"Thailand, tour in North-East Thailand with Pimai and Khmer temples"

Day 1:
Morning arrival in Bangkok and welcome at the airport. Transfer to the Unico Grande Silom hotel or similar. Total change of scenery for this day that will have you discover the Grand Palace (Wat Phra Kaew) and the temple of the Emerald Buddha, the protector of the city. Visit of the Wat Pho and the Reclining Buddha, and of the Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn). Boat tour on the klongs (canals) in Thonburi. Evening free.

Day 2:
Road trip (90 km from Bangkok) to Dammoen Saduak and its colorful floating market. on the way, visit of House of Coconotery. Then to Kanchanaburi. Visit of the impressive WWII military cemetery next to the world-famous River Kwai Bridge. Visit of the JEATH. Back to Bangkok. Evening free.

Day 3:
Early morning start for Bang Pa In, the King’s Summer Palace, and on to Ayuthaya, the second historic capital of Siam. Known as the City of The 33 King’s, its ruins cover 15 km² and have been turned into a well-run archeological site. The tour continues to Lopburi, the City of Monkeys. They are respected and left free to roam around the ruins of a Khmer temple. Arrival in Juldis Khao Yai Resort. Around 7 pm, night tour in pick up in Khao Yai Park to see the animals.

Day 4:
Morning visit of Khao Yai Park. Depart to Phimai. Phimai is the largest Khmer Temple in Thailand where you can see wonderful sculpted door frames. Visit of the charming site of Prasat Phanomwan, on top of a hill. Recently restored, this temple is smaller than Phimai, but its architecture and its site are specially interesting. Arrival in Korat (Nakhon Ratchasima), installation in Ratchaphruk Grand hotel.

Day 5:
Visit of the Phanom Rung temple complex, south of Buriram, near the Cambodian frontier. It is a walled-in enclosure, with both the door frames and walls carved in beautiful designs of Lopburi Period style with Khmer influence. The beauty of the main prang of Phanom Rung lies not only in its plan, but in the vibrant stone carvings which cover large parts of the temple. Arrival in Ubon Ratchatani and night in Ubon Tohsang Hotel.

Day 6:
Up North to Nakon Phanom via Mukdahan. Visit of Murkhadan indochinese market, and of temple Wat Phratat Phanom in Nakhon Phanom. Night in Nakhom Phanom River View Hotel

Day 7:
On to Sakhon Nakhon, visit of Wat Phrat That Choeng Chum , of Wat Narai (Khmer temple), and of Ajaan Man Museum . Night in Khon Kaen: Hotel Charoen Thani Princess

Day 8:
Depart to Sukothai. Visit of Phra Si Ratana Mahatat temple in Pitsanuloke, where you have the most beautiful Buddha statue of Thailand . Transfer to Pailyn Hotel. Evening free.

Day 9:
Morning visit of the National Archeological Park of Sukothai, the oldest capital of Siam (AD1250-1350) which contains essential elements of Thailand’s cultural heritage sponsored by UNESCO. Among the sites visited will be the temples of Mahathat, Sa Si, Sri Sawai and Si Chum. On to the North. Visit of pinapple fields and stop at Payao lake. Depart for Chiang Rai and transfer to the Rimkok Hotel. Evening free.

Day 10:
Depart for Mae Sai, on the Burmese border and visit of the Golden Triangle, which is a strategic area from which you will gaze at a unique landscape shared between Thailand, Burma and Laos. Visit of Opium museum and of the Buddha watching the border. Visit of tribal villages and hot water springs. Depart for Chiang Mai and transfer to The Park hotel. Evening Free.

Day 11:
Tour to Doï Suthep, situated at an altitude of 1000 meters, from which you will enjoy a spectacular view of the countryside around Chiang Mai underneath. 290 steps will lead you to the monastery. During your visit of the local handicraft industries you will discover the age-old techniques for hand-painting paper umbrellas and manufacturing silk, silverware and lacquer ware.
Dinner and show with traditional folk dances (optional: 500 Bht)

Day 12:
Visit of orchids farm. Safari: through the jungle, enjoy a one hour elephant ride. You will then board an ox-drawn cart to reach the starting point of the rafts that will take you down the river. Visit of Chiand Dao caves. Back to Chiang Mai. Depart for Bangkok by night train with sleeping berths.

Day 13:
Arrival in Bangkok. Transfer to Airport or hotel.

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Note:
Some hotels apply a surcharge during some special festive periods (like Xmas, New Year, Thaï New Year in April, Chinese New Year in February, Loi Krathong inn November), as well as compulsory Gala Dinners. This practice varies too much with the hotels to be accounted for in these prices. These surcharges will be added to the price of tours happening during the concerned periods.

These prices are given as indication for the tour as it is and these numbers of persons. We recalculate each tour exactly in function of the costs it implies, considering the final program, number of participants and types of rooms.

Our prices include:
Private Tour, no other participants
everything on the program, transfers, entrance to the visits, and a local guide speaking English or French, accommodation in shared double rooms with bath, WC, air-co, and American Breakfast, Bangkok/Chiang Rai/Mea Sai/Chiang Mai by private minibus with air-co, Chiang Mai/Bangkok in night-train 2nd class with sleeping berths.

They do not include :
- Lunch and dinner, breakfast on day 8 (in the train), drinks
- Tips and personal expenses
- Airport taxes in Thailand, the international flight

Payment: by bank transfer
30% on reservation (not refundable), the rest one month before departure.

PRICE PER PERSON (Prices valid from 1st November 09 until 31st October 10)
Number of participants	2 persons	4 persons	6 persons
	72 500 Baht	46 000 Baht	37 500 Bht

THAILAND

NORTH-EAST

and the Khmer Temples