Thailand: The Golden Kingdom+ C A M B O D I A E X T E N S I O N
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Experience the warm welcome of the Land of Smiles.
From bustling Bangkok, you’ll travel north to ancient ruined capitals, hill tribe villages and mountaintop temples to investigate all sides of this vibrant country of contrasts. The spice and rice will nourish your body; the scenery and history will nourish your soul.
12D A Y S
1 5 D A Y S W I T H E X T E N S I O N
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Your tour includes
Your tour highlights
Overnight flight | 1 night
Day 1: Travel day
Board your overnight flight to Thailand today.
Bangkok | 3 nights
Day 2: Arrival in Bangkok
Welcome to Thailand! Settle in to your hotel tonight.
Day 3: Sightseeing tour of Bangkok
Included meals: breakfast, welcome dinner
This morning, your Tour Director leads a sightseeing tour of Bangkok.• Explore the sprawling Grand Palace complex, built in 1782 for the king of Siam• See the city’s vast array of Buddha statues at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha
(Wat Phra Kaew), the Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Pho), and the Temple of the Golden Buddha (Wat Traimit)
• Tour the city’s canals, called klongs, on a speedboat and converted rice barge
This evening, get acquainted with your fellow travelers at a welcome dinner.
Day 4: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market & River Kwai
Included meals: breakfast
Explore the region on a series of stops at local cultural sites.• Experience the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, where locals sell produce from
their small boats• Journey to Kanchanaburi, home to the River Kwai and the Thai-Burma Railway
bridge that was made famous by the novel and film about its construction• Visit the World War II Cemetery, resting place of over 9,000 Allied soldiers
Phitsanulok | 1 night
Day 5: Ayutthaya & Uthai Thani
Included meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Journey to Ayutthaya, Thailand’s capital from 1350 to 1767. • Tour the ruins, decorated with beautiful images of the Buddha draped in saffron
robes, just like living monks• Continue on to the Uthai Thani province to visit the beautiful Wat Chantaram
Enjoy a free evening in Phitsanulok or add an excursion.+ Rickshaw Ride & Market
Chiang Rai | 2 nights
Day 6: Sukhothai Historical Park
Included meals: breakfast, lunch
On your way to Chiang Rai, stop to tour the Sukhothai Historical Park. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, this park includes classical Buddha statues and temple ruins.
Day 7: Mae Kok River, oolong tea plantation & the Mekong River
Included meals: breakfast
This morning, board a long-tail boat and venture along the Mae Kok River to a hill tribe village. • Learn about the traditional life of the hill tribe people, who live in bamboo houses
raised on stilts and are skilled at crop rotation and hunting with spears and crossbows• Stop in Mae Salong, an ethnically Chinese town where various agricultural products
are produced—including oolong tea, which you’ll learn about at a tea plantation visit• Visit the Golden Triangle, where the three countries of Burma, Thailand and Laos
meet on the Mekong River• Take a short cruise across the Mekong River to visit a local market in Laos
Where you’ll go
Overview T H A I L A N D :T H E G O L D E N K I N G D O M
• Spicy, sweet, salty and sour—Thai food at its finest
• Bangkok’s canals and floating markets
• Interacting with the hill tribes outside Chiang Rai
• Soaring to the summit of Doi Suthep
• Up-close encounters with elephants
• Ornate Buddhist temples, stupas and ruins
• 10 nights in handpicked hotels
• Breakfast daily, 3 lunches, 4 three-course dinners with beer or wine
• Multilingual Tour Director
• Private deluxe motor coach
• Guided sightseeing and select entrance fees
OVERNIGHT STAYS
3 nights • Bangkok 1 night • Phitsanulok 2 nights • Chiang Rai3 nights • Chiang Mai1 night • Bangkok
Bangkok
T H A I L A N D
C A M B O D I A
AyutthayaUthai Thani
Phitsanulok
Chiang RaiChiang Mai
Mae Salong
Sukhothai Historical Park
Doi Suthep
+ Cambodia Extension
35MAXIMUM GROUP S IZE FOR THIS TOUR
With our Right Size Advantage, your group will never get in the way of your experience. Learn more at goaheadtours.com/rightsize
ABOUT YOUR HOTELS
Our 3- and 4-diamond accommodations are handpicked to ensure quality and comfort. See sample hotels for this tour at goaheadtours.com/tai
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T H A I L A N D :T H E G O L D E N K I N G D O MItinerary
Chiang Mai | 3 nights
Day 8: Wat Rong Khun & Doi Suthep
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
On your way to Chiang Mai, stop at Wat Rong Khun, the otherwordly “White Temple.” Then, enjoy the stunning scenery as you stop at some of the region’s most impressive temples and historic sites.• Discover Doi Suthep, the regal mountain overlooking the city from the northwest
and home to some of the most deeply loved symbols in the Kingdom• Walk the 290 steps skyward or take a cable car to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a major
temple and pilgrimage destination during the important Buddhist holidays of Makha Buja and Visak
• Visit Wat Suan Dok, a temple constructed for a revered priest visiting from Sukhothai, to learn about Buddhism from one of the resident monks
Day 9: Elephant Nature Park
Included meals: breakfast, lunch
Drive through the countryside to the Mae Taeng Valley and the Elephant Nature Park, a camp dedicated to caring for the elephant population thought conservation efforts and ending mistreatment. You’ll learn about Asian elephants as you watch them feed and bathe.
