8-Nights Thailand Essentials: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Phuket — CALL
Avanti Destinations
OFFER ID 1243734
Thailand Essentials
Discover rich cultural heritage, bustling cities, verdant scenery, and pristine beaches. Get under the skin of the capital, head to a cultural hub, ascend to a famous temple, and cap the journey off with turquoise waters amidst stunning limestone karsts.
Includes:
- Private Arrival & Departure Transfers Per City
- 2 Nights Bangkok
- Private Bangkok Highlights: City
- Temple
- and Klong Tour
- 2 Nights Chiang Mai
- Private Chiang Mai City Tour
- Private Transfer Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai with Excursion Enroute
- 1 Night Chiang Rai
- 3 Nights Phuket
- Phi Phi Islands Tour by Speedboat
- Daily Breakfast
8 nights | Call for pricing
Itinerary Details
Avanti Destinations: Thailand Essentials
Day 1 Arrive Bangkok
Arrival in Bangkok
Transfer.
Overnight in Bangkok.
Centrally Located Hotel In Bangkok, ()
Day 2 Bangkok
Bangkok Highlights: City, Temples and Klong Tour
In the morning, visit two of the most impressive sights in the city. The Reclining Buddha at Wat Po is an enormous Buddha covered in gold leaf, lying majestically on its side. The Grand Palace has no equal and is a must-see for every visitor to Bangkok. Built by King Rama I in 1782, it was the centre of power for more than 150 years; today it is Bangkok's most celebrated landmark. Within the compound is the Temple of The Emerald Buddha - Wat Pra Kaew - which houses Thailand's most precious image of the Lord Buddha.
Lunch will be served in a Thai restaurant near the river. In the afternoon, travel along the picturesque Chao Phraya River through the klongs (canals) of Thonburi. Observe and photograph the serene family homes and temples along the waterways which gave the city the name Venice of the East. Finally, pay a visit to one of the city's most photographed sites, the shimmering Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn). The majestic shrine has a pagoda of 79m high. It is decorated with glazed ceramic pieces that reflect the sun's rays and give the temple its name.
Centrally Located Hotel In Bangkok, (B,L)
Day 3 Bangkok to Chiang Mai
After breakfast, transfer to the airport.
Arrival in Chiang Mai
Meet and greet with our guide then transfer to the hotel.
Overnight in Chiang Mai.
Centrally Located Hotel In Chiang Mai, (B)
Day 4 Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai City Tour
Your afternoon tour takes you around the famous city for an up-close and personal look at some of its most notable temples, as well as stops at its old city walls, gates, and moat. The highlight of this trip is Wat Pan Tao, built in the typical wooden northern-Thailand architecture, with exquisite fine carving on the eaves and door. Proceed to Wat Jet Yod with its seven spires and incredible architecture commemorating the year 2000 of the Buddha era. Then drive up to Doi Suthep to visit Wat Phra Dhat Doi Suthep (built in A.D. 1384). Wat Doi Suthep is the most sacred temple in northern Thailand, containing a holy relic of Lord Buddha.
Overnight in Chiang Mai.
Centrally Located Hotel In Chiang Mai, (B,L)
Day 5 Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
Breakfast at hotel.
Then depart by road to Chiang Rai. On the way, visit Hot Spring Baan Pong Nam Ron. Visit Wat Rong Khun or the "White Temple". This temple is unique from other temples in that it has been constructed entirely in a radiant white color with sparking reflections from mirrored glass mosaics embedded in the white plaster. Continue on to take a long-tailed boat cruise approximately 1 hour to visit Karen hill tribe village.
Overnight in Chiang Rai.
Centrally Located Hotel In Chiang Rai, (B,L)
Day 6 Chiang Rai to Phuket
Breakfast at hotel.
Transfer to the airport.
Arrival in Phuket
Transfer
Overnight in Phuket.
Centrally Located Hotel In Phuket, (B,L)
Day 7 Phuket
Phi Phi Island Tour by Join Speedboat
Take a speed boat to Phi Phi island. Enjoy a swim/snorkel stop at its beach. Drive to Phi Phi Ley, famous for its birds nests.
Pick up from your hotel and arrive at the prestigious Royal Phuket Marina. Depart for Maya Bay and Phi Phi Island. Relax at Maya Bay (where The Beach
was partially filmed). Snorkel and swim in clear water at Loh Samah and Pileh Cove. Visit the Viking Cave, now home to nest producing swallows. Feed the local inhabitants at The Monkey Beach
. Appreciate the magnificent marine life at the Hin Klang (Great Coral Reef). Lunch will be served at Phi Phi Natural Resort (Private beach). After lunch, explore Bamboo Island
, a flat beautiful island blending white sand and very clear water. Relax on the beach or swim and snorkel. There is also a nice coral reef near the beach. Return to the Royal Phuket Marina and transfer back to your hotel.
