ABSOLUTE THAILAND 16 DAYS / 15 NIGHTS

Day 1 Arrive Chiang Mai (D)
Upon arrival in the northern capital of Thailand, you'll be transferred to your hotel for check-in. This evening we'll take you to enjoy a Khantoke dinner presentation of classical, folk and hill tribe dances, songs and ceremonies. After removing your shoes you will be seated, comfortably, on the floor with Thai-style cushions for the dinner of a special variety of northern-Thai food, served in Lanna Kingdom court style.
 

Day 2 Chiang Mai (B)
Drive to the mountain temple Wat Doi Suthep, the temple is situated on a hill 1050 meters above sea level, on clear days, you can enjoy a fantastic view of Chiang Mai and surrounding areas. Return to Chiang Mai town and continue your tour by Trishaw, as we travel through the historical town of Chiang Mai, Visit Wat Phrasing which houses the beautiful Lai Kham Chapel with its exquisite wood carving and northern style murals. Afterwards visit Wat Chedi Luang, containing an enormous Pagoda, which was partially destroyed by an earthquake in 1545. Continue on to visit real local life of Chiang Mai. Muang Mai market. Much of the food has come straight from the farm and in some parts of the market the farmers sell their wares direct from the back of their vehicles.
 

Day 3 Chiang Mai (B/L)
You will visit a training camp of elephants, which is almost like a school, here you are shown how the animals are trained from young age onwards and the “pupils” will demonstrate what they have learned then ride on  an elephant  through the jungle for an hour.  View the beauty of the country- side along the river by raft.  Lunch will be provided.  After Lunch  a visit to an Orchid  farm is now on the program.
 

Day 4 Chiang Mai – Train (B)
Following breakfast you have the day at leisure until check-out at approximately noon. Your guide and vehicle will pick you up in the afternoon for the transfer to Chiang Mai railway station for the overnight sleeper to Bangkok.
 

Day 5 Arrive Bangkok (B)
Early morning arrival in Bangkok and transfer to your hotel, enjoy a hot breakfast at the hotel before embarking on a tour to home of the Kings of Siam of the Chakri Dynasty, originally built by King Rama I, it served as the royal residence until 1946. Today the palace is still used on certain occasions for visiting royalty or special guests of the Kingdom. Adjoining the Grand Palace you will find the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Keo), this is probably the best known of the royal temples. It is regarded as the most important temple in all Thailand and it is the venue of many of the numerous religious ceremonies in which the King participates, especially at the beginning of each of the three seasons when His Majesty personally changes the elaborate robes of the Buddha image, carved out of a single piece of emerald-green jasper.  
 

Day 6 Bangkok (B/L)
Starting in Bangkok we drive south to start our bicycle exploration of the Mae Klong Delta area at Klong Lad Pli Floating market. Walking through Klong Lad Pli gives us a chance to see wooden houses perched on the edge of the canal including one that once was an opium den. We arrive at Damneon Saduak floating market, the biggest and most colourful in Thailand and a must for any visitor. Purchase just about anything from the vast array of “shops” on the river. After discovering the sights and sounds of the floating market, we embark on a long tail boat and cruise through a maze of canals cutting through local villages and various plantations. This eye-opening boat ride offers a glimpse of Thailand of old where local people are going about their daily life with the canal as the focal point. Hop off a long tail boat and get on our saddles. Start a short ride to Wat Bang Kae Noi, the temple is famous for its teakwood carving. The magnificent teakwood interior of the Ubosot, coronation room, is delicately carved to portray the story of Lord Buddha. Our ride takes us further into coconut plantations and fruit orchards along quiet back roads. We stop to visit an Unseen Thailand at Wat Bang Kung, a quirky temple held up by a huge banyan tree. After lunch at a riverside restaurant we continue cycling on picturesque trails towards Amphawa floating market. After some refreshments, explore a temple complex and a local market before returning to Bangkok.
 

Day 7 Bangkok - Kanchanaburi (B/L/D)
Following breakfast at the hotel you will be picked up along with other passengers before leaving Bangkok for River Kwai.  Our first stop in Kanchanaburi will be at the Railway Museum which will give you a good overall view concerning this portion of the track. After visit the War Cemetery and the famous bridge over the River Kwai before proceeding by long tail boats for the River Kwai Jungle Rafts for check-in and lunch. In the afternoon  visit the Hell Fire Pass. Dinner at the hotel followed by a Mon cultural dance and song. 
 

Day 8 Kanchanaburi – Hua Hin (B/L)
Wake up to the sounds of nature. Breakfast at the rafts, followed by a stroll to the Mon tribal village. Just before lunch we head down stream to take a ride along the infamous Death Railway as we pass hanging cliffs and river scenery. After transfer to Hua Hin, a quaint beach resort town located on the sunrise coast, check-in at your hotel.
 

Day 9 Hua Hin (B)
Free day at leisure to relax and enjoy this small coastal town.
 

Day 10 Hua Hin – Koh Tao (B)
After breakfast, pick-up from your hotel to board a coach for the trip south, enroute you will pass many different small towns and plantations. Upon arrival in Chumphon, board a cataraman ferry to the island of Koh Tao. 
 

Day 11 – 12 Koh Tao (B)
Free day at leisure
 

Day 13 Koh Tao – Koh Samui (B)
After breakfast, pick-up from your hotel to board a coach for the trip south, enroute you will pass many different small towns and plantations. Upon arrival in Chumphon, board a cataraman ferry to the island of Koh Tao. 
Transfer from hotel to board the ferry to Koh Samui, enroute the ferry will make a short stop at Koh Phangan famous for it's Full Moon parties before continuing it's journey to Koh Samui where you will be met upon arrival and transferred to your hotel.
 

Day 14 – 15 Koh Samui (B)
Free day at leisure