Highlights: Enjoy a 9 day memorable trip covering the best of Thailand. Start with an exquisite cruise on the Mekhala cruise, and see the culture and history of Thailand. Visit its various temples, museums and villages that display the true essence of Thailand.
(Daily departure on private tour, including meals as specified)

ITINERARY:
Tour Code: 8N THA AT15

Day 01: BANGKOK—AYUTHAYA (BY MEKHALA CRUISE)   [-/-/D]
14:00 Transfer from hotel to pier and board on MEKHALA CRUISE.
15:00   Commencing the cruise from Bangkok by the “Legendary River Cruiser Mekhala”, cruising up the Chao Phaya River pass by the Grand Palace and the Temple of Dawn. Just after dark the Mekhala dock at Wat Kai Tia, a Thai temple set in a tranquil rural village and an exquisite candlelight dinner of mouth-watering that cuisine is served on the deck and overnight on board.

Day 02: MEKHALA—AYUTHAYA—NAKORNRATCHASRIMA   [B/L/-]
Early morning call.
06:00 Optional of Monk offering at Wat Kai Tia early morning (Optional can be arrangedand pay on spot for everyone who would like to do a Buddhism merit style). Sunrise breakfast on board and depart Wat Kai Tia to Bang-Pa-In.
10:00 Disembarking at Bang-Pa-In and meet with our guide to visit the magnificent Summer Palace of King Rama V. Continue by longtailed speed boats to Ayuthaya, the former capital of Thailand. Visit the gigantic bronze statues of Wat Mongkol Borpitr,  the three  ancient pagodas at Wat Phra Sri Sanpetch and Wat Pranangcherng.  Depart for Korat via Saraburi. Lunch at a local restaurant in Saraburi. Continue to Pimai to visit the museum and the magniicent Khmer temples, the “Angkor Wat of Thailand”, supposedly built by King Jayavarman VI in the 11th century. Return to Korat and check-in at SIMA THANI HOTEL or similar hotel Accommodation.

Day 03: NAKORNRATCHASRIMA—SARABURI—LOPBURI—SUKHOTHAI [B/L/-]
Breakfast
07:30 Visit to village of Daan Kwien, famous for its beautiful earthenware. Continue to Lopburi via Saraburi. Visit to Phra Buddha Badh in Saraburi, with its shrine of the holy footprint of Lord Buddha. Lunch at a local restaurant. Sightseeing in Lopburi, visit to the museum at Narai Raja Nives Palace, the Prang Sam Yod (Sacred Three spired Pagoda), and the ruin of Wat Phra Sri Ratana Maha Dhat as well as the Monkey Temple.  Proceed to Sukothai and check-in at ANANDA MUSEUM GALLERY HOTEL or similar hotel.  Accommodation.

Wat Sri Chum

Day 04: SUKHOTHAI—SRI SATCHANALAI—LAMPANG [B/-/D]
Breakfast
08:00 Visit to the famous ruins of this first capital of Thailand (1257-1379).  See  Wat Maha Dhat, Wat Sra Sri and Wat Sri Chum.  Continue to Sri Satchanalai, the northern outpost town of the Kingdom of Sukhothai,built by King Ramkamhaeng. Visit Wat Chang  Lom, Wat Jedi Jet Thaew, Wat Nang Phya and Wat Phra  Sri Ratana Maha Dhat which stands on the  site of the Khmer fort called "Chalieng". Proceed to Lampang and check-in at LAMPANG RIVER LODGE or similar hotel. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 05: LAMPANG — PHAYAO — GOLDEN TRIANGLE — CHIANG SAEN  [B/L/-]
Breakfast
07:30 Drive to Ko Kah to see Wat Phra Dhat Lampang Luang housing the only Emerald Buddha besides the one at Wat Phra Keo in Bangkok. Depart for Phayao, a unique rural town and once the princely state whose former glory will be seen at Wat Sri Kom Kam.  Proceed to Chiang Rai and lunch at a local restaurant. Continue to Chiang Saen,  the former capital of the first Thai Kingdom,  situated directly on the Mekong River at the border between Thailand and Laos.  Visit Wat Phra Dhat Jom Kitti by climbing up 383 steps to the top of the hill. Also visit Wat Chedi Luang and the small museum near by. Continue by longtailed speedboat upriver on the Mekong  towards the Golden Triangle where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos convene. Check-in at THE IMPERIAL GOLDEN TRIANGLE RESORT or similar hotel. 

