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Thailand – Laos with Mekong Cruise -12 Days

This combination package will take you go through two countries Thailand and Laos, from the big city to the local villages and border gate of two countries. Also doing this trip will give you a chance to discover the life style, natures and custom of Thailand and Laos; moreover, you can enjoy the cruise on Mekong River, its amazing trip.

Dates: No fixed departure dates. You may go whenever you wish.
Starts/Ends: Bangkok (Thailand) / Vientiane (Laos)
Tour routes: Bangkok - Chiang Mai - Chiang Rai, Laos: Pakbeng - Luang Prabang - Vientiane
Tour Type: Landscape and Nature, adventure
Tour Customizable: Absolutely! (Tell us your specific requirements in the inquiry form)

BRIEF ITINERARY:
Day 01: International Arrival, Bangkok (No)
Day 02: Bangkok Sightseeing (B, L)
Day 03: Bangkok (B, L)
Day 04: Bangkok - Fly to Chiang Mai (B)
Day 05: Chiang Mai Elephant Nature Park Tour (B, L)
Day 06: Chiang Mai - Chiang Rai (B, L)
Day 07: Chiang Khong - Houayxay – Pakbeng (B, L)
Day 08: Pakbeng - Luang Prabang ( B, L)
Day 09: Luang Prabang Sightseeing (B)
Day 10: Luang Prabang – Vientiane (B)
Day 11: Vientiane Tour (B)
Day 12: Vientiane, Departure (B)

Day 01: International Arrival, Bangkok (No)
Welcome to Thailand!
Upon arrival at the airport and after clearing immigration and customs, meet with your guide and transfer to your hotel for check in. The remainder of the day is free at your own leisure.
(Flight TBA & Air tickets is exclude) Normal standard check in at 14.00 pm
Accommodation: Hotel in Bangkok.

Day 02: Bangkok Sightseeing (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel,
Bangkok Sightseeing, 08.00 am – 17.00 pm
Breakfast at hotel, we’ll set out to visit Wat Traimit, ‘Temple of the Golden Buddha’ famous for its 900-year-old and five-and-a-half-ton solid gold image. Continue to see Wat Arun, perhaps better known as ‘the Temple of Dawn’, which is one of the most published images of Bangkok. After that, explore Wat Po, the largest and oldest temple in this city that housing the largest single Buddha image: the Reclining Buddha.
After lunch comes the highlight of today’s tour - the renowned Grand Palace, one of the must-sees that adjoins Wat Phra Kaew, the most important Buddhist temple in Thailand.

Please note that photography is permitted in the Royal Palace Grounds and in the compounds of the Emerald Buddha Temple, but not inside the buildings. Also, note that the chapel is a national shrine and that you will be required to wear proper attire (no bare shoulders, knees or strapless-heel shoes). Shoes must be removed before entering the temple buildings as a matter of respect.
Accommodation: Hotel in Bangkok.

Wat Traimit Thailand
Wat Traimit - Thailand
Grand Palace
Grand Palace - Thailand

Day 03: Bangkok (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel,
Picked up in the morning from your hotel in Bangkok and transferred to Mahachai market. Take a stroll across the market and get a glimpse of the daily Thai- life, before heading for Samut Songkhram. Finally you reach the "Umbrella Market"- the market is located directly on the left and right side of the railway- track. When a train signals its approach by whistling, the vendors fold away the roofs (hence the "umbrella"- reference) and wait patiently for the train to pass. When the train is through, roofs will be unfolded again and life continues

After exploring the Railway Market, you will continue to visit Damnoen Saduak Floating Market - Damnoen Saduak Floating Market where you can see numerous vendors selling local foods, fruits and products on the rowing boats. You are free to explore the market around, shoot photographs/videos or hire a paddling boat along the canal to breathe the once-in-a-lifetime atmosphere of this legendary market. Afterwards, experience a thrilling long-tailed boat ride out of the floating market and journey along the winding canals to see remote villages, gardens and plantations. Lunch at a local restaurant and back to Bangkok for Jim Thompson House

Visit the house of Jim Thompson, the American who revived the Thai Silk industry after World War II before mysteriously disappearing in 1967. This house is a perfect example of the authentic Thai residential architecture and Southeast Asian art. Indeed, it consists of a complex of six traditional Thai-style houses and teak structures that were purchased from several owners and brought to the present location from various parts of Thailand. The construction of this sumptuous Thai house was completed in 1959. A magnificent half-day, dedicated to one of the most remarkable achievements ever been made by a foreigner in Thailand.
Accommodation: Hotel in Bangkok

Day 04: Bangkok - Fly to Chiang Mai (B)
Breakfast at hotel,
Check out and depart for Chiang Mai by air. After arrival, check in to the hotel and take a short rest. Later, we’ll drive to the quaint and picturesque Meo Hill Tribe Village, where you can dress up in tribal costumes or shoot the crossbow. Continue to visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a highly revered temple that sits on the top of Mount Doi Suthep. (Flight TBA & Air tickets is exclude)
Accommodation: Hotel in Chiang Mai

Day 05: Chiang Mai Elephant Nature Park Tour (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel,
Enjoy a full day visit to Elephant Nature Park (Join-in Group Tour) today. It’s a natural home and sanctuary for elephants, buffalos, dogs, cats, birds and many other rescued animals. Observe free roaming elephants, and other rescued animals enjoying the natural surroundings.

Start: 8:00am - 8:30am pick up from your Chiang Mai city hotel or leave from our office at 7:40am.

Feed the Elephants: Hand fruit and vegetables to the elephants from the viewing platform.

Observe the Herds: Take a walk around the park and observe the elephants in their chosen herds and learn about their stories and special needs.

Lunch: Enjoy a sumptuous and varied vegetarian buffet of Asian and Western dishes.

Observe Bathing: Walk with your tour guide and the elephants to the river that borders the park. Watch these gentle giants from the river bank as they splash around and play.

Observe Interaction: Observe the elephants socializing in their herds and playing in the mud pit or
covering themselves with sand after bathing in the river.

Visit Rescued Animals: Visit the Dog Project and learn about our rescued dogs and our dog adoption program Visit Cat Kingdom and learn about our rescued cats. Visit other rescued animals at the park.

‘Hands Off’ Project: Visit our new ‘Hands Off’ Project where the elephants roam freely as a herd, viewed from the skywalk.

Return: At 3:30pm it’s time to say goodbye to the elephants before the hour-long drive back to Chiang Mai where you will be dropped off at your hotel.

*Park visits are all about spending quality time observing and being with the herd. We do not adhere to a strict schedule. The best way to make the most of your visit is to relax, watch, and learn about elephants.

What to Bring: hat, sunscreen, sandals/flip flops, shoes for walking, camera, bug repellent, refillable water bottle

Accommodation: Hotel in Chiang Mai

Day 06: Chiang Mai - Chiang Rai (B, L)
Breakfast at hotel,

Today after breakfast, we will go to Chiang Rai and stop off at the hot spring for relaxation. Later, have a break at the Golden Triangle in Chiang Sean, where the three borders of Myanmar-Laos-Thailand meet.
After lunch, drive to the Mae Sai Border (migration fee THB 500 on your own for one day crossing to Myanmar). The last site we will visit today is Akha and Yao hill tribe villages, where you’ll have a good time with the indigenous tribal people wearing dazzling ethnic clothing. Then driver to Chiang Khong, a district in the northeastern part of Chiang Ra.
Accommodation: Hotel in Chiang Rai

Meo Hill Tribe Village
Meo Hill Tribe Village
Chiang Mai Elephant Nature Park
Chiang Mai Elephant Nature Park

Day 07: Chiang Khong - Houayxay – Pakbeng (B, L)
After breakfast, we transfer to the border of Thailand and Laos, it’s Houayxay. On arrival at Houayxay in Laos, our Laos guide will help you apply for Laos visa. When the visa is ready, we’ll board the cruiser leaving Houayxay Pier for a cruise down the Mekong.
River to Pakbeng.
En route, a pull over is made to observe the rural lifestyle of Ban Gon Durn, the weaving village along the Mekong River. A buffet lunch is served on board. The boat arrives at Luang Say Lodge before sunset for overnight stay. Overnight in Pakbeng.

Day 08: Pakbeng - Luang Prabang (B, L)
If you like, explore Pakbeng Market in the early morning before breakfast, where people from the surrounding village of minorities have exotic goods on sale. The boat departs for the second part of the trip. With a stopover at Ban Baw Village, you can observe the process of making traditional rice alcohol. A buffet lunch is served on board.
The boat stops again opposite the mouth of the Nam Ou River to visit Pak Ou Caves, a sacred Buddha shrine. We’ll arrive in Luang Prabang before sunset. Upon arrival, our guide and driver will meet you at the pier and then transfer to the hotel for check-in.

Mekong river Laos
Pak Ou Caves Laos

Day 09: Luang Prabang Sightseeing (B)
If you wish, observe the alms-giving procession in the early morning at 5:40am. Later, visiting the Morning Market or Phousi Market is also a good choice to make. After breakfast, we enjoy a short tour seeing the city’s oldest temple Wat Sene and Wat Xieng Thong, a significant monument to the spirit of religion, royalty and traditional art. Later we’ll visit the impressive Wat Visoun, the oldest temple that houses many Buddha images. Next is Wat Aham, the ‘Monastery of the Blossomed Heart’ exudes serenity, and Wat Mai, the largest and most richly decorated of the temples in this city. Tour the Royal Palace Museum.
After that, you may climb up to the top of Mount Phousi to explore the sacred stupa as well as capture a beautiful view of the city and the Mekong River at sunset. By evening, it’s your chance to venture the night market on your own and observe local life there.

Day 10: Luang Prabang – Vientiane (B)
Continue our excursion toward Kuang Si Falls. En route, visit villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay to have some knowledge of their life. Have a blast at Kuang Si Falls! It’s a paradise where to fill your lungs with fresh air and splash in the water like a child.
After the play time you’ll be transferred to Luang Prabang airport and travel to the capital city, Vientiane. Upon arrival, our guide will meet you and escort you to the hotel for check-in.

Day 11: Vientiane Tour (B)
After breakfast, we start visiting the major sights of the capital, including Wat Sisaket, the oldest temple with thousands of miniature Buddha statues, and the former royal temple Wat Prakeo, which previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha Image. En route to Lao’s national precious heritage That Luang Stupa, you will have a chance to take pictures of the imposing Patuxay Monument, well known as Vientiane’s Arc de Triumph.
In the afternoon, we’ll hit the road again to see the Buddha Park, where there are hundreds of Buddha and Hindu statues brought from India, most of which are as old as 500 years or even more. A spectacular view over the Mekong River at sunset is a perfect way to finish the day.

Royal Palace Museum
That Luang Stupa

Day 12: Vientiane, Departure (B)
You will have free time till our guide meets you and escorts you to the airport for your international flight back home.

What's included ?

  • All transfer and transportation vehicle with air-conditioning
  • Hotel accommodation base on twin sharing room
  • English speaking tour guide ( other on request)
  • Meals as states in the itinerary ( B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner)
  • Boat trip as itinerary
  • Admission fees to indicate sights
  • 1 bottle of mineral water/ person/ day
  • Gov’tax and services charge

What's Excluded ?

  • Visa stamping fee on arrival
  • All air tickets quoted separately
  • Travel Insurance in all kinds
  • Single room (quoted separately)
  • Other foreign language guide
  • Peak tourist season or special event rates
  • Tip, drinks and other personal expenses
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