Elegant Arts and Elephants

Arrive in Bangkok where you will be met by local staff and transferred to your local hotel. The evening is free for a quiet drink or a visit to one of Bangkok's busy night markets.

Depart from hotel by private air-conditioned vehicle to the bejeweled Royal Grand Palace, the most important shrine in the Kingdom and to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew), with its solid jade Buddha image. Walk a few steps to Wat Po which has the enormous reclining Buddha and the Chedis of Thailand’s previous Kings. Wat Po is also the spiritual home of authentic therapeutic Thai message.

In all that you see in Bangkok and throughout Thailand, you'll note that Thais are faithful to Buddhist tradition and to their beloved king and queen, while also striving to keep their democracy and their 21st century economy vibrant.

Note:  It is recommended that for religious reasons, ladies have their shoulders covered and do not wear shorts or very short skirts.  Gentlemen should wear trousers and short sleeved shirts.  Shoes must be removed before entering the Emerald Buddha Temple.

In the evening, you can opt to attend the Jo Louise puppet show, a rare event and the most beautiful puppet show in Thailand.

There's time today in Bangkok to explore or shop at your leisure until your late afternoon train departure for Northern Thailand. We recommend a relaxing boat ride on the klongs (canals) for an intimate experience of the  rhythms of life and commerce around and behind Bangkok's main thoroughfares.

At 4 p.m. your guide will take you to the Hua Lum Pong Railway Station to board the train (in second-class air-conditioned sleeper) to Chiang Mai.  Two facing seats form the bottom or lower bunk. The upper bunk is pulled down and unlocked when the beds are made up. All beds use fresh cotton bedding.  Beds, 6 and a half feet in length, are set up by the train staff at around 9:00 pm and stored away again around 7:00 am.

Arrive at Chiang Mai Railway Station and transfer to a local restaurant for a simple breakfast before continuing to explore Chiang Mai city.  Chiang Mai is northern Thailand’s ancient capital. The Lanna Kingdom extended influence into present day Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. This was a center of power, wealth, trade, beauty, tradition and art.  Enjoy the threads of these traditions as they thrive in the present. Your guide will orient you to old Chiang Mai within the ancient wall, and to thriving new Chiang Mai's residential and commercial districts. Depending on your interest, visit up to four of the most important temples : Wat Chiang Man (AD 1297), the oldest temple within the city walls : Wat Chedi Luang (AD 1411), where the Emerald Buddha was once enshrined: Wat Pra Singh (AD 1345), housing a very sacred 1,500 year old Buddha image; and Wat Suan Dok (AD 1371), where the ashes of Chiang Mai’s Royal Family are interred.  After the tour check in to your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure.

Every evening, the centre of Chiang Mai comes alive with a massive Night Bazaar, and few people visit the city without picking up a few bargains here. The stalls that are squeezed onto the pavement and into the specially-built arcades are one of Chiang Mai's biggest attractions.

The Bazaar is situated along a three block stretch of Chan Klan road in the heart of the city, within walking distance of most hotels. Clustered around it are many restaurants and other useful services, such as camera shops, travel agents, internet café and more. For a most unique souvenir, have your portrait done all dressed up in traditional Thai costume.

Depart from your hotel  early this morning in order to be the first visitors at Doi Suthep, a sacred temple with a challenging flight of steps flanked by Naga Serpents.  Easily the most legendary place in all of northern  Thailand, Doi Suthep is a nature sanctuary, Royal preserve, sacred monastery and very popular Buddhist pilgrimage site for believers from all over the world, but especially from Thailand. The top of the mountain on 300 steps, the rich scene of gold, mythological figures, flaming lamps, billowing incense prostrating devotees and ringing bells holds everyone’s attention. Surrounded by ponds, canals, ornamental plantings and agricultural antiques, the visitor is constantly aware of rushing water and bountiful earth.

This afternoon visit Thailand’s main handicraft centers.  Stop first in the San Kamphaeng district, heart of the silk and cotton home industries, to witness the making and weaving of these popular fabrics. Continue on to Bor Sang, the umbrella village, where the delicate Thai paper umbrellas are produced and hand-painted, and from here on to Thai Celadon, about 6 kms north of Chiang Mai, where ceramics are produced. These are modeled on the Sawankhalok pottery made hundreds of years ago at Sukhothai. Also, visit lacquerware and silverware craftsmen.

The Mae Sa Valley Elephant Camp may be the best place in the world to observe, feed, ride and learn about Asian working elephants. During a unique 2-day immersion experience, you'll work alongside the trainers (called “mahouts”) learning the the training commands and put them to practical use through bathing and elephant riding.  The highlight will be participating in the Elephant show and painting with an Elephant artist.

Overnight on Day 6 will be at The Mahout Lodge, in simple private rooms. That evening, you'll have the opportunity to participate in a Thai cooking class.

Late afternoon on Day 7, return to Chiang Mai.

Chiang Rai, which was founded in 1262 by King Meng Rai, was the first capital of the Lanna Thai Kingdom (Kingdom of a million rice fields), which was later conquered by Burma. It was not until 1786 that Chiang Rai became a Thai territory and was proclaimed a province during the reign of King Rama VI in 1910.

