Highlights of Thailand & Elephant Eco Tour

สวัสดีค่ะ  Sawasdee ka！Welcome to Thailand! On arrival in Bangkok, your private guide will be ready to welcome you at the arrival hall with our warm welcome kits. You will be transferred to your hotel with a private car and driver. Your guide will help you with luggage and hotel check-in and ensure your arrival is worry-free.

Today you will enjoy a private guided tour of Bangkok. Start with the dazzling, spectacular  Grand Palace. It’s undoubtedly the city's most famous landmark, where you will find Wat Phra Kaew there (the temple of the Emerald Buddha). Continue to Wat Pho, one of the oldest, most extensive and famous temples in Bangkok, home to an immense reclining Buddha statue. After lunch, walk to the pier and take a boat ride to Wat Arun, aka“The Dawn Temple”, belong to an immense stupa. Your tour also concludes with the magnificent Jim Thompson Museum, where you will find traditional Thai houses surrounding the gardens and many stunning pieces of artwork.

Depart early morning for a 2-hour drive to the Maeklong Railway Market (also known as Rom Hub Market). It has a train running through the middle of it several times a day. Right down the middle and close enough to touch. Only in Thailand! Marvel at each seller quickly moves their wares via ingenious sets of easily-movable containers to avoid the coming train, once the train has passed， it’s back to business as usual.

Your second stop is the 100-year-old Damnoen Saduak Floating Market located 100 km (62 mi) from Bangkok, one of Thailand’s most famous attractions. Day-in and day-out from about 8 am to about 11 am, the Floating Market is routinely crowded with hundreds of vendors and purchasers floating in their small rowing boats selling and buying or exchanging their goods. You will have a chance to take a ride on a long tail boat to get the real sense of a floating village. After the long tail boat cruise around the village, you will stop at a transit point where you can choose to further explore the floating market by a 4-seat boat (at your own expense) or stroll around by the river's banks. After lunch at a local restaurant, return to your hotel.

After breakfast, you will back to Bangkok and take your internal flight to the historical city of Chiang Rai, located in the northeast of Thailand. Your driver is waiting for you at the airport to take you by private car to your hotel. After settling down in your hotel, spend at your own leisure！

This morning, you will visit the Golden Triangle, which renowned as the center of the opium trade in the latter half of the 20th century. From a hilltop viewpoint, marvel at the splendor of the mighty Mekong as it joins the Ruak River forming the actual "Triangle" between Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand. The Opium Museum near the view point of the golden triangle was built to educate people about the dangers of the drug through an entertaining exhibition that traces the history of opium from its first use 5,000 years ago to current issues of drug abuse and addiction. Many publications regard it as one of the best museums in Thailand.

Chiang Rai's close proximity to Laos makes it easy to visit this mysterious country. You will cross the Mae Kong River into Laos to witness local village life. You can walk around the local market where you will have free time to browse and perhaps pick up a few bargains. Return to the Thai side of the Mae Kong River for lunch with river view before leaving for the Doi Tung Royal Palace and Garden (Mae Fah Luang Garden)，Doi Tung was once a secluded area in the heart of the Golden Triangle-a leading region of illicit world opium production. The watershed area was denuded by slash and burn cultivation, and further accelerated by opium growing. After the Princess Mother's first visit to Doi Tung, She announced: "I will reforest Doi Tung".The Princess Mother decided to improve the conditions of Doi Tung, socially, economically, and environmentally. She demonstrated her commitment by building her home in Doi Tung, which is what we called Mae Fah Luang Garden.

After breakfast, we will head to Chiang Mai today! On the way, we will visit Rong Suea Ten or the ‘The Blue Temple’ which was built by the student of Mr. Chalermchai  Kositpipat who built The famous White Temple. The outside is gorgeous, but the inside is even more spectacular with beautiful paintings and a huge white Buddha in the center.Your second stop is ‘The Black House’, known as ‘Baan Dam’ in Thai. Baan Dam is Thawan Duchanee’s artful portrayal of hell. The opaque decor and dead animals adorning each room make Duchanee’s estate the complete opposite of the White Temple, the glimpse of heaven designed by his teacher Chalermchai Kositpipat. Although off the beaten track, the Black House is not something to be overlooked. Then continue to Wat Rong Khun or ‘The White Temple’, blending traditional Buddhist art with contemporary themes. Followed by a visit to hot spring for relaxation. Late afternoon, we will arrive at Chiang Mai and free at your leisure.

