17 Days Hidden Charms of Thailand and Vietnam

ITINERARY

Day 1: Chiang Mai | Arrive in Chiang Mai

International Flight: Excluded
Welcome to Thailand! Upon arrival in Chiang Mai, our guide will greet you at the airport welcome area and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.

Accommodation: The Rachamankha

Day 2: Chiang Mai | Chiang Mai Ancient Temples | Zira Spa and Night Markets

Meals: Breakfast
Morning is at your leisure to relax.

In the afternoon, visit the most prominent temples in Chiang Mai. Start with Wat Phra Singh which houses the famous Phra Singh Buddha image. It features Lanna art throughout and illustrates many famous Buddhist stories. Continue on to Wat Chedi Luang, which once contained the Emerald Buddha. The temple is partially in ruins due to an earthquake in the 1500s. Then stop at Wat Chiang Man which is the oldest temple in Chiang Mai and also houses one of Thailand’s greatest treasures: the Crystal Buddha.

Wat Chedi – 17 Days Hidden Charms Thailand Vietnam

Then continue to Wat Suan Dok, which houses many of the remains of generations of the old Chiang Mai Royal Family. Finally, visit Wat Jet Yot – this peaceful temple is surrounded by green and was built in the Mahabodhi style from India to house the Eighth World Buddhist Council in 1453.

Zira Spa and Night Markets

Chiang Mai is known for its legendary “Siam Lanna” massage techniques dating back to the Lanna Kingdom. Next, you’ll enjoy a royal relaxation treatment at the top-rated spa in Chiang Mai. Transfer to Zira Spa – an award-winning spa inside a beautiful Lanna-style refurbished mansion. You’ll enjoy your choice of either an aromatherapy massage(oil) or a traditional massage(non-oil) for 1 hour. Continue to the night markets to explore the interesting curios, trinkets, silks, and jewelry created by the hill tribes in the surrounding highlands. Return back to the hotel for leisure and overnight.

Accommodation: The Rachamankha

Day 3: Chiang Mai | Befriending the Gentle Giants of Asia

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today, you will visit an elephant sanctuary in the jungles near Chiang Mai. First, you’ll learn about the project and hear the amazing stories of each rescued and orphaned elephant. You will each be paired with your own elephant. Learn how they became free from abuse and misuse. You’ll be shown how to approach your elephant, what spoken commands they respond to, how to read their body language, and how to check their health.

Then have an opportunity to feed them. The mahout will also show you how to ride on their neck(no heavy howdah seats are used) or you can walk alongside your elephant if you prefer. Continue to the nearby river. Here you will have the opportunity to observe or participate in bathing the elephants with the sanctuary staff. The sanctuary has a photographer who will capture these moments in high quality for you throughout the day and provide you a CD of the experience. Next, enjoy a picnic spread.

After you have said your farewells, return back to the hotel for some leisure time.

Note: Please note not to wear any perfume or strong fragrances as elephants are sensitive to smell. Also, bring a change of clothes for swimming, odorless sunscreen, and a towel.

Accommodation: The Rachamankha

Day 4: Chiang Mai | Thai Culinary Class

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today, you’ll join a culinary experience with a Thai chef. The school is run by Sompon Nabnian, a Chiang Mai culinary legend who has been featured on National Geographic and the Travel Channel. Start the class with a visit to the local market where Thai people buy groceries. The chef will be keen to teach you how to identify various products and what to pick. You’ll learn about many new vegetables and spices. Then, with the ingredients you’ll need in hand, continue to a Thai pavilion where the class will commence. You’ll have your own station and cooking utensils. The chef will show you how to prepare several dishes and oversee your work providing tips along the way. Then it’s time to enjoy your creation! After saying goodbyes, return back to your hotel for leisure time.

Accommodation: The Rachamankha

Day 5: Chiang Mai – Chiang Rai | Road Trip to Chiang Rai | The White Temple

Meals: Breakfast

Transfer in the morning to Chiang Rai. On the way, you’ll stop at Wat Rong Khun(the White Temple). This unique and modern temple features Hindu and Buddhist architecture along with very contemporary and peculiar art and sculptures. You’ll continue to Chiang Rai.

