Singapore & Thailand Highlights - Airfare Included

• Day 1:

  Depart on your nonstop Singapore Airlines flight to Singapore.

• Day 2:

  Upon arrival in Singapore, you will be met by your English-speaking driver and transferred to your hotel.  

• Day 3:

  Today, you will be met at your hotel for your private, half-day Gardens by the Bay tour.

• Day 4:

  Today, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Chiang Mai.   Upon arrival at the Chiang Mai Airport and, after the immigration process, you will be met by your local representative and transferred to your hotel.  Spend the rest of your day at leisure.

   

  Sawasdee…Welcome to The Lands of Smiles

  Popularly known as the Rose of the North, Chiang Mai is blessed with stunning natural beauty and unique indigenous cultural identity.  Founded by King Mengrai the Great as the capital of the Lanna Thai kingdom by merging the various city states in the region in 1296.  Today Chiang Mai is the economic, communications, cultural and tourism centre of Northern Thailand.

  About 700 kilometers from Bangkok, Chiang Mai is situated on the Mae Ping River basin some 310 meters above sea level.  Surrounded by high mountain ranges, it covers an area of approximately 20,107 square kilometers.  The terrain is mainly jungles and mountains, parts of which are within national parks which are still fertile and verdant with plentiful flora and fauna.  There are many sites and locations where tourists prefer to visit to study the lifestyle of the tribal people who live on high hills.

• Day 5:

  Morning: Visit to Elephant Jungle Sanctuary – (approximate time: 6:30 AM – 1:30 PM)

  A half-day tour to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary offers visitors an enjoyable opportunity to spend quality time with elephants in their natural home, as well as gain an insight into their history and behavior creating cherished lifelong memories of your time spent with these amazing animals.

  Visitors to the Sanctuary will also be privileged enough to meet and interact with members of the Karen tribe and witness stunning views of the surrounding jungle and mountains, all while interacting personally with friendly, happy elephants in a safe and sustainable environment.

  On the morning of your visit, you will be picked up from your accommodation and drive for approximately 1.5 hours through scenic agricultural areas, hills, and forest, 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. After you have met all the elephants, you will accompany them to a nearby mud spa. Get muddy with the elephants as you apply a healthy cosmetic mud treatment to their skin. Next, you will walk with the elephants to a nearby river and join them in the water for a refreshing bath. Take a swim and help bathe and brush the elephants while they wade through and play in the water.

  Once the elephants are clean, you can take some final photos with them, and then it will be time to part ways with your new friends and change into some dry clothes. Finally, eat some snacks and seasonal fresh fruit, before enjoying once again the impressive rural scenery as you drive back to Chiang Mai.

  Afternoon: Doi Suthep Temple (approximate time: 1:30 PM – 5:00 PM)

  The city of Chiang Mai has many beautiful and historic Buddhist temples and this excursion takes in one of the best - the 600 year-old Wat Pra That Doi Suthep. This is the landmark of the city located near the summit of Doi Suthep. After a drive up the mountain’s winding road, the final climb to the site is via a magnificent Naga (dragon-headed serpent) staircase of 306 steps. Inside is an intriguing copper-plated chedi topped by a five-tier gold umbrella which contains partial relics of Lord Buddha. On a clear day, there are panoramic views out over the city of Chiang Mai.

• Day 6:

  Morning: Cooking Class at Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School – (approximate time: 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM)

  The Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School was established in 1993 and is a family business operated by Sompon and Elizabeth Nabnian. They offer daily courses taught by Sompon, who is an experienced Thai chef and who speaks excellent English. They will teach you the secrets of Thai cooking at their home in a relaxed atmosphere.

  The Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School offers you a choice of 5 different courses. Each course has been designed as a one-day course so that you will learn the main techniques for cooking Thai food whichever course you attend. The courses offered are completely hands on, which means that you will prepare and cook all the dishes by yourself.

  The teachers have an extensive knowledge of Thai ingredients and cooking methods which they take pleasure in sharing with their students every day. They all speak excellent English.

  Services Included;

           Round trip transfer from hotels located in the center of Chiang Mai (supplement charge for pick up/drop off from hotels located outside Chiang Mai city area to be advised upon booking request.)

