Thailand - Laos & North of Vietnam 21 Days 20 Nights

Today, we will take the whole day to explore Bangkok – the city of golden temples.

The first destination is the Grand Palace. This huge architecture complex is over 2 sq. kilometers, including 3 main sites: Royal Palace, Royal Office and pagodas (Wat) built in 1770s. Nowadays, the Grand Palace is no longer home of Thailand Royal, most of national significant events takes place there. 

Wat Phra Kaew is the most out-standing architecture in complex, built in 1785 when King Rama I moved the capital to Bangkok. The pagoda is famous not only for its beauty of unique Thailand Buddhism architecture but also for the sacred jade Buddha statue.

Nearby Grand Palace is Wat Pho - the oldest and biggest pagoda in Bangkok with more than 1000 Buddha statues and the huge one sit-back Buddha in gold. This pagoda is also famous for being a birthplace of traditional Thai massage, since there is a traditional medicine school established in 1982, educating the arts of Thai massage.

After having lunch by your own account, we visit the last destination of the day: Wat Traimit. This pagoda is famous for its unique and historic beauty, and also for the huge golden Buddha statue. Thai people believe that the statue represents for prosperity and purity, as well as strength and power. The Golden Statue was defined to be built in Sukhothai period, the 13-15th century – one of the most famous periods of Thai Buddhism architecture.

We will board on a boat to pay a visit along the Chao Phraya River, watching the life of local people close by.

On route, we stop at Wat Arun, known as the most beautiful pagoda in Bangkok not only for its location on the Chao Phraya’s riverbank but also for the different architecture from other pagodas. “Arun” means sunrise, but it is most beautiful in the sunset. The pagoda was decorated with glass pieces and Chinese ceramic, in a complicated style. You can climb up to the top of Wat Arun to see Chao Phraya, Grand Palace and Wat Pho at the opposite side.

Return to the hotel and you are free to explore Bangkok by night.

Early in the morning, after having breakfast, we pay a visit to Meaklong Railway Market – a local market has grown up along the rail tracks. When a train pulls in or out of the station, the sellers quickly clear their stalls, and set them up again when the train has passed.

We continue our way to Damnoen Saduak Floating market, which is specialized in trading fruits, vegetables, etc… by small boat. In the old days, floating markets were formed because roads and means of road traffic have not developed.

Due to the demand for buying and selling goods, people gather in the river by means such as boats. Nowadays, despite the fact that the road network has developed everywhere, floating market still exists and develops more and more.

Afterwards we continue the road to the city of Kanchanaburi.

Upon arrival, visit the World War II memorial including the Jeath War Museum, Cemetery. We will take 30 minutes train to experience and enjoy the beautiful view from train along the river. This is one of Southeast Asia's historic railways, the remaining part of the "Death Railway", departing from the provincial capital to the Railway Station from Tonburi (or Namtok) and transfer then city to visit Kwai bridge.

Overnight in Kanchanaburi.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Kanchanaburi
Meals : Breakfast 

Early morning departure to Erawan National Park (NO CAVE VISIT) considered as the most beautiful waterfall of Thailand. This is such an impressive series of seven tiers, each with a shape and character on its own. 
Originating from the Monglai Stream, water flows down from the hill at height of 2000m and flows into the Khwae Yai River. 

The waterfall is named after the legendary three-headed white elephant living in the Himavarna forest. You’ll get to enjoy a relaxing swim in the natural pools.

In the afternoon, transfer by road to Ayutthaya. The ancient city of Ayuthay is known as the “Venice of the East” because it is located along the Chao Phraya River, tributaries surrounding the Ayuthaya province.
Night in Ayutthaya.

Accommodation : At the hotel in Ayutthaya
Meals : Breakfast 
 

Wake up in the morning, we visit Ayutthaya Historical Park, situated in the old city of Ayutthaya. The city was constructed by Ramathibodi I in 1350 and was the capital of Thailand until it was destroyed by Burmese – Myanmar army in 1767. Being a ruin with many temples which characterize this handicraft type of architecture built with red bricks, the park was recognized as World’s Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Wat Phu Khao Thong is a massive pagoda towering in the middle of paddy fields and can be seen from afar. Built by King Ramesuan in 1395, the pagoda is unique with the combination of 2 architectural styles: Thai – style and Mon – style. There is a high golden plated chedi on the top, which makes the pagoda outstanding.

Wat Phra Sri Sanphet was the most important temple of Ayutthaya and situated within the Ayutthaya Grand Palace grounds. It served as a model for the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok. The highlight of Wat Phra Sri Sanphet is 3 towers standing high together in Ceylonese style, has the same architecture with Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok.

