THAILAND                                         in conjunction with:                         

Thailand Discovery with Luang Prabang in Laos. (15 days/13 nts)

BANGKOK - CHIANG MAI - CHIANG RAI - PAKBENG - LUANG PRABANG(Laos) -   HUA HIN, Thailand (Beach)

with 4 & 5 star hotels based on twin/double share room and Mekong River cruise

This tour can operate daily to any specific departure date/s you require (subject to seasons and availability)  From: £2395 pp

DAY 1 : Depart Heathrow Airport with THAI AIRWAYS on overnight flight to Bangkok depart 21.30pm

DAY 2: arrival Bangkok 15.05pm local time. You will be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel. for a stay of 3 nights Free evening to relax in your hotel. DUSIT THANI HOTEL

DAY 3 : After breakfast in the hotel you join a half day City & Temples tour – morning Go on a tour of the Grand Palace and three of the most unusual Buddhist temples in Bangkok: Wat Traimit, Wat Pho and Wat Phra Keo. Wat Traimit is also known as the temple of the Golden Buddha. The 3 meter tall statue is made from solid gold and weighs 5.5 tons and is a fine example of Sukhothai style art. After visiting this temple, you will then pass through Chinatown on your way to Wat Pho, the temple of the Reclining Buddha and home to the Chedis of the Kings. At 46 meters in length and 15 meters high the Buddha of this temple is the largest in Bangkok and illustrates the passing of the Buddha into nirvana. The Grand Palace is one of the most beautiful samples of an ancient Siamese court. It used to be the residence of the Kings of Bangkok. Here you will see palaces which were used for different occasions: the Funeral Palace, the Reception Palace, the Throne Hall, the Coronation Hall, the Royal Guest House, and Wat Phra Keo, the beautiful Emerald Buddha Temple. To round off the tour, you'll call in at a local lapidary factory and showroom where you may get locally made jewellery, handicrafts and silk at competitive prices. Return 12.30 approx. Afternoon free at leisure.


Evening Thai Dinner & Dance. (Silom Village or Piman) Depart hotel 6.30 or 7pm (TBA).The evening involves a set meal of a variety of exotic Thai dishes served in the traditional Thai style. Waitresses in national costume will serve the delicious food, followed by live performances of Thai classical dances, including the intrinsic fingernail dance. Includes - Hotel pick-up - Dinner - Dance show Excludes - Drinks - Tips and gratuities - Personal expenses. Return transfer back to your hotel. Overnight DUSIT THANI HOTEL

DAY 4: Breakfast in the hotel. Early departure (time to be advised) When you think of Thailand, the unique Floating Market is one of the first images that spring to mind. Come and see the most authentic of floating markets at Damnoen Saduak before spending an afternoon gaining insight into Thai culture at the Rose Garden. Have an exciting long tail boat ride along the nearby canals to the site of the market, where you will find the locals selling everything you can possibly imagine from their boats. After shopping in the floating market, you'll be taken to the Rose Garden, a beautiful resort area, where you will have lunch (included). After lunch you will have time to wander around the gardens and the recreated Thai village with lots of interesting and varied handicrafts on display. Make your way to the auditorium in time to get a good seat for an excellent cultural show. The show will give you an idea of the many aspects of Thai life: Thai dancing, wedding and monk ordination ceremonies, kick boxing, sword and long pole fighting, cock fighting, and fingernail dancing. After the show, there is a short demonstration of elephants at work before you return to Bangkok. Depending on traffic approx. 6pm.- Free evening. Overnight DUSIT THANI HOTEL

DAY 5 : Breakfast in the hotel. Free morning at leisure for shopping etc. Check out and after lunch transfer to the airport for the short flight to Chaing Mai. Flight TG 114 departing at 15.05 -16.15. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel for 3 nights at the CENTARA DUANGTAWAN HOTEL

DAY 6:  After breakfast in the hotel. 08.30 pick-up -visit Mae Taman and have a day out with the elephants. After the feeding, watch the elephant show and and then trek to the forest and ride an ox cart. After lunch (included), go bamboo rafting in the Mae Tang River, before proceeding to the Orchid Farm. Includes - Elephant show - Bamboo rafting - Lunch (Thai set menu) - Ox cart ride Excludes drinks – Return to Chiang Mai free evening and overnight       CENTARA DUANGTAWAN HOTEL.