           Half-day beginner class 

           Ingredients

           One meal after your own culinary creation, drinks (tea, coffee and water)

           Full color cookbook containing recipes from all courses

           English-speaking cooking instructor

           Service Charge and VAT 7%

  After the tour, you will return to hotel and enjoy balance of the day at leisure

• Day 7:

  Today, you will be met at your hotel by the local representative and transferred to Chiang Mai Airport for your flight to Bangkok.

  Upon arrival at Bangkok Airport, you will be met by the local representative for your afternoon tour of the Grand Palace & Wat Po (approximate time: 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM).

  The Grand Palace is the “must see” attraction in Bangkok. It is an architectural wonder of golden stupas, walls and pillars encrusted in shining and colorful mosaics. Previously the residence of past Kings of Thailand, you will see palaces once used for different occasions; the Reception Hall, the Coronation Hall, the Throne Hall, the Royal Guest House and Wat Phra Kaew. The architecture is predominantly Thai, though there are some European influences. The palace served as the official residence of kings of Thailand from the 18th to the mid-20th century. The most famous building within the palace grounds is Wat Phra Kaew and this is regarded as the most sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand. Continue to Wat Po, with its massive reclining Buddha.

• Day 8:

  Morning: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market (approximate time: 7:00 AM – 2:00 PM, morning only)

  Evening: Midnight Food Tour by Tuk Tuk (approximate time: 7:30 PM – 11:00 PM)

  Experience the fun of riding around in a Tuk Tuk to discover Bangkok’s magical atmosphere at night. Visit famous local eateries around the city sampling the local street foods. A favorite is Khao Man Gai  (Chicken & Rice), or a hearty helping of the best Pad Thai (fried Rice Noodles) or the best kept-secret Guay Tiew Kua Gai (Rice noodles with chicken in a warm broth) Go behind the scenes to see how it's made.  Explore the amazing flower market with its vivid colors. This market really comes to life at night. Visit a magnificent temple for a unique night-time perspective to see the temple spires glistening in the night light. After the trip, your Tuk Tuk driver will take you back to your hotel in Bangkok by midnight.

  Meals include breakfast and dinner. 

• Day 9:

  Today, you will be met and transferred to Bangkok Airport to board your flight to Samui.

  Koh Samui is Thailand's third largest island after Phuket and Koh Chang.  Samui boasts some beautiful beaches. A large percentage of the island is covered with coconut plantations, offering a truly tropical paradise atmosphere.   Koh Samui is situated on the east side of the peninsula, in the Gulf of Thailand.  The main town on the island is Nathon, where there is a pier for boats to other locations, restaurants, shopping, cafes, internet shops, banks and post office with terminals of 'songthaews' or local taxis for your journeys around the island.  Nice beaches are sandy Chaweng beach with restaurants and nightlife option; nearby Lamai Beach, with dining options; Choeng Mon Beach, Bo Phut village and Mae Nam Beach.

  Near Koh Samui is Koh Phangan, an island with many fine beaches also and much less development, making it a great place to explore.  Slightly further away is Ang Thong National Marine Park which is a group of islands similar to the limestone karst of Phan-nga Bay in Phuket., and Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan, famous diving sites with tropical fish and coral in abundance.

  Upon arrival at Samui Airport, you will be met with the local representative and transferred to your hotel for check in and enjoy balance of the day at leisure.

   

  Meals included: Breakfast

• Day 10:

  Get away from it all with this great day out to a wonderland of nature, Ang Thong National Marine Park, which consists of 42 islands with tranquil blue lagoons, reefs and deserted sandy beaches.  There are fascinating rock formations, beautiful natural caves and even a salt lake or "keyhole" lake surrounded by sheer rock walls.  Come and join a trip that offers the ultimate in tropical relaxation.  There will be time for snorkeling, swimming and kayaking.  Lunch and soft drinks are included.  There is a small fee for entry into the Ang Thong National Marine Park.

   

  Meals included:  Breakfast and lunch

• Day 11:

  Days at leisure to enjoy the resort's facilities.

• Day 12:

  Today you will be transferred to Samui Airport for your flight to Singapore and connecting flight to Los Angeles with arrival the same day.

Accommodation as per the itinerary; Meals as per the itinerary; Ground transfers as per the itinerary; Scheduled Tours as per the itinerary. International flights on Singapore airlines and domestic Thailand flights. 

Any services not mentioned above; Any items of personal expense, i.e. drinks, telephone calls, laundry etc.; Gratuities for guides/drivers; Visa fees if applicable. Domestic USA flights.