Centrally Located Hotel In Phuket, (B,L)
Day 8 Phuket
After breakfast, explore this enchanting area on your own.
Overnight in Phuket.
Centrally Located Hotel In Phuket, (B,L)
Day 9 Depart Phuket
Transfer to the airport to continue on to your next Avanti destination!
Centrally Located Hotel In Phuket, (B)
Excursions
At your Leisure in Phuket (Car & Driver Only)
At your Leisure in Phuket (Car & Driver Only)
Enjoy a private chauffeur-driven luxury sedan with driver for “At Your Leisure” touring. You decide where you want to go and what you want to see.
Inclusions:
• Transfers in private air-conditioned vehicle
• Professional English-speaking local guide
• Local bottled water
Exclusions:
• Expenses of a personal nature such as gratuities to guides and drivers
Stories of Phuket Old Town - 4 hours
Stories of Phuket Old Town - 4 hours
Meet your professional local guide to begin your private experience of Phuket. Explore the old town, which prospered during the 16th to 18th centuries due to a booming tin-mining industry. The town features beautifully preserved Sino-Portuguese architecture and is a melting pot of Thai, Malay, Chinese and Portuguese influences.
Visit Chin Pracha, one of the oldest houses on the island built in 1904. Iconic films such as “Indiana Jones,” “Heaven & Earth” and many others, were filmed in this house.
Continue driving to a viewpoint at the top of Rang Hill, which offers scenic views over Phuket Town. Then head to Wat Chalong, one of the island’s most famous temples. Learn a bit about Buddhist beliefs and customs and hear the interesting story of the gilt statues of the monk-hero Luang Pho Chaem and his aid Luang Pho Chuang. After exploring the temple, return to the ship.
Inclusions:
• Sightseeing and transfers in a private air-conditioned vehicle
• Professional English-speaking local guide
• Entrance fees for listed sites
• Local bottled water
Exclusions:
• Expenses of a personal nature such as gratuities to guides and drivers
• Meals and beverages
Duration: 4 hours
Phuket Old Town and Scenery - 8 hours
Phuket Old Town and Scenery - 8 hours
Meet your professional local guide to begin your private experience of Phuket. Explore the old town, which prospered during the 16th to 18th centuries due to a booming tin-mining industry. The town features beautifully preserved Sino-Portuguese architecture and is a melting pot of Thai, Malay, Chinese and Portuguese influences.
Visit Chin Pracha, one of the oldest houses on the island built in 1904. Iconic films such as “Indiana Jones,” “Heaven & Earth” and many others, were filmed in this house.
Continue to Saphan Hin, a recreational park that houses a tin mining monument dedicated to Australian Captain Edward Thomas Miles, the man who brought the first dredge to Phuket in 1909. Then visit the Chinese shrine in the park to discover a traditional place of worship.
Then head to Wat Chalong, one of the island’s most famous temples. Learn a bit about Buddhist beliefs and customs and hear the interesting story of the gilt statues of the monk-hero Luang Pho Chaem and his aid Luang Pho Chuang.
Finally, make a stop at Laem Phromthep, a stunning coastal viewpiont that offers breathtaking views of the Andaman Sea. Transfer back to the ship.
Inclusions:
• Sightseeing and transfers in a private air-conditioned vehicle
• Professional English-speaking local guide
• Entrance fees for listed sites
• Local bottled water
Exclusions:
• Expenses of a personal nature such as gratuities to guides and drivers
• Meals and beverages
Duration: 8 hours
Life of Old Phuket - 4 hours
Meet your professional local guide to begin your private experience of Phuket. Explore the old town, which prospered during the 16th to 18th centuries due to a booming tin-mining industry. The town features beautifully preserved Sino-Portuguese architecture and is a melting pot of Thai, Malay, Chinese and Portuguese influences.
Walk along the old streets of town and feel the charm of lives lived a century ago around Thalang, Dibuk and Krabi roads. Visit Thai Hau Museum to learn more about the history of the island.
Continue to a Chinese shrine set in a peaceful spot along Phang Nga Road. Despite being in the center of town, the shrine remains unaffected by the hustle and bustle. Then drive to a viewpoint at the top of Rang Hill to admire scenic views over Phuket Town before returning to the ship.
Inclusions:
• Sightseeing and transfers in a private air-conditioned vehicle
• Professional English-speaking local guide
• Entrance fees for listed sites
• Local bottled water
Exclusions:
• Expenses of a personal nature such as gratuities to guides and drivers
• Meals and beverages
Duration: 4 hours
Phuket Rubber Plantation, Gibbons and Old Town - 8 hours
Phuket Rubber Plantation, Gibbons and Old Town - 8 hours
Meet your professional local guide to explore some of the beautiful natural scenery and cultural highlights of Phuket. Visit a rubber plantation to learn about the arduous work of collecting sap and transforming it into sheets of rubber. Then continue to Bang Pae waterfall to admire the tropical greenery and observe the wildlife at the nearby Gibbon Rehabilitation Project.
