour drive in our private air-conditioned van to the Elephant Conservation Camp to learn about Thai elephant life and see elephant bathing. Elephants were a major part of Thai life in the lumbering business which was outlawed in the 1990’s. The elephants and their mahout drivers have had to learn new ways to support their elephants since elephants eat 10% of their body weight each day. These smart creatures have learned how to paint art with their trunks, play sports & entertain tourists with their individual personalities. Opportunity to ride elephants for $10pp. Lunch in Lampang. Free evening to relax by the hotel pool and enjoy the natural setting along the river (Meal: B).

DAY 4 Jan 2 (SAT) LAMPANG to SUKHOTHAI (2N Sukhothai). Morning drive to Sukhothai, the first capital of the Kingdom of Siam and Thailand’s most impress World Heritage Site. Free afternoon to relax by the hotel pool, have a Thai massage at the hotel, or stroll to the nearby Chang Elephant temple. Enjoy live traditional Thai dance at the hotel restaurant. (Meal: B).

DAY 5 Jan 3 (SUN) SUKHOTHAI. Morning tour of historical Old Sukhothai with 5 acres of giant ancient Buddhas with our local English-speaking guide. There are 21 historical temples and four large ponds within the old city, with an additional 70 temples beyond the city walls. We’ll visit the most impressive temples including Wat Mahathat , the largest temple in Sukhothai with its impressive sitting Buddha. Its famous moat is believed to represent the universe and the cosmic ocean. Next we’ll visit Wat Si Chum, with it’s Buddha elegant, tapered figures. After lunch we’ll visit the Ramkhamhaeng National Museum where we will learn more about the kingdom history. Free evening to enjoy the lovely hotel pool and have a Thai massage. (Meal: B).

DAY 6 Jan 4 (M) SUKHOTHAI to AYUTHAYA (2N Ayutthaya). Morning departure for our five hour drive to Ayuttaya, the second capital of the Kingdom of Siam. (Meal: B). Optional evening dinner boat trip to see the temple all light ($35pp.)

DAY 7 Jan 5 (T) AYUTHAYA to BANGKOK. Morning tour with our English speaking guide of the ancient city of Ayuthaya where we will see the most important temple in the Ayuthaya Kingdom, Wat Phra Sri Sanpetch, also known as “The Royal Temple of Phra Sri Sanpetch Buddha Image”. At 16 meters tall covered with over 340 kilos of gold take in this breathtaking temple complex as your local host shares with you the history behind it. Next we will visit Wat Maha That, “ the Monastery of the Great Relic”. This is an impressive temple hosting the famous “Buddha head” entwined within the roots of a tree. (Meal: B).

DAY 8 Jan 6 (W) AYUTHAYA to BANGKOK. Morning one hour drive to Bangkok. After we check into our hotel we’ll take the “Hop-on Hop-off Boat” adventure with panorama views of the Chao Phraya River. We will see the most photographed Buddhist temple in the world - “Wat Arun”, the colorful flower market, Chinatown, views of the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, home of Thailand’s longest reclining Buddha. Afternoon to wander around the local area shopping and having massage. Evening “Farewell Group Dinner” overlooking the lovely Chao Phraya River. (Meals: B, D).

DAY 9 Jan 7 (TH) BANGKOK to USA. (Meal: B). Flight back to the USA. Or add a trip extension. See recommended trip extensions below and at www.GinaHenry.com/.

LAND PRICE INCLUDES: 8 nights hotel (based on dbl. room occ), 10 meals including New Year’s Eve Dinner, all ground transportation, sightseeing & English-speaking guides per the itinerary. A single room supplement is available for $295pp.

HOW TO EARN A FREE (almost) AIR TICKET TO THAILAND? You will need 80,000 points to fly free coach class to Thailand. Gina recommends applying for a Chase United Explorer reward credit card (www.united.com or www.chase.com) which offers a 60,000 sign-up bonus when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months of getting the card. No annual fee the first year ($95 year 2). After you earn this 60,000 bonus points, apply for a Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card which offers a 50,000 sign-up bonus when you spend $4000 in the first 3 months of getting the card. It does have an annual fee of $95, even in the first year. However, this now equals 110,000 points. You only need 80,000 points to fly coach class roundtrip to Thailand - a pretty inexpensive ticket to Thailand.