Vihara Phra Mongkhon Bophit is the pagoda in which the bronze Buddha statue in the attitude of subduing Mara is situated. This is one of the biggest Buddha statue in Thailand. It was considered to be built during the Ayuttaya period of King Srongta, who transferred the location from the east side to the west and has been the location since then. After that he ordered to build a dome on top.

-Wat Lokaya Sutha is considered as the sacred place for pilgrims since it’s famous for the reclining Buddha statue, which is the statue of the Blessed Buddha intact compared to other monuments in the entire Ayutthaya ruins. It is also the most important relics in most of those in Wat Lokaya Sutha. Thai people believe that if they paste the golden leaf onto Buddha statues, they will be protected by Buddha.

You leave for Lopburi, site inhabited since prehistoric times and which has long undergone the Khmer influence of the Angkor Empire.

Visit the Narai King's Palace built by King Narai, the king who ruled Ayutthaya from 1656 to 1688. He ordered the palace built in 1666. King Narai stayed here for about 8 to 9 months a year except during the rainy season. He named Lopburi as the second capital of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. The palace was a place of relaxation, hunting, business administration of the country and hosting official visitors.

Continue to Khmer temple of Prang Samyod, temple with three spiers and San Phra Kan, this ancient Brahmin temple located near Phra Prang Sam Yot, comprises two parts, the oldest dating from the Khmer period, the most recent dating from 1951. The latter houses a four-armed deity surmounted by a Buddha's head and is the figure of a warship.

Arrival in Sukhothai and check in at the hotel.
Accommodation: At the hotel in Sukhothai
Meal : Breakfast
 

After breakfast, visit the ancient ruins of Sukhothai Historical Park. Bike to Wat Sri Chum with its gigantic Buddha statue that showcases.

A few minutes by bike from Wat Phra Phai Luang, there is an impressive sitting Buddha statue, the right hand turned to the ground, symbolizing the victory of Buddha on evil incarnated by the demon Mara.

Continue your way to Si Satchanalai. Si Satchanalai Historical Park is a historic park in Si Satchanalai District, in the province of Sukhothai, in northern Thailand. The park covers the ruins of Si Satchanalai and Chaliang.

Heading to Chiang Mai, enjoy a mountainous landscape and a nature of beauty along the way. On arrival, you start the visit of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the most famous pagoda of Chiang Mai.

It is reached after having climbed a staircase of 290 steps whose ramps represent two gigantic nagas. From the forecourt, you can admire the view of the entire Chiang Mai Valley.

We then visit Wat Phra Singh housing a very ancient and sacred Buddha image, Phra Singh.

Check-in at the hotel and free time.

After breakfast, our morning tour will be started by a walking tour of the old town with a stop at the old wall, the moat and a door of the old town. You will be able to visit the most beautiful temples of Chiang Mai including of Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Phan Tao, Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Prah Singh.

Wat Chedi Luang is the impressive ruins of a temple in the center of Chiang Mai which was built in 1411. Next to the sacred Wat Chedi Luang is a small interesting temple called Wat Phan Tao. This ancient temple is well known for its exquisite Lanna-style ordination hall entirely made of teakwood, which served as a throne hall during the reign of King Mahotara Prateth. 

Wat Prah Singh is the second most venerated temple in Chiang Mai after Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and a glittering example of Lanna art and temple architecture

We then continue wander through small streets lined with traditional houses, where you will take rickshaw tour. 

And then a walking through the central market of Warorot before visiting the Doi Suthep hill. You then exercise yourself by ascending the 306 steps to the temple. However, it is very well worth the effort. A panorama view of the city and the surrounding areas can be seen from the temple grounds.

Return to hotel in Chiang mai for your overnight

Today start our day to Chiang Dao, a hidden gem in Northern Thailand. With plenty of activities and only a short distance from Chiang Mai, this destination is well worth a visit.

When you visit an elephant camp, you can watch the elephants taking their morning bath and demonstrating some their skills. You will also learn how to properly ascend the elephant and lumber along a trail in the dense, leafy forest and along the Mae Ping River

After lunch, experience a bamboo raft trip along the river. You will have chance to admire the traditional teak houses high on stilts along the lush banks. Bidding farewell to chilled-out Chiang Dao and its gentle people won’t be easy.

Soften the blow with a stop at an orchid farm on your return to Chiang Mai. Revel in the assortment of colors and designs from stripped to dots. At the end of the day, you’ll have seen that Thailand’s natural bounty is an open-air art museum.

Pick up at your hotel at around 8:30 Am, we will head to the Doi Inthanon National Park, passing through various villages, rice fields and orchards.

