Premium Thailand - 12 days

Drifters Price: £769.50
RRP: £810.00

Trip Code: INTPT
Local Payment: USD$300.00

Days 1-2 Bangkok
You will be met on arrival at Bangkok Airport and transferred to your centrally located hotel. You are welcome to arrive at any time on day 1 but please note that hotel check-in time is 12 noon. Please note that your leader will collect your local payment (12600Baht - approx US$300, however this is subject to change depending on the exchange rate) today.

If this is your first visit to Thailand and you want some more time to explore Bangkok, we recommend booking one or two nights additional accommodation prior to your trip. The hotel is located about 5 minutes walk from the Pratunam wholesale shopping markets - great for clothing bargains. The walk to the shopping area is along an interesting local street - lots of useful shops where you can buy nibblies and drinks to stock up your minibar! There are also laundries, hairdressers and small cheap restaurants. In the evening the street comes alive with local foodstalls. There will be a group meeting at 6pm, following which your leader will take you for your first experience of delicious Thai food. For late arrivals, your leader will update you individually on day 2.

We visit the magnificent Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha with our local guide on the morning of day 2 as well as taking a boat trip along the canals (khlongs) where we can enjoy the natural scenery and observe the daily lives of the people who live along the canals. On our return to the pier we pass the boathouse where the Royal Barges are housed.
No trip to Thailand is complete without a train journey and we head North to Chiang Mai on the evening of day 2, accommodated in second class air-conditioned sleeping berths.

Bangkok Hotel: D'Ma Pavilion

Days 3-4 Chiang Mai
On day 3, we discover some of the secrets of Thai cuisine by joining a cookery course. We will learn about the main ingredients used in Thai cuisine, how they are used and stored and what alternatives you can substitute if you can't get them at home. Questions are welcomed and you are provided with a comprehensive book of recipes and ingredient details. For lunch you sit down Thai style at Khantoke tables and feast on the delicious results of your tuition! The day is usually rounded off with a tasting of seasonal Thai fruit. We return to our hotel in the mid afternoon.

If cooking's not your thing, a half day cycling trip is offered. You will be transferred from our hotel to pick up the bikes with our local guide. We cycle along the main road for about 3 km, then turn off onto a small country road leading to Wieng Kum Kam. We stop at the temple of Wat Kanthom and the shrine of King Mengrai. We continue to explore two temple ruins which have just been discovered during archeological excavations. We cycle on to Wat Chedee Liam which is well known as an important part of the architectural heritage of Chiang Mai. A visit to the local market completes our trip following which we cycle back to Chiang Mai city. Lunch is included.

We have a free day for independent exploration on Day 4. Your leader can help you to arrange optional acitivities - you can take a bike ride to a nearby temple, indulge in a Thai massage or a spa treatment or just read a book by the pool. In the evening we continue to visit the Doi Suthep Temple, one of northern Thailand's most sacred temples. Our local guide will explain the history of the temple to us. A naga (dragon) staircase of 300 steps leads to the temple at the top of the mountain from which there are wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. Later we enjoy a traditional khantoke dinner while being entertained by Akha, Yao, Lahu, Meo, Lisu and Karen tribal dances.

Chiang Mai Hotel: Imperial Mae Ping

Day 5 Elephant Conservation Centre
We continue to the Elephant Conservation Centre where we tour the facilities of the elephant hospital and see how young elephants are weaned from their dependence upon humans in preparation for returning them to the wild. All the money raised by this centre goes towards the care of the elephants. We have the opportunity to take a ride on the back of these majestic animals, an experience which many find to be a highlight of their visit to this enchanting country.

We continue our journey via Chiang Mai to the H'mong Hilltribe Lodge, set in picturesque hilly countryside, where we will stay in air-conditioned bungalows. We enjoy a barbeque dinner and a H'mong cultural show in the evening.The H'mong are an ethnic minority people originating from southern China and are Thailand's second largest hilltribe group.

Accomodation: Hmong Hill Tribe Lodge

Day 6 Sukhothai
In the morning of day 6 we drive down the hills to visit the nearby hilltribe villages such as Baan Meo Mae Khi and Baan Nong Hoi Mai. Time permitting, we also visit one of the Royal projects where hilltribe people are taught to grow flowers and vegetables instead of opium. In the late morning we continue on to Chiang Mai to connect with the short (40 mins) flight to Sukothai.

After checking into our hotel we then drive for about an hour to Sukhothai where we explore one of Thailand's World Heritage Sites, Sukhothai Historical Park, by bicycle with our local guide (other options will be available if you prefer not to cycle).

The city of Sukhothai was the original capital of Thailand's first kingdom and is viewed as 'the Golden Age' of Thai civilisation. The religious art and architecture of the Sukhothai era are considered to be the most classic of Thai styles. The Sukhothai ruins contain the remains of 21 historical sites with awe-inspiring Buddha images and four large ponds often filled with stunning lotus flowers in full bloom.

Sukhothai Hotel: Pailyn Sukhothai

Days 7-8 Kanchanaburi
We set off mid-morning on day 7 for the quick flight to Bangkok (approx 45 minutes) before driving the 2.5 hours by minivan to Kanchanaburi. This evening we take a samlor tour to visit the JEATH War Museum, the Allied War Cemetery and the famous 'Bridge over the River Kwai', which is part of the 'Death Railway' constructed by allied prisoners of war.

Accompanied by our local guide, on the morning of day 8 we set off to visit Hellfire Pass, built to honour the Allied POWs and Asian conscripts who died while constructing some of the most difficult stretches of the Burma-Thailand Death Railway. Boarding at Nam Tok station, the terminal of the 'Death Railway', we take a ride on the historic tracks taking us through magnificent scenery along the Kwai Noi River and passing over the original wooden viaduct constructed by the allied POW. In the evening we will have dinner and spend the night at our comfortable hotel.

Kanchanaburi Hotel: Pung Waan Resort & Spa Kwai Tai

Days 9-10 Hua Hin
Transferring from Kanchanaburi in the early morning of day 9 we travel by minivan the 3 hours south to the quiet beachside town of Hua Hin. A firm favourite among Thai's, Hua Hin's palace is still used by the royal family today.

A highlight of Hua Hin (translated as 'Stone Head') are the smooth round boulders that line the 5km-long sand beach. Suitable for swimming all year round, we have ample time to enjoy Hua Hin's natural attractions before a seafood meal and a visit to the famous night market.

Day 10 is free to explore and perhaps indulge in a game of golf, a Thai massage,visit the historic Railway Hotel or just laze on the sand.

Hua Hin Hotel:

Days 11-12 Bangkok
Day 11 sees us take the short 3 hour drive back to Bangkok, the City of Angels, and all the advantages of this chaotic city. We arrive back in time to check into our hotel then cross town to join our evening river cruise and final night dinner on the mighty Chao Phraya River.

You are free to depart at any time today after breakfast at the hotel. Please note that check-out time is 12 noon.

Why not add on a Thailand beach break in Koh Samui to relax after your trip?

Bangkok Hotel: D'Ma Pavilion