Your $300pp TRIP DEPOSIT holds your spot on this trip and is fully refundable up to 120 days before the trip. TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT or for more information: contact Gina Henry / Go Global 512-751-5096 [email protected] www.GinaHenry.com ______

TRIP EXTENSIONS: Join Gina Dec 30-Jan 30 for all her trips! 1. Join Gina on her 5-day CAMBODIA & ANGKOR WAT Buddhist Temple Tour Jan 9-13, 2021 (Land cost $695, plus Bangkok- Siem Reap, Cambodia RT air on Air Asia is approx. $350), plus extra Bangkok hotel Jan 8 night $80 (single or double).

2. Join Gina on her 15-day VOLUNTEER TEACH ENGLISH PROGRAM Jan 16-30, 2020 (Cost $495 plus Siem Reap, Cambodia-Chiang Mai air on Thai Air is approx. $200). You will have two free days in between the Cambodia trip & the start of the volunteering on Jan 14 & 15. Your options are to stay longer in Siem Reap, Cambodia (hotel cost is $50/night) or arrive early to Chiang Mai (volunteer hotel is $30/night). Gina can book your extra Chiang Mai hotel nights.

3. Arrive early to Chiang Mai: A. Gina can book your extra Chiang Mai hotel nights for $60 per night (single or double room). Gina can help you book the following activities. B. Arrive Chiang Mai on Dec 27. On Monday, Dec 28 enjoy a full day Buddhist Meditation retreat at the temple Wat Suan Dok in Chiang Mai. 930pm-5pm. Cost: Free (donation suggested). Learn about Monk life, Buddhism & mediation. This free meditation retreat is only available on Monday & Friday. The group last year arriving early loved it! C. Visit the Hill Tribe Museum (open M-F), Lanna Thai History Museum, Three Kings Monument or Art in Paradise 3D Art Museum. D. Hike Doi Inthanon (the highest mountain in Thailand, waterfalls, Twin Pagodas) $75pp (includes guide, transportation & entrance fee). E. Morning Monks Alms Giving: On your own at 6am - take a tuk tuk to Three Kings Monument in the Old City or to Kru Ba Srivichai Shrine at the base of Doi Sutep to see many monks doing their morning alms giving. F. Monk chat at Wat Suan Dok - Informally talk with the monk. Get to know about monk’s life, Thai culture and tradition, Buddhism, meditation etc. Every Monday, Wed, Friday 4pm – 7pm. G. See more Buddhist Temples: Wat Phra Singh (reclining Buddha), Wat Chedi Luang (tallest Buddha temple in Chiang Mai) (monk chat 9am-6pm), Wat Phra That Doi Kham (huge seated Buddha), Wat Chiang Mon (oldest temple in Chiang Mai), Wat Phra That Doi Kham (Temple of the Golden Mountain), Wat Phra That Doi Suthep & Wiang Kum Kam, Wat Suan Dok (500 year old Buddha bronze image). H. Saturday Walking Street (Wui Lai Market) south of the Old City, starts 4pm (very crowded after 6pm) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! I. Sunday Walking Street (inside the Old City at Thaphae Gate), starts 4pm (very crowded after 6pm) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! J. Traditional Thai Dance - Kantoke Dinner at the Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center. Cost 570 baht = $20. K. Thai Cooking Classes: half day 1000-1500 baht ($30-$45 including transportation & tour of the local farmers market). L. Mae Ping River cruise - Enjoy river scenery, teak houses, numerous bridges, temples. Stop at a farmer’s house to learn about local herbs, fruits, rice planing and fishing techniques (2 hours). Departs every hour from 9am-5pm www.maepingrivercruise.com Cost: 580 baht = $20pp. M. Shop in the Night Bazaar N. m. Enjoy a Thai massage ($8/hour),salt body scrub ($25-a wow!), manicure ($6), and/or pedicure ($6).

4. Stay longer in Bangkok (Post-trip extensions): A. Gina can book your extra Bangkok hotel nights for $80 per night (single or double room). B. See more of Bangkok: Grand Palace, Wat Pho, many museums, the weekend market, and more. C. Fly to Krabi in the south of Thailand and visit Koh Lanta or Koh Lipi islands. D. Visit Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Bali and more.

Your $300pp TRIP DEPOSIT holds your spot and is fully refundable up to 120 days before the trip. TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT or for more information: contact Gina Henry / Go Global 512-751-5096 [email protected] www.GinaHenry.com