6 days, 5 nights
Today we leave behind the modern, cosmopolitan capital and journey back in time to Thailand’s ancient past. Our first call is at historic Ayutthaya, the former capital of the Kingdom of Siam. We then visit Wat Pranangcherng and the three ancient pagodas at Wat Phra Sri Sanpetch. We then call at Aranyik Knife Village which dates back to the early Rattanakosin period. This is home to a long line of blacksmiths, goldsmiths and other master craftsmen who are skilled at hand crafting knives and similar products. We then head to Angthong to visit Ban Bang Sadet Court Doll Centre. This is housed in a traditional Thai-style wooden house on stilts and we will see how Thai dolls are made. Next, we explore Wat Muang, home to the largest sitting Buddha image in Thailand. En route to Phitsanulok, we stop for lunch in Lopburi and briefly view the ancient Khmer temple of Phra Prang Sam Yot. Upon arrival in Phitsanulok, we visit Wat Pra Sri Rattana Maha Dhat which contains Phra Buddha Chinnarat, one of the most beautiful Buddha images in the country. Overnight at Topland Hotel.
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Topland Hotel
Culture and history is combined perfectly on this day trip to Lampang. Our exploration of Phitsanulok takes in the fascinating Sgt. Maj. Thavee Folk Museum, a quaint attraction with a fascinating collection of antiques that mirror Phitsanulok’s past. We also visit a Buddha statue factory and observe skilled craftsmen fashion iconic spiritual images. We continue to the Sukhothai Historical Park. Meaning the ‘dawn of happiness,’ this destination was the site of a realm that flourished from the mid-13th to the late 14th centuries. As the first capital of Siam, it laid the cultural and political foundation for Thailand. The remains of the former kingdom can be seen in a 45 sq-km UNESCO World Heritage Site, containing 193 antiquities of palaces, temples, city gates, walls and villages. After lunch at a local restaurant, we proceed to Lampang and visit one of the foremost ceramic manufacturers in Thailand. Lampang is noted as a leading centre for the production of blue and white pottery and you will learn about the signature ceramic bowls. Ahead of the hotel check-in, we enjoy a walking tour of stylish colonial houses in Talad Gao Street. Overnight at Wienglakor Hotel.
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Wienglakor Hotel
Delve into Thai traditions with a day soaking up the country’s rich culture. An early start is rewarded with the unique opportunity to ‘make merit’ by donating food to monks at a local temple in return for blessings. Buddhists believe this ritual is rewarded with virtue. This sacred experience also creates a harmonious start to the day. We then return to the hotel for breakfast, followed by the departure to Chiang Rai. On the way, we visit a pineapple plantation to see the cultivation of this fruit. We then continue north, stopping for a coffee break at picturesque Phayao Lake. After lunch at a local restaurant, we visit Doi Mae Salong, a mountain just 6 km from the border with Myanmar. This area became home to a Chinese military division in 1961. Near the peak are several tea plantations and tea houses as the cooler climate, at an elevation of 1,800 metres, produces superior leaves. Through this Chinese connection, there are also abundant open-air bazaars and shops that sell Chinese specialties. We then return to Chiang Rai. Overnight at Wiang Inn Hotel.
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Wiang Inn Hotel
Our exciting excursion trades in Chiang Rai’s tranquil calm for the livelier vibe of Chiang Mai. In the morning, we check-out and drive to the Golden Triangle and see where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet. We take a short cruise along the Mekong River and soak up a stunning landscape of rugged mountains that frame the mighty Mekong River. We then return to Chiang Rai to visit the famed Wat Rong Khun. This is known as the white temple and it features surreal sculptures. After lunch, we depart for Chiang Mai and upon arrival we visit some handicraft factories to view the skilful creation of products such as Thai silk and paper umbrellas. We then continue to the hotel for check-in. In the evening we enjoy a unique tradition of Chiang Mai, a khantoke dinner. This culturally rich experience involves dinner and dance and musical performances. The food is served in small bowls known as khan and guests are seated at a low table known as toke. Entertainers will perform intricate dances, including the forn leb finger dance and the ramwong circle dance. Overnight at Centara Riverside Hotel Chiang Mai.
