APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN CLUB
MAJOR EXCURSION #0701
Exploring, Trekking & Beaching - An Amazing Thailand Adventure
Jan. 19 – Feb. 4, 2007
Join us on an odyssey in the kingdom of Thailand, called “the Country of the Smile.” Upon meeting the Thai people, it will be clear
why it is referred to that way. The former Siam is an exotic country comprised of gilded templed cities and interesting Hillstribe
regions, glorious coastline and lush forests that can be explored by elephant or on foot. Add to this geographic richness a mouth –
tingling cuisine that is both fresh and exotic, and you have the makings of a traveler’s enlightenment experience.
On this adventure you have the opportunity to experience a blend of amazing cultural encounters, beautiful nature habitats, a day long
cooking lesson, a trek to Hillstribe villages, dazzling architecture and more. Local guides offer insight regarding monuments and the
history of individual cities. The landscapes that we will be visiting are greatly varied: rice fields in the central plains, offshoots of the
Himalayas, dense jungle in the north and miles of tropical beaches along the coast. During our adventurous trek we will come across
several primitive tribes in the jungle, each with their own language and dress. This trip has a wealth of diversity and will tantalize all
of your senses.
In Bangkok, you’ll witness the sharp contrast between the busy modern existence and the peace radiated by the always - present
monks dressed in their saffron colored attire. The royal palace, the colorful temple complex and the famous Emerald Buddha are
within walking distance of our hotel in the vibrant neighborhood of Bang Lamphu. Miles of canals cross through this “ Venice of the
East.” You can take a longtail boat through the klongs to visit Chinatown with its lively aromatic shops, restaurants and street
markets.
Traveling north, in Nakhom Pathom we’ll see the tallest Buddhist monument in the world. Visit the float market in Damnoen Saduak,
where vegetables, fruit and meat are sold. It is a colorful spectacle and it has maintained its traditional characteristics. In
Kanchanaburi, an impressive museum and several cemeteries keep memories of the construction of the Burma railroad alive. If
possible, we’ll ride the local train across the notorious “Bridge over the River Kwai” to the pier where boats wait to take us to the
jungle rafts. Here we’ll spend the night. From our pristine bungalows, built on bamboo rafts that float in the River Kwai, you can
jump in the river and float with the current, surrounded by colorful exotic flowers, birds and butterflies.
Ayutthaya and Sukhothai are former capital cities of Thailand, where you see varied architectural styles of temples that offer a
glimpse of past dynasties. On the edge of the famous Golden Triangle is Chiang Mai, sometimes called “the Rose of the North”, an
old Royal city that counts more than 300 temples. Chiang Mai has its own cuisine, language and traditions. Visiting the fascinating
night market is a must. Here you can have clothes made for a fraction of the cost of US prices, have photographs enlarged and made
into charcoal portraits and purchase the most diverse handmade articles. In the surrounding villages there are silversmiths, wood
craftsmen and silk weavers. Chiang Mai is the starting point of our two-day trekking expedition, a trip that involves travel by foot,
traditional raft and elephant riding. The Karen, Hmong and Mein mountain tribes that inhabit these jungles are the peoples that we
will become acquainted with on the trek. We will spend the night in traditional housing of the local population.
At the end of the trip, after seeing the beautiful scenery, lively markets and villages, we head to the tropical island of Koh Samet.
Here palm trees and pure white sand offer idyllic conclusion to this trip. Back in Bangkok, there is a opportunity to satisfy any final
buying urges before flying home with fantastic memories.
HOW ACTIVE IS THE TRIP? This itinerary includes a variety of activities for which you need to be active and reasonably fit to
enjoy fully, i.e., walking, hiking over terrain which may be steep and uneven, boat trips, rafting, elephant riding. Anyone in
reasonable shape can go along on the trek, which includes hiking for approximately 4-5 hours with frequent breaks. Although, January
is in the cool season for Thailand, it will still be very warm and humid.
DURATION:
17 days, 16 nights
CLIMATE: Thailand has two climatic regions: tropical savannah in the northern regions and tropical rain forest in the south. There
are three distinguishable seasons: hot and dry, rainy and cool. Our trip takes place during what is referred to as the cool season
(October – February) which is mostly dry with daily average temperature of 64 - 90 degrees Fahrenheit. It is pleasantly warm - hot in
the south, but in the north, especially in the hills around Chiang Mai, it can become quite chilly.
