Thailand Heritages and Sustainable Tourism
Tour code : WT.ST 03
Duration :12 days 11 nights
Type of tour :Student Tour
Start and end : in Bangkok
Minimum passengers :15 persons
Trip grade : Easy
Destinations and Activities: Bangkok City Tour and Cultural Exchange with Thai Students -Train to Mae Klong and Floating Market- Chiang Mai City Tour- Volunteering at Baan Mae Kampong Village and Elephant Nature Park - Hua Hin - Koh Talu Island - Green Activities and Beach Holiday
Itinerary
DAY 1 Arrival in Bangkok
arrival in Suvarnabhoumi Airport. Meet and transfer to a hotel located in the downtown of Bangkok.
At leisure.
Overnight at Pinnacle Lumpinee Park Hotel in Bangkok.
DAY 2 Bangkok – Museum of Siam – Wat Po – Grand Palace (B,L)
08.00 hrs. Breakfast at the hotel
09.00 hrs. Briefing
10.00 hrs. Travel to visit the Museum of Siam and learn about Thailand history and Thai identity. Then visit Wat Pho, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha (famous temple).
Pm Visit the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Keow (ceremonial home of the royal family and most famous temple in Thailand) and, explore Thanon Khaosan (a famous backpacker area in Thailand),
Overnight at Pinnacle Lumpinee Park Hotel in Bangkok.
Topics: Thai culture and history, including religion, health; and tourism
DAY 3 Bangkok – Canal Tour – Ratchapat Thonburi University (B,L)
Breakfast. Explore old Bangkok [long-tail boatride along the Chao Praya River; stop at Wat Arun; continue boatride along the Thonburi canals – “Venice of the East”; go past the Royal Barges Museum. The boat trip will finish at Pak Klong Talad, the biggest fresh Flowers Market in Bangkok.
Pm Enjoy a cultural exchange with Ratchapat Thonburi University (Thai floral arrangement/banana leaf Arts/fruit carving)
Overnight at Pinnacle Lumpinee Park Hotel in Bangkok.
Topics: Thai culture and history
DAY 4 Bangkok - Train Journey to Samuthsongkram – Bangkok – Chiang Mai (B,L)
(Bangkok- Mahachai – Samuthsongkram-Bangkok)
06.30 Breakfast at the hotel
07.30 Take a BTS Train to Wong Wien Yai train station in Thonburi District
08.30 Local diesel train departs from the station to Mahachai. It is only 3rd class opened air train with free seats. The train is passing through canals, salt paddy and villages before arrive to Mahachai town in Samuthsakorn province for an hour journey.
09.30 Arrive at Mahachai town and walk to the biggest fresh seafood market, there are many kinds of seafoods i.e.Yellow Tail, Grouper, Mackerel, Tuna, King Prawn, Crabs etc. for connecting Baan Laem Train, you will take a ferry across Tha Chine River.
10.30 Local Diesel Train departs from Baan Laem station to Mae Klong, Samuthsongkram province. It is amazing market area because there are many street vendors along the track when a train pass through they must remove the shading bar and umbrellas. When you arrive the market, take a leisure walk in the fresh market with local vegetables, seasonal fruits and foods. Visit the area of Ampawa Floating Market and observe the beautiful local & Traditional Thai houses on both banks of canal (Ampawa Floating Market be operated on Friday, Saturday and Sunday).
12.00 Have lunch by a waterfront or local restaurant.
13.00 Travel by Tuk Tuks to visit the House making Bencharong Royal Ceramic with hand painted multi colors a royal porcelains products. After that return to Bangkok by bus.
Late afternoon take an overnight train to Chiang Mai
Overnight in the night train sleeper (2nd. Class air-cond. bogy)
Topics: Thai culture and history
DAY 5 Chiang Mai – Wat Phra That Doi Suthep - Mae Jo University – Green Activity (B,L)
Am Arrival in Chiang Mai Railway Station. Breakfast, then xplore Chiang Mai [visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (famous temple) and chat with monks on Buddhism and meditation. Volunteering with Mae Jo University (“return wild orchids to the forest” Project, which the Mae Jo Univ. cooperate with monks at the Forest Temple and community living nearby). Observe/ shop for local arts and crafts at the Chiang Mai night bazaar (famous night market)], stay in Chiang Mai.
Overnight at Imm Hotel, Thapae.
Topics: Thai culture and history, Buddhism and meditation including arts and crafts; sustainable tourism
DAY 6 Chiang Mai – Cooking Class – Wua Lai Community (B,L)
Am Breakfast. Attend Thai cooking (take a Thai cooking class and cook a traditional Thai meal)
pm Explore the making of Thai arts (small silverware homefactory) at Wua Lai community near to Wat Yai Srisupan Temple where the silver decorating arts museum is located, observe their way of life in a small lane (complementary by Wild Thailand). It’s an original community which produces silverware at home (there are only few households still keeping their own of living). Stay in Chiang Mai.
Overnight at Imm Hotel, Thapae
Topics: Thai culture and history, including arts, crafts, and food; sustainable tourism
DAY 7 Chiang Mai – Volunteering at Mae Kam Pong Village (B,L)
(volunteer opportunities: working in the tea plantation and teaching English to villagers who run the Community Based Tourism (CBT) in Mae Kam Pong CBT village), stay in Chiang Mai.
Evening: free for your own wandering on the lively walking Thapae Street in front of Imm Thapae Hotel, where many small traders sell their initiative products.
(There are 2 walking streets in Chiang Mai: Wua Lai street operated every Saturday and Thapae Street operated every Sunday)
Overnight at Imm Hotel, Thapae
Topics: sustainable tourism
***March-Mid-May is the school vacation in Thailand***
DAY 8 Chiang Mai – Tribal Villages – Volunteering at Elephant Nature Park – Hua Hin (B,L)
After breakfast, travel to visit Akha and Lisu tribal villages before visiting the Elephant Nature Center for volunteering.
10.00 hrs. Exploring elephant and volunteering at Elephant Nature Center (10.00 hrs.-17.00 hrs.)
18.15 Take the night bus to Hua Hin.
Overnight on the public night bus
Topics: Thai culture and history, including immigrant groups and the important role of elephants in Thai culture
DAY 9 Hua Hin – Koh Talu – Trekking (B,L, D)
07.00 Arrival in Hua Hin, transfer to Koh Talu (Talu Island), located in Prachaub Kirikan Province where only 2 hrs. drive from Hua Hin or 4 hrs. from Bangkok. From the mainland to Koh Talu takes only 15 minutes by speed boat. It’s one of the marine conservation sites for rare turtles.
Explore the island by:
-Trekking to the scenic view points. With a bit of luck you will see lots of turtles swimming in the ocean at the view point in Koh Talu.
-The night trek to catch giant coconut crabs
Overnight at Koh Talu Resort (Big Bay deluxe room)
Topics: marine life and sustainable tourism
DAY 10 Koh Talu – Green Activity (B,L,D)
Explore the sea by boat trip
-Coral planting instructed by an expert in marine life and coral reef
- Snorkeling at the ultimate snorkeling point of koh Talu where clear turquoise blue water offering perfect snorkeling/diving conditions and kaleidoscopic colors of remarkable fish and natural coral reefs.
Overnight at Koh Talu Resort (Big Bay deluxe room)
Topics: marine life and sustainable tourism
Day 11 Koh Talu – Bangkok (B,L)
After breakfast transfer by speed boat and van/bus return to Bangkok.
Pm Explore the Ancient City (outdoor park with large miniatures of many of Thailand’s well-known buildings), free time, stay in Bangkok
Overnight at Pinnacle Lumpinee Park Hotel in Bangkok
Meals: Breakfast
Topics: Thai culture and history
DAY 12 Bangkok – Departure (B)
Am Breakfast. Free for your own discovery of Bangkok until time for the transfer to Suvarnabhoumi Airport for the departure flight back home. End of service