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Centara Riverside Hotel Chiang Mai
Delve into nature, history and culture, ahead of boarding a sleeper train to bustling Bangkok. In the morning, we visit an orchid farm to get a colourful insight into the blaze of blooms cultivated at this attraction. We then drive to Elephant Poopoo Paper Park, an eco-friendly attraction that explains the unique steps in making paper products from elephant waste. Next is Dara Pirom Palace Museum, the elegant property of late Princess Jao Dara Rasamee, one of the royal consorts of King Rama V. The building today serves as a museum and it houses a wide range of exhibits that showcase palace decor and Chiang Mai’s rich culture and history. After lunch, we drive up the Serpentine Road to the magnificently situated Wat Phra Dhat Doi Suthep. This mountain top temple, which dates back to 1383, affords spectacular views of Chiang Mai city and the sprawling Ping Valley. It is positioned 1,676 metres above sea level and is Chiang Mai’s most sacred shrine. We then head to Chiang Mai Railway Station and board the train for a second-class air-conditioned overnight journey to the capital.
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Train
Wake to the hypnotic feel of the carriages rocking as we proceed down the length of the country to the capital Bangkok. You will be treated to a rolling view of verdant landscapes and picturesque towns and villages, as we enjoy the final-leg of our train journey from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. Upon arrival in the capital, we will be met by our driver and head directly to the hotel for check-in.
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6 days, 5 nights
All tours and services can be booked directly with our office in China
A TRAILS CHINA / DAOCHENG
Beijing Office
Suite 810, SunFlower Tower
#37 Maizidian Street Chaoyang District, Chaoyang District
Beijing 100022, P.R. China
Tel: (86-10) 6515 9259
Fax: (86-10) 6515 9293
Email: info@atrails.cn
All reservations are confirmed by return with the up-dated booking status within 2 working days. Due to occasional delays in communication with more remote destinations, it may take a few days longer to get confirmation.
All rates are quoted in RMB and are subject to change without prior notice. Inclusions and exclusions in the tour packages are indicated at the end of each itinerary. Commonly our package tour rates include accommodation, transfers, certain meals, and other tour related services. Domestic or international airfares are included where mentioned. Our tour itineraries do not include visa fees and expenses of a personal nature. The validity of our rates is November 01, 2018, until October 31, 2019, unless otherwise specified.
Local English speaking guides are accompanying tours and transfers in each destination. German, French, Italian, Spanish and Russian and Chinese speaking guides are available on request in major cities and subject to confirmation.
A delivery fee will be charged according to the distance traveled, if any train tickets are required to be delivered to clients’ hotel.
Full pre-payment by bank transfer is required 30 days before the commencement of services.
Our bank account details are:
Bank Name: Bank of China Beijing JianGuoMen Wai Sub-Branch
开 户 行:中国银行北京建国门外支行
Account Name:ATC TRAVEL SERVICES (BEIJING) LTD.
账 户 名:北京道成国际旅行社有限公司
Account No.:3259 6908 9747
账 号:3259 6908 9747
Swiftcode : BKCH CN BJ 110
For itineraries operated outside China
Account Name:BEIJING GLORY INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL SERVICE CO, LTD.
账 户 名:北京千乘假期国际旅行社有限公司
Account No.:3211 6010 0100 1577 67
账号:3211 6010 0100 1577 67
Bank Name: Industrial Bank Co., Ltd Sanyuanqiao Sub-Branch
开 户 行:兴业银行三元桥支行
For children aged between 2 and 11 years following rates will apply:
A maximum of two children per party is granted such a discount. Besides this general policy, specific conditions may apply case by case.