ACCOMODATIONS: In the cities, we stay in local hotels that are comfortable, centrally located and easily accessible to places of
interest. Most include air conditioning and some have swimming pools. In Kanchanaburi, a bungalow built on rafts; on the trek, very
simple house of the locals called a “Long House” which is built on stilts with a bamboo mat floor, the main house is completely open.
There are rustic toilets that are enclosed, but no electricity or showers. When traveling from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, we are sleeping
in sleeping bunks on the night train.
MEALS: Includes all breakfasts and dinners. On the trek, lunch is also included. About the food: the staple of every Thai meal is
rice. The variation of tasty vegetables and meat dishes however is huge. These dishes are often spicy with chilies, fresh coriander or
ginger. On the coast you find a wide choice fish dishes. In most places there are Western meals on the menu.
TRAVEL: The price of trip is calculated on airfares from Boston/New York City to Bangkok and return. Within Thailand we will
travel by private motor coach, by night train with reserved sleeping bunks, as well as by foot, elephant, raft and ferry.
HEALTH: Vaccinations are not mandatory, but are recommended. The most up to date information on vaccinations and other health
precautions may be obtained from the Centers for Disease control and Prevention hotline for international travelers at telephone on 1877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or by visiting the CDC Internet home page at www.cdc.gov. Your local physician can also assist
you. The present recommendations are:
- DTP
- Hepatitis A / Yellow Fever
- Typhoid: only if you are staying longer than three months
- Malaria Tablets
Since we visit the countryside, it is strongly recommended that you take Malaria tablets. It is also important to bring along a strong
bug repellent for the evenings such as Deet.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: For travel to Thailand, you do not need a visa. A valid passport is required for entry into Thailand.
LUGGAGE & CLOTHING: We recommend that you bring along a mid-sized suitcase, duffle bag or frameless backpack for
luggage. This will make transporting your luggage easier for yourself as well as for the guides. A request: try to keep your luggage
between 25 - 30 pounds in order to fit all of it in the bus luggage compartment. A small day-pack is useful to carry water and
essentials. When we go on the trek , most of the luggage will be left in Chiang Mai. For the two-day trek, it is suggested that you
bring a small backpack, hiking boots with good traction, sleeping bag and a thermal pad (optional). Evenings can be very cool in the
mountains. Sleeping bags can be rented on the trek (not pads…what is provided are grass mats). You may want to bring an extra bag
to bring souvenirs home in. Also, it’s a good idea to separate your items into ziplock plastic bags for ease of access. For instance, put
your socks in one ziplock plastic bag and underwear in another ziplock plastic bag.
TRIP LEADERSHIP:
Kathy Didier owns and manages Pembrook in Woodstock, NH. She has been an AMC Boston Chapter leader (INTRO Interchapter,
and Major Excursions) for sixteen years. Kathy leads an average of six, week-long, Inter-chapter and Major AMC Excursions each
year. She has led group-hiking trips all over the world. Kathy’s web page is www.angelfire.com/nh/pembrook.
Elaine Kerrigan is an AMC Boston Chapter Leader (INTRO, HB, Major Excursions (CL)). She has traveled to Thailand three times
in the past five years and is excited about sharing this exotic adventure with other travelers. The trips were precitated by the fact that
her brother lives is central Thailand, but once there, she fell in love with the culture, cuisine, people and country. She is a certified in
wilderness first aid and CPR. Most recently, Elaine has traveled to Sedona, AZ., Peru, Chile, Mexico, N. Ireland, Turkey and Italy.
She is also a certified Yoga instructor.
Djoser Travel is the tour escort we have chosen for our journey through Thailand. For 18 years, travelers have been enjoying
Djoser’s tours to more than 50 exotic destinations. At our request, they have created a custom tour for us which includes many
different experiences of Thailand and one from which you will return home with fabulous memories of a magical land. The English speaking tour leader will provide information about the habits and customs of the country, the quaint little restaurants and authentic
markets….providing a special look at Thailand.
Trip Insurance - Cancellation and Medical
Included in the cost of this trip is emergency medical and evacuation. The basic policy the AMC Major Excursions Committee has
approved through TripMate™ includes $100,000 for emergency medical evacuation and repatriation, which would be sufficient in
most cases, even in the case of a death. It also includes an additional $5,000 for accident and sickness medical expense, which would
supplement anyone’s personal medical insurance. The $5,000 is not high. International trips may find that $5,000 would not
cover any extended hospital stays or major surgeries. However, it is a start and would relieve you of some expense and would
cover most doctor visits and minor injuries and illness. To read more about the policy, visit:
http://www.tripmate.com/TICs/plan_info.asp and enter 450 in the plan code box.
