Thailand Cultural & Beach Tour

Upon arrival in Bangkok, your Thailand tour begins. If you arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport, you may spend 40 minutes taking a taxi on the 1st floor to the recommended Citypoint Hotel Bangkok near the popular Terminal 21 Shopping Mall, which costs you about THB 400. Alternatively, you can also take Airport Rail Link to Phaya Thai Station and then transfer to BTS; get off at Asok Station and walk eastwards for 5 minutes to your hotel.

From Don Mueang Airport, you are suggested to hail a taxi outside the Gate No. 6 to your hotel in downtown area at a price of THB 300. Another choice is taking shuttle bus A1 to Mo Chit Station and then transferring to MRT; get off at Sukhamvit Station and walk to your hotel.

Tips:
1. Since there's a strict dressing code when visiting temples, we suggest you prepare long sleeve shirts and trousers in advance. Or you can rent one outside the temple, but it may not be easy in peak seasons.

2. Don't take too much cash. Credit cards can be used in most shopping malls and it's convenient to exchange for Baht at airports, hotels, and exchange counters in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket.

Accommodation Suggestion: Citypoint Hotel Bangkok (3 stars)

Today we suggest you take a train to Ayutthaya from Bangkok. Please arrive at Hua Lamphong Railway Station one hour earlier by MRT and pay attention to the departure time published at the station. In this way, you will arrive in Ayutthaya in 2-2.5 hours at a cost of THB 65 for a second class seat. Another choice is taking BTS to Victory Monument and then transferring to a mini bus to Ayutthaya, which costs THB 60 and takes 1.5 hours. Upon arrival, please buy your return ticket in advance.

It is suggested to travel the city of Ayutthaya by bike or motorbike with a map. We strongly recommend you visit Wat Mahathat built in the 14th century A.D. There is a unique scene of tree roots twined around a Buddha's head, which is one of the seven wonders of Thailand. Wat Lokayasutha is another must-see spot and there you can admire the world's biggest outdoor reclining Buddha with a length of 42 meters (46 yards).

When the one-day Ayutthaya backpacking tour is over, please take the return train or bus to Bangkok and then get back to your hotel.

Today you may set out a trip to the distinctive floating market. The one at Amphawa Town and Damonen Saduak Floating Market are the most popular destinations. After breakfast, you may take a taxi from your hotel to the Southern Bus Terminal at a cost of THB 100 or so. There are frequent buses to the two markets.

In Amphawa Floating Market, retailers sell local food and drinks in small ships. It's a primitive market for visitors to enjoy the local life. If you arrive there at night, the scene of fireflies flying along the river will impress you. It opens only from Friday to Sunday.

Damonen Saduak Floating Market is the most typical floating market popular with tourists, where boats are loaded with commercial goods and crowd together. While touring along the river by boat, you can taste various kinds of Thai food. It opens everyday from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm.

At night, a cruise along Menam River is suggested. Please reverse the trip back to Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal and then hail a taxi to River City Wharf to take the boat. There are various kinds of ships, including Grand Pearl, River Star Princess, Chao Phraya Princess, and White Orchid River Cruise, which have similar routines of 2-4 hours but different facilities and meals. If you want to enjoy the local life, you may take Chao Phraya Express Boat, a public transportation means of Bangkok.

Today's independent Bangkok tour covers Grand Palace, Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Pho, Khaosan Road, and China Town. At night, you may consider taking a train ride to Chiang Mai.

After breakfast, you can take BTS to Saphan Taksin Station and then get on the Chao Phraya Express Boat from the nearby Sathorn Pier to the N9 Station. After getting ashore, you may overlook the Temple of Dawn across the river and then walk to the Grand Palace which is the biggest and best protected palace in Thailand; it is now a place for coronations and royal celebrations. After that, head to the most well-known Buddhist temple - Wat Phra Kaew in the northeast of Grand Palace. It is the holiest Buddhist temple of the country, famous for the jade Buddha preserved in it.

Then walk south for 15 minutes to Wat Pho to admire the highest indoor Reclining Buddha with a length of 46 meters (50 yards). After that, walk northeast for 20 minutes to Khaosan Road brimming with bars and restaurants, and goods there are very cheap. Finally, spend THB 60 hailing a taxi to the 200-year-old China Town to buy distinctive Chinese souvenirs and taste Chinese dishes. Near the eastern end of China Town is Hua Lamphong Railway Station, where you can take an overnight train to Chiang Mai.

NO.9 1810/0715 and NO.13 1935/0840 of Special Express are recommended. The price ranges from THB 611 to THB 881 according to the seat level. The train tickets cannot be booked online. You can ask the hotel staff to help you with the ticket-booking.

Accommodation Suggestion: overnight sleeping train

Upon arrival in Chiang Mai in the morning, please reach the recommended BED Phrasingh Hotel in the old city by tuktuk or songthaew. After being settled, you can start you independent tour of Chiang Mai Old City on foot or by songthaew. You are suggested to visit Wat Phra Singh which shows local culture through wall paintings and Wat Chedi Luang housing the highest stupa of the city. Both of them are the most famous and highest-ranking temples in Chiang Mai. Besides, you can admire the statues of three important kings who constructed Chiang Mai Old City. What's more, strolling around Sunday Walking Street and experiencing the Thai Massage are also recommended.

Accommodation Suggestion: BED Phrasingh Hotel (3 stars)

Having wandered around the ancient city of Chiang Mai, today you are suggested to get out of the old city and visit Chiang Mai University, Nimmana Haeminda Road, and Wat Ohrathat Doi Suthep. You can either tour freely by motorbike with a daily rent of THB 300 to 400 or travel by songthaew.

After breakfast, spend THB 30 taking a songthaew to Chiang Mai University which is the first national university in the city. You are suggested to stay there for 30 minutes. After that, either walk for 30 minutes to Nimmana Haeminda Road or take a songthaew to arrive there in 10 minutes. It is not only a good place to do some shopping, but you can also find distinctive café and galleries there. After the visit there, we suggest you go back to Chiang Mai University and then take a songthaew to Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep because it would cost much more directly leaving from Nimmana Haeminda Road. Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is a popular summer resort famous for the two painted dragons lying along the entrance stairs. In the evening, take a songthaew back to the old city.

Today, we suggest you take a songthaew to Chiang Mai International Airport for your onward flight to Phuket. When landing at Phuket International Airport, you can take Airport Bus to Phuket Town and then transfer to a tuktuk to Patong Beach or take a minibus for a fare of THB 200 to Patong directly. Upon arrival, walk northeast for 500 meters (550 yards) to the recommended Ibis Phuket Patong. Alternatively, you may spend about THB 800 hailing a taxi to Kamala Beach and then walk north for 300 meters (328 yards) to check in Novotel Phuket Kamala Beach.

After a short rest, you may set out a trip to Patong Beach, Kata Beach, or Karon Beach. They are the major destinations to enjoy recreational facilities and water-based activities. Patong Beach is the most crowded and most developed beach in Phuket, where you can try numerous kinds of water-based activities. Kata Beach is only 15 minutes' drive away from Patong Beach. It is a W-shaped beach formed by two bays and is a quiet place to see the sunset. Karon Beach is a 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) straight white beach where there are galleries and studios built by Thai artists.

Accommodation Suggestion: Ibis Phuket Patong (3 stars) or Novotel Phuket Kamala Beach (4 stars)

In the morning, you are suggested to do some relaxing activities such as walking on the beach and trying Thai Massage. In the afternoon, you can rent a motorbike at a price of THB 200 to the biggest temple of Phuket - Wat Chalong built in the 19th century. Then you may take a leisure walk around the town to view distinctive local buildings and climb to the top of Khao Rang Hill. There you can drink coffee in a café and overlook the whole island. In the evening, you are suggested to enjoy the sunset at Phromthep Cape.

Today you're recommended to visit some islets around Phuket Island. You can book a one-day tour at local travel agencies to Koh Phi Phi abounded with mantis shrimp, Caral Island with the most water-based activities, Racha Yai Island which is a quiet place with a few tourists and high-grade services, and the Similan Islands - the paradise for diving.

Your 10-day independent Thailand itinerary ends today. Please take all your belongings and head for Phuket International Airport. You can seek help from your hotel or travel agencies to book the pick-up service in advance.