Enjoy a free evening in Chiang Mai or add an excursion.+ Khantoke Dinner
Day 10: Local handicraft market
Included meals: breakfast
Travel to San Kamphaeng to see how regional products are made by visiting local artisans, a silk factory and a paper umbrella manufacturer.
Enjoy a free afternoon in Chiang Mai or add an excursion.+ Traditional Thai Cooking Class & Dinner
Bangkok | 1 nights
Day 11: Flight to Bangkok
Included meals: breakfast, farewell dinner
Fly to Bangkok for your final day in Thailand. After reaching the capital city, spend time relaxing or exploring on your own.
Later, join your group for an included farewell dinner.
Day 12: Departure
Transfer to the airport for your early flight home or continue your tour in Cambodia.
Post-tour extension
Siem Reap | 2 nights
Day 12: Sunset at Angkor Wat
Included meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Fly to Siem Reap, Cambodia and arrive in time for lunch. At sunset, tour the majestic temples of Angkor Wat, the world’s largest religious monument and an outstanding example of Khmer architecture. Honoring Hinduism and Buddhism, its five layers of rectangular walls and moats are said to represent mountains and the ocean.
Day 13: Angkor Thom, Ta Prohm & Preah Khan
Included meals: breakfast, lunch
Spend the day exploring evocative temple ruins with your Tour Director. • Experience Angkor Thom, the last capital of the Kmer Empire and home of the
Elephant Terrace, the Terrace of the Leper King and the Bayon Temple • Visit Ta Prohm, a 12th-century temple that has been largely reclaimed by the jungle • Stop at the ruins of the nearby Preah Khan temple
Bangkok | 1 night
Day 14: Flight to Bangkok
Included meals: breakfast, dinner
Enjoy a morning tour of Banteay Srei and Banteay Samre, the latter meaning “Citadel of the Women.”
Later, fly back to Bangkok for a group dinner.
Day 15: Departure
Transfer to the airport for your early morning flight home.
Extension is available on select departure dates. Space is limited.Minimum of 10 travelers is required.
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Day 5: Rickshaw Ride & Market | $29/$39*(1 hour, departs in the evening)Take a cycle rickshaw to the Phitsanulok Night Market, where you’ll find fresh food cooked and served to order. Watch as local cooks perform their signature “flying vegetables show,” in which vegetables are fried in a wok, then tossed high into the air. Be sure to try the finished product, Pak Boong Loy Fah (or “Flying Morning Glory” in English). In addition to the food, you’ll discover an astounding variety of local handicrafts, souvenirs and clothing for sale.
Day 9: Khantoke Dinner | $39/$49* (3 hours, evening with dinner) Revel in a delectable, entertaining khantoke dinner. The customary northern Thai style of eating, khantoke-style dining became popular in the early 1950s, though it has been a Lanna Thai tradition for centuries. Relax as traditional food is served on large platters, and enjoy your meal as you are entertained by a variety of cultural performances.
Day 10: Traditional Thai Cooking Class & Dinner | $69/$79* (5 hours, evening with dinner) Venture outside Chiang Mai to a secluded part of Sankhampaeng village, amidst the stunning rice field scenery of Northern Thailand. Start at a local market and learn about fresh ingredients, which you will cook. Culinary school chefs will teach you how to prepare four traditional Thai dishes. Enjoy your meal with your fellow travelers.
T H A I L A N D :T H E G O L D E N K I N G D O M
*Optional excursions may be purchased up to 3 days prior to departure or while on tour. Pre-purchased optional excursions cannot be canceled within 3 days prior to departure or while on tour. Select optional excursions require advance booking and cannot be purchased or canceled after the advanced reservation deadline. GAT accepts payment by cash, Visa or MasterCard for optional excursions purchased on tour. Additional fees may apply for optional excursions purchased on tour. Excursions require a minimum number of participants to operate. Details and prices are subject to change. Due to seasonal hours of operation and availability, some excursions may not operate. If this occurs, you will be refunded any payments made for that excursion post-tour.
Customize your experience
Create a more personal journey by adding optional excursions that speak to your interests. Excursions offered on the same day will occur at different times, so there’s no need to choose—you’re free to do as much or as little as you’d like. Save $10* when you book your excursion up to 3 days before your tour departs. Please note: Excursions that
require advance reservation will only have this discounted price listed. Call or go online to start customizing your tour: 1.800.206.9871 | goaheadtours.com/tai
TAI16_0316
Start planning today 1.800.206.9871 | goaheadtours.com/tai© 2016 EF Education First International Ltd.