Explore the old town, which prospered during the 16th to 18th centuries due to a booming tin-mining industry. The town features beautifully preserved Sino-Portuguese architecture and is a melting pot of Thai, Malay, Chinese and Portuguese influences.
You may stop for lunch on your own account at Blue Elephant restaurant, serving traditional Thai cuisine. After lunch, stop by to see the Big Buddha temple and enjoy the scenic views before returning to the ship.
Optional Costs:
• Lunch at Blue Elephant including two units of drinks (water, juice, soft drink)
Inclusions:
• Sightseeing and transfers in a private air-conditioned vehicle
• Professional English-speaking local guide
• Entrance fees for listed sites
• Local bottled water
Exclusions:
• Expenses of a personal nature such as gratuities to guides and drivers
• Meals and beverages
Duration: 8 hours
Phuket Faith and Soul; Discover Hidden Legend
Phuket Faith and Soul; Discover Hidden Legend
DISCOVER HIDDEN LEGEND
Destination: Phuket, Thailand
Tour Duration: 6 hours
Highlights:
Disembark the ship and meet your guide. Drive to Khao Rang Temple set on the slope of Khao Rang Hill and home to a unique white pearl Buddha image. Learn about its founder, Lung Pu Supa, a monk who lived to be 118 years old. After a tasty lunch in a local restaurant, walk the streets of Old Phuket to an art gallery housed in a Sino-Portuguese shophouse, reflecting the architecture of people who came to Phuket centuries ago for its tin mining industry. Continue to Sirey Island to visit Poung Pu Supa noted for its reclining Buddha image facing the Andaman Sea.Visit a nearby sea gypsy village for insights into their unique culture and language, living mainly from fishing. In the late afternoon, return to the port and your ship.
Inclusions:
• Private transfer
• Sightseeing with Local English Speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Meals as specified (meals only, no drinks/ waters)
• Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
Not Included:
• Other meals where not mention in the program
• Drinks/ waters on meals
• Thailand visa (Please contact your cruise for the visa details)
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Tips and Gratuities
• Other services not listed in inclusive column
Phuket Port
Destination: Phuket
Tour Duration: Within 4 hours or 8 hours
Tour Description:
Meet with guide at the ship docking and transfer to town. Car and guide is at disposal.
Inclusions:
• Private transfer
• Port pick-up and drop-off
• Sightseeing with Local English Speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Meals as specified (meals only, no drinks/ waters)
• Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
Non-inclusions:
• Thailand Visa (Please contact your cruise for the visa details)
• Meals
• Drinks/ waters on meals
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Tips and Gratuities
• Other services not listed in inclusive column
Phuket Town Sightseeing
Tour Duration: 7 hours
Tour Description:
NOTES:
- Suggested departure time: 11:00
- Timing may be changed without prior notice, depending on local conditions such as weather, traffic and / or other conditions.
• Private transfer
• Port pick-up and drop-off
• Sightseeing with Local English Speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Meals as specified (meals only, no drinks/ waters)
• Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
Non-inclusions:
• Thailand Visa
• Other meals where not mention in the program
• Drinks/ waters on meals
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Tips and Gratuities
• Other services not listed in inclusive column
Phuket Town Sightseeing Half Day
Phuket Town Sightseeing Half Day
Tour Duration: 05 hours
Tour Description:
NOTES:
- Suggested departure time: 11:00.
- Includes English-speaking guide. Other languages available on request and subject to availability.
- Timing may be changed without prior notice, depending on local conditions such as weather, traffic and / or other conditions.
- Lunch is not included, but there are places to stop for a quick bite, if desired (Local noodle shop or snacks at the Sino-Portuguese area).
• Private transfer
• Port pick-up and drop-off
• Sightseeing with Local English Speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Meals as specified (meals only, no drinks/ waters)
• Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
Non-inclusions:
• Thailand Visa (Please contact your cruise for the visa details)
• Other meals where not mention in the program
• Drinks/ waters on meals
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Tips and Gratuities
• Other services not listed in inclusive column
Excursions
Bangkok City tour
Destination: Bangkok
Tour Duration: 8 hours (2.5 hours of transfer per way between Laem Chabang Sea Port and Bangkok city centre, 3 hours of experience)
Tour Description:
From its beginnings as a small trading post during the Ayutthaya Kingdom in the 15th century, Bangkok has expanded to become one of Asia’s most exciting capital cities with over 14 million people. From the port, drive 2.5hr to Bangkok for lunch. Then visit Grand Palace, one of the most impressive palaces in Southeast Asia, the vast 94ha (233ac) grounds encompass more than 100 buildings including the Royal Residence and Throne Halls, government offices and the renowned Wat Phra Kaew, home to the most revered Buddha image in Thailand, the Emerald Buddha (which is actually made of jade or jasper, rather than emerald). Continue to Wat Pho, one of the oldest temples in Bangkok, and home to the famous 45m (148ft) reclining Buddha as well as the original school of traditional Thai massage. Return to the port and your ship in late afternoon.
