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DAY 1: BANGKOK – KHAO YAI NATIONAL PARK (L, D)
Depart from various Bangkok hotels to Maenam River Boat Pier for a cruise
from Bangkok to Ayutthaya by the “Pearl of Siam”, with Lunch onboard.
Visit to Bang Pa In Summer Palace, the former summer residence of the
Rama Kings. Drive in the direction of the southern entrance of the Khao
Yai National Park with a stop at a fruit market in Nakhon Nayok. Dinner
and overnight at Khao Yai Grandview Thani Resort.
DAY 2: KHAO YAI NATIONAL PARK – KHORAT (B, L, D)
American breakfast at the hotel. Drive into the Khao Yai National Park
to visit the Heaw Suwat Waterfalls and make various stops en route for
photo opportunities. Continue in the direction of Khorat for lunch and
check-in at the Sima Thani Hotel. In the afternoon, we visit the Phimai
Temple complex, Baan Prasart Archeological Site and the “Sai Ngam” Banyan
Tree. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight at the Sima Thani Hotel.
DAY 3: KHORAT – SURIN (B, L, D)
American breakfast at the hotel. Depart south to visit the Dan Kwian Pottery
village. We then visit the second Khmer temple of Phanom Rung Historical
Park with its well-known Prasat Hin Phanom Rung, located on the top of
the Phanom Rung Mount. This is said to date back to the 12th century A.D.
We also visit Prasat Hin Muang Tham, which is believed to have been constructed
in the 11th century. Both temples resemble the Angkor temple ruins and
complexes in Cambodia. Lunch at a local restaurant. Next, we visit the
Centre of Blending and Integration Rural Development (CBIRD). This project
is an initiative to train the local community to earn a living from producing
handicrafts and agricultural projects. We then continue to Surin for dinner
and stay overnight at the simple Thong Tarin Hotel (the best hotel available
in Surin).
DAY 4: SURIN – KHONGJIAM (B, L, D)
American breakfast at the hotel. We then visit the Baan Talkang elephant
village at Surin. We then continue to Preah Vihear (‘’Khao Phra Viharn’”)
located between Thailand and the Cambodian border. This magnificent temple,
built and added to over many monarchs’ reigns, occupies the most spectacular
site of any Khmer sanctuary. Today the ruins of the temple guard many
secrets about its use from the 9th- 12th century. Stone carvings depict
not only the gods, but animals, both mythical and real, and the rich foliage
of the forest. Lunch en route is at a local restaurant. We then proceed
to Ubon Ratchathani and Khongjiam, a district overlooking the mighty Mekong
River. Dinner and overnight at the Tohsang Khongjiam Resort
Note: In case the border between Thailand and Cambodia at the Khao Phra
Viharn is closed, the programme on day 4 will be revised to visit the
“One Million Bottles Temple” , a temple made entirely out of bottles.
DAY 5: KHONGJIAM – BANGKOK (B, L)
American breakfast at the resort. Then we tour around the Khong Chiam
area to see the following attractions: Kaeng Tana, the largest rapids
of the Mun River (the cataract itself is a big stone platform lying across
the Mun River, causing the water which flows through Kaeng Tana to take
the form of beautiful waterfalls; Mae Naem Song Si, the bi-colour river
where the Mekong and Mun Rivers meet; Chongmeck, the border between Thailand
and Laos; Sirindhorn Dam, one of Thailand’s major multi-purposes dams;
Pha Taem & Pha Mon, the two steep cliffs overlooking the Mekong River
with a clear view into Laos (on the cliff’s surface, there are prehistoric
paintings dating back 3,000-4,000 years); Sao Chaliang, this place is
scattered with natural mushrooms, like piles of stone slabs with a large
amount of shells stuck in their texture, the area is believed by geologists
to be a dried-up sea. Lunch is en route at a local restaurant. No dinner
included. Continue to Ubon Ratchathani Airport for flight TG 031 (19.40-20.45
hrs). Arrive at Bangkok Domestic Airport and transfer to Bangkok hotel.
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