Cultural Thailand

Day 3: Mini-cruise to Nonthaburi – Sunset in Ayutthaya

Today you have breakfast early and check out. You will be picked up from your hotel and driven to Mole River City, which is a good half an hour away. From there, take the Grand Pearl Cruise Liner for a delightful mini-cruise on the Chao Phraya River to Nonthaburi. A wonderful drive, past temples, markets, impressive houses and buildings.

You go on board and receive a warm welcome. The engines start and the ship glides slowly up the river. While coffee and tea are served, you will pass the important temples of Wat Kalayanamit, the Temple of Dawn – Wat Arun, the ornate Grand Palace, Thammasat University and the Museum of Royal Barges. We continue by ship, past the island of Koh Kret, which is inhabited by the Mon people who originally come from Myanmar. The island is known for the relaxed and casual atmosphere, the elegant Mon temples and pagodas and for the small pottery workshops.

Lunch consisting of Thai and Western dishes is served on board.

After the mini cruise, which lasts around 3.5 hours, the ship docks at Wat Chong Lom temple. From there you will be driven to the royal summer palace Bang Pa-In, which is set in 19 hectares of gardens with flowers, lakes, fountains and pavilions. The Summer Palace was built by King Prasat Thong at the beginning of the 17th century. It was later restored and rebuilt several times. Most of the buildings you see are from the time of King Chulalongkorn. The palace was built in different styles. King Chulalongkorn’s love for European architecture is particularly evident here.
Then you will be driven to the last stretch to the historical pearl Ayutthaya. The city was founded by King Ramathibodi and was the capital for 417 years, namely from 1350 to 1767. On arrival at the hotel, you check in. You can take a rest.

In the late afternoon, when most of the day tourists have returned to Bangkok, you will be picked up from the hotel and take a long boat trip around the Ayutthaya Historical Park, which is surrounded by the three rivers Chao Phraya, Lop Buri and Pa Sak. There are several stops along the way. The timing is so perfect every time that you will see the sunset over the incredibly beautiful Wat Chaiwatthanaram, which is a little reminiscent of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. You go ashore. The guide takes you on a guided tour and tells you more about the history of the temple. The sight of the sun setting behind the temple complex is simply breathtaking. Especially when it is a little cloudy so that the clouds are wrapped in red-orange, almost in the direction of pink and purple.

You will be driven back to the hotel in the early evening. You can enjoy the rest of the day as you wish.

Day 4: Ayutthaya Historical Park

Today you will visit the historical and highly respected temple ruins of Ayutthaya. Some are quite well preserved while others have almost disappeared. They were destroyed by the Burmese army in 1767. But that doesn’t make them any less interesting!

The guide will pick you up at the hotel. You will be driven to the first stop of the day, Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, which is located on the eastern bank of the Pa Sak River, not directly in the Ayutthaya Historical Park. This temple is one of the less-visited temples in Ayutthaya, so you can have more undisturbed experiences here. The temple was once a monastery for some monks before the destruction by the Burmese. It wasn’t until many years later, in the nineteen fifties, that renovation work began, which is why the temple is incredibly well preserved today. In contrast to many other temples in Ayutthaya, this one is still inhabited by monks today.

Continue through Ayutthaya Historical Park, which consists of 67 temples and Buddha statues. In 1991 part of the park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The first temple you visit is named Wat Phra Sri Sanphet (UNESCO). It is the largest and most beautiful temple next to the Royal Palace. Access was prohibited to monks due to the royal status of the temple. The temple is particularly famous for the three large chedis and the smaller chapels. Can you perhaps recognize a similarity to the Wat Phra Kaew temple in Bangkok, for which Wat Phra Sri Sanphet was inspired?

Then we continue to Wat Mahathat (UNESCO), which was also built near the Royal Palace. Important ceremonies were also held here. The temple was also the seat of the supreme patriarchate of Buddhism. Various Buddha relics were stored here, which is why it is one of the most important temples in Ayutthaya. When looking at the old columns, chedis and Buddha statues, you can clearly imagine how beautiful it must have been here. Today the temple is famous for its Buddha head. It is not yet clear how the head got into the old tree roots. It is believed, however, that it must have happened during the great devastation and flooding in this area, as well as the rapidly growing vegetation.
Finally, visit Wat Lokayasutharam, also known for the reclining Buddha. The statue is made of bricks and was covered with plaster. It’s huge – 37 meters long and 8 meters high. The statue is the second largest after the reclining Buddha in Bangkok.