DAY 7:  08.30 -16.00pm Breakfast in the hotel.. Patara Elephant Farm is 100% Thai owned and managed farm focusing on health-care and breeding management for friendly, beautiful and special elephants to produce healthy elephants to live on Earth for long-term elephant conservation. Pick up from your hotel and transfer to Patara Elephant Farm. Training session includes, hiking to find the elephant in the bush. Learn about elephant farm management and our breeding program. Train to approach and be near elephant. Learn to observe elephant temperament. Introducing to every of our elephants. Morning feed. Daily health care for elephant. Pregnancy test for elephant and care taking for mother with small baby. Train to unchain and walk your elephant to the river. Learn about elephant skin care and bath your elephant in the river. Instructed training to get on the elephant neck with difference technique, sitting on the elephant, basic riding skill and spoken commands for elephant Practice on getting upon and coming down from the elephant. Bare-back riding session. Practice on easy riding trip within the farm and a short trip to visit local temple. Learn about elephant the Buddhism and the belief of the Thais people relate to elephant. Setting of for a long uphill trip to visit waterfall for picnic lunch and refreshing in the water with your elephant. Elephant riding trip back to the farm for evening feed. Farewell and photo taking with your elephants. Transfer back to your hotel Program could be subject to change due to local conditions. Free evening. Overnight at CENTARA DUANGTAWAN HOTEL

DAY 8 : After breakfast – depart hotel around 08.30am for a 3 hour drive (with guide) by road to Chaing Rai with comfort stops. On arrival check in hotel, Afternoon and evening at leisure. DINNER INCLUDED IN THE HOTEL this evening. THE SERENE HOTEL at CHIANG RAI


DAY 9: ; After an early morning breakfast departure around 6am with a guide/driver for transfer to the Thai/Laos border and embarkation on the Luangsay Cruise which sails at 09.00am cruise down the Mekong River and then an overnight stay at LUANGSAY LODGE near Pakbeng. ALL MEALS INCLUDED ON BOARD

DAY 10: Continue, after breakfast, with your journey down the Mekong with stops and viewpoints. Arrival in Luang Prabang is around 16.30pm depending on river conditions. You will be met by a local guide and transferred to your hotel for a stay of 2 nights. Free evening to explore the local streets, restaurants and shops nearby. overnight THE VILLA MALY

DAY 11: Breakfast in the hotel and then you will be taken on a guided tour of Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Your city tour begins at the former Royal Palace, now the National Museum. The Royal Palace was built in 1904 during the French colonial era for King Sisavang Vong and his family, and is now home to exhibits of art and jewels as well as the residence itself. From there, continue on foot to visit Wat Mai, with its unique 5 tiered roof and golden bas-reliefs. During Pimai, the Lao New Year, the small Buddha statue called Pra Bang normally housed in the Royal Palace Museum is brought and put on public display in this temple. Then visit Wat Sene with its beautiful golden façade. Finish your morning tour with the visit of the most photographed temple in Luang Prabang: Wat Xieng Thong. Have lunch at Un petit Nid restaurant INCLUDED. This afternoon we continue to visit the weaving village of Ban Phanom. This village is well known for cotton and silk hand-weaving. Here we have the opportunity to check out how to make the traditional Lao Cotton on a weaving loom, and return to Luang Prabang.to visit Wat Visoun, where you will see the famous Watermelon Stupa, shaped like the fruit it takes its name from. This temple was destroyed in 1887 by the invading Black Flags from China, and was restored in 1930 by Buddhist monks and local people. We will also visit Wat Aham where you will see the altar of the 2 geniuses of Luang Prabang. Finish your half day tour by climbing the 328 steps to the top of Mount Phousi to enjoy a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding countryside. Stop at the evening hill tribe market. overnight at THE VILLA MALY.

DAY 12:  A leisurely breakfast in the hotel and free morning in and around Luang Prabang and relax before transfer to the airport for your flight to Bangkok. 12.40 -14.45pm. On arrival in Bangkok you will be met and transferred by road to the beach resort of Hua Hin for a stay of 2 nights. Free evening to relax and overnight ASARA RESORT, SPA & SUITES HOTEL

DAY 13:. Breakfast in the hotel and free day at leisure to discover Hua Hin and/or relax on the private beach of the hotel. Overnight: ASARA RESORT, SPA & SUITES HOTEL

                                                                                               
DAY 14:  Free day at leisure until late evening. (You may be able to ask for a late check-out and/or pay extra for half day additional in your room). You will be met and transferred from hotel around 9pm (time to be confirmed) for drive to Bangkok airport and your flight back to London with THAI AIRWAYS departing 00.25am

DAY 15: : Arrival Heathrow airport-London 07.15am

HOTELS:
BANGKOK: 5* Dusit Thani Hotel http://www.dusit.com/dusit-thani/dusit-thani-bangkok.html
CHIANG MAI: 4* Centara Duangtawan Hotel. http://www.centarahotelsresorts.com/cdc/cdc_default.asp
CHIANG RAI: 4* The Serene Hotel http://www.sereneatchiangrai.com/
LUANG PRABANG: 4* The Villa Maly      http://www.villa-maly.com/
HUA HIN: 5* Asara Resort, Spa & Suites Hotel .     http://www.asaravillaandsuite.com/