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Thailand

The Best of Thailand: An Exploration of the Culture and Kingdom

Program No. 22813RJ
Delight in the beauty of Thailand as you enjoy gentle hikes, walks, canoe rides and boat excursions through its cultural and natural wonders.
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Small Group
Length
15 days
Rating (4.89)
Activity Level
Starts at
3,799
Flights start at
1,200
Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
15 days
14 nights
What's Included
30 meals ( 12B, 9L, 9D )
3 expert-led lectures
18 expert-led field trips
2 flights during the program
3 hands-on experiences
An experienced Group Leader
12 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 2:00pm. The Orientation is at 5:00pm. If you arrive later and miss the Orientation, the Group Leader will give you a brief overview and introductions the following day.
Afternoon:
After arriving at the hotel, take some time to unpack, freshen up and relax. Orientation at 5:00 p.m. in the hotel lobby. The Group Leader will greet everyone with a warm welcome and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule and any changes, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer any questions you may have. Free time is reserved for your personal independent exploration. Evenings at leisure offer opportunities to make the program more meaningful and memorable through personal independent exploration, engaging in activities on your own or with fellow participants, or simply relaxing. The Group Leader will always be happy to offer suggestions for free time. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may be changed due to local conditions/circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Van transfer to Doi Suthep involves driving up winding mountain roads for approximately 45 minutes (12 miles) one way. Morning visit entails approximately 1.5 hours walking (1-2 miles). Afternoon exploration entails approximately 1 hour walking (1 mile) along cobblestones in the old city center with light traffic.
Breakfast:
Early morning boxed breakfast provided on our journey to Doi Suthep.
Morning:
In the early morning, we depart by minivans for Doi Suthep. Once there, we experience a Buddhist tradition - the procession of the monks before they ascend the 309 steps of the Golden Naga staircase to reach the glittering, golden pagodas at the sacred Doi Suthep Mountain. Afterwards, we continue our drive to Wat Umong, a temple that dates back to the 14th century and contains a network of tunnels and caves. Here we experience a private blessing ceremony, a traditional Buddhist way of offering you good health and happiness.
Lunch:
We enjoy a traditional Northern Thai lunch: Khao Soi. Arguably Chiang Mai's most famous dish, Khao Soi combines crispy noodles with a rich coconut curry sauce. Afterwards, we enjoy a presentation on sustainable and organic tea plantations, given by the founder of the restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we join our local expert and Group Leader for a walking discovery of Chiang Mai. We begin at a local market where fresh vegetables, spices, meat and fish are sold. We continue our walk to the Three Kings Monument, a royal tribute to the founding fathers of the Lan Na Kingdom. Situated in the heart of Chiang Mai, the monument commemorates the city's founding. We return to the hotel on a 'songthaew,' a local form of transportation, with time to freshen up before our dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Drive is approximately 37 miles (1 hour 25 minutes) one way. Easy to moderate walking in the mountains for approximately 2 hours.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will depart the hotel by minivans and travel to Doi Inthanon National Park, home to Thailand's highest mountain, Doi Inthanon. The park features lush tropical forests, winding rivers, and stunning waterfalls. It is also rich in wildlife, including gibbons, deer, wild boar, and over 300 species of birds. We will stop at Wachirathan Waterfall before continuing up to the summit of Doi Inthanon National Park. At the summit, we'll walk along a nature trail for approximately 30 minutes. Afterward, we’ll reboard the minivans and begin our descent, stopping at the Royal Twin Pagodas to explore the beautiful surrounding area and gardens.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we visit the Karen Village to learn more about this ethnic group and their way of life. We take a walk through the village and visit one of the homes before returning by vans to Chiang Mai.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking 1-2 miles on reasonably flat natural surfaces.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This morning we visit Kanta Elephant Sanctuary to learn about Asian Elephants in Thailand in a relaxed forest environment. We have the opportunity to meet and speak with the mahouts. Kanta is dedicated to providing a natural and relaxing environment for their rescue elephants in their retirement.
Lunch:
We’ll enjoy lunch at the sanctuary with a view of the elephants nearby.