Enjoy your free time until your guide and driver come and meet you. You will visit Chiang Mai old city today, your visit includes Wat Pra Singh, It is one of over 200 ancient Buddhist temples located around the city, one of the most well-regarded examples of Lanna architecture. And Wat Chedi Luang, The temple is the site of an enormous pagoda, originally 280 feet high, and which was partially destroyed by an earthquake in 1545. Then transfer to the Warorot market, to see and feel the real northern people’s way of life. Lunch at a local restaurant. 

A relaxing drive about 1hr takes you to the Doi Suthep Mountain. Climb 309 steps (or for the less fitness-oriented, a tram is available for a small surcharge) to the top, enjoying a truly breathtaking scenery all along the way up to the top where you will find Wat Phra That, one of Northern Thailand’s most sacred temples. Have a panoramic view of the city of Chiang Mai.

Next, take an adventurous ride on a songthaew across the rugged roads toward the exotic Meo hill tribe villages, which is located a further 18 Kilometers from Wat Doi Suthep into the mountains of Doi Suthep Pui National Park. You will visit a native household and discover the daily lives of the friendly villagers. Learn about their unique customs and heritage before returning to your hotel in Chiang Mai.

A 2 days 1 night package to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary offers you an enjoyable opportunity to spend quality time with elephants in their natural home, as well as gain an insight into their history and behavior, and create cherished lifelong memories of their time spent with these amazing animals.

Today you will be picked up from your place of accommodation and will drive through scenic agricultural areas before arriving at the Sanctuary. There, you will meet your English-speaking guide and learn a little about the elephants, before changing into traditional Karen clothing.

After being allocated bananas and sugar cane to feed to the elephants, you will walk with your guide through the Sanctuary, where you will find free-roaming elephants and hear their individual stories. You can touch, feed, photograph, and interact with the elephants at your leisure while you learn about their lifestyle and behaviors. 

When you are ready to leave the Sanctuary for the day, you will hike with your guide to the Karen village. Your guide will show you to your accommodations in a local family home, and introduce you to some of the friendly local people. Learn about local customs, language, and traditions as you become immersed in the serene mountainside village and picturesque scenery. Feel free to explore the area and photograph the rural views, or relax in your peaceful quiet surroundings as you watch the sunset.

After a short time, it will be time for dinner. You will be invited into a local kitchen, where you can watch or help out as traditional Karen food is prepared over the fire. Enjoy a nutritious candlelit dinner of local food made from wholesome, natural ingredients. Speak to the Karen people and learn about the intricacies of life in the jungle as you eat your delicious meal.

After dinner, you can choose to relax some more and converse by candlelight or retreat to the family home for an early sleep. The traditional wood house features both single and double sleeping areas, warm linen, and mosquito nets, to ensure your comfort during the night. Fall asleep to the soft sounds of the nocturnal jungle life in your natural surroundings and replenish your energy for the second day of your Elephant Jungle Sanctuary experience.

Awaken early for a brilliant view of the rising sun, or rest a little longer and wake up just in time to eat a healthy breakfast. Choose coffee or freshly brewed herbal tea to complement your breakfast of fresh, organic local foods. Following breakfast, accompany your guide on a jungle trek to a nearby waterfall. During the hour-long hike, you will discover local animal and plant life, visit village houses and organic farms, and become deeply immersed in the jungle environment. When you arrive at the pristine waterfall, you can choose to swim in the cool, clear mountain water, take a rest in the shade nearby, or relax in the sun on the warm river rocks.

Enjoy a delicious lunch of traditional Thai food and fresh fruit beside the waterfall, before continuing to hike through the jungle and agricultural areas. Trek to another Elephant Camp where you will pass by an organic farm. Enjoy your time with an elephant before hiking back to the edge of the jungle with your guide. There, you will meet your driver, say goodbye to the jungle, and return to your place of accommodation in Chiang Mai.

Enjoy your free time until your guide and driver come and meet you. You will head to Chiang Mai Airport for your onward flight.