Should you still purchase the optional travel insurance? YES. The optional insurance will cover you for cancellation or
interruption; it provides for additional medical insurance, although it should not be used to replace someone’s own personal medical
insurance. It also provides travel insurance for lost baggage and extra expenses incurred as a result of delays. Lastly, it does include
emergency medical and evacuation insurance, so you could make claims against both insurance policies if necessary.
When you register for this trip, we will provide you with information and applications for cancellation, lost baggage, etc. insurance.
This is not included in the cost of the trip. We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance when you book. This can reimburse
you if you need to cancel last minute due to sickness, family emergency, jury duty, job change, or any other unforeseen occurrence.
REQUIREMENTS TO PARTICIPATE
a) To fully enjoy this trip, recent, on-going hiking experience is required. One must be reasonably fit. On the days that we hike, our
pace will be moderate. The idea of the trip is to enjoy the scenery that surrounds us.
b) Adaptability: An important criterion for this trip is the ability to be flexible. Our itinerary could change from day to day, planes
can be delayed, weather could cause changes. Everyone is expected to be able to “roll with the punches” as much as possible, be
cooperative, abide by leader decisions and add to the total group experience while enjoying themselves. Safety will always take
priority in the leaders’ decisions.
c) Understanding Purpose of Trip: This trip is designed for everyone to experience the natural wonders, history and culture Thailand
while enjoying the company of fellow travelers. Although each person comes with their own expectations, this is primarily a group
trip. Decisions will be made to benefit the group as a whole.
e) This is a non-smoking trip. Sorry, participants cannot smoke “on the side” as the odor of the smoke permeates clothing and can
be offensive to others on the trip.
EQUIPMENT- You will provide your own daypack, hiking boots, rain gear and sleeping bag. More detailed gear list will be
provided.
COST PARTICULARS
TRIP PRICE:
From Boston - $3132.00, from NYC - $2939.00 … Rates from other cities upon request.
INCLUDED in the price:
1. Airfare from Boston/New York to Bangkok and return
2. Airport tax and added airline security charge
3. English speaking tour guide and local guides
4. All breakfasts (13) and dinners (13) (including cultural dinner and dinner boat cruise). All meals while on trek (2 lunches).
5. All accommodations
6. Day long cooking lesson in Chiang Mai.
7. Entrance fees in Bangkok: Grand Palace, Wat Po (Wat means temple) , Wat Arun, boat trip
- in Kanchanaburi: Jeath Museum
- in Ayuthaya: visit three temples and biking trip
- in Koh Samet: boat trip
8. Private air-conditioned bus or van depending on the group size, night train with reserved sleeping compartment (Chiang Mai
o Bangkok), bikes, ferries, river rafting .
9. Two AMC Major Excursion Leaders
10. AMC’s Medical and Evacuation Insurance
NOT included in the price:
1. Transportation to/from your local airport
2. Alcoholic and bottled drinks
3. Lunches (other than those specified in the itinerary)
4. Tips to Local Guides, porters and hotels
5. Personal expenditures
6. Costs resulting from illness, injury, or emergency evacuation
7. Program changes and delays beyond our control
8. Any pre-trip costs such as passport or anything else not in the above list of “included in the price”
9. Trip Insurance
10. Local transportation costs and entrance fees for sightseeing not mentioned as part of trip
PAYMENT SCHEDULE - TOTAL COSTS (USD) $ 3132.00 from Boston , $2939.00 from New York
 Registration
$ 1000.00
 July 1, 2006
$ 1100.00
 September 1, 2006
$ 1032 (flying from Boston) or $839 (flying from NYC)
CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancellation must be writing - Postmarked date below:
- If a participant cancels after being accepted on the trip, $250 is non-refundable
Any moneys paid out to vendors and money necessary to keep the trip cost from increasing - causing an increase for other
trip members. You should purchase travel insurance soon after registering for the trip.
- 60-31 days prior to departure 50% of trip costs non-refundable, subject to finding a replacement.
- Within 30 days prior to departure 100% non-refundable for any reason, including accident, illness, or any other type of
emergency.