Afternoon:
This afternoon we travel by motorcoach to Wat Suan Dok, the Buddhist University. We take a short walk around the temple to learn about its history and understand why it is revered as one of the city's most sacred sites. We spend some time chatting with the monks and have a lecture to learn more about the religion of Buddhism. We return to our hotel by motorcoach with time to freshen up before dinner.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Driving approximately 150 miles (4.5 hours) with rest stops along the way. Easy to moderate walking for approximately 3 hours.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Check out of the hotel and depart for Mae Chan. En route, we stop in Chiang Rai and visit the Buddhist temple Wat Rong Khun. Commonly referred to as the White Temple, the silvery-white buildings appear to shimmer from a distance.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will visit Wat Rong Suea Ten, also known as the Blue Temple. This Buddhist temple is painted in vibrant shades of blue, a color associated with purity and wisdom. We continue our drive along winding roads to Mae Chan and our hotel.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Easy to moderate walking approximately 1 mile (2-3 hours).
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We travel by motorcoach to the Mae Salong hilltribe market, where many tribes—including Akha, Chan (Thai Yai), Yunna (Haw), and Karen—gather to sell their products. As we wander, we'll be captivated by the incredible variety on offer. Many species of rice, local herbs, clothes, household equipment, fruit, vegetables and animal products are all up for sale. We board our motorcoach and return to the resort to participate in a cooking class followed by lunch.
Lunch:
We enjoy preparing our own food for lunch at the resort. In doing so, we learn about the different herbs and spices that are common in Thai cooking.
Afternoon:
Afternoon at leisure. Enjoy the relaxing mountain resort and its amenities.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
The drive to Chiang Rai airport is approximately 1 hour. The evening walk from our hotel to a nearby restaurant is approximately 10 minutes.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We check out of the hotel and transfer to the Chiang Rai airport for our morning flight to Bangkok. Upon our arrival in Bangkok, we transfer to our hotel and check in.
Lunch:
At the hotel.
Afternoon:
We have some down time after lunch to settle into our hotel or head out for a walk nearby the riverside hotel. In the late afternoon/early evening, we will be joined by a local expert for a presentation about Thailand’s political economy - the interdisciplinary study of economics, political science, sociology, and other disciplines - to understand the impact and influence of political factors in economic outcomes.
Dinner:
We’ll walk to a nearby riverfront restaurant for dinner and enjoy the scenic Chao Phraya River as we dine.
Evening:
We are free to return to our hotel at leisure.
Activity Note
Getting in/out of a long-tail riverboat. Walking approximately 1.5 miles throughout the day from river pier to the Grand Palace, to lunch, then to Wat Pho. Note: We do not go inside the Grand Palace, but we explore the surroundings. Wat Pho is a sacred site. Please dress conservatively (no shorts or singlet tops); shoes must be removed to enter the temple, but socks are allowed. Photography is NOT permitted.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will take a local river taxi to the Grand Palace area. The Grand Palace with its surrounding complex is Bangkok’s most famous landmark. Built in 1782, the extraordinary architecture, artistic detail, and amazing history have made it a cultural icon. The Grand Palace is no longer the royal residence, but it is still used for important ceremonial occasions. We do not go inside the Grand Palace, but we explore the surroundings. In addition to the Palace itself, there are more than 100 structures within the grounds. Many of these are beautifully designed and decorated, including Wat Phra Kaew, Thailand's most important and sacred temple. We will visit the Wat Phra Kaew temple that houses the so-called Emerald Buddha, painstakingly carved from a single block of green jade. It was discovered in a Chiang Rai stupa in 1434, covered in plaster! Legend says its history goes back to India in the year 43 BCE. It now sits in splendor on a golden throne and watches over the Thai nation. Afterwards, we visit the Queen Sirikit Textile Museum to learn about Thai textiles past and present. We then continue by foot to Wat Pho, adjacent to the Palace. The oldest and largest Buddhist temple in Bangkok, it contains more than 1,000 images of the Buddha. One of the most famous is the Reclining Buddha, nearly 150 feet (46 meters) long and 50 feet (15 meters) high. Wat Pho was also the country’s earliest center for public education. It is the national headquarters for preserving and teaching traditional Thai medicine, including Thai massage, which is still practiced here.
Lunch:
We will take a short walk to have lunch at a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We board a colorful longtail boat and cruise up the river, admiring the Bangkok skyline as we go. We will discover an intricate network of waterways, dotted with traditional teak houses as well as modern mansions. Bangkok's waterside reveals some of the city's history and shows how it has evolved into the cosmopolitan capital we see today. We return to our hotel and have the remainder of the afternoon and evening at leisure.
Dinner:
On your own to enjoy the local fare.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for our early morning flight to Phuket tomorrow morning.
Activity Note
The flight from Bangkok to Phuket is approximately 1.5 hours. The drive to Bangkok airport is approximately 40 minutes-1 hour (11 miles). The drive from Phuket airport to the hotel is approximately 5 minutes (1 mile).
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will check out of our hotel and transfer to Bangkok Airport for our flight to Phuket, located in southern Thailand.
Lunch:
At own arrangements, on the flight to Phuket.
Afternoon:
We disembark our flight at Phuket airport and transfer to our hotel. We check-in to our hotel and have the remainder of the afternoon to settle in and relax.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We enjoy some time at leisure before our late-morning departure for Phang Nga Bay. At Ao Po Grand Marina Pier, we board a vessel from which we will explore the sea caves and hidden lagoons. We will discover the pristine beauty of Phuket as we take in the limestone cliffs and turquoise waters of Phang Nga Bay.
Lunch:
We enjoy lunch on board the boat as we cruise around Phang Nga Bay.
Afternoon:
We hop aboard smaller boats to explore the Phang Nga Bay Caves. Local guides will do the paddling as we take in the stunning surroundings. Look out for macaques, water monitors, kingfishers, mudskippers, egrets, sea eagles and Brahminy kites as you explore the hidden caverns and picturesque lagoons surrounded by giant cliffs.
Dinner:
We enjoy a Thai seafood buffet dinner (with vegetarian options) underneath the stars of Phang Nga Bay.
Evening:
We finish the day by floating our self-made flower “Krathong” and return to the pier after sunset. From the pier we head back to the hotel, arriving at around 10:00pm.
Activity Note
Motorcoach transfer time from hotel to pier is approximately 1 hour.
Breakfast:
On board the boat.
Morning:
We board our private speed boat and spend the day exploring the Andaman Sea. We will make several stops at ideal locations for swimming and snorkeling. We will spend some time exploring caves, walking on the white sand beaches and enjoying the beautiful clear water.
Lunch:
We enjoy lunch at a seaside restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we visit Bamboo Island. Bamboo Island is famous for its wide, white sandy beach and shallow coral reef. We have some more time to relax, swim or snorkel before heading back to the hotel. in the late afternoon.
Dinner:
On your own to enjoy the local fare.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking in town for approximately 2-3 hours (2 miles) along small and sometimes busy roads.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
This morning we explore Phuket Old Town on foot. We learn about the island’s past while exploring different architectural styles. We view former Chinese schools that have been repurposed into museums and restaurants as well as Chinese shrines. We walk past Sino-Portuguese buildings that stand in testimony to the influence of the migrants who came to Phuket during the tin mining days of the 19th century. We take a closer look at the past with a visit to Thavorn Museum. Located in the hotel of the same name, this museum boasts an impressive collection of old calculators, typewriters, tin toys and more. Seeing these relics gives us a sense of what life was like in Phuket in earlier times. During our walk we have the opportunity to sample various local snacks and delicacies.
Lunch:
On your own to enjoy what you like.
Afternoon:
The afternoon is at leisure allowing you to do your final explorations or relax back at the hotel.
Dinner:
Farewell Dinner at the hotel with a complimentary "Farewell to Thailand" drink with dinner this evening.
Evening:
At leisure. Say farewell to new Road Scholar friends and pack for your journey home.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out at 12:00pm. The airport is located approximately 1 mile (5 minutes) away from the hotel.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Our program concludes after breakfast. Refer to the program mailing for transfers to the airport today. Hotel check-out is 12:00 p.m (noon). If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Best wishes for all your journeys! Follow us on social media to stay in touch with Road Scholar! Find us at www.facebook.com/rsadventures and www.instagram.com/rsadventures.
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