13 Days Southern Thailand Discovery and Scenic River Kwai Exploration

Destinations: Bangkok – Kanchanaburi – Phuket | 13 Days Southern Thailand Discovery Scenic River Kwai Exploration

Highlights of this 13 Days Southern Thailand Discovery and Scenic River Kwai Exploration:

Befriending the gentle giants at Elephant World Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi.
Visit an old style floating market and Maeklong Railway Market.
Relax on the beaches of Tropical Paradise Phuket.
World famous Kayaking inside marine limestone karst islands by Starlight.
Explore Kanchanaburi with the overnights in a Floating Villa on the Scenic River Kwai.
Discover the Ancient Kingdom of Ayutthaya and the old Royal Palace.

13 Days

Includes internal flights, twin shared accommodation, English speaking guides, private cars, sightseeing and meals listed.
Excludes visa and travel documents, travel insurance, international flights, local tipping, etc.

This itinerary is to give you a flavor of what is possible. We can tailor this trip to suit your specific needs and expectations. You may alter any aspect of the itinerary from excursions to accommodation.

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ITINERARY

Day 1: Bangkok | Arrive in Bangkok

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

Accommodation: Mandarin Oriental

Day 2: Bangkok | Bangkok by Boat

Meals: Breakfast
In the early morning, take a 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: Mandarin Oriental

Day 3: Bangkok | Ayutthaya Kingdom Discovery

Meals: Breakfast , Lunch
Start early and transfer North to the Ancient Kingdom of Ayutthaya. Start by visiting Wat Phu Khao Thong – a temple outside of Ayutthaya started by the invading Burmese who built the base when they overtook Ayutthaya and was finished by Siam who later took back their city. Continue to Ayutthaya and start with the Royal Palace and Royal Temple – dating back to the 14th century. Continue to the nearby Viharn Phra Mongkol Bopit where the largest bronze Buddha in Thailand is housed.

Enjoy a Thai lunch and some free time. Have a short visit to Wat Lokaya Sutha – the image of the reclining Buddha. Then continue to the Royal Palace at Bang Pa In, which is the Summer Palace of the Thai Royal Family. Return back to your hotel in Bangkok for leisure time.

Wat Phra Si Sanphet in Ayutthaya – 13 Days Southern Thailand Discovery Scenic River Kwai Exploration

Accommodation: Mandarin Oriental

Day 4: Bangkok – Kanchanaburi | Floating Market and Maeklong Train Market | Continue to Kanchanaburi

Meals: Breakfast
The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, situated west of Bangkok, is a very attractive place for tourists to see the old style and traditional way of selling and buying fruits, vegetables, etc., from small boats. You will also see traditional Thai houses, the way they live and travel by boats. The tour includes a visit to the rural Maeklong Station Market and Nakorn Pathom, site of the highest Chedi in Thailand called “Phra Patom Chedi” which is the largest pagoda in Southeast Asia. The Maeklong Station Market was a compromise between a train company and locals. The locals did not want to move their market, but the government had given the train company permission to lay tracks where the Maeklong market had been located for centuries. You’ll have a chance to see the agreement they reached. When the horn sounds, stall awnings pull back, vegetables are moved, and people get off the tracks. After the train has passed, everything returns back to normal.

Then travel West to Kanchanaburi. Check in your villa over the Kwai River and relax during the rest of the day.

Accommodation: The Float House River Kwai

Day 5: Kanchanaburi | Elephant World Sanctuary

Meals: Breakfast
Today, our guide will transfer you to Elephant World Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi. First, you’ll learn about the project and hear the amazing stories of each elephant. Learn how they became a proud herd free from abuse and misuse. Then have an opportunity to feed them. Next enjoy a picnic spread. Then take a stroll with the herd to the nearby river. Here you will have the opportunity to observe or participate in bathing the elephants with the sanctuary staff.

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

Accommodation: The Float House River Kwai

Day 6: Bangkok – Phuket | River Kwai and Bridge | Flight to Phuket

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast , Lunch
Check out of the hotel in the morning and continue to the world famous bridge on the River Kwai, built during World War II by the prisoners of war. Learn about the history of the allied forces who lost their lives to connect this railway.

Afterward, transfer to the airport in Bangkok for an evening flight to Phuket. Upon arrival, our representative will meet you at the airport. Then transfer to the hotel for check-in.