Today, Chiang Rai is a travelers paradise endowed with abundant natural tourist attractions and antiquities; the province itself is evidence of past civilization. Attractions range from magnificent mountain scenery, ruins of ancient settlements, historic sites, Buddhist shrines and ethnic villages as the province is also home to several hill tribes who maintain fascinating lifestyles. For those interested in the natural side of Chiang Rai, jungle trekking is recommended along various trails
Today you will have the rare opportunity to see the Karen Hill tribes (Long Neck People).  These women wear heavy brass necklaces around their neck at a very young age.  The more brass necklaces around the neck signifies a women of  great  beauty.  Believe to have migrated from far North of Burma, possibly Tibet.  Their weaving skills are renowned and produces  beautiful colorful  garments.

Visit the infamous Golden Triangle renowned for centuries as the centre of the opium trade. From a hill top view point, marvel at the splendor of the mighty Mekong joining with the Ruak and forming the actual ‘Triangle’ with Laos Burma and Thailand. Continue to Mae Sai, the northernmost point of Thailand. This is the perfect spot to observe border life, as Mae Sai is one of the very few official land crossings between Thailand and Burma. Many Burmese come over during the day from Thakhilek to work or do business, hurrying back before sunset. Burmese lacquer ware, gems, jade and other goods from Laos and Burma are sold in shops along the main street.

Spend the afternoon at your leisure.   Optional activities include:  Visit to area temples, Hilltribe Museum & Education Center, shop at the Chiang Rai Handicrafts center or see a northern Thai music and dance performance at the Centre Point Night Bazaar in the evening.

At leisure until departure transfer to Chiang Rai airport for the flight to Bangkok then connect with the flight to Siem Reap. Arrival in Siem Reap, meet and transfer to hotel for check in.

Optional morning activities include:  Visits to the Opium Museum, shopping at the Chiang Rai Handicraft center, and boat rides

Enjoy driving to visit the picturesque Ta Prohm that had nearly disappeared into the jungle and remains overgrown, an oddly haunting and exotic scene. The magnificent roots of a tree, pushing between the huge stone blocks of the temple in a sort of embrace, evoke feelings that you may remember forever.

Afternoon, visit the intricately carved Khmer ruins at Angkor Wat – one of the world’s most impressive ruins. The temple still owns hundreds of fine carvings of Apsaras and the scenic from Hindu mythology. The Khmer civilization constructed the temple between the 9th and 13th centuries.

After breakfast, shuttle out of the city through the countryside to the orphanage center called Children Development Village. Upon arrival, visit the orphanage and interact with the children about their circumstances, daily life and dream. There are about 30 children whose age is from 2.5 to 16 living together in the typical Cambodian stilt houses. Each house accommodates 5 children and it is managed by a monk. The children are HIV positive, orphans or abandoned. This center occasionally has some beautiful cultural activities:

1.    Cambodian traditional Music Class
2.    Cambodian traditional Dance Class
3.    English and Khmer education (under planning)
4.    Organic Garden (growing vegetables)

(*It is recommended that you bring some form of donation for the children.)

Opportunities are available to do some social work in the orphanage.

Afternoon, wind your way to visit the Angkor Thom with the temple of Bayon. The royal city itself covers four square miles and is located in the city’s geographic center. Its 50-tower temple is an awesome sight. At first glance it seems a shapeless mass of stone, but further scrutiny reveals a face, and then another and another until suddenly you are engulfed by the silent, heavy, enigmatic and silent gaze through half-closed eyes, staring out from a primitive and remote time. Further, visit to the surroundings of the complex including the Baphoun, Elephant Terraces, Leper King Terrace and Royal Place area.

After breakfast at your hotel you will be transferred overland to Kompong Thom Province, the central part of Cambodia located 150km from Siem Reap on paved road.

Today after breakfast, you will have a chance to participate your volunteer works, either teaching English classes or local house repairs with local villagers.

Continue with the volunteer works then late afternoon, drive overland to the capital, Phnom Penh. Upon arrival, check in at the Castle Hotel (or similar)

After breakfast, set out on a Phnom Penh city tour to visit the National Museum which houses Khmer art, especially sculptures from different periods of Cambodian history; Royal Place built in 1866 by King Norodom; Silver Pagoda  named after its flooring, which is made up of 5,000 silver tiles and located within the Royal Palace compound.

Afternoon, we visit the Tuol Sleng of Genocide Museum. The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is a museum in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. The site is a former high school which was used as the notorious Security Prison 21 (S-21) by the Khmer Rouge regime from its rise to power in 1975 to its fall in 1979. Afterward, visit The Killing Fields- a number of sites in Cambodia where large numbers of people were killed and buried by the Khmer Rouge regime, during its rule of the country.  At least 200,000 people were executed by the Khmer Rouge

Late afternoon, enjoy your boat trip on Mekong River to visit floating villages, 2kms east of Phnom Penh capital. The trip will takes about 2 hours.

After breakfast at your hotel, free at leisure and then transfer to Phnom Penh airport for your onward flight.