Day 06: CHIANG SAEN—DOI MAE SALONG—MAE SAI—CHIANG RAI  [B/L/-]
Breakfast
08:00 Depart from Chiang Saen  to visit the Lisu Village at  Baan  Mae Kaotom and continue to Doi Mae Salong passing through  beautiful mountain scenery. The view from the top takes in a large part of Thailand, Myanmar and the Mekhong Valley which makes this trip very worthwhile. Lunch at Mae Salong Villa in Doi Mae Salong. Drive to Ban Lorcha, a Phami Akha hilltribe community center. This community-based tourism development project promotes sustainable, self-reliant development to improve the quality of life of villagers of this Akha Commnuity, and is a model for tourism in Hilltribe villages.  Continue to Mae Sai, the northernmost Thai town on the  Myanmar border.   Walk around the local market with opportunity for shopping. Continue to Chiang Rai.   Accommodation at THE LEGEND CHIANG RAI BOUTIQUE RIVER RESORT & SPA or similar hotel.

Day 07: CHIANG RAI—CHIANG MAI      [B/L/-]
Breakfast
08:00 Depart for Mae Chan and short stop at a ‘Hot Spring’. Proceed to Chiang Mai and lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon visit to Handicraft Villages to see the manufacturing of lacquerware, spinning and weaving of Thai Silk and how paper umbrellas are made. Also visit Thai wood carving factory with possibility to buy Burmese antiques. Check-in at HOLIDAY INN CHIANG MAI HOTEL or similar hotel.  Accommodation.

Day 08: CHIANG MAI        [B/L/-]
Breakfast
07:30  Visit the Mae Ping Elephant Camp to watch the elephants taking timber in the forest. Their strength and clever teamwork will amaze you. Take an one hour elephant riding into the jungle. Continue to visit the Orchid Farm and lunch. Afternoon visit Wat Doi Suthep, tucked away in the mountains at an elevation 1,056 meters, the temple is reached by a staircase with 290 steps, flanked by a NAGA balustrade on either side.  The monastery was built by King Gue-Na in 1383. The center is a big Chedi (spired pagoda) which contains partial relics of Lord Buddha. Accommodation at HOLIDAY INN CHIANG MAI HOTEL or similar hotel.

Day 09: Chiang Mai - Bangkok [B]
Breakfast. Transfer to the Chiang Mai Airport.

Hotel Addresses:
- Sima Thani Hotel, 12/2 Mittraphap Road, Muang, Nakornratchasima 20000. Tel. (044) 213100, Fax (044) 213120
- Ananda Museum Gallery Hotel, 10 Moo 4, T. Ban Lum, Muang, Sukhothai 64000. Tel. (055) 614334, Fax. (055) 621885
- Lampang River Lodge, 330 Moo 11 Chompoo, A. Muang, Lampang 52000. Tel. (054) 226922, Fax. (054) 336640
- Imperial Golden Triangle Resort, 222 Golden Triangle, Chiang Saen, Chiang Rai 57150. Tel.: (053) 784001, Fax: (053) 784006
- The Legend Chiang Rai Boutique River Resort & Spa, 124/25 Moo 11, Kohloy Road, T. Robwiang, A. Muang, Chiang Rai 57000.  Tel. (053) 910400-29, Fax. (053) 719650
- Holiday Inn Chiang Mai Hotel, 318/1 Chiang Mai-Lampoon Road, Chiang Mai 50007. Tel.: (053) 275300, Fax: (053) 275299

PACKAGE TOUR RATES - US Dollar
Prices are per person in half-twin room
1	2	3-5	6-14	15-29	30-up	JOINT	SGL S/C
-	1678	1385.75	1145.17	1145.17	977.50	-	362.825
Validity:till 01st November2010-October2011

There are the following surcharges:
- Sima Thani Hotel
Compulsory dinner on 31 December, 2010 = USD 38 per person.
- Imperial Golden Triangle Resort
Compulsory dinner on 31 December, 2010 = USD 89 per person

- The Legend Chiang Rai Boutique River Resort & Spa
High season surcharge on 24 December, 2010 - 03 January, 2011 = USD90 per room per night.

INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICES ARE:
• Accommodation in airconditioned room with bath/shower and meals as mentioned in the programme.
• Exclusive crew during cruise and services of local English-speaking guide on Mekhala Cruise
• Transfers, entrance fees, and tours by airconditioned car/minibus/coach with multilingual guide.
• Service charges, room tax, VAT and baggage handling.

NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICES ARE:
• Optional tours.
• Domestic airticket Chiang Mai-Bangkok.
• International tickets and visas
• Expenditure of a personal nature, such as drinks, souvenirs and laundry etc.
• Other tours & meals than mentioned in the programme

Government Service Tax 2.575%

Tour Conditions:

Guaranteed weekly departures every Monday/Wednesday and Friday with English/German and French speaking guide

Remarks:
- Minor program changes are sometimes necessary, depending on road conditions and room availability.
- Should VAT (currently 7%) or any other government taxes be introduced or raised within the contract period, we reserve the right to adjust our rates accordingly to reflect the change.
- We reserves the right to adjust the rates if the fuel cost increase by over 20% (currently Baht 28.-per litre, 91 octane)