For cancellation of confirmed reservations, following general cancellation charges apply :
Special conditions apply for cruises, beach resorts as well as for some of the boutique and landmark hotels. Expeditions and specific products may have different conditions.
Domestic and international air tickets are non-refundable once issued. You are obliged to pay full airfare (inclusive of any tax and fuel surcharge) of any cancelled tickets based on the contract rate.
We reserve the right to re-arrange the order of any tour program, to cancel or substitute elements of any tour itinerary without notice, when local conditions require such changes. All itineraries depending on domestic flight confirmations are subject to changes.
Any increase in taxes or fuel surcharges imposed by the authorities will be advised as soon as we are informed of them, and they will be added to the invoice.
Flight and train details mentioned in our itineraries are for indicative purposes only.
This agreement, its contents and all related documentation sent over to the customer/tour operator are strictly confidential and must not be disclosed to any third parties.
We consider complaints as valuable feedback to improve service delivery levels. We request that service delivery failures or customer concerns, be reported during the customer’s stay, to one of our representatives. It is the aim of the company to solve any irregularity on the spot. The company reserves the right to refuse to take action on perceived irregularities submitted to the company 14 days after the customer returns back home.
During the term of this agreement, neither party shall be in default of its obligations to the extent that its performance is delayed or prevented by causes beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to, acts of God, natural disasters, bankruptcy of a vendor, strikes and other labor disturbances, acts of war, or civil disturbances, or other equivalent or comparable events.
The client agrees to indemnify and to save A Trails – Daocheng from harm and against all damage or injury (including death) to property or person(s) resulting from intentional or negligent acts or omissions from their respective officers, employees, agents, contractor or subcontractor in connection with the performance of this agreement.
This agreement is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of China (and/or applicable in relation to the country it is legally represented) for the time being in force and the parties agree to submit any dispute arising between the parties under this agreement to arbitration in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of the respectable Arbitration Institute, Office of the Judiciary applicable at the time of submission of the dispute to arbitration and the conduct of the arbitration thereof shall be under the auspices of the specific Arbitration Institute accordingly.
Images displayed on the website have a promotional intent only and are not necessarily reflecting the actual destinations and service conditions. These may belong to ATrails staff, customers, photographers we are collaborating with or retrieved from websites such as Pexel, Pixabay, Unsplash or Originoo. While trying to be the most accurate as possible, is agreed that those images do not necessarily depict the actual services promoted.
We act as an intermediary between the concerned airlines, hotels, all transport operators and local tourist offices providing the services. The Company is therefore not responsible for any loss, injury or damage sustained by the tourists, including those occurring outside the touring programs. Additional expenses incurred due to delay, accidents, natural and disaster, political actions and unrest must be borne by the tourists. Programs and prices, services and conditions are based on those valid at the time of printing and are therefore subject to change without advance notice before or during the tour. Acknowledgment and confirmation of the above-mentioned conditions is active, once clients participate in one of the provided services via us. The itinerary of the excursion, package and/or tour cannot be altered or changed without prior permission from us. We cannot be held liable if you amend the excursion and its content in your brochures or give wrong descriptions to clients that are travelling.
The Company is not responsible for any last-minute closure of specific regions or tourism sites caused by decisions taken by local or national authorities to restrict access hereto. We will provide alternative itineraries where necessary and reduce cancellation fees to a minimum, however, such imposed closures are beyond our control and constitute a case of force majeure.
The areas concerned include but are not restricted to : The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Tibet Autonomous Region, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, minority regions in Qinghai and Gansu provinces.
Travel breaks down borders and brings people together: The nearly 900 million people who travel every year make the sector one of the biggest in the world, a major employer and a key element in the global economy. But this has its downside, too: increasing pollutant emissions from the tourist traffic, loss of coastlines and other landscapes through excessive building development and sexual exploitation of children are just some of the negative consequences of the growth in global tourist travel. In order to minimize the negative impacts and enhance the positive ones, our Corporate Responsibility Strategy focuses on four prime issues: