8Nt Thai Heritage & Habitats Tour: Bangkok, Chiang Rai & Chiang Mai's Elephants to Singapore & Northbound Asian Allure cruise

Itinerary

• Day 1-2 - Flight departs
  Say goodbye to your current destination, for it’s time to head somewhere new! Flight information will be available closer to your embarkation date, but this will be when you’re hopping on a plane to continue your adventure – be that travelling somewhere new, or heading home.
• Day 2 - Bangkok - Evening Street Food tour at China Town
  One of the best ways to explore Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, is through its food, and this incredible evening street-food tour is an unforgettable culinary adventure. Starting with a refreshing platter of fresh tropical fruits, this guided tour will take you through Bangkok’s Chinatown, renowned as one of the best food destinations in the world, where you’ll enjoy some of Southeast Asia’s most popular flavours and Thailand’s favourite street food dishes. As you wander Chinatown’s vibrant streets, immersing yourself in the smells and sounds of this lively location, you’ll have the chance to enjoy culinary delights like chicken Pad Thai, a national favourite that will tantalise your tastebuds, satay pork, an Indonesian dish which has found its footing as a street food favourite across Southeast Asia, and mango sticky rice, a popular dessert that captures the essence of indulgence. With transfers back to your hotel accommodation at the end of the night, this delightful evening of culinary exploration is certain to leave you wanting more of these delectable delights.
• Day 2-5 - Bangkok Hotel Stay - 3 Nights
  During your Southeast Asian adventure, you’ll have the chance to stay in a hotel in Bangkok, Thailand’s capital and a vibrant metropolis of authentic cultural experiences and fascinating landmarks. Bangkok is also home to a sensational culinary landscape, and this hotel stay will give you even more time to immerse yourself in everything this city has to offer. More details regarding your hotel accommodation will be available closer to your departure date.
• Day 3 - Bangkok - City Tour
  It’s time to see what Bangkok is really all about, with an expert-led guided tour of the city’s most iconic landmarks and fascinating locations. Once you’ve enjoyed breakfast in your hotel accommodation, you’ll begin your sensational exploration of Thailand’s sensational capital. The first stop on this exciting tour is Wat Phra Kaew: the jaw-dropping Temple of the Emerald Buddha. The nation’s most sacred Buddhist temple, spending any amount of time here is an incredible experience. Following this, you’ll visit Bangkok’s Grand Palace. A former royal residence that has since become an iconic symbol of this city and nation, the Grand Palace is an awe-inspiring example of traditional Thai architecture in the heart of this remarkable city. After spending some time here, you’ll embark on a short stroll to Wat Pho, a stunning temple renowned for housing the colossal Reclining Buddha – a statue measuring over 150 ft! Once you’ve had the chance to admire this remarkable 17th-century temple, you’ll break for lunch and indulge in some traditional Thai cuisine at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, after lunch, a waterborne adventure awaits. Boarding an authentic Southeast Asian longtail boat, you’ll enjoy a short cruise down the Chao Phraya River, enjoying all the sensational sights this experience invites, before arriving at Wat Arun: the Temple of Dawn. Concluding this tour, Wat Arun is one of Thailand’s most iconic landmarks and a fascinating place to spend any amount of time.
• Day 4 - Bangkok - Floating Markets
  Today, you’ll have the chance to explore one of Thailand’s most fascinating places: the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market in Ratchaburi Province, which is roughly a two-hour drive from the centre of Bangkok. Featured prominently in 1974’s The Man with the Golden Gun, a James Bond adventure starring Roger Moore and Christopher Lee, and Nicholas Cage’s 2008 flick Bangkok Dangerous, the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market is a sprawling network of vibrant market stalls selling everything from fresh produce and carefully crafted souvenirs to authentic boat noodles, bright bundles of flowers, and more Thai treats. Enjoying a longtail boat ride around the floating marketplace, this is a fantastic opportunity to marvel at Thailand’s rich cultural tapestry while sampling some exciting local dishes. If you’re looking for a memorable keepsake from your time in Bangkok, this is one of the best places to pick one up, too.
• Day 4 - Discover The Temples in Ayutthaya (Thailand's Ancient Capital)
  Ayutthaya – the ancient capital of Thailand, when the entire region of Southeast Asia was part of the Ayutthaya Kingdom – is an incredible city steeped in history and this visit to the Ayutthaya National Park will give you a chance to see the incredible surviving structures of several Buddhist temples; and, with the chance to learn more about the rich history these temple ruins symbolise and sample some delicious local cuisine, it’s an excursion worth looking forward to. During your visit, you’ll visit Wat Mahathat – a central Buddhist temple famed for its sandstone Buddha statue, whose head is poking up through overgrown tree roots. You’ll also explore what remains of Wat Phra Si Sanphet, once the holiest and most beautiful of the Buddhist temples here, and Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, a 14th-century temple still in active use today. Home to other incredible sites, such as Wat Kudi Dao and Wat Ratchaburana, a tour of Ayutthaya is interesting and informative – though, if you’re not that into your history, you can still expect to enjoy some stunning sights and the chance to indulge in a tasty bowl of boat noodles.
• Day 5 - Fly Bangkok/Chiang Rai
  It’s time to say lā k̀xn (or goodbye) to Bangkok and s̄wạs̄dī (or hello) to Chiang Rai, for you’re flying between the two at this stage of your adventure through Southeast Asia. A flight that takes around an hour and a half, this is a fantastic opportunity to reflect on everything you’ve experienced so far and prepare yourself for even more excitement. More details of your flight will be available closer to your departure date.
• Day 5 - Chiang Rai - Temples Tour
  Chiang Rai, the northernmost city in Thailand, is a vibrant destination home to some of this nation’s most fascinating historical sites, intriguing cultural experiences, and a relaxed atmosphere that invites you to immerse yourself in everything this city has to offer. Today, you’re going to embark on a guided tour of some of this city’s most significant temples, each one boasting hundreds of years of history to uncover and intricate designs you can’t help but admire. You’ll start with Wat Rong Suea Ten: the Blue Temple. Uniquely modern in design, with a predominantly blue exterior adorned with intricate gold details, this contemporary temple is an impressive symbol of Buddhist enlightenment. Following this, you’ll visit Chiang Rai’s Wat Phra Kaew, one of the city’s most revered religious sites. Here, the renowned Emerald Buddha was found, though this enigmatic idol now resides in Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok. With there being so much to learn about Thai Buddhism and Thailand’s rich history from this temple-focused tour of Chiang Rai, this experience is worth looking forward to.
• Day 5-7 - Chiang Rai Hotel Stay - 2 Nights
  While exploring Thailand on this sensational tour, you’ll have the chance to spend a little more time in Chiang Rai, the nation’s northernmost city and an urban centre overflowing with incredible histories and unmissable cultural experiences. Founded by King Mangrai in 1262 as the first capital of the Lanna Kingdom, this remarkable destination invites you to explore more of Thailand’s fascinating past while indulging in authentic culinary experiences and cultural activities you’ll remember for years to come. Staying in a hotel here, you’ll have ample time to immerse yourself fully in this incredible destination when you’re not enjoying exciting guided excursions. More details about your hotel accommodation will be available closer to your departure date.
• Day 6 - Chiang Rai- Tea Plantations & Tribes
  The city of Chiang Rai is a vibrant destination overflowing with fascinating cultural experiences, but sometimes you need to travel further afield to truly appreciate everything Thailand has to offer. With this in mind, today, you’ll be travelling to one of Chiang Rai Province’s most scenic regions, the mountainous Doi Mae Salong, to learn more about the region’s tea production and the remarkable hill tribes that call this part of Thailand home. Arriving in Doi Mae Salong, you’ll be invited to stroll through the luscious tea fields here while learning about the traditional tea-making techniques employed here. You’ll then have the chance to sample several local tea blends, the perfect complement to this fascinating experience. While here, you’ll also be invited to observe some of the hill tribes that call Doi Mae Salong home, such as the Akha. This is an incredible opportunity to learn more about the traditional customs and crafts of these more remote communities, and certainly not something you’ll want to miss. After enjoying an indulgent lunch at a local restaurant, taking a moment to admire the stunning scenery here, your adventure continues with a visit to the famous Golden Triangle. The point where the Ruak and Mekong Rivers meet, as well as being where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar converge, the Golden Triangle is a hugely significant destination both culturally and historically. You’ll learn more about why on a Mekong river cruise, which will also afford you the opportunity to visit some of the intriguing riverside villages here while admiring the vibrant jungles on both banks of this major waterway. A comprehensive exploration of northern Thailand’s rural communities and the significance of this visually striking region, this sensational experience is sure to be a highlight of your time in Thailand.