Day 1. Thu. USA / Dubai.

Depart the United States for Bangkok, with change of aircraft in Dubai.

Day 2. Fri. DUBAI / BANGKOK

Arrive Dubai and connect to a shorter flight to Bangkok with arrival late this evening.

Arrive late this evening in the exotic capital of Thailand, a phenomenal country of modern cities, forested mountains, pristine beaches, jungles, extensive waterways, sacred temples, and culturally rich ethnic tribes.  Your resort hotel on the Chao Phraya River, with its spa facilities, is the perfect place to recover from your long flight.

HOTEL:  MARRIOTT RESORT

Day 3. Sat. BANGKOK

After a morning at leisure, visit Bangkok’s quintessential landmark, the Grand Palace, former home of Thailand’s royal families.  Notice some western influences to the architecture such as stained glass windows, along with distinctly Thai elements such as tall golden spires.  Step into the sacred Wat Phrae Keo and see the precious green jade Emerald Buddha, where three times each year the king ceremoniously changes the Buddha’s attire. This evening treat your senses to Thailand’s distinct form of music, dance and cuisine as you dine at a traditional Thai restaurant, where the hypnotic classical dance presentation will tell ancient stories and weave a spell.

HOTEL:  MARRIOTT RESORT  (B/D)

Day 4. Sun. BANGKOK

This morning your journey into the exotic continues with a visit to Bangkok’s Chinatown.  Walk along its narrow streets lined with hundreds of small stalls selling gold, herbal Medicines, and colorful fabrics.  Visit the Pat Khlong wholesale market, where buyers arrive early each morning to purchase roses, orchids, lotus, jasmine, and other beautiful blossoms.  This afternoon, a relaxing boat journey on the Thonburi klongs offers a firsthand look at life on the river.  Thonburi still has an intricate system of narrow canals with houses built on stilts over the water, many with a spirit house in front.  The river traffic is intriguing – floating shops and restaurants, vendors in long-tailed powerboats, water taxis and rice barges.  Other highlights include the Khmer-style Wat Arun, or Temple of Dawn; and the Royal Barge Museum, where the royal fleet includes a 15-ton barge and one carved from a single teak log, all with fantastic ornamentation.

HOTEL:  MARRIOTT RESORT  (B/D)

 Day 5. Mon. Bangkok / Chiang Rai. 

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Chiang Mai. On arrival proceed to hotel and then a boat cruise. The Golden Triangle – Cruising up and down the Mekong River allows visitors a glimpse of village life in the many riverside settlements, particularly over into Laos. The area’s legacy of opium production, usage and trading, which continued right up until the 1980’s, is well documented in two museums. Golden Triangle Cruise: Visit the Golden Triangle area where the mighty Mae Khong River joins with the Ruak River and forms the triangle with the borders of Thailand, Burma, and Laos. You will drive up a small hill to a scenic point at Wat Pu Kao for a picturesque view over the Mekong River and the meeting point of 3 countries: Thailand – Laos – Myanmar. Take a long tail boat trip to view the splendor of the mighty Mae Khong River. Afterwards you will be returned to your hotel

HOTEL:  LEGEND (B/D)

Day 6. Tue. CHIANG RAI – MAI SAI, CHIANG SAEN – CHIANG RAI

This morning will find you in the countryside, where Akha and Yao hill tribe people welcome you to their villages.  The Akha, with their vivid, colorful costumes are deeply spiritual and their religion strictly outlines how every aspect of life should be lived.  The Yao is the only hill tribe in Thailand that has established a written language.  The ladies of this tribe are famous for the lovely embroidery that adorns their costumes.  Continue further north to Mae Sai the old town bordering Myanmar, with only a bridge separating the two countries.  Traders from Mynmar make their way across the bridge daily, and this is an excellent place to purchase handicrafts of the area.  Arrive at the golden triangle, where Thailand, Laos and Mynmar converge.  Continue through the rural landscape of rice fields and coconut trees to the walled city of Chiang Saen, one of Thailand’s most ancient cities, on the banks of the Mekong River.  Visit the Wat Chedi Luang, the city’s largest temple and a living monastery, before returning to Chiang Rai.

HOTEL:  LEGEND (B/D)

Day 7. Wed. CHIANG RAI / CHIANG MAI

Begin the day with a drive through the lush mountain countryside to Chiang Mai. On arrival check into your hotel and enjoy lunch on your own account. Proceed to feast your eyes at an orchid farm, where a rich variety of these beautiful flowers are nurtured.

HOTEL:  ROYAL PRINCESS                   (B/D)

Day 8. Thu. CHIANG MAI – ELEPHANT CAMP, LISU HILLTRIBE VILLAGE

Today’s drive takes you out of the city to a forest elephant camp where you will be treated to the scene of bath time in the river – a most enjoyable time for everyone, including the elephants!  See a demonstration of their amazing forestry work skills.  Then take a journey through the jungle, sitting high on a wooden howdah atop a gentle, lumbering elephant.  Arrive at a Lisu hilltribe village, where you are welcome to wander and chat with the people, clad in their vibrant dress with cascades of silver buttons and ornaments.  Your day of adventure continues as you board a bamboo raft for an exhilarating journey through tropical foliage along the Mae Ping River.  Stop for a picnic lunch in an idyllic natural setting before returning to Chiang Mai.

HOTEL:  ROYAL PRINCESS  (B/L/D)

Day 9 . Fri.  CHIANG MAI – LANTERN FESTIVAL CHIANG MAI

A third of Thailand’s temples, or wats, are in Chiang Mai, and on a morning tour you will find they are not always places of solemn silence, but rather are community centers bustling with activity, and gatherings of friends and families.  Visit Wat Phra Singh, with its splendid Lanna chapel and revered Buddha image.  Look for the combination of architectural styles in Wat Chiang Man, built when the city was founded; and enjoy the picturesque surroundings and meditative spirit of Wat Suan Dok.  Chiang Mai is also a world-renowned center of fine handicrafts including woodcarving, silver ware, ceramics, lacquer ware and silk.  This afternoon visit some villages that produce these eye-catching crafts, embodying centuries of skill handed down through the generations. In Chiang Mai, it has an own Lanna tradition called Yi Peng. The local people there usually celebrated this day with sky Lantern Release together with floating in the river. In the day, there are parades, firework, decorated with lanterns but the highlight involves the northern Lanna culture.

HOTEL:  ROYAL PRINCESS  (B/D)

Day 10. Sat. Chiang Mai / Phuket. 

Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Phuket. On arrival you will be transferred to your hotel where you have the remainder of the day at your leisure.

Hotel: Anantara Villas. (B)

Day 11. Sun. Phuket. (Day at leisure)

Enjoy a day of rest and relaxation in Phuket.

Hotel: Anantara Villas. (B)

Day 12. Mon. Phuket.   (Day at leisure)

Enjoy a day of rest and relaxation in Phuket.

Hotel: Anantara Villas. (B)

Day 13. Tue. Phuket / Bangkok / Dubai.   

After breakfast this morning you will begin your journey with flights to Bangkok and Dubai. (B)

Day 14. Wed. Dubai / USA.                  

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