14 Days Thailand and Laos Exploration Tour

This tour includes three of the most unusual Buddhist temples in Bangkok: Wat Trimitr with its invaluable Golden Buddha (5 ½ tons of solid gold) – Wat Pho, the most extensive temple in Bangkok, with its colossal Reclining Buddha and the Chedis of the Kings.

The Grand Palace is one of the most beautiful samples of an ancient Siamese court. It used to be the residence of the Kings of Thailand. Here you will see palaces which were used for different occasions: the Funeral Palace, the Reception Palace, the Throne Hall, the Coronation Hall, the Royal Guest House, and the beautiful Emerald Buddha Temple.

Visit Wat Phra Kaew, which is a royal chapel situated within the walls of the palace. Incorrectly referred to as a Buddhist temple, it is in fact a chapel; it has all the features of a temple except for living quarters for monks. 

Wat Arun, is among the best known of Thailand's landmarks. The temple is so named because the first light of the morning reflects off the surface of the temple with pearly iridescence.

Free at Khaosan Road. Over night stay in Bangkok. 

Depart by air conditional mini-bus for Ayutthaya, the former capital city of Thailand. 

Visit Bang Pa In Summer Palace, King Prasat Thong originally constructed the complex in 1632, and though it lay empty and overgrown throughout the late 18th and early 19th centuries, King Mongkut began to restore the site in the mid-19th century. 

Wat Yai Chaimongkhol, a large Chedi of  this Wat can be seen from a far distance. This monastery was built by King U-Thong in 1357 A.D. for the use of the monks who had returned from Ceylon after studying under Phra Vanarat Maha Thera.

And the ruins of the old Royal Grand Palace & Temples. Cruise down to Bangkok along the Chaopraya River where you can enjoy the rural Thai life along the river. 

Return to hotel for leisure time. Over night stay in Bangkok. 

Morning tour to The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, situated 110 km west of Bangkok, is a very attractive place for tourists to see the old style and traditional way of selling and buying fruits, vegetables, etc., from small boats. You will also see traditional Thai houses, the way they live and travel by boats. 

Free until take the flight to Vientiane.

Visit the Wat Si Saket, which was built in the Siamese style of Buddhist architecture, with a surrounding terrace and an ornate five-tiered roof, rather than in the Lao style.

Pha That Luang, is a gold-covered large Buddhist stupa, generally regarded as the most important national monument in Laos and a national symbol.

Patuxai, also called Patuxai Arch or the Arc de Triomphe of Vientiane as it resembles the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. It is typically Laotian in design, decorated with mythological creatures such as the kinnari. 

Arrival at Luang Prabang, transfer to hotel for rest. 

Wat Xieng Thong (Golden City Temple) is one of the most important of Lao monasteries and remains a significant monument to the spirit of religion, royalty and traditional art. There are over twenty structures on the grounds including a sim, shrines, pavilions and residences, in addition to its gardens of various flowers, ornamental shrubs and trees.

Climb up 350 steps to the top of the Phou Sii hill to visit the Wat Phu Sii and enjoy commanding views for many miles in each direction.

An optional early start gives you the fantastic opportunity to participate in the daily morning rituals of saffron-clad monks collecting offerings of Alms (often in the form of sticky rice) from the faithful residents. This tradition is very unique in Laos , being the only Buddhist nation still preserving the ritual. 

Visit Royal Palace Museum (Haw Kham), which was built in 1904 during the French colonial era for King Sisavang Vong and his family. The site for the palace was chosen so that official visitors to Luang Prabang could disembark from their river voyages directly below the palace and be received there .

Take a Mekong Riverboat trip on the mighty Mekong River to visit the famous & sacred Pak Ou Buddha Caves - the caves are noted for their miniature Buddha sculptures. Hundreds of very small and mostly damaged wooden Buddhist figures are laid out over the wall shelves. They take many different positions, including meditation, teaching, peace, rain, and reclining (nirvana). 

On return, we disembark the boat to visit traditional villages, and continue taking a short drive to Ban Phanom, a village famous for its hand weaving.

Today we cross the Mekong River by boat, to the picturesque village of Ban Chan, a pottery village. Then visit the morning Phousi Market, where you will see such diverse offerings as dried buffalo skin, local tea and saltpeter among the chickens, vegetables and hill-tribe weavings. 

Laos is also known for its traditional crafts, and today you will visit local villages of Lao ethnic minority groups at Ban Ouay, a Hmong village, Ban Ou a Laoloum village and Ban Thapene, a Khmu village. This then takes us to the beautiful Khuang Si Waterfall where you can cool off with a refreshing swim in the pools or walk along the forest trails.

Drive up the serpentine road to the magnificently situated Wat Doi Suthep. Perched on a forested mountain, this most sacred of Chiang Mai’s temples (3,280 ft.) provides a superb view over the city, as well as a wealth of images and frescos. 

You then pass the city’s biggest market Going to two important temples – Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Sing. The two main temples in the city center ; “Chedi Luang Temple” where the Emerald Buddha was once enshrined and “Phra Singh Temple” with a 1,500-year old Buddha image. 

Continue to Wat Chiang Man, and then return to hotel.

Drive from Chiang Mai City to Mae Rim. Starting with a visit to an elephant camp and having seen the admirable and intelligent animals bathing and working, you take an hour ride through the forest on elephant back. 

Visit Hmong Nong Hoi Mai hilltribe village and The Royal Project. On the way back visit Queen Sirikit Botanic garden and orchid farm.    

And transfer back to the hotel. Over night stay in Chiang Mai.

Drive to Chiang Rai about 3 hours. 

Visit Chiang Saen, the ancient capital of the Lanna Kingdo, and the Golden Triangle, where Thai-Myanmar-Laos meet. 

At night free at Night Bazaar market, located in the middle of downtown, Chiangrai. A place for souvenirs and local products, with free cultural performances. Also more than forty restaurants.

Over night stay in Chiang Rai. 

Free at Chiang Rai by yourself till to drive back to Chiang Mai.

Free time at leisure by own for you to explore Chiang Mai.