After an interesting and entertaining day at the ancient temples and Buddha statues of Ayutthaya you will be driven back to the hotel, where the rest of the day is entirely yours.

Day 5: Train from Ayutthaya to Phitsanulok, rickshaw ride in Phitsanulok

After breakfast, you will be picked up at the hotel and driven to Ayutthaya train station, from where you will take the train to Phitsanulok, the former capital and one of the oldest cities of Thailand. The train ride takes about 3.5 hours. We recommend that you bring some water and food with you for the trip. On arrival in Phitsanulok, you will be picked up by a guide and driven to the hotel to check-in.

In the afternoon you can take a rickshaw tour of the city. You will visit the Folklore Museum, which exhibits the largest and most interesting ceramic collection in Thailand, kitchen utensils and agricultural implements as well as musical instruments that wonderfully reflect the creativity of the old traditional way of life. Then it’s on to the Buddha Casting Foundry, which specializes in casting Buddha statues of all sizes.

Day 6: Phitsanulok – Bike excursion in Sukhothai Historical Park

Today, we travel to Sukhothai, which was once the first capital of Thailand in the 13th century. The country – which at that time was still called Siam – was ruled by King Ramkhamhaeng, who among other things invented the Thai alphabet. The Sukhothai Historical Park, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, is now located in old Sukhothai. On the 70 m² area you will find ruins of the old royal palace as well as various Buddhist temples. The largest and most impressive temple is Wat Mahathat, which is next to the ruins of the Royal Palace. Between the ruins, there are lakes with lotus flowers, ancient trees and a network of canals that supplied the city with water. The best way to explore the park is by bike. And that is exactly what you do.

After visiting the park, you will be driven to an on-site restaurant and enjoy lunch.
Finally, it goes to the hotel where you will spend the next night. After checking in, the rest of the day is at your leisure.

Day 7: Sukhothai – City Tour in Lampang – Chiang Mai

Check out after breakfast. You will be picked up and driven to Lampang, which is a good 3 hours north of Sukhothai. On the way, visit the beautiful temple Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, which is located on a small hill surrounded by a fortress wall from the 8th century. The temple is a unique example of the special Lanna architectural style and with its magnificent buildings, everyone is speechless.
Then you will be driven the last stretch to Lampang and have lunch in a restaurant there.
Lampang is located in beautiful surroundings on the river wall. The city is not exactly overrun by tourists and has therefore kept its Thai expression.

After lunch, you will visit the old part of town with a guide. The excursion takes place on foot and lasts: approx. 2 hours. It starts at the White Bridge, which was built in 1894 and at the time was the longest bridge in Thailand. From there you continue to the Rassada market, on the way visit the magnificent Mon temple, Wat Pratu Pong.

The excursion then takes you to the old wooden house Baan Sao Nak from 1895, which is now a museum. The house is an example of the traditional Lanna architectural style with elements from Northern Thailand and Myanmar. You continue to walk to the main temple of the city, Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao. The temple was built between the 14th and 15th centuries and is considered to be one of the most important temples in Lampang as it houses the famous Emerald Buddha. It is even said that the 50 meter high stupa of the temple contains the hair of Buddha. The excursion finally takes you to the old city wall of Lampang.

Back at the White Bridge you say goodbye to Lampang and drive to the mountainous north of Thailand, to the second largest city Chiang Mai, where you arrive in the late afternoon. Chiang Mai is also a former capital of the ancient Lanna Kingdom (1292-1775). You will therefore notice many influences from this period all over the city.

In the evening you can visit the city’s famous night market and buy fresh fruit, fragrant spices, various Thai specialties and souvenirs.

Day 8: Chiang Mai – City tour by rickshaw

Today you can expect an exciting city tour with the rickshaw.

