15 Days Thailand Trip with Chiang Mai Lantern Festival

Destinations: Bangkok – Chiang Rai – Chiang Mai – Phuket

Highlights of this 15 Days Thailand Trip with Chiang Mai Lantern Festival:

Adventure to Mae Salong Mountain: Hill Tribes and Tea Plantation.
Discover the Golden Triangle and Chiang Saen Ancient City.
Join two traditional Thai festivals: Loy Kratong Floating Boat and Sky Lanterns.
Visit Bangkok Royal Palace by a traditional long-tail boat.
Relax on the beaches of Phuket.
Befriending the gentle giant of Asia in Chiang Mai Jungle.

Note: Festival dates occur during November 11, 12 & 13 of 2019.

15 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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Sunset at Wat Chaiwatthanaram in Ayuttaya City

Northern Thai Hill tribes at the Tea Plantation

ITINERARY

Day 1: Bangkok | Arrive Bangkok

International Flight: Excluded

Welcome to Thailand! Upon arrival in Bangkok, our guide will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel for check-in. Then you are leisure to explore the Chao Phraya riverfront, go shopping, or visit a Muay Thai boxing gym on your own.

Accommodation: Mandarin Oriental

Day 2: Bangkok | Ayutthaya Ancient City

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

Accommodation: Mandarin Oriental

Day 3: Bangkok | Bangkok by Boat

Meals: Breakfast
In the early morning, take a traditional longtail 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. Then return to the hotel for some leisure time in the afternoon.

Accommodation: Mandarin Oriental

Day 4: Bangkok – Chiang Rai | Flight to Chiang Rai | Golden Triangle Discovery

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast
Board a morning flight to Chiang Rai. Upon arrival, our guide will greet and transfer you to your hotel for check-in.

In the afternoon, 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 some leisure in the evening.

Accommodation: Le Meridien Chiang Rai Resort

Day 5: Chiang Rai | Mae Salong Mountain: Tea Plantations & Hill Tribes

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.

Doi Mae Salong Tea Plantation

Accommodation: Le Meridien Chiang Rai Resort

Day 6: Chiang Rai – Chiang Mai | The White Temple | Road Trip to Chiang Mai

Meals: Breakfast
In the morning, you’ll transfer to Chiang Mai. 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. Along the way, stop at a charity school which provides education to the children in the remote Shan hills. You’ll continue to Chiang Mai to your hotel for check-in.

In the evening, feel free to explore the night markets and bazaars for some interesting souvenirs made by the hill tribes in the surrounding mountains.

Accommodation: Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai

Day 7: Chiang Mai | Doi Inthanon National Park

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today, you’ll explore the Doi Inthanon National Park. You’ll visit the highest peak where glorious views of the countryside await. You’ll also trek to many waterfalls and see the flora and fauna unique to this region. As time permits, you’ll visit several pagodas, hill tribe villages, and royal gardens.

Accommodation: Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai

Day 8: Chiang Mai | Temples of the Lanna Kingdom | Lantern Festival

Meals: Breakfast
Rise early morning to join locals in visiting a Buddhist monastery. You can watch or participate in offering alms to Buddhist monks at Wat Srisodain. Return to the hotel for breakfast.

Then take a trip up in the hills and visit a tea plantation. Take a seat above the terraces flowing with arched rows of green tea shrubs while you sip on a fresh cup of hot Oolong. Explore the tea plantation to learn a little about the process of cultivating and harvesting tea. Then continue to a Meo hill tribe village. Have the opportunity to see their unique apparel and simple way of living. Meo families take a great deal of pride in their herbal gardens. After seeing their home and making a new friend, return back to Chiang Mai.

Yi Peng Festival

In the evening, you’ll join the Yi Peng and Loi Krathong Festivals. Krathong is what the floating boats set adrift are referred to. Each Thai imparts a different meaning or prayer depending on whether they are Buddhist or Hindu. Regardless of religion, it is believed to be casting away the negative elements of oneself. The Loi Krathong festival happens all throughout Thailand. At the same time, in Chiang Mai, the Yi Peng Festival occurs where they set off countless Lanna-style sky lanterns for good luck. Tonight, you’ll get to see both festivals being practiced. You’ll join in an exclusive gala dinner at one of the best locations in Chiang Mai with all of the lanterns from the two main bridges flying overhead. Be prepared for a magical evening!

Accommodation: Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai

Day 9: Chiang Mai | Befriending the Gentle Giants of Asia

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today you will join in a tour to an elephant sanctuary in the jungles near Chiang Mai by a 4WD truck. First, you’ll learn about the project and hear the amazing stories of each rescued and orphaned elephant. Learn how they became a proud herd free from abuse and misuse. Then have an opportunity to feed them in the morning. Enjoy a lunch buffet. 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 hotel for some leisure time.

Accommodation: Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai

Day 10: Chiang Mai – Phuket | Flight to Phuket | Relax on the Beach

Internal Flight: Included
Meals: Breakfast

In the morning, take a flight to Phuket. Upon arrival, our representative will greet you at the airport and transfer you to your resort next to the beach for check-in. Then you are at leisure to explore the stunning beaches of Phuket.