12 Days Thailand Historical Tour

Day 1 Bangkok Arrival

Flight: International flight on your own arrangement

Welcome to Bangkok! Upon arrival, your guide will greet you at the airport and escort you to hotel for check-in.

Overnight in Bangkok.

Day 2 Bangkok City Highlights

Meals: B

After breakfast, you will have a full-day city tour of Bangkok. First visit Wat Traimit, known as the Temple of the Golden Buddha. It is the home to a gold Maravijaya Attitude seated Buddharupa statue, with a weight of 5.5 tons.

Then visit Wat Arun, known as the Temple of the Dawn, which is one of the most published images of Bangkok. In the middle of the temple, an 82 metres high beautifully decorated Khmer-style tower stands, where you can walk up the steep stairs and admire the view of Bangkok and the rivers.

After that, explore Wat Pho, also called the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. Finally, head for the Grand Palace, one of the must-sees in Bangkok, followed by Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which is regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand.

Overnight in Bangkok.

Day 3 Bangkok to Kanchanaburi

Meals: B

In the morning, visit Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, where you can experience the traditional Thai market with numerous vendors selling local food, fresh fruit and products from their boats.

After an exploration of the market, drive to Kanchanaburi that is famous for the Death Railway built during WWII. Made famous by the book and movie The Bridge on the River Kwai, the bridge and railway are notable attractions in Kanchanaburi. Today, carriages still go on the tracks, taking travelers through the fields of sugar cane and rice terrace.

Finally, pay a visit to the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre to learn more history about the railway.

Overnight in Kanchanaburi.

Day 4 Kanchanaburi to Ayutthaya

Meals: B

In the early morning, drive to Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of the Kingdom of Siam located in central Thailand.

Upon arrival, you can see the combination of Thai and European architecture. visit Bang Pa-In, a royal summer palace with lovely gardens. Admire the elegant Thai pavilion standing in the middle of a lake. Then visit Baan Hollanda the information centre on the history of Dutch-Thai relations. Opened in 2013, the centre was built with funds graciously donated by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and the Dutch government.

In the afternoon, tour the must-see ancient ruins in Ayutthaya. Wat Chaiwatthanaram is a marvelous Khmer-style temple ruin located along the river. Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon is a temple complex with rows of restored Buddhas looking towards a huge Chedi. Wat Ratchaburana has the most incredible Khmer-style spire in Ayutthaya. Wat Mahathat was the most important temple in the kingdom and Royal ceremonies were held there.

Overnight in Ayutthaya.

Day 5 Ayutthaya to Phitsanulok

Meals: B

After breakfast, drive to Phitsanulok, one of the oldest cities in Thailand, founded over 600 years ago. The city boasts many interesting temples and museums.

Wat Nang Phaya is on the middle of the Nan River that holds traffic between Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat and Wat Ratburana in Phitsanulok. Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat is a Royal temple dating to the 14th century. Wat Ratburana is an old temple where the two elder brothers of King Borom Rachathirat II were cremated.

After that, visit Sergeant Major Thawee Folk Museum, which displays a remarkable collection of tools, textiles and photographs that spread throughout five traditional-style Thai buildings. Across the street from Sergeant Major Thawee Folk Museum is the Buranathai Buddha Image Foundry, where bronze Buddha images of all sizes are cast.

Attached to the Buranathai Buddha Image Foundry is Garden Birds of Thailand, a collection of cages containing indigenous Thai birds, including some endangered species such as the very pretty pink-chested jamu fruit-dove and the prehistoric-looking helmeted hornbill.

Overnight in Phitsanulok.

Day 6 Phitsanulok to Sukhothai

Meals: B

Today, after about a 1-hour drive, you will reach Sukhothai, a UNESCO World Heritage City. It is the first capital of Siam, housing a vast number of historical sites and temple ruins.

After arrival, head to Sangkholok Museum. The museum displays artifacts recovered from the city, all well-explained, and provides a general historical overview. You can also get an excellent introduction to ancient Sukhothai's most famous export, its ceramics.

After that, start to explore the old town of Sukhothai for a relish of the once flourishing Thai civilization. Head to Sukhothai Historical Park that covers the remains of 21 historical sites and four large ponds within the old walls, with an additional 70 sites within a 5km radius.

For example, Wat Si Sawai is famous for its Khmer gateways and its stone Buddha footprint. Wat Tra Phang Ngoen contains the large and fabulous seated Buddha and walking Buddha. Wat Srasri is one of the prettiest temples in the park, with a bell-shaped stupa and Buddhist iconography.

Overnight in Sukhothai.

Day 7 Sukhothai to Lampang

Meals: B

After breakfast, drive about 3 hours to reach Lampang, the third largest city in northern Thailand. Upon arrival, take a horse carriage to visit Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao, the temple of the Emerald Buddha.

Then drive to visit Wat Phra That Lampang Luang. Several interesting religious structures are visible, including the most beautiful and oldest wooden Lanna temple in Thailand, the open-sided Wihan Luang.

Overnight in Lampang.

Day 8 Lampang to Chiang Rai

Meals: B

Drive over 3 hours to transfer to Chiang Rai, the northernmost major city in Thailand, adjacent to Laos and Myanmar.

In Chiang Rai, enjoy a city highlights trip. Tour the Navel City Pillar, a monument made of more than 100 Khmer-style pillars, and Rai Mae Fah Luang, a beautiful museum showcasing Lanna artifacts.

If time permits, drive to Black House, also called Baan Dam, where you can see a lot of skeletons and animal skins, strange but impressive.

Overnight in Chiang Rai.

Day 9 Chiang Rai Excursion to Golden Triangle

Meals: B

Today, head to the Golden Triangle region to have a full day excursion.

Start the morning by Long Neck Karen Village to see the long neck hill tribe people who relocated from the Thai and Myanmar border. If time permits, you can watch cockfighting near the hill tribe village. Then drive to Mt. Doi Mae Salong to visit the Chinese village on the top of the mountain.

After lunch, continue the trip to the highest peak on the Thai-Myanmar border, Doi Tung. Here you can overlook the entire northern rice field plain and visit Doi Tung Temple that was built in A.D.1493. The scenery here may remind you of Switzerland.

After that, drive back to your hotel and enjoy your free time.

Overnight in Chiang Rai.

Day 10 Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai

Meals: B

Today, you will transfer to Chiang Mai. Before leaving Chiang Rai, visit the White Temple that mixes traditional Buddhist temple architecture with pop culture references.

After that, start your drive to Chiang Mai, taking around 3 and a half hours. En route, visit Meow Hill Tribe Village that locates on Doi Suthep. It was once famous for opium cultivation. Then head to visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, where you can get a panoramic view of Chiang Mai City. The site is also one of the best places to enjoy a sunset.

Upon arrival, check in the hotel and enjoy your free time.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Day 11 Chiang Mai Excursion to Elephant Nature Park

Meals: B

Today, tour the elephant rescue and rehabilitation center - Elephant Nature Park, involving in the rescues of the disabled elephants, dogs and cats.

You can volunteer and care for the animals. Take your time to wander freely on the grounds and get close to these gentle giants. You get the opportunity to feed them and learn how to bathe them.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Day 12 Chiang Mai Departure

Flight: International flight on your own arrangement

Meals: B

Today enjoy your free time until transfer to the airport for your flight home.

End of Service.