As a wondrous kingdom, Thailand is famous for Buddhist temples, exotic wildlife and spectacular islands. Within 7 days, Bangkok & Chiang Mai Stopover will show you more about Thailand amazing culture, friendly people in the two most significant cities in northern country. Known as the City of Angels, Bangkok is the center for most commercial and economical activities of the Kingdom. You will be given a chance to discover this charming city with a variety of tourist sites such as: Emerald Buddha, Wat Pho, Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Moreover, you can enjoy the sights of rural Thailand via a downstream cruise on the Chao Phraya River from the ancient city of Ayuthaya to Bangkok. Flying to Chiang Mai – the charming city rich of culture – you will enjoy the beauty of glittering temples, the panoramic view over Chiang Mai from Doi Suthep Mountain. There is opportunity to meet the hill tribe people and learn how they make the local product like silk, ceramics in their villages. Get the nice experience by elephant back riding trip through the jungle and bamboo rafting along a very picturesque stretch of the Mea Ping River to see the beautiful scenery down the river
Highlights:
- Exploration in Bangkok city with temple of the Emerald Buddha and the enormous Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho.
- Excursion to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market - the most popular floating market to get an insight into a bygone way of life
- Cruise on Chao Praya river from the ancient capital of Ayutthaya to Bangkok.
- Take a scenic drive through the glittering temples and the hill tribe village in Chiang Mai.
- New experience with elephant riding through the jungle and bamboo rafting along the river
- Charming hotels in great locations
- Comfortable & spacious vehicle for transfers
Itinerary in brief:
Day 1: Bangkok Arrival (-/-/-)
Day 2: Bangkok - Damnoen Saduak Floating market (B/-/-)
Day 3: Bangkok - Ayuthaya cruise (B/L/-)
Day 4: Bangkok - Flight to Chiang Mai (B/-/-)
Day 5: Meo Hill - Doi Suthep Temple - Local Handicraft Village (B/L/-)
Day 6: Elephant Center - Bamboo Rafting (B/L/-)
Day 7: Chiang Mai - Flight to Bangkok - Departure (B/-/-)- Ability to change the direction of the program
- Possibility of an extension in Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia or Vietnam
Notes:
- We specialize in “tailor-made” tours for groups of two or more. We carefully inspect each step of your journey from the accommodation to the perfect guide to suit your needs
- The itinerary is open to modification to fit your personal travel needs
- Modifications to the itinerary may increase the price of the package
- For the price of this trip, just ask for a quote by clicking on "TOUR PRICE"
- If you are looking for a trip modified to your requirements, please send us your needs by filling out the form in “Customize your trip”
- We will contact and send you a quote, excluding holiday period, within 48 hours of receiving your request.-
Day 1: Bangkok Arrival (-/-/-)
Bangkok - Airport: 30km, ~40min drive
Upon arrival at Bangkok airport, you will be met and transferred to hotel by our guide and driver. After making sure of your successful hotel check-in, he will be pleased to leave you free time for your own lunch and leisure to recover after the long flight.
This afternoon, our tour starts from the spiritual heart of Bangkok, the Grand Palace which boasts of magnificent throne halls and the Emerald Buddha. Admire the magnificent reclining Buddha at Wat Pho, Bangkok's oldest temple as well as the first school of traditional medicine and Thai massage.
Meals Included: None
Accommodation: Hotel in BangkokDay 2: Bangkok - Damnoen Saduak Floating Market (B/L/-)
Bangkok - Damnoen Saduak: 95km, ~1h30min drive
After breakfast at hotel, we start a full day tour to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market which is situated 95 km west of Bangkok. You will get to visit Nakorn Pathom; the site of the highest Chedi in Thailand. Afterwards you will attend the Thai village show, which gives you an introduction into the local life of the Thai people. You will witness ordination into Thai life, monkshood, fingernail dance, Thai boxing, hill tribe dance, sword fighting, cockfighting, elephants at work and folk dancing.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in BangkokDay 3: Bangkok - Ayuthaya Cruise (B/L/-)
Bangkok - Ayuthaya: 80km, ~1h15min drive
Morning after breakfast, we transfer by air-conditioned car to Ayutthaya. Visit Bang-Pa-In, once was the summer palace of the late King Rama V – this has some exquisite art works and the temples. Return on the comfortable boat cruise downstream to Bangkok, enjoy the sights of the rural Thailand. Buffet lunch served onboard (excluding all beverages). Evening, arrive in Bangkok and transfer from pier to hotel.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in BangkokDay 4: Bangkok - Flight to Chiang Mai (B/-/-)
Bangkok - Chiang Mai: 689km, 1h5min flight
The morning is free until our driver meet and transfer you to the airport for the flight to Chiang Mai. Upon arrival in Chiang Mai, you will be welcomed at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
This afternoon, we drive to visit Chiang Mai's famous temples: Wat Chiang Man, Wat Phra Singh, Wat Suan Dok has the north's largest chapel royal. Evening is at leisure.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Chiang MaiDay 5: Meo Hill - Doi Suthep Temple – Local Handicraft Village (B/L/-)
After breakfast at hotel, our journey begins with a visit to a Meo Hill tribe village. Trip continues on Doi Suthep Mountain to Wat Doi Suthep Temple. Driving up hill offers a panoramic view of Chiang Mai city. Later on, embark to the San Kamphaeng district, heart of the silk and cotton home industries, to witness the fascinating process of making and weaving these popular fabrics. Continue on the Bor Sang, the umbrella village, where the delicate Thai paper umbrellas are produced and hand-painted. From here, onwards to Thai Celadon, about 6kms north of Chiang Mai where exquisite ceramics are produced. These are modeled on the Sawankhalok pottery that used to be made hundreds of years ago at Sukhothai and exported all over the region.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Chiang MaiDay 6: Elephant Center - Bamboo Rafting (B/L/-)
Chiang Mai - Ta Yaak Village: 70km, ~1h5min drive
After breakfast at hotel, we head out on an excursion to visit an elephant working site located at Ta Yaak Village, Chiang Dao District, approximately. On the way, you can observe the way of living of people who live in the outskirt of Chiang Mai area and pass by Mae Rim, Mae Taeng and many of hill tribe villages including the long neck hill tribe. Upon arrival in Chiang Dao, visit the elephant working camp on the banks of the Mae Ping River Next, enjoy an exciting trek on an elephant back around camp through the jungle and along the river.
