Orchid Tour, from Bangkok to the Golden Triangle
2024
A tour of Thailand's must-see sites. Journey through the secrets and traditions of the Kingdom of Siam, from the bustling capital Bangkok, with its Buddhist temples, floating markets and buzzing districts, to the natural treasures of Chiang Mai. Along the way, discover the historic sites of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai, the majestic temples of Chiang Rai, and meet the hill tribes in the famous Golden Triangle region.
Highlights of the trip
During your stay you can enjoy the following highlights: Culture / Heritage, Discovery, Local stay, Great classics.
Best months to go
The best time(s) to go is/are : Janvier, Février, Mars, Avril, Mai, Novembre, Décembre.
How to get there?
You can get there by Plane.
CLIMATS DU MONDE THAÏLANDE
From 1149€ / person
Travel suitable for :
Detail of the stay : Orchid Tour, from Bangkok to the Golden Triangle - 9 days
JOUR 1 : FRANCE - BANGKOK
Flight to Bangkok on a scheduled flight. Meals and overnight on board.
JOUR 2 : BANGKOK
Steps: Bangkok
Arrival at Bangkok airport, greeted by our representative (at Gate 10). Transfer to your hotel and check-in.
Free meals. Overnight at your hotel.
Bangkok is both a province and the capital of the Kingdom of Thailand, with a population of 7 million within the city walls and 14 million in the metropolitan area. The city boasts 400 sumptuous and fascinating Buddhist temples, magnificent palaces, numerous shopping malls and delights visitors with its refined classical dances and traditional way of life. Nothing beats a boat trip along the timeless canals of "the Venice of the Orient" and the Chao Phraya River, "the River of Kings" that runs through the city, before venturing into the adjacent canals and admiring Bangkok's old quarters. The Chao Phraya River divides the city into two parts: Old Bangkok, with its temples and original palace, Indian and Chinese quarters, and Modern Bangkok, with its business, shopping and residential districts. Bangkok is a modern, dynamic city, dominated by skyscrapers, but with an undeniable Thai identity!
JOUR 4: BANGKOK - AYUTTHAYA - PHITSANULOK
Steps: Bangkok
Breakfast on board. Departure for Ayutthaya, former capital of the Kingdom of Siam. The city was founded in 1350 by Ramathibodi I and became the capital of his kingdom. Its ruins have been turned into a historical park, and the new city was rebuilt a few kilometers further east. This archaeological park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, features a collection of remains characterized by prangs (reliquary towers) and Buddhist monasteries of gigantic proportions, giving an idea of the grandeur of the ancient capital and the splendor of its architecture.
Lunch of specialties (banana or pumpkin fritters) in a lovely local restaurant with a pond.
Continuation by road to Phitsanuloke, via Chainat. En route, visit the Crystal Temple, Wat Tha Sung. This small temple, long forgotten on the banks of Sakae Krang, flourished under the influence of the monk Luang Pho Ruesi Ling Dam. Today, this architecturally unique complex boasts numerous buildings, including a large meditation park bordered by a wall of hundreds of Buddha statues, the Prasat Thong Kham, nicknamed "the golden pyramid", and its famous Viharn Kaeow glass chapel.
Dinner and overnight in Phitsanulok.
JOUR 5: PHITSANULOK - SUKHOTHAÏ - CHIANG RAI
Steps: Sukhothai
We have breakfast. Departure by road for Sukhothaï, the first capital of Siam, founded in 1238 and putting an end to the Khmer reign of Angkor Wat. Sukhothaï was declared a World Heritage Site in 1991. It is more famous for its art than its political achievements. Visit the historic park and its superb temples.
Lunch of Thai fried vegetable specialties.
Departure for Chiang Rai via Lampang. Stop and visit to a pineapple plantation (depending on season and harvest). Chiang Rai, "the City of Kings", is a small town with a population of 65,000. The city was founded by King Mengrai in 1262 and became the first capital of the Lannathai kingdom, but soon lost this status to Chiang Mai. In 1432, the Emerald Buddha, the most important representation of Buddha venerated in Thailand, was discovered in Chiang Rai and transported to the Royal Palace in Bangkok.
Dinner and overnight in Chiang Rai at the hotel.
JOUR 6 : CHIANG RAI - LE TRIANGLE D'OR - CHIANG MAI
Steps: Chiang Mai
We have breakfast. Visit to the famous Golden Triangle region, a thin strip of land on the border between Thailand, Laos and Burma. Set off to meet the "hill people" who live in the tree-covered hills of northern Thailand. In the morning, enjoy a moment of exchange and sharing with the Akha and Yao tribes. Today, these ethnic minorities live mainly from agriculture (poppies, rice, as well as various vegetables such as chillies and soybeans) and handicrafts (fabrics, embroidery).
Lunch of rice specialties sautéed with pineapple.
Boat trip on the Mae Kok River. Encounter with the Karen tribes. Established in Thailand since the Mon-Khmer empire, the Karen are today the largest tribe in the north. The Karen have preserved their ancestral beliefs and rites, and are renowned for their particular attachment to preserving their environment. Visit Wat Rong Khun temple, also known as the White Temple. Extraordinarily white to symbolize the purity of Buddhism, and inlaid with small pieces of mirror to bring about the reflection of enlightenment, this complex of nine buildings is both a temple and a true work of art. Departure for Chiang Mai.
Dinner and overnight at hotel.
JOUR 7 : CHIANG MAI
Steps: Chiang Mai
We have breakfast. Departure for a visit to the beautiful Doi Suthep temple on a hill overlooking the city. The ascent to the pagoda is via a 306-step staircase framed by giant porcelain snakes and dragons. Discover the different parts of the site, with its pagodas, statues, bells and copper-plated chedi, the temple's most sacred element. A true blend of Buddhist and Hindu culture, as evidenced by the presence of an emerald Buddha and a statue of the Hindu god Ganesh. From the temple, there's an impressive view over the city of Chiang Mai.
Lunch of fried noodle and curry specialties.
Continuation of visits to centers for silk, silver and wood carvings... Chiang Mai, the "Rose of the North", is Thailand's second largest city, the most culturally significant in Northern Thailand and the capital of Chiang Mai province. It lies 800 kilometers north of Bangkok, among the country's highest mountains. The city lies on the banks of the Ping River, a major tributary of the Chao Phraya.
Kantoke dinner. A typical northern meal of rice, meat in tomato sauce, boiled vegetables, local sausages and more. A true culinary discovery, accompanied by the traditional dances of the northern tribes. Overnight in hotel.
JOUR 8 : CHIANG MAI - BANGKOK
Steps: Bangkok
Early breakfast. Early morning departure for a visit to the Damnoen Saduak floating market, where you'll discover the canals amidst boats with a wide range of activities. Free time for shopping. Continuation to Nakhon Pathom and its chédi. Return to Bangkok.
Typical lunch in town.
Visit to the magnificent Royal Palace. The Grand Royal Palace is one of the most beautiful monuments of the ancient Siamese court. It has been the residence of all the Kings of Bangkok. You'll see the Funeral Palace, the Reception Palace, the Throne Hall, the Coronation Hall, the Royal Guest House and Wat Phra Keo, home to the extraordinary Emerald Buddha.
Thai dance dinner show. Enjoy the specialty of Massaman Beef, a traditional beef dish with red curry.
Tour Bangkok "by night" to discover the Chinese Quarter, with its narrow streets and lanes lined with brightly lit stores and paper lanterns, offering a unique night-time spectacle. Stroll through Thailand's largest flower market, where excitement reigns every evening. For just a few cents, pick up a necklace of yellow carnations to make an offering at the next temple, or buy seeds to plant at home.
Return to your hotel. Overnight at your hotel.
JOUR 9 : BANGKOK - FRANCE
Steps: Bangkok
Arrive in Bangkok in the morning and transfer to hotel for buffet breakfast. Free time until transfer to the airport. Flight to France. Services on board. Arrival the same day for day flights or the next day for night flights.