Accommodation: The Legend Chiang Rai

Day 6: Chiang Rai | Mae Salong Mountain: Tea Plantations & Hill Tribes | Christmas Eve Gala Dinner

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, transfer to Mae Salong mountain, a scenic peak in the Shan Highlands. First, stop at a tea plantation to try some fresh hot tea in the morning while taking in the splendid views. Learn about the Chinese military KMT village that resettled at Mae Salong and their interesting story. Have lunch at a Yunnanese restaurant. In the afternoon, visit Akha, Yao and Lisu hill-tribe villages. Then return to the resort for leisure time.

In the evening, enjoy a Christmas Eve Gala Dinner. Live entertainment, drinks, and a terrific feast will be provided.

Accommodation: The Legend Chiang Rai

Day 7: Chiang Rai – Bangkok | Golden Triangle | Flight to Bangkok

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
In the morning, visit the Golden Triangle, where the Ruak River and the Mekong river meet forming the borders of three countries – Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos – the area is known for its stunning views. Visit the Hall of Opium museum to learn about the history of the Opium War. Continue on to the ancient city of Chiang Sean at Wat Chedi Luang – a stone city and the first capital of the Lanna Kingdom. Then return to town for check out.
Board an afternoon flight to Bangkok. Upon arrival, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your boutique next to the Chao Phraya River for check-in. The rest of the day is at your leisure to relax or explore the city on your own.

Golden Triangle – 17 Days Hidden Charms Thailand Vietnam

Accommodation: Riva Surya Bangkok

Day 8: Bangkok | Bangkok by Boat

Meals: Breakfast
In the early morning, take a traditional long-tail boat to Wat Arun – the Temple of the Dawn to enjoy a stunning view and explore the gem of Bangkok.

Continue to one of the must-see sights, the spectacular Grand Palace, undoubtedly the city’s most famous landmark. Built in 1782- and for 150 years the home of the Thai King, the Royal court and the administrative seat of government – the Grand Palace of Bangkok is a grand old dame indeed, that continues to have visitors in awe with its beautiful architecture and intricate detail, all of which is a proud salute to the creativity and craftsmanship of Thai people.

Within its walls were also the Thai war ministry, state departments, and even the mint. Today, the complex remains the spiritual heart of the Thai Kingdom. Within the palace complex are several impressive buildings including Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), which contains the small, very famous and greatly revered Emerald Buddha that dates back to the 14th century. The robes on the Buddha are changed with the seasons by HM The King of Thailand and forms an important ritual in the Buddhist calendar. Thai Kings stopped living in the palace around the turn of the twentieth century, but the palace complex is still used to mark all kinds of other ceremonial and auspicious happenings. Also visit Wat Po, with it’s large reclining Buddha. Then return to the hotel for some leisure time in the afternoon.

Accommodation: Riva Surya Bangkok

Day 9: Bangkok | Colors of Bangkok by Bicycle

Meals: Breakfast
Join a morning cycling adventure through Bangkok. First, you’ll ride through some of the poorest communities in Bangkok. What they don’t have in wealth they definitely make up for in warm smiles. Continue to the Chao Phraya River to cross by boat. On the other side, you’ll ride through the shaded trails of the “Green Lung of Bangkok”. It’s an isolated outcropping of land which is full of vegetation, coconut and banana trees, and wildlife. Stop for a small meal. Then continue to a Buddhist temple isolated from the city. Monks perform their daily rituals and tasks wearing bright saffron robes.

Take a boat ride back across the river and continue to the last stop, a Muay Thai gym – where you can see aspiring champions training hard in the Bangkok heat. Return to the hotel for some leisure time in the hot afternoon.