Afterwards, we board bamboo rafts along a very picturesque stretch of the Mea Ping River to see the beautiful scenery down the river. The rafting lasts about an hour but depends on the depth of the water and the speed of the current. Transfer back to your hotel.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Chiang MaiDay 7: Chiang Mai - Flight to Bangkok – Departure (B/-/-)
After breakfast at hotel, time is set free until our driver meet and transfer you to airport for flight to Bangkok to connect your flight home. End of our services.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Chiang Mai Prices
This trip is private and therefore can be altered to suit your needs, date of commencement and budget requirements.
Prices vary due to a number of specifics:
- Seasonal: during high season (October-April), the prices of services are generally higher when compared to the low season (May-September).
- The number of participants: the more of you that travel together the less you will pay!
- The choice of hotels: Fairly obvious one here; a 5-star hotel can cost ten times as much as a 2 star hotel.
- The activities during the trip: Two trips on the same itinerary and of the same length can have two different prices depending on the number and nature of activities included.
- The booking date: In some cases, booking your trip late can drastically affect prices due to their low availability.
Inclusion:
- Accommodation as recommended or similar category according to availability.
- Transfers according to program by private air-conditioned vehicle with driver except free day
- English-speaking guide’s assistance at every stage
- Meals as indicated in program (B: Breakfast /L: Lunch / D: Dinner)
- Entrance fees for attractions included in the program
- All activities and cruises clearly mentioned in the program
- Domestic air tickets: Bangkok – Chiang Mai – Bangkok
- Elephant riding & Bamboo Rafting in Chiang Mai
- Water and cool tissues
- Government taxes & service charge
Exclusion:
- Other drinks and meals not clearly mentioned
- Early check-in, late check-out
- Personal expenditures, tips
- Personal insurance (compulsory)
- Any service not clearly mentioned in the program
- International air transfers associated with airport taxes
- Visa and visa arrangement (available upon request)
Booking
Here are 2 steps to book your trip with Tonkin-Travel:
Step 1. Focus on your travel program:
You can choose this trip as is or customize it to your specific desires. Just click on the “Customize this trip” tab and fill in the form. One of our travel consultants will contact you within 48 hours to develop the travel program based on your specifications.
Step 2. Booking:
- Following the first step, tour program is selected and we access the rates.
- Upon confirmation of the trip, the registration must be accompanied by a deposit up to 25% of the total estimate.
- For programs with private junk (cruise) and/or 5 star hotels, the deposit is represented by 30% of the total estimate.
- Tonkin-Travel carries out the booking process upon receipt of the deposit. Confirmation of these reservations is sent to customer within 10 days via email
Nature of travel
This trip is private. That implies:
- You will be escorted by a private guide and driver. This approach guarantees a smooth trip with fewer organizational constraints.
- You will be the master of your trip. We guarantee flexibility in organizing visits at your request.
- Our services will be personalized according to your desires. Thus the proposals in this package are not fixed and you can bring suggest all the desired changes.
- You receive individualized care: ample food, organizing small events (anniversary, honeymoon, etc.), targeted information, followed necessary modifications, etc.
Accommodation
- Accommodation is an important expenditure of your trip. When you choose a luxury trip for example, the accommodation can represent three quarters of the price. Thus, your choice of hotels is closely related to your budget.
- Tonkin-Travel has negotiated rates with a wide range of hotels from 2 to 5 stars.
- In some places you will have the option to choose ‘home-stay’. Although this provides less comfort that a hotel it is a truly authentic experience and highly recommended for at least one night of your journey.
Transport
All transfers during your trip are covered by private vehicle with driver, unless otherwise indicated in our offer. We ensure that our vehicles are new and comfortable. Fuel, tolls, accommodation, compensation and the driver are included in our offer. Only gratuities are not included and are at your discretion.
The size of the selected vehicle is based on the number of tour participants according to the following quality standards:
No. of participants
2 pax
3 pax
From 4 to 7 pax
From 8 to 14 pax
From 15 to 20 pax
Vehicle size
Car 4-7 seats
Car 7 or minivan
16 seatsMinivan 16 seats
Bus 24 seats
Bus 35 or 45 seats
Domestic flights
If your trip includes domestic flights if any, they will be operated by Vietnam Airlines, the largest airline in Vietnam. The fleet consists mainly of Airbus and Boeing. On some short trips, the company operates 72 ATR and some Fokker.
Rail transport
Train travel can be offered (particularly between Hanoi-Lao Cai and Hanoi-Hue). Travelling at a speed of 60km/h on average it is not necessarily the fastest but an interesting experience nonetheless.
- This form allows us to establish a tour proposal suitable for your needs. It is free and without obligation
- This form allows us to establish a tour proposal suitable for your needs. It is free and without obligation