You will be picked up from your hotel by rickshaw and driven through the alleys and streets of Chiang Mai to some of the city’s well-known and less well-known attractions.

First, visit Wat Chiang Man, the oldest temple in the city. Wat Chiang Man dates from the 13th century. Since then, other buildings have been erected, which is why the complex consists of different architectural styles. The temple is particularly famous for the crystal Buddha statue that is said to have healing powers.

From there it goes on to an unusual place, the “Chiang Mai Women’s Correctional Institution”, a women’s prison. There, inmates are trained in various trades so that they have skills that will help them find work and go the right way when they are released. The prison is the training center, which is guarded by guards. There the women are trained in the areas of service and massage.

We continue to the beautiful temple Wat Phra Singh, which is located within the old city wall. The temple was built in 1345 and, according to Doi Suthep, is one of those temples that are most revered. The iconic Lanna architectural style with the beautifully curved roofs and fantastic carvings is clearly visible. Wat Phra Singh is particularly known for the elegant meeting hall Wihan Lai Kham, in which the important Lion Buddha (Phra Singh) can be found. There are also colorful wall paintings from 1870, which give a detailed insight into the life of the local’s hundreds of years ago.
Then the picturesque handicraft town of Puak Tam awaits you, which is probably best known for the beautiful brass ornaments.

Finally, visit the Wat Chedi Luang temple, which was built between 1385 and 1402. The hallmark of the temple is the massive pagoda, which was originally 80 meters high and over 60 meters wide. Unfortunately, the upper part was destroyed in an earthquake in 1545. Today only the ruins can be seen. Wat Chedi Luang is also known for the famous Emerald Buddha, which you can now visit in Bangkok.
You will then be driven to a local restaurant where you can enjoy the traditional dish Khao Soi – a curry soup made from meat, noodles and vegetables – a real specialty in northern Thailand.

The excursion ends here and you will be driven back to the hotel. The rest of the day can be used as free time. You can take a walk along the Ping River, where there are several cozy restaurants.

Day 9: The elephant-friendly ChangChill

Today you can expect an absolute highlight of this trip.
The ChangChill elephant shelter, a sanctuary for six happy female elephants, is around an hour and a half’s drive southeast of Chiang Mai. Here elephants are allowed to be completely elephants.

When ChangChill opened in 2017, it was a huge, significant step that had never been seen in Thailand. The facility was 100% elephant-friendly and was supported by the global organization World Animal Protection. This means that in ChangChill the elephants are grown up as naturally as possible. They roam freely in the valley, graze, bathe in the river, take dust and mud baths and keep busy with each other. As a visitor, you cannot interact with the elephants, but you can observe them from a distance and see how they behave in the wild and thus quite naturally.

The day begins with the project itself being presented. After that, the guide will take you into the forest, where you will see the elephants at a distance. The guide tells more about all six female elephants and about Asian elephants in general, their weight, how they look, how much they eat, sleep, etc.

After the walk, there will be some refreshments on the viewing platform. Then, with a little luck, you might see the elephants take a mud bath. They love that on hot days. The mud bath protects your skin from the sun and insects. When the skin feels dry, bathe in the river to remove the dry sludge. It is splashed and splashed. A fantastic experience!

At lunchtime, you help fill the feeding cane for the elephants with sugar cane, corn or bananas. While you are served your own vegetarian meal upstairs in the pavilion, the elephants below enjoy theirs.
The six female elephants are cared for by so-called mahouts, who belong to the Karen tribe. After lunch, visit the on-site cultural center for an excellent insight into the history and traditions of the Karen tribe. The Karen women know their craft, especially weaving. If you dare, you can try your hand at one of the old looms.

Then, visit the ChangChill Herb Garden and learn about the leaves, plants, roots, and herbs used as medicine for humans and elephants. Many of them also contain healthy nutrients. It is said that although elephants eat around 120 different types of plants, they only absorb 40% of the nutrients and therefore need some kind of dietary supplement. The next activity is therefore to prepare elephant snacks with ingredients that partly come from the herb garden. Your guide will tell you more about the importance of the ingredients and the general health and nutrition of the elephants.
Finally, the keepers answer any questions and tell more about their daily work and the role of the mahouts in relation to Thai culture and history.