Accommodation: Riva Surya Bangkok

Day 10: Bangkok – Khao Yai | Khao Yai National Park

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, drive to Khao Yai National Park. Start with a visit to their View Point and Visitor Center. Go hiking through dry evergreen forests & grasslands. It is common to see gibbons, monkeys, and hornbills on the way. Have lunch at a local restaurant and then transfer to Haew Narok Waterfall. Take a 2-hour trail trek. Then wild elephant spotting around dusk.

Things to bring: Hat, insect repellent, trekking shoes or boots, long-sleeved shirt, long pants, camera or binoculars, towel, and swimming suit if you wish to swim.

Accommodation: Muthi Maya Forest Pool Villa

Day 11: Bangkok – Hanoi | Khao Yai National Park | Flight to Hanoi

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast
At the resort in the morning, enjoy pleasant views of the surrounding natural beauty while sipping some hot tea or coffee from your balcony/terrace. The trogons and cuckoos make their calls from the trees while the sun slowly makes it’s way over the horizon. Take some time to unwind and reflect in this natural setting.
Before noon, check out from the hotel and transfer to the airport in Bangkok for your flight to Hanoi. There our guide will greet you at the airport.

Check-in at your boutique in the Old French Quarter. After check-in, enjoy a stroll on your own around Hoan Kiem Lake outside your hotel. Feel free to also pick up a souvenir at the night markets or at one of the many trinket shops in the alleys and small roads of this historic part of town.

Accommodation: Silk Path Boutique Hotel

Day 12: Hanoi | Remote Hill Tribes in Mai Chau

Meals: Breakfast
After you’ve finished breakfast at the hotel, you’ll transfer to Mai Chau, a remote valley with a patchwork of rice paddies, farms, and longhouses. Discover the rural life of the Vietnamese just a few hours from the Capital. Talk with the friendly locals and take in the picturesque scenery of this amazing landscape.

Then you’ll visit Lac, a 700-year-old village. Surrounded by a range of mountains, the rice fields, and stilted houses will create memorable impressions of Vietnam’s countryside.

Accommodation: Silk Path Boutique Hotel

Day 13: Hanoi – Lan Ha Bay | Voyage Lan Ha Bay with Cruise by Orchid

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
In the morning, our guide and driver will assist you with a transfer to Halong Bay. Then continue to the Orchid Private Lounge and enjoy refreshments until boarding. Then board Orchid Cruise.

Receive a safety briefing and check in your cabins. The boat sets adrift for Da Chong islet, home to an old French lighthouse. Enjoy a sumptuous feast in the panoramic dining hall while enroute to the islets of Con Vit and Gia Luan. The bay opens up to you with stunning green karsts towering above the water. This area receives very few cruise ships as it has just been newly opened up. Continue to Ba Trai Dao beach of Lan Ha Bay. A paradise with perfect beaches and natural beauty. Stop at one of the beaches for swimming or kayaking during the afternoon.

As dusk approaches, welcome the sunset with a local specialty – “Ba Kich”(a liquor made from Noni fruit). Back on board, you’ll join a cooking demonstration to learn a few Vietnamese culinary secrets. Enjoy your creation! Then time for supper in the dining hall. Delicious Vietnamese cuisine and seafood in a romantic setting. After dinner, you may enjoy watching the stars from the sundeck, watching a movie in the restaurant, or give night squid fishing a try with the staff(subject to seasonal availability).

Lan Ha Bay – 17 Days Hidden Charms Thailand Vietnam

Accommodation: Orchid Cruise

Day 14: Hanoi – Ninh Binh | Lan Ha Bay Sunrise | Bai Dinh Temple

Meals: Breakfast
Rise early for one of the top best sunrises in the world. Then head to the sundeck for an invigorating Tai Chi session amongst a picture-perfect backdrop of karsts, sea, and nature. Enjoy breakfast in the dining hall before taking the journey to explore the area around Sang Tai sea cave via canoes.

Return back to the pier for check out. Our guide will be waiting to help you with luggage and then continue to Ninh Binh.
Check-in at the Emeralda Resort with stunning views all around.

Time to stretch your legs! Go with our guide to visit Bai Dinh Temple, the largest temple in Vietnam. This Buddhist temple was built into the mountain with 3 terraces and faces the river. Explore the many halls, rooms, carvings, and statues during the late afternoon. Our guide will then take you to the best place for watching the sunset over this untouched part of Vietnam. Shortly afterward, you’ll witness the 13-tier pagoda – Chau Bai Dinh – be lit up for the evening: a true spectacle to behold! Return to the resort for overnight and leisure.

Accommodation: Emeralda Resort Ninh Binh

Day 15: Ninh Binh – Hanoi | Wonders of Ninh Binh

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, enjoy some time at the resort to relax and take in the stunning views. Check out late morning and then you’ll go to visit Hoa Lu, the ancient capital. In 968, Dinh Bo Linh declared himself as the King. Since then Hoa Lu existed as the capital for only 41 years. In 1010, King Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu to Thang Long – present-day Hanoi. Hoa Lu became the old citadel. In Hoa Lu there are now two temples dedicated to two Vietnamese kings, which have been built on the grounds of the old royal palace. The visit offers a chance to learn more about the feudal dynasties and historical periods in Vietnamese history.

Next, you’ll take an amazing boat trip through Trang An Grottoes. A gathering of 31 valleys and 50 cross-water caves are home to 600 kinds of flora and over 200 kinds of fauna many of which are listed in the Red Book of Vietnam. Rowing through the Trang An Grottoes is a peaceful trip of serenity. The highland air is a respite from modern living and the sounds are only that of birds and the oars stirring the clear water. Towering overhead is magnificent forested mountains upon which you might catch a glimpse of grazing white-bearded goats.

After your adventures in Ninh Binh, return to Hanoi for overnight.

Ninh Binh Karsts – 17 Days Hidden Charms Thailand Vietnam

Accommodation: Silk Path Boutique Hotel

Day 16: Hanoi | Highlights of Vietnam’s Capital |Water Puppet Show

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Start the morning with a stroll around the Hoan Kiem Lake with our guide where you can see the Tortoise Tower sitting on the water. Then you’ll enjoy a half-hour cyclo tour through the Old Quarter in Hanoi. The cyclo is a historic mode of transportation in the cities of Vietnam where a cyclist escorts you while you sit in a seat affixed to the front with a canopy over top.
Transfer to see the Tran Quoc Pagoda. This 1,400-year-old temple features ten stories surrounded by gardens and which also hosts a bodhi tree grown from a cutting of the original Buddhist tree under which Buddha sat. Next, you’ll visit the One Pillar Pagoda – a pagoda situated on a pillar made of a single stone, in the middle of a lotus pond. This pagoda was built by a 9th-century emperor who saw it in a dream and regarded this as divine inspiration to recreate the structure in the vision.

You’ll pass by the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum before visiting the highlight of this tour – The Temple of Literature. This ancient university was erected almost a millennium ago and has hosted many of the most prominent scholars through Vietnamese history. The site features many gardens, pools, buildings, and ancient trees where the best and brightest of Vietnam studied under the guidance of Confucius’s teachings. Return to the hotel for some leisure in the afternoon.

Water Puppet Show

The evening will start with a Water Puppet Show performed by the world-renowned Thang Long Opera House. This performance features a talent unique to Vietnam. You’ll watch as water puppets perform the folklore legends of Vietnam while live ethnic music sets the mood.

After the show, you’ll enjoy traditional Vietnamese cuisine at Home Restaurant – a historic French colonial residence restored in between the Old Quarter and the serene West Lake. Enjoy fine Vietnamese cuisine as you reminisce on your journey through Thailand and Vietnam. Once you finish your dinner, you’ll be escorted to your hotel.

Accommodation: Silk Path Boutique Hotel

Day 17: Hanoi | Farewell!

Meals: Breakfast
Today our guide will transfer you to the airport before your homeward flight and will bid you a fond farewell. Thank you for traveling with us!

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