WORLD HERITAGE

Sample Itinerary WORLD HERITAGE THAILAND | OVERVIEW

ITINERARY OVERVIEW 10 Days / 9 Nights Bangkok - Kanchanaburi - Ayutthaya - Sukhothai -

FEATURED 1 Night Bangkok EXPERIENCES Bangkok Best Seen by Night Evening Food Tour Bangkok City Tour 2 Nights Kanchanaburi Visit Tham Sua and Wat Tham Khao Noi Jeath Museum, Bridge Over The River Kwai and Death Railway Explore Hellfire Pass Walking Trail 1 Night Ayutthaya Ayutthaya Historical Park Ayutthaya Night Market 2 Nights Sukhothai Temple of Three Prangs, Lopburi and Phisanulok Sukhothai Historical Park Lanna Temples and Thailand's Historic North 3 Nights Chiang Mai A Day at Elephant Nature Park Chiang Mai Temples Khantoke Dinner Show

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DAY 1 | BANGKOK Welcome to Thailand! Check in to your hotel and enjoy the day at leisure.

WELCOME TO BANGKOK Your Thailand journey begins with an evening culinary tour of the City of Angels. BANGKOK BEST SEEN BY Starting in Yaowarat , or Chinatown as it is more often called, we begin at the Chinese NIGHT EVENING FOOD TOUR Gates you will have the chance to see what is going on in this colourful and bustling part of the city, which is certainly best seen at night. After a short stroll through the main street, we will lead you to the biggest flower market in Thailand. At Paklong Talad you will be amazed at the amount of flowers, especially orchids, that are available. Leaving the market we will drive past the Grand Palace and Lak Muang.

En route back to the hotel enjoy a pleasant trip past the Democracy Monument, Golden Mount Temple, Parliament House and Chitladda Palace (the residence of our present King) areas.

DAY 2 | KANCHANABURI Enjoy a day of sightseeing and activities in lively Bangkok. Visit Wat Po, a larger-than- life temple complex in the city. This is the home of the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. BANGKOK CITY TOUR is among the six officially recognized, highest caliber temples in Thailand, and KANCHANABURI it is certainly one of the most impressive. Also, visit the majestic Grand Palace, which has been the official residence of the kings since the 1700s.

Lunch will be served at local restaurant. Then, continue to Kanchanaburi. You will stop en-route at Wat Tham Sua. This temple features an impressive Buddha statue and chedi on the top of a hill. The Buddha statue, seated in the posture of giving blessings, is covered with gold mosaic and protected by an unusual shell-like structure. The huge chedi, 69 meters high and 29 meters wide, is hollow. A staircase inside the building leads up to the top. Each level has rows of Buddha statues and multiple windows from which photos can be taken of the statue below set against a backdrop of rice paddies and mountains. There are also footprints of the Buddha and an ancient pond on the hill. Behind the chedi is the Chinese pagoda of the adjacent Wat Tham Khao Noi.

This evening, enjoy an overnight in Kanchanaburi.

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DAY 3 | KANCHANABURI Today you set off for a visit to the JEATH Museum, the famous River Kwai Bridge and the beginning of the Death Railway. Take a ride aboard the death railway JEATH MUSEUM, BRIDGE along with the scenic view of Kwai River. Lunch will be served at local restaurant. OVER THE RIVER KWAI AND

DEATH RAILWAY In the afternoon, visit the Hellfire Pass walking trail and its memorial museum. The HELLFIRE PASS WALKING construction of the Hellfire Pass during the Second World War was a tragedy. TRAIL Thousands of allied prisoners of war were forced to work long hours and under the most hellish conditions. The excavation of cutting was 75-meter-long and 25 meter deep. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure.

DAY 4 | AYUTTHAYA Today we are on the road to Ayutthaya. In 1991, part of Ayutthaya Historical Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site under criteria III as an excellent witness to the AYUTTHAYA HISTORICAL period of development of a true national . The inscribed area covered only 289 PARK ha of the central and southwestern parts of Ayutthaya Island; as a result, only certain AYUTTHAYA NIGHT MARKET groups of historical sites are under UNESCO protection.

We will visit Mahathat temple, Phra Sri Sanphet temple and Wiharn Phra Mongkhon Bopit. Lunch will be served at local restaurant. In the late afternoon, drive to visit Ayutthaya night market. There are variety of goods and foods on street. You will learn how’s Thai way of life and enjoy food by your own.

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DAY 5 | SUKHOTHAI Depart from Ayutthaya stop en-route at Phra Prang Sam Yot. The Temple of Three Prangs, Phra Prang Sam Yot is regarded as Lopburi's chief landmark. Built as a Hindu TEMPLE OF THREE PRANGS, monument, the prangs of the laterite-sandstone structure are said to represent the LOPBURI AND PHISANULOK trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.

During the reign of King Narai it was converted to a and some ruined Lopburi period Buddhas remain as evidence of this. Visit King Narai’s Palace, officially named Phra Narai Ratchaniwet is the former Palace of Ayutthaya King Narai. The ruins of the Palace, locally known as Wang Narai are located in the old center of Lopburi town. Lunch will be served at local restaurant.

Continue to Sukhothai via Phitsanulok, visit Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, known among the locals as Wat Yai, was founded in 1357. The temple is very famous because of its golden Buddha image called Phra Phuttha Chinnarat, which is considered by some Thais to be the most beautiful Buddha image in the country.

DAY 6 | SUKHOTHAI Visit Sukhothai Historical Park. Home to more than 193 ruins on more than 70 square kilometers of land, Sukhothai Historical Park is filled with history. The inside of the park SUKHOTHAI HISTORICAL houses the remains of the Royal Palace and twenty-six temples, the largest being Wat PARK Mahathat. The park is maintained by the Fine Arts Department of Thailand with help from UNESCO, which has declared it a World Heritage Site. Each year, the park welcomes thousands of visitors who marvel at the ancient Buddha figures, palace buildings and ruined temples. You will have the option to tour on foot or by bike. Lunch will be served at local restaurant.

Enjoy the rest of your day at leisure, relaxing in beautiful Sukhothai.

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DAY 7 | CHIANG MAI Head north to our destination for the terminus of the day, Chiang Mai. En route, visit the ancient city of Si Satchanalai. Located in the village of Phra Prang, Si Satchanalai, is a LANNA TEMPLES AND stunning park with a variety of ancient sites and artifacts; more than 215 artifacts! Each THAILAND'S HISTORIC NORTH of them has the value of ancient past. Spend time to explore the park's grounds, learning the history of the town with your guide.

Continue to Chiang Mai and enjoy local lunch en route. On the way, we stop to visit Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, a paradigm of temple building of Lanna. The temple itself is prominently sited on a hillock surrounded by walls. The temple also has a large collection of ancient wooden utensils. Then take a house carriage. A memorable and romantic experience, typical of Lampang, which is the only Thai city where horse-drawn carriages are still in use.

Upon arrival into Chiang Mai, the rest of your day is at leisure.

DAY 8 | CHIANG MAI Today is filled with a fun and informative day learning about one of Thailand's biggest natives - the elephant! Enjoy a full-day at Elephant Nature Park. Spend time at this A DAY AT ELEPHANT NATURE important institution, learning about the various projects dedicated to rehabilitating and PARK protecting elephants and other animals. There are many viewing platforms around the park that will get you up close with these wonderful creatures and you can even help out with feeding them. A banquet-style lunch will also be included with the visit.

In the evening, head out for a street food tour of Chiang Mai. Hidden down the back alleys of the city’s old town district you will sample dishes like khao man gai and khao kha moo from many local shops unknown to the tourist eye. Chat with street food vendors who have been serving the same dishes for more than 20 years and understand the influences that Isan and Shan cultures have had on the Northern Thailand’s culinary scene. Your local guide will also suggest many other places you can eat during your time in Chiang Mai.

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DAY 9 | CHIANG MAI Today you will visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep the landmark of Chiang Mai. From the temple, impressive views of downtown Chiang Mai can be seen. Continue to visit Wat CHIANG MAI TEMPLES Chedi Luang. The construction of the temple started in the 14th century. In the early KHANTOKE DINNER SHOW 1990s the chedi was reconstructed, financed by UNESCO and the Japanese government. However, the result is somewhat controversial, as some claim the new elements are in Central Thai style, not Lanna style. For the 600th anniversary of the chedi in 1995, a copy of the made from black jade was placed in the reconstructed eastern niche. The icon is named official Phra Phut Chaloem Sirirat, but is commonly known as Phra Yok. Then, drive to visit Wat Phra Singh.

Wat Phra Singh is located in the western part of the old city centre of Chiang Mai, which is contained within the city walls and moat. The main entrance is guarded by Singhs (lions). Lunch will be served at local restaurant. Drive back to hotel. Time will be at leisure until late afternoon, pick you up to Khum Kan Tok for dinner. Experience Lanna dining with Khantoke, a round rattan tray, serving various kinds of authentic northern Thai dishes and national Thai food. As you enjoy the tasty food, you will be entertained by spectacular and fabulous classical dances from northern Thailand and from around the nation.

DAY 10 | DEPART Time will be at leisure until check out. We will transfer you to Chiang Mai Airport for your onward flight. DEPARTURE

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