You will be driven back to your hotel in Chiang Mai, where the rest of the day is at your leisure.

Day 10: Chiang Mai, Tea Picking at POOPOOPAPER Park

This morning, we take a tour to the Araksa tea plantation which specializes in high quality Assam black tea. Your guide will explain the various processes and methods related to tea production. It is unusual that you can then come along to the beautiful plantations and pick tea leaves with a bamboo basket on your back. Back at the factory, you’ll see the art of making tea, from picking to roasting. The visit ends with a cup of steaming tea and a Thai snack followed by lunch.

We continue north to the village of Lisu, whose population immigrated from Myanmar about 200 years ago. The location of the village is beautiful, surrounded by mountains and green rice and vegetable fields. During a walk through the village, you will get to know the Lisu hill tribe in their beautiful colorful clothes, who still maintain their culture and ancient traditions today. You get a great insight into everyday life, the work in the fields and the art of embroidery and jewelry making. Talk to them calmly and let them tell you more about their story.

Finally, head to the Elephant POOPOOPAPER Park, a relatively new and unique attraction in Chiang Mai. Here you can experience all phases of paper production. The paper is made from excrement from animals such as elephants, horses and cows. The guided tour of the garden takes you to 8 different pavilions that explain each step of this environmentally friendly and fascinating process. If you feel like it, you can roll up your sleeves and help make your own piece of paper.

You will then be driven back to your hotel in Chiang Mai. You arrive at the end of the afternoon.

Day 11: Chiang Mai – City tour in Chiang Rai

Today you leave Chiang Mai and travel north to the city of Chiang Rai, which borders Laos and Myanmar. Chiang Rai was the capital of the former Lanna Kingdom from 1262 to 1275. Today this quiet city is known for its green nature and beautiful temples. The beautiful landscape around the city is also home to several ethnic minorities.

On arrival in Chiang Rai, take a city tour. First, you will visit the impressive Wat Rong Khun temple, which was built in 1997 by the local artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. A really great photo opportunity. There are many surprising details to discover in the temple, and it is completely white!

Continue to Wat Phra Kaew, one of the oldest temples in the city. It is not known exactly when it was built, only that it must have been the end of the 14th century. The temple still has a special meaning. This is where the Emerald Buddha was discovered in 1434 after a lightning strike in the temple’s chedi, where it was hiding. Today you can only see a copy of it, the original can be admired in Bangkok.

Finally, visit the Rai Mae Fah Luang Art and Culture Park, which is set in a large landscaped garden with plants from northern Thailand. The museum is known for the large collection of art objects from the Lanna culture.

Then you will be driven to your hotel and check in. The rest of the day can be used as free time. You may want to visit the city’s regional market, which is full of life.
In the evening you can sit in one of the restaurants on the Mae Kok River, which flows through the city.

Day 12: The Golden Triangle – Boat trip on the Mekong River – Visit the ancient city of Chiang Saen

In Chiang Rai, don’t miss the Golden Triangle historic area. You will therefore be picked up from the hotel and driven a little further north, where the rice fields are huddled together. The Golden Triangle is actually a large area that also extends far into Laos and Myanmar. This area was once notorious for its large-scale production and trade in opium. Fortunately, Thailand has got this under control. Today, the small minorities instead grow rice and other seeds in this fertile and mountainous landscape.

You will visit a lookout point from which you can see Myanmar and Laos. There is also a small market here where you can buy souvenirs.

Lunch will be taken at an on-site restaurant with breathtaking views of the Mekong River. It rises in Tibet and flows almost 5,000 km through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Then take a wonderful boat trip on the river. You should definitely not miss this one. Before heading back to Chiang Rai, visit the ancient city of Chiang Saen. The remains of buildings that have been found here can be dated back to the 7th century. Today it is a quiet and picturesque city with beautiful tall trees, magnificent temple ruins and city walls, which show how important the trading city once was.

Back in Chiang Rai you can enjoy the last evening and do your last shopping.

Day 13: Trip Concludes

Today is the time to say goodbye to Thailand. You will be picked up from your hotel and driven to Chiang Rai Airport.