Once a trip begins, there is absolutely no refund, partial or full, for any reason.
We will establish a waiting list and if the participant can be replaced, he/she may receive most of their payments back.
REGISTRATION
A separate application is required for each person. To reserve a space on the trip, please fill out the application completely, sign the
liability form and mail these with your deposit to:
Elaine Kerrigan
30 Sea St., Unit 6
Weymouth, MA 02191
Make checks payable to Elaine Kerrigan - AMC Trip. The leaders will promptly review your application. Upon acceptance, a receipt
and additional information will be sent to you. If not accepted, your deposit will be returned.
If your application is received and accepted after August 1, 2006, please add scheduled payments to the amount of deposit. Thank
you. If you have any questions, please call:
Leaders: Kathy Didier
PO Box C
Woodstock, NH 03293
603-726-3553 (Tele. & FAX)
kdidier@coopresources.net
Elaine Kerrigan (CL)
30 Sea St., Unit 6
Weymouth, MA 02191
781-335-5464
ekerrigan@juno.com
Thailand Adventure 2007
Trip Itinerary – 1/19/07 to 2/4/07
Day 1: Friday - January 19 Fly from Boston to Bangkok via Tokyo on Northwest Airlines.
Day 2: Saturday - January 20 Our arrival in Bangkok (the City of Angels) is late in the evening, around midnight. At the airport
the tour leader greets us and we are transported via privately hired bus to the hotel, which is conveniently located in the Banglampoo
area of Bangkok. All rooms of the hotel are air-conditioned.
Day 3: Sunday - January 21 Bangkok During breakfast we’ll discuss the activities of the day. Wat Prakaew (a Wat is a temple),
the Grand Palace, the National Museum, the Royal Barges and Wat Arun are easily reached by foot. A ride in a traditional (and fast!)
longtail boat through the "klongs" is fascinating and from the boat we will be able to see places that are hard to reach by road. Other
options include visiting the busy and interesting Chinatown, afternoon tea at the famous and elegant Oriental Hotel or stopping by the
huge shopping mall called Siam Square. On our return from Ko Samet (later in the trip), we will have one last full day to enjoy the
capital of Thailand and see any sites we didn’t get to on this visit. A special evening awaits us…a fabulous dinner and cultural show !
(B, D)
Day 4: Monday - January 22 Bangkok-Nakhom Pathom-Damnoen Saduak-River Kwai Early in the morning we’ll drive out of
Bangkok towards the "chedi" of Nakhom Pathom, highest Buddhist structure in the world & the oldest "chedi" in Thailand. Next stop
is the floating market of Damnung Saduak, a popular market where all sorts of products are sold from boats. We fly over the water in
long-tail boats to visit the market. Then, on to Kanchanaburi, home of the notorious "Bridge over the River Kwai". Lunch is at a
nicely situated restaurant. Of course, the cemetery & JEATH war museum must be included in our program. The museum consists of
rows of barracks with photos, paintings and paper cuttings on display. From Kanchanaburi we drive to the river where a long-tail boat
is waiting to take us to our accommodation for the evening, the "Jungle Rafts". Our simple pristine bungalows are built on bamboo
rafts that float in the river Kwai. You can jump in the river and float with the current surrounded by colorful exotic flowers, birds and
butterflies and/or enjoy the view of the surroundings from leisurely hammocks, which are hanging in front of each room, back at the
hotel. In the evening, there is a show of traditional Burmese dancers and some leisure time spent socializing on a terrace. (B, D)
Day 5: Tuesday - January 23 Kanachanaburi, River Kwai After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll take a speedboat ride (about an
hour long) upstream on the river Kwai to Sai Yoke Yai waterfall and National Park. Here we can enjoy a waterfall massage,
sunbathing, swimming or body rafting (floating down stream with a lifejacket). A luscious lunch will be served at a floating
restaurant. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon back at the hotel raft, have a massage or an afternoon walk (5 minutes from the Jungle Raft)
will take us to the Mon’s (a hill tribe) village to experience their fascinating lifestyle, feed elephants and go to the Mon dancing
school. There will also be an opportunity to purchase Mon and Burmese handicrafts at the village. In the evening, a delicious dinner
will be served at the hotel with time to enjoy the jungle bar and a special treat..…see the elegant Mon hill tribe dancers. (B, D)
Day 6: Wednesday - January 24 Kanchanaburi - Ayutthaya Today we travel from Kanchanaburi to Ayuttha, a former capital
of the country, where varied architectural styles of the temples offer a glimpse of past dynasties. We’ll visit Wat Chaitanaram, the
temple outside of Ayuttaya Island, which is the principle monument in Khmere style replicating the famous Angkor Wat. After
reaching our destination, there will be more time to enjoy the area and take in the surrounding sites. Like the Wat Prasisanphet, which
was located in a part of the royal palace and used to house Phra Sisanphet, the standing Buddha image that was covered with gold.
