Thailand Itinerary—Tentative
More detail to come in prospectus
Meals Included (B, L, D)
Day 1: Sat Dec 27, 2014
Travel Day. Depart JFK to Bangkok. Approx. 20 hour flight.
Day 2: Sun Dec 28 (D)
Arrive Bangkok, afternoon arrival. Pick up from airport on private group bus.
Transfer to hotel in downtown Bangkok.
Meet our guide at 6 pm at hotel for introductions and welcome.
Welcome dinner at 7pm at Bangkok restaurant.
Overnight at 3-star hotel.
Day 3: Mon Dec 29 (B, L, D)
Tour day of Bangkok with guide. Will make visits to: Wat Pho and Grand Palace,
Canal Boat Tour, Wat Arun Temple, and Flower Market.
Group Dinner. Overnight at 3-star hotel.
Day 4: Tues Dec 30 (B)
Day on your own to explore or break into smaller groups led by leader and co-leader
to visit specific areas in Bangkok. Approx 6 pm train departure for Chiang Mai.
Sleeper cars with restaurant. Lunch and dinner on your own. Dinner can be
purchased on the train. 14 hour train arrives in Chiang Mai about 8 am.
Day 5: Wed Dec 31 (D)
Arrive in Chiang Mai by train in the morning. Check into hotel. Free day in Chiang
Mai. Evening cooking class and then New Year’s Eve celebration in Chiang Mai town.
Overnight at 3-star hotel.
Day 6: Thurs, Jan 1 (B, L, D)
Begin our hill tribe trek. We will be picked up at approximately 8:45 at the hotel to
drive in a open pick up truck for 3 hours north. After lunch we depart on our hike
for about 4 to 5 hours. We will pass through a variety of villages. We will stay at a
local hosts in each village. We can explore the village or help our hosts with dinner.
Accommodations are in a basic bamboo hut with an air mattress, sleeping bag on the
floor.
Day 7: Fri, Jan 2 (B, L, D)
Day two of our trek. Hike for about 4 to 5 hours. Stay in another village with local
hosts.
Day 8: Sat, Jan 3 (B. L, D)
After breakfast, we leave the village and take transport along the Mae Tae Valley for
a few hours (60 km) to an elephant rescue park. We will be joined by a park expert
who will share more with us about the elephant rescue. We will be able to feed and
wash the elephants. We will depart around 5 pm back to Chiang Mai. We will have a
group dinner at a restaurant in Chiang Mai. Overnight 3 star hotel in Chiang Mai.
Day 9: Sun, Jan 4 (B, L, D)
We will be picked up early morning by a guide and driven to Doi Inthanon National
Park where we will see shrines, temples, waterfalls and the hike to the highest point
in Thailand at 2565 meters. We will return that evening for dinner in Chiang Mai at
a restaurant. The Sunday market will also be going on that day. Overnight 3 star
hotel in Chiang Mai.
Day 10: Jan 5 (B)
Fly from Chiang Mai to Phuket. Transfer to hotel. Rest of day free in Phuket. Dinner
on your own—you might want to taste samplings from the Night Bazaar. Overnight
3-star hotel in Phuket.
Day 11: Jan 6 (B, L, D)
Picked up at hotel at 5:30 am for 3 hour minibus travel to Tap Lamu Pier. (snacks
upon arrival) Depart about 8:45 am for 1.5 hour speed boat to first of Similan
Islands. Visit islands # 7 and #8 in the morning for snorkeling, beach relaxing,
walking. Travel to island #4 for lunch and our evening accommodations.
Accommodation in basic park bungalows with a/c.
Day 12: Jan 7 (B, L, D)
Morning boat ride to islands #5 and #6 for snorkeling, beach relaxing and walking.
Return to island #4 in afternoon for lunch and dinner. Overnight accommodations
at same park bungalows with a/c.
Day 13: Jan 8 (B, L, D)
Return to island #7 for morning visit, snorkel.
Return back to island #4 for lunch and check out of bungalows. Depart at 3 pm for
speed boat back to pier. Return to Phuket via minibus. 3 hours (arrive approx. 7
pm) Group dinner in Phuket. Overnight same 3-star hotel as previously in Phuket.
Day 14: Jan 9 (B, D)
Flights from Phuket to Bangkok. Arrive Bangkok afternoon. Farewell dinner.
Overnight 3-star hotel (same as beginning of trip).
Day 15: Jan 10 (B)
Transfer from hotel to airport as group. Flights back to US in the afternoon.