Experience Thailand & Hong Kong
Departs March 16, 2009
19 days
Day 1 - Fly from Saskatoon or Regina to Vancouver. Shuttle to the Richmond Inn for a rest and an evening Welcome Reception before heading to the airport for the flight to Bangkok.
Day 2 - Fly from Vancouver to Bangkok via Hong Kong.
Day 3 - Arrive in Bangkok, Thailand. Transfer from the Airport to the Century Park Hotel and check in. The rest of the day is at your leisure.
Day 4 - Enjoy a half-day City and Temple Tour. Visit the three most unique temples: Wat Trimit, Wat Pho, and Wat Benchamabophit.
Wat Trimit has a striking 3-meter tall Golden Buddha image – a gleaming, 5-ton figure of solid gold. Wat Pho has the largest reclining Buddha image in Thailand, and Chedi of the kings, Bangkok’s oldest and largest temple. Wat Benchamabophit is a modern Thai temple of white Carrara marble with ornate crossbeams decorated with lacquer and gold.
Visit The Grand Palace, an ancient Siamese court which was residence of Kings of Bangkok. Each palace was used for different occasions: Funeral Palace, Reception Palace, Throne Hall, Coronation Hall, Royal Guest House, and Wat Phra Keo, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. At Royal Lapidary, watch craftsmen creating fascinating works of art from saphires, rubies and emeralds. Free afternoon. In the evening, enjoy a Thai Dinner & Thai classical Music & Dances at Piman Thai Restaurant.
Thai Dancers
Day 5 - Depart in the early morning for full-day tour. Travel to the Damnern Saduak floating market to ride a long-tailed speed boat along canal and watch produce-laden boats gather as farmers / smallholders trade their goods. Travel to Pra Pathom Chedi, the largest pagoda in Southeast Asia. Enjoy lunch and a Thai cultural show at Rose Garden.
A woman sells fruit at a Floating Market in Thailand
Day 6 - Full-day tour: Travel to Kanchanaburi. Visit the Bridge over River Kwai, WWII Cemetary and JEATH Museum. Ride the train along “Death Railways.”
Bridge over the River Kwai
Day 7 - Depart in the early morning. The temperature cools heading north to Ayuthaya, the former capital of Thailand, founded in 1350 by King U-Thong. View the principal sights: gigantic bronze statues of Wat Mongkol Borpiy, three ancient pagodas at Wat Phra Srisanpetch, and Wat Panancherng. Stop at a Japanese village and Phrom Phiram, ancient capital and a World Heritage Site. Lunch in Nakorn Sawan. Drive to Sukhothai “Dawn of Happiness”, the former capital of first kingdom of Siam, also a World Heritage Site, and the location of the birth of the Thai nation. Dinner at the hotel (Sukhothai Heritage Hotel).
Day 8 - Visit Sukhothai Historical Park, Ancient Tak City, and the gigantic Bhumibol Dam. Proceed to Chiang Mai via Lampang and Lamphun. Dinner at the hotel (Chiangmai Plaza Hotel).
The Bhumibol Dam
Riding an elephant at the Mae Sa Elephant Camp
Day 9 - In the morning, tour the Mae Sa “Elephants at Work & Elephant Camp”. Deep in teak forest jungle area, watch elephants working and demonstrating skills at moving lumber & transportation. There will be opportunity to ride the elephants. Stop at Mae Sa Waterfall and a valley with flowers ablaze with colors. Visit an orchid nursey and Mae Sa Meo Hilltribe Village. Visit Borsang – Handicraft Village industries and Umbrella Village where umbrellas are created. Watch skillful woodcarving, celadon firing (ceramic), folks making lacquer and silverware. Enjoy evening Northern Traditional Kantoke Dinner with northern classical dancing and hilltribe shows.
Day 10 - Full day Chiangmai – Chaingrai, Mae Khong Boat Trip & Golden Triangle. Pass mountains, valleys, and picturesque landscapes. Visit Mae Chan - Yao and Akha Hilltribes. Continue to Mae Sai, the most northern trading border between Thailand and Burma. Drive to the Golden Triangle area where the Thailand, Burma, and Laos borders meet. Visit Chiang Saen on the steep banks of the Mekong River opposite Laos. Witness magnificent ruins and temples.
The Mekong River near the Golden Triangle area
Day 11 - Drive from Chiangmai to Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae and Phitsanuloke for a tour: Phra Buddha Chinnarat – flying vegetable restaurant, Sam Lor. Witness rural life. This area is the original center of Thailand with the most productive agriculture land in Thailand. Stop at a farm to discover agriculture practises. Dinner at the hotel (Amarin Lagoon Hotel).
Thai rice farmer
Day 12 - Drive from Phitsanuloke to Lopburi, Saraburi and Bangkok. Arrive in Bangkok and check in to hotel (Century Park Hotel). Leisure time.
Day 13 - Transfer to the Bangkok Airport with a guide. Fly to Phuket, Thailand. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel (at a beach resort). Free time.
Days 14 & 15 - Days at leisure in paradise, or take optional tours.
Beach in Phuket (province), Thailand
Day 16 - Day at leisure (at beach resort). Evening Seafood Wind-Up dinner at Hotel.
Day 17 - Transfer to the Phuket Airport then fly to Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, transfer to the hotel (Regal Kowloon Hotel). Free time. The hotel is located in an excellent shopping area.
Day 18 - Morning tour of Hong Kong. Afternoon free time to shop, explore, and cruise the harbour.
Hong Kong harbour at night
Day 19 - Transfer to the Hong Kong airport. Fly to Vancouver, then fly from Vancouver to Saskatoon or Regina.
Note: Itinerary is subject to change.
Contact us for a full itinerary, for price information or about any other questions you may have.
Photo Credits: Statue by re-ality on Flickr, Thailand by babasteve, Grand Palace Bangkok by g-hat on Flickr, New Year's Dance (Thai Dancers) by jurveston on Flickr, Market Colours by The Wandering Angel on Flickr, Kanchanaburi (Bridge over River Kwai) by makilica on Flickr, Bhumibol Dam is public domain, DSC_0099 (Elephant with riders) by The Dilly Lama on Flickr, _MG_3639-01 (Mekong River) by jeff_leigh on Flickr, Thai rice farmer by talkrabb on Flickr, Karon Beach, Phuket, Thailand by yeowatzup on Flickr.