Unfortunately, when the Burmese army seized the city in 1767, the image was destroyed and the gold was stripped off of the statue
and taken to Mynamar (formerly Burma). Another nearby temple, Vihan Phra Mongkol Borphit, houses an amazing large bronze
casted seated Buddha, Phra Monkol Borphita. Maybe there will be time to fit in a Yoga class before dinner at the hotel Ayothaya
hotel and an evening socializing. (B, D)
Day 7: Thursday - January 25 Ayutta - Phitsanuloke - Sukhothai We’ll be driving through the central plains of Thailand
today. This fertile land is honored as the Rice Bowl of Asia. See people working in the rice fields harvesting the crop, another side of
diverse Thailand. We arrive in Phitsanuloke in the afternoon. Continuing on to Sukhothai, another Thai former capital, there are an
impressive number of temples scattered over this area. Since the best way to get around is by bicycle, we’ll take a site seeing bike ride
around the ruins. Walking is another option. One stop will be at Wat Mahathat, which is similar to the Emerald Buddha Temple and
Wat Phra Sisanphet in Bangkok. Wat Mahathat was the temple in the old royal palace with no monks in residence. Another stop is
Wat Sisawai, the temple originally built in the Khmere period for Hinduism, before it was transformed into a Buddhist temple when
the Thai people overthrew the Khmere Empire in 1238. Not to be missed is Wat Sasri which is similar to the monument of King
Ramakhamhaeng the Great. Staying at the Pailyn hotal in Sukhothai, a leisurely evening is planned before we reach the fascinating
city of Chiang Mai tomorrow. (B, D)
Day 8: Friday – January 26 Sukhothai - Chiang Mai On the edge of the Golden Triangle is the city of Chiang Mai, an old
Royal City that counts more than three hundred temples. She enjoys her own cuisine, language and traditions. The “Rose of the
North” is situated at the bottom of the mountain Doi Sutep (5055 feet) and on the bank of the River Ping. On the outskirts of town
you can see artisans such as silk weavers, woodworkers, silversmiths and umbrella makers at work. The night market is a fascinating
place… always busy and souvenir hunters will definitely find plenty for gathering. Also, at the night market there are artists that can
create a portrait from a small picture with amazingly true proportions. Hill tribe groups sell their wares there and it is a treat to see
them dressed in their beautiful native attire. You can also have custom clothing made…order it now and pick it up on the return trip.
A “tuk tuk’ (three wheeled taxi) is a fun way to get around town to the country house of the royal family or the many temples of the
city like Wat Phra Sing and Wat Chedi Luang. Dinner will be at one of the many fabulous restaurants and we’ll enjoy walking around
town to see and learn more about this unusual city. (B, D)
Day 9: Saturday – January 27 Chiang Mai Today we’ll learn to cook popular Thai dishes at the Sompet Thai Cooking School.
At the completion of the class, we leave the school with a color cookbook plus the knowledge and experience to make delicious dishes
such as Phad Thai (a noodle dish), wonderful soup, a curry dish and more. As well as enjoying cooking, we will also enjoy eating the
wonderful dishes that we learn to make. Thai food is very tasty and Thai cooks try to strike a balance between sweet, sour, hot, bitter
and salty tastes. A gastronomical delight! There will be free time before and after dinner to relax, get a massage or do a little more
shopping at the night market. Tomorrow we start our trek. (B, D)
Day 10: Sunday – January 28 Trekking - Chiang Mai Our 2 day trek starts with a bus ride from Chiang Mai. The trek is the
real highlight of the trip. We’ll hike for 4 hours or less, with frequent breaks. Low hiking shoes are recommended since some of the
paths might be slippery. Part of the day will be spent riding on the back of an elephant (about an hour ride through the jungle).
During this trek people carry their own belongings. The bulk of luggage stays behind in the hotel in Chang Mai. We’ll arrive at the
Meo hill tribe village around lunch time and have lunch. There are 6 main hill tribes in N. Thailand. Each tribe is divided into clans or
subgroups that have distinct customs, rituals and clothing. This tribe speaks languages from the Sino-Tibetan family and came from
south central China via Laos. Their traditional clothing is striking, with embroidery in many bright colors. They believe in a number
of household spirits and have many special rituals that are performed by the heads of the house or village shaman. After taking in our
surroundings, we’re off hiking 2-3 hours to a beautiful waterfall to cool off. Here the water is clean and clear…a good place to take a
swim before proceeding to our next destination. About a half-hour hike away is the Karen hill tribe village….where we will be
staying for the evening. The Karen is the largest hill tribe in this area. Their origin is thought to be southeast Tibet, but the majority
now lives in Myanmar (Burma). We’ll have the opportunity to meet the people living here, learn about their customs and traditions.
We’ll spend the night in the very simple houses of the locals. Do not forget to bring a towel and your bathing suit. A local guide will
accompany the group and take care of the meals. This will be an unforgettable experience! (B, L, D)
Day 11: Monday - January 29 Trekking - Chiang Mai After a simple, but filling breakfast prepared by our guide, we are off
hiking (about 2 hrs) to another Karen village. We’ll spend time here absorbing their unusual life style and take a short ride to a Shan
village. The Shan are not strictly speaking a “hill tribe”, in their settled communities, with rice growing practices and Theravada
Buddhism, they are very similar to Thais. Many Shans have migrated to Thailand in recent times to escape the upheavals in
Myanmar, but they may also have been in here as far back as the 9 th or 10th century. After lunch, we’ll take a bamboo-rafting ride
along the river, enjoying the beautiful scenery and upon completion, be transported to the hotel in Chiang Mai. There will be free time
prior to the evening activity dinner with the locals. Possibly a Kun Toke dinner, which is a typical northern dinner accompanied by
traditional northern style dancing. (B, L, D)
Day 12: Tuesday – January 30 Chiang Mai - Bangkok - Ko Samet After breakfast, We’ll visit the must see beautiful Doi
Suthep temple, high on a mountain over looking the city. Then some shopping at a Celadon pottery factory and jewelry factory before
being transferred to the Chiang Mai railway station for the night train to Bangkok, boarding the 2nd class sleeper berth with A/C,
dinner on the train. We have reserved sleeping bunks so we will be well rested upon arrival in Bangkok. Upon arrival at Bangkok
railway station (Hualamphong), we will be met and then transported about 3 hours, stopping on the way for breakfast, to a ferry,
which will take us to Ko Samet (an island). After checking in to our hotel, enjoy some leisure time and some exploring. (B, D)
Day 13: Wednesday – January 31 Arrival Ko Samet On the lovely beach of this island you can relax during your last days in
Thailand, but if you are interested in more active pastimes, there are plenty of opportunities for bike rides and beautiful walks.
Several nearby islands can be visited by chartering boats. You can discover the amazingly colorful coral reefs while snorkeling. We
have planned a ½ day boat trip exploring the island of Ko Samet with snorkeling. (B, D)
Day 14: Thursday – February 1 Koh Samet You have the entire day to relax and enjoy this beautiful island. Maybe treat yourself
and have a massage on the beach. (B,D)
Day 15: Friday – February 2 Koh Samet - Bangkok We arrive in Bangkok in mid- afternoon. You have the afternoon free. We
meet later for diner. (B,D)
Day 16: Saturday – February 3 – Bangkok Breakfast at the hotel. Free time to see sites that we didn’t get to on our first visit such
as the Emerald Buddha, built by King Rama I, one of the best-known Buddha images in Thailand and other places. Or you stroll
through the gardens of the Grand Palace. The Flower Market is a wonderful place to spend some time. Nakhon Kasem (Thieves
Market) has great little back streets, lots of antiques, and plenty of cheap, good eateries. Of course there are plenty of museums and
temples and great shopping for the last day before departing for home. You can also take an express boat to Nonthaburi province, visit
Ko Kret Island where Mon community in Thailand earn their living by making beautiful pottery and Thai sweets to die for. In the
evening we take a farewell dinner cruise along the Chao Praya River, watching the fabulous setting of the sun against the backdrop of
the majestic temples. A glorious ending to our adventure to the “Land of the Smile”. (B, D)
Day 17: Sunday – February 4 Very early morning flight Bangkok - USA, same day arrival.