08.30 hrs Docking time.
09.30 hrs Departure to Bangkok from Laem Chabang Sea Port (2.5 hours drive).
12.00 hrs Arrive Bangkok for Lunch at local restaurant.
13.00 hrs Visit Grand Palace.
14.00 hrs Visit Wat Pho.
15.00 hrs Return to Laem Chabang Sea Port (2.5 hours drive).
17.30 hrs Arrive Laem Chabang Sea Port.
NOTES:
- Pick up time: 09:30
- If docking at Laem Chabang Port, clients will need at least 2 days in port in order to take a full-day shore excursion to Bangkok, taking into account the 2 - 3 hour drive each way from Laem Chabang Port into downtown Bangkok (subject to traffic, road conditions, and ship’s departure time). If clients have only one day in port, there is only time for a half-day excursion to Bangkok.
- If docking at Klong Toey Port, clients need at least 2 days in port for a full-day shore excursion to Bangkok and beyond (i.e. Ayutthaya, etc.) taking into account the 1.5 - 2 hour drive to Ayutthaya each way (subject to traffic, road conditions, and ship’s departure time). If clients have only one day in port, a half-day excursion to Bangkok is possible, but there will not be enough time to visit Ayutthaya and surrounding areas.
- Travel Documentation: All clients must be in possession of a valid passport and necessary visas or permits at the commencement of travel. All such documentation is the sole responsibility of the client. Our company does not accept any responsibility or liability whatsoever for the failure of clients to obtain appropriate documentation.
- These following clothes are strictly not allowed in Grand Palace: Shorts, mini-skirts, short skirts, tight fitting trousers, and tights; See-through shirts and blouses, as well as culottes or quarter length trousers; Sleeveless shirts or vests; Sandals (without ankle or heel straps); Rolled-up-sleeved shirts; Sweatshirts and sweatpants, wind-cheaters, pajamas and fisherman trousers.
• Private transfer
• Port pick-up and drop-off
• Sightseeing with Local English Speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Meals as specified (meals only, no drinks/ waters)
• Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
Non-inclusions:
• Thailand Visa (Please contact your cruise for the visa details)
• Other meals where not mention in the program
• Drinks/ waters on meals
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Tips and Gratuities
• Other services not listed in inclusive column
Bangkok City By Helicopter
Tour Duration: 4.5 hours (Including 2hr drive from/to Laem Chabang Port each way and 30min helicopter ride).
Tour Description:
Enjoy an amazing bird’s eye view of sprawling Bangkok on a thrilling 30 minute helicopter ride. From the port, depart on a 2hr drive to AA Bangkok Base where you begin your helicopter flight over Rajamangala National Stadium, the home stadium for the Thailand national football team, and the Erawan Museum shaped in the form of a three-headed elephant. From there, fly over the nearby provinces of Phra Samut Chedi, Paknum Samutprakarn and the Ancient City Museum, a massive 81ha (200ac) outdoor museum shaped like the country of Thailand. Continue over the mudflats and mangroves of Bang Poo and past the Bhumibol Bridge and Rama IX Bridge over the Chao Phraya River. On the way back, fly over Bangkok’s Silom area before landing at the AA Bangkok Base. Return to the port and your ship.
NOTES:
- Suggested departure time: 10:00
- Capacity: Maximum 5 pax.
- Vehicle: Car / 9-seater minivan.
- Landing at the following helipads in the city centre are available on request (surcharge applies): UBC II Tower, Charn Issara II Tower, Bangkok City Tower, Peninsula Bangkok, Amari Atrium, etc. Air space above the Grand Palace and Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) are designated no-fly zones.
• Private transfer
• Port pick-up and drop-off
• Sightseeing with Local English Speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Meals as specified (meals only, no drinks/ waters)
• Cold towels and water on sightseeing days
Non-inclusions:
• Thailand Visa (Please contact your cruise for the visa details)
• Other meals where not mention in the program
• Drinks/ waters on meals
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Tips and Gratuities
• Other services not listed in inclusive column
Vacation Details
* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
Reference this number when contacting our agency so we may better serve you. Also keeping this number handy will allow you to locate this document again quickly.