Day 1
We drive to the Khao Yai National Park, the biggest in Thailand with a lot of wildlife, a.o. tigers and elephants. We do a nature walk in the real jungle and visit the water fall where the movie “The Beach” with Leonardo di Caprio has been filmed. We spend the night in a lodge at the park.
Day 2
We drive to the heart of the north east, a seldom visited but very interesting area. Here it looks if time stood still. In the small towns of Dan Kwian and Pak Tong Chai we visit a few factories where people still use their skills to make handmade products. In Phimai we visit the beatitiful Khmer ruins that were built in the same style as Angkor Wat in Cambodia, this area once belonged to the same country.. We will have a traditional lunch at a 500 year old holy tree which is as big as a whole forest. Overnight in Khon Kaen.
Day 3
In the morning we visit a historical park with many strangely shaped rocks formed by the Mekong river. A few of these rocks were used as temples and one can still see 4000 old paintings on the walls. After that a stunning route along the Mekong river to Chiang Khan where we sleep in a teakwood guesthouse right at the banks of the Mekong river. Simple but very colorful accomodation with shared bathroom. There is a possibility to do a boat trip on the Mekong river or attend a dinner with traditional dance and music from the north east.
Day 4
At sunrise you can see how every family in Chiang Khan offers food to the monks. After breakfast we drive to a big lake where we take a raft and go to the middle of the lake where we will be able to swim and relax. Lunch is served on the raft. On the way to Phitsanulok we will pass the vineyard Chateau de Loei and a few national parks, one of the most beautiful roads in Thailand.
Day 5
We drive to the old capital Sukothