Thailand Adventure September 16 - 25, 2016
COUPLES & SINGLES WELCOME
Thailand is affectionately called, by all the travel writers, "Land of Smiles". This is because the people there are so friendly and smile all the time and that always brings a smile to the face of visitors. Its natural beauty can only be matched by its people's easygoing nature and deeply rooted spirituality, all qualities that have made the country the most popular destination in Asia.
Thailand's beaches are mythical: tall palms angle over pearlescent sand, coral gardens flourish in the shallow seas and beach parties are liberally lubricated with alcohol and fun. With a long coastline and jungle-topped islands anchored in azure waters, Thailand is a tropical getaway for the hedonist and the hermit, the prince and the pauper. The nightlife in Thailand is second to none; with the local ladies always looking to "Hook-up" with the tourists.
No matter what draws you to the country first, a Thai meal will keep you hooked. Adored around the world, Thai cuisine expresses fundamental aspects of Thai culture: it is generous and warm, outgoing and nuanced, refreshing and relaxed. And it is much more delicious in its native setting. Each Thai dish relies on fresh and local ingredients – from pungent lemongrass and searing chillies to plump seafood and crispy fried chicken. With a tropical abundance, a varied national menu is built around the four fundamental flavors: spicy, sweet, salty and sour.
Key Points
Bangkok:
Bangkok is a city much like New York in that it is cosmopolitan, sultry, cultural, exotic, erotic, and typically captivates every person who travels there. There are golden palaces and temples that will astound you. There are fascinating cultural differences that actually draw you into their lifestyle. It is one of the safest cities in the world and one of the few countries left on earth where the people there actually LOVE Americans. An interesting fact is that Bangkok is ranked 3rd most visited city in the world behind London and New York according to Euromonitor International's list of "Top City Destinations" with 10,209,900 visitors per year. Approximately 60,000 visitors go to there for medical services since some of the best hospitals in the world are in Bangkok and health care costs are about 1/5 of that in the states.
Pattaya Beach:
Pattaya beach is very similar in sight, smell, and raunchiness to that of New Orleans French Quarter but many times bigger. It is just a 2-hour drive outside the capitol with over a million residents and it is dedicated exclusively to the sultry, sexy nightlife with more than 800 night clubs, go-go bars, discos, and hip-hop clubs; and everything is dirt cheap there! It is a place that everyone should experience and you can easily get addicted to their style of living. You can shop till you drop for just about any commodity in both the gleaming new malls and the seeding street vendors. We indulge ourselves into every aspect of this sexy sultry town.
Chiang Mai:
Thailand's northern capital is an escape from the whirlwind pace of life of its southern rival. Nestled amongst forested foothills, Chiang Mai is much older than it first 
appears despite the constant arrival of planes and trains full of sightseers, it is still blissfully calm and laid-back.
This is a place to relax after the chaos of Bangkok and recharge your batteries with incredible sites and fabulous food. You could spend your whole Chiang Mai vacation exploring the famous Night Bazaar but know that once you've exhausted the art of the cheerful haggle, there's plenty more to explore including the old city and the surrounding wall.
During the city's medieval heyday, almost everything was made of teak hauled by elephant from the surrounding rainforest but now a sprawling modern city has grown up around ancient Chiang Mai, ringed by a tangle of superhighways. A mix of ancient and modern you will experience it all from the ancient longneck hill tribes and elephant sanctuary to the modern black lacquer and silk factories.
Thailand Itinerary
10-Day Bangkok City of Angels / Pattaya Beach / Chiang Mai Tour
Day 1: Bangkok
Arrive in Bangkok, Thailand
Guests must arrive in Bangkok, on Friday, September 16th to meet your local representative and transfer to your hotel in the heart of Bangkok. Your hotel is conveniently located near major shopping malls, upscale restaurants, and tourist attractions. Relax and recoup from your flight and enjoy the day or evening (depending on your arrival time) in Thailand's historic and vibrant capital city.
Since guests could be arriving all throughout the day and into the evening no meals are included. For those that bought the early arrival package, Breakfast and Dinner are included today.
Day 2: Bangkok
City tour on Chao Praya River, Klongs, Royal Barges Museum, Wat Arun / Ground Tour of world renowned shopping complex at Siam Paragon / Group dinner (All Included in Ground Package)
Start the day with a hearty American breakfast (included in package) and group Orientation.
After orientation, we will get a flavor of how the locals get around on the Modern Skytrain that circles the city by taking it to the river dock where we will board a private boat for our tour down the Chao Praya River which is the city's main waterway. We travel thru some of the Klongs (canals) where much of old Bangkok lived in classic Teak houses on stilts and will make stops to visit the King's Royal Barges and Wat Arun, one of the great temples of old city.
Upon returning back to the dock we will move on to the incredible 1 square mile large shopping complex that includes Siam Paragon, MBK and Pan Tip Plaza and food courts. Anything you can imagine can be found here and lunch will be individually handled at one of the food courts. We head back to our hotel to freshen up for our first night's group dinner (included).
Day 3: Bangkok
Full Day Tour Ayutthaya the Unesco World Heritage Site of Old Capitol City AND the King’s Summer Palace. Dinner at Cabbages and Condoms. Hangover II Night time tour.
Fill up on an American breakfast (included in package) because today is a full day. Join us on a tour of the Ayutthaya ('ai-u-tay-ya') Historic Archeological complex. Ayutthaya, founded by King Ramathibodi I, was the ancient capital of Thailand from 1350 to 1767. Known as the Golden Age of Siam, it was the period when Thailand was at its richest and most powerful. It fell from the Burmese invasion in 1767 but remnants of its past glory are found in the architectural ruins all over the city. The Historic Park was declared an UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991. This exsursion (included in the package) has air-conditioned transportation, entrance fees to the temples, lunch and local guide service.
In the evening, we will have an optional dinner at Cabbage and Condoms. This is a famous tourist restaurant in Bangkok that was recognized by the Bill & Linda Gates Foundation for responsible tourism. Afterwards, you will be astounded with a tour (included) of the infamous red light areas of Soi Cowboy and Nana Plaza.
The first bar in Soi Cowboy was opened in the early 1970's after Vietnam by an African-American veteran who used to wear a cowboy hat. The area is named after him and since then it enjoys a great popularity among the visitors. It is one of Bangkok's favorite late night entertainment centers in the heart of the city. Nana Plaza has the best of the infamous Bangkok "Lady Boy" bars. (Drinks are not included)
Day 4: Bangkok/Pattaya
Bangkok City Tour of Royal Grand Palace, Emerald Buddha, Wat Po (Giant Golden Reclining Buddha), Wat Trimitr (Temple of the Solid Gold Buddha worth 1 Billion dollars in gold)
Day 4 will include a tour of the more famous landmarks in Bangkok. You will start your day off right with breakfast at the hotel. Next, our tour of the city begins with a visit to the Royal Grand Palace. The palace, begun in 1782, consists of many buildings which feature some of the most spectacular architecture in South East Asia. The magnificent royal chapel, Wat Phra Kaew, which we'll visit in the same compound, houses the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred Buddha image in Thailand. We will also visit the spectacular King's Throne Room. The throne has been used by the king during important state occasions, such as the welcoming or accrediting of foreign diplomats and missions. The room itself has also been used by King Rama IX to welcome foreign dignitaries and heads of state. After the palace, we will walk to Wat Po, just a couple of blocks from the palace, to see the Reclining Buddha which is the largest housed Buddha in the world. From there we board our bus and travel 15 minutes to the temple of the Golden Buddha. Seeing this glimmering gold figure and hearing the fascinating history of this nearly 1,000 year old solid gold 10 ton statue will mesmerize you. The only place in the world that has more solid gold in one room is at Fort Knox which houses all of the USA's gold reserves.
In the afternoon, we will transfer to Pattaya Beach which will take approximately 2 hours in our air-conditioned motor coach. Pattaya City is located on the eastern shores of the Gulf of Thailand with a stretch of beach of about 15 kilometers in length, covering a total area of approximately 208.10 square kilometers. The entire city is considered an adult playground with more than 1,000 bars and 40,000 women that work them. We will check into our hotel and regroup for a late afternoon holistic Thai massage and then on to our group dinner.
After dinner, we'll stroll down Walking Street where you will find all kinds of entertainment, from bars, discos, go-go-bars, cabaret shows and much much more. Walking Street is probably the most exciting street in the world for a group of open-minded people that like to have fun. There are over 150 Go-Go bars and strip clubs with over 10,000 dancers and strippers working the clubs. We will tour some of the raunchy sex shows as well as watch the extreme sport of Thai boxing.
Day 5: Pattaya
SriRacha Tiger Sanctuary with Saltwater Crocodiles & Cobra Show
After breakfast is an excursion to the world renowned SriRacha Tiger Sanctuary where you will be able to pet Bengal tigers, bottle feed a tiger cub and see why this facility is the world's leader in raising Tigers in Captivity saving the Bengal Tiger from extinction. We will cross into the other park where you can feed dead chickens to wild crocodiles from a suspension bridge and take pictures with Gibbons holding your hand and/or with the world famous scorpion Lady who has 1,000 live venomous scorpions affixed to her body. On the return we will stop at the Pattaya Snake education center named after the Queen. We will see a fascinating snake show and learn about how they develop anti-venoms and see the snake handlers dodge cobra strikes right at their faces.
In the evening, we will have dinner at Montien, a 5-star restaurant. Our entertainment for the night will be a show at World Famous Tiffany's Cabaret. Tiffany's Show is the original transvestite cabaret show in Pattaya. The incredible talents of the transvestite & transgender community, all drawn from the provinces of Thailand, are showcased in a Broadway type theater production full of exotic spectacular scenes that has been visited by audiences from all corners of the world. It is truly a MUST to see on any tourist itinerary.
Day 6: Pattaya
Our half day tour will start in the morning and includes stops at the Sanctuary of Truth and a government operated gemstone factory.
The Sanctuary of Truth is the largest wooden carved building in the world (300ft tall). This intricately detailed sculpture will conclude after almost 50 years of carving. There are Human figures weighing in at 5,000 lbs and it is constructed entirely of wood (no metal or nails) and commanding a celestial view of the ocean, the Sanctuary of Truth is best described as a visionary environment: part art installation, religious shrine and cultural monument. Constructed in four wings dedicated to Thai, Khmer, Chinese and Indian religious iconography, the architecture and setting is beyond impressive and a testament to human artistry. Read more...
Thailand produces the finest gems in the world. We can visit the largest cutting/polishing factory where you can see some beautiful gem designs unlike anything you have seen before and they can be added to your jewelry collections. This is a government sanctioned factory, therefore, the quality and authenticity of the gems are guaranteed for life. Learn more...
Tonight we will enjoy a Thai Dinner Theater with traditional Thai dancers and sword fights. Afterwards, we will take you to the most unusual street in the world with the weirdest bars and more than 1,000 prostitutes in them.
Day 7: Pattaya/Chiang Mai
Transfer to Domestic Airport for Flight to Chiang Mai
After group breakfast we board our luxury motor coach to the domestic airport and fly to Chiang Mai. Upon arrival we transfer to the 5 star Le Meridian in down town Chang Mai. We have a leisurely afternoon with time for a local 1-hour foot massage and then group dinner (included); after which we go to the world famous Chiang Mai night bazaar.
Day 8: Chiang Mai
Long Neck Hill tribe village / Elephant Sanctuary
Full day tour includes visit to Baan Tong Luang hill tribe village of the long neck people where we can buy their hand loomed silks and trinkets. View Photos
We'll travel to the Elephant sanctuary to trek thru the jungle on them and also feed them. There is an option to go swimming with, and wash the Elephant that you rode on. Learn More...
On the way back to the Hotel we will visit the most famous Temple in Chiang Mai: Wat Phrathat on top of Doi Suthep Mountain where you can see the entire city of Chiang Mai below you.
Day 9: Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai's Manufacturing Center. Silver / Lacquerware / Paper Umbrellas / Thai Silk
Chiang Mai is Thailand's manufacturing hub and we will go to the various factories with the opportunity to acquire their products at factory prices.
For those choosing to end their adventure in Thailand, there will be a late evening flight back to Bangkok for your final night's stay (included in the package) in order to depart for home on Day 10 (Sunday).
For those that have added the Cambodia Siem Riep & Angkor Wat Tour, you will have one final night to enjoy in Chiang Mai. The Cambodia tour will begin on Day 10 (Sunday).
Day 10: Bangkok
Bid Farewell to Thailand
• Optional 4 night add-on to Cambodia available.
Board flight to USA
Depart Bangkok, Thailand
If you will be returning home today, we will transfer you from your Bangkok hotel at the appropriate time to catch your flight. If your flight is later in the day, we will arrange for a late check out so you can do some last minute shopping in Bangkok. As you cross the International Dateline, you will gain back the day you lost when you arrived in Thailand. Chances are you will probably return home the same day that you left.
If you are continuing on to Cambodia, you will catch your flight from Chiang Mai to Siem Reap. Call 1-800-349-3025