Upon arrival at Inthanon Mountain, we will spend spend 2-3 hours trekking to Thailand’s highest mountain at 2565 meters above sea level. Immerse yourself in the beautiful scenery, impressive waterfalls, and lush mountain forests.

We first stop to the summit to see the great twin Royal Pagodas: Phra Mahathat Napha Methanidon and Phra Mahathat Naphaphon Bhumisiri. Each pagoda also has relics of Buddha. We then visit Wachirathan waterffalls by a short trek along Michael’s Trail.

After walk down the hill & have a short break at a local Hmong market, we will have lunch time. In the afternoon, continue to visit Hmong and Karen hill tribe village at Ban Mae Klang Village to observe their still primitive lifestyle.

En route we will pass through the farmland where you will see the coffee plantation, flowers farm and the beautiful rice terraces.

Transfer back to your hotel in Chiang Mai.
Accommodation : At the hotel in Chiang Mai
Meals : Breakfast
 

Morning after breakfast, we will visit a local home industry of Elephant Poo Poo Parper, where you can know the procedure from elephant poo to final paper product.
You will also have a chance to make paper by yourself with possibility to buy hand-made souvenir from Chiang Mai.
Heading to Chiang Rai. 
Upon arrival, we visit the famous Wat Rong Khun. Only a transparent white color from the towers to the Buddha statues, Wat Rong Khun is equally noteworthy as the gold-plated temples typical of Thailand’s smiley country. This is a combination of unique Thai architecture and realistic depiction style Completed in the late 20th century, the temple is one of the attractive destinations to both a large number of Thai and foreign tourists.
Check in the hotel and the rest of day is on your own

Morning after breakfast, we will visit the local market to discover the local products. After that we visit the world famous Wat Phra Kaew, one of the oldest and most revered temple in Chiang Rai city. The Wat Phra Kaew is where the Emerald Buddha image was once enshrined.

We move on to Wat Phra Singh, which was the storage of Phra Buddha Sihingh statue. The main structures of the Lanna style temple are the ubosot, the viharn, a chapel containing a footprint of the Buddha and the Kuti or monks living quarters.

Continue to visit Baan Dam (Black House), an eclectic mix of traditional northern Thai buildings interspersed with some outlandish modern designs.

We have lunch then take a boat to cruise on Mae Kok river from Chiang Rai to Karen village where you can watch elephants or feed them, especially enjoying your 1 hour elephant riding.

Heading back to Chiang Rai to overnight. 

Accommodation : At the hotel in Chiang Rai
Meals : Breakfast

After breakfast we continue the trip by heading to the northern Thailand - a wooded, mountainous and beautiful area. This morning, you will explore the surroundings and the first road you will take is the one that leads to Mae Salong.

Climb up and down the green hills, covered with tea plantations. Here, you can enjoy a cup of tea in a traditional Chinese tea house overlooking the mountains and tea fields before continuing your way towards the Golden Triangle.

From Doi Mae Salong, we will visit two villages of ethnic minorities.

Afterwards we will visit the Mae Fah Luang botanical garden. Last but not least, transfer to Golden Triangle where we take a boat trip on Mekong River to see Thailand, Burma & Laos triangle.

Overnight in Chiang Saen

Accommodation : At the hotel in Chiang Saen
Meals: Breakfast
 

Today you will be picked up at your hotel and transfer you to Thai – Lao border No. 4. From here you will several options for a Mekong slow boats to Laos for example Mekong Smile, Luang Say, Shompoo cruise ...

Boarding the traditional boat for a cruise along the Mekong River towards Pakbeng. During the cruise, you will make stops and visits to villages of ethnic minorities living at the rhythm of the Mekong. Lunch on board the boat. Arrive in Pakbeng in the late afternoon, check in at the hotel.

Free time for a walk in the city

Overnight in Pakbeng.
Accommodation: At the hotel in Pakbeng
Meal : Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast at the Lodge (optional: walk to the Pakbeng Market, where minorities come to sell their wares).

At 08:30, we will embark for a second day of cruising. Visit a village of Hmong before lunch buffet on the cruise. Then visit the Pak Ou caves, "cave of thousands of Buddha". Then stop at Ban Xang Hai village to observe the local rice liquor making. Arrival in Luang Prabang before sunset.

Overnight in Luang Prabang.

Accommodation: At the hotel in Luang Prabang
Meal : Breakfast, Lunch
 

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning alms giving ritual to saffron clad monks. This tradition is unique to Laos, being the only Buddhist nation still preserving this procession. Stop and visit fresh local markets and back to hotel for breakfast.
This morning, depart to visit Wat Visoun, the site of impressive Thad Makmo stupa. The rounded dome is stylistically more Sinhalese than Lao. Continue to visit Wat Aham. Then, visit to the most photographed temple, Vat Xiengthong. Located at the end of peninsular closed to the confluence of Mekong and Khan River.
This afternoon, continue to former Royal Palace, now the National Museum. Visit Wat Mai, a temple renowned for its golden bas-relief. During Pimai, the Lao New Year, the Prabang normally housed in the Royal Palace Museum is brought and put on public display in this temple.
Meals on your own. Overnight in hotel.
Accommodation : At the hotel in Luang Prabang 
Meals : Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel.
This morning, head to visit Phousi Market, a lively local market where residents shop for fresh produce, herbs, spices, and traditional snacks.
Then continue driving through green rice paddies and peaceful rural farms. On your arrival at the Kuang Si waterfalls, enjoy your short walking on trails of falls to visit the bear rescued center. Enjoy spectacular views and surrounding of orchids inside the park and falls cascade over many calcified tiers and down several hundred feet into a series of cool, turquoise pools.
After visiting, transfer with guide and drive to the airport for your international flight to Hanoi.

Arrival in Hanoi, meet our local guide and transfer to the hotel for check-in. Overnight in Hanoi.

Today, we enjoy a full day city tour starting with the Ho Chi Minh Complex. This famous site contains the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh

Our first stop is to visit the mausoleum of the nation’s founder Ho Chi Minh. Located in the center of Ba Dinh Square, this is the most important monument of Vietnam in which Ho Chi Minh’s body is preserved. This site only opens on Tuesday to Thursday and weekends from 08:00 – 11:00.

The next destination is the Presidential Palace and the Ho Chi Minh’s house on stilts. The Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house was completed on May 19th, 1958 as a birthday present for uncle Ho and becomes a symbol of his simple life.

We follow this with the Temple of Literature, which is well known as the first university of Vietnam. This temple provides an opportunity to learn more about education in Vietnam since 1000 years ago until recent history.

19h00 Join the street food tour. Sample delicious Vietnamese cuisine just like the locals do - on the street Stroll through hidden alleyways and bustling markets of Hanoi’s charming old quarter Learn more about Hanoi’s unique food culture Try local specialties with influences from French and Chinese cuisine Take in a spectacular night view of Hoan Kiem lake from a secret cafe Fascinating cyclo tour to discover the 36 ancient Streets of Hanoi Old Quarter with its ancient buildings and temples, transparent lakes and old cultural features, and an unforgettable water puppetry show

Accommodation: At the hotel in Hanoi
Meal: Breakfast, Dinner (street food)

Morning drive south of Hanoi will lead you to Ninh Binh, the site of the one capital city of ancient Vietnam before Hanoi took its leading role in 11th century.

The area is featured by lots of well-known sceneries, which include Tam Coc Caves and Hoa Lu ancient capital with the old temples dedicated to King Dinh & King Le reigned in 10th century. 

The visit in Ninh Binh starts by a boat trip in Tam Coc where spectacular limestone karsts jut out from the green paddy fields reminding about Guilin (China) and Halong Bay of Vietnam, which gives this scenery the name “Halong-bay-on-land”.

Further discovery in Ninh Binh will be continued in the site that used to be the kings’ palace in 10th century and now famous for the wooden relieves of the shady Dinh and Le temples.

After that, transfer to Ninh Binh hotel to check-in and rest.

Upon arrival in Hanoi in early morning, we check-in the hotel for relaxing and have a breakfast there.

Approx. 08:00 We depart for Halong Bay. starts a 3-hour drive through the rich farmlands of the Red River Delta to Ha Long City
 Declared as a World Heritage site by the UNESCO in 1994, Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam’s most spectacular natural attractions. Nearly 200 km far from Hanoi, the bay is dotted with 1600 limestone islands, capturing visitors’ attention.

Arrive in Halong ad board a luxury wooden sailing junk for a cruise through the limestone cliffs and emerald waters of Ha Long Bay, giving us the chance to take in the stunning scenery of this World Heritage Site.

While on board we will be served a sumptuous fresh, local seafood lunch followed by a swim and exploring some of the limestone caves in this area. When the sun comes down we drop anchor for the night nearby a remote island.  Dinner served on board. 

Overnight on Junk

Rising to the tranquil beauty of the bay we have time for an early morning dip with joys and emotions for watching sunrise on sea followed by breakfast.

This morning we continue to move around the bay to find more secluded areas. The junk will be near us at all times serving as a back-up vessel for those that require it.

At around midday we will return to the main harbor where our private vehicle waiting for you for a 3-hour journey back to Hanoi. The rest of day is on your own.

Today is at your leisure before checking out and transferring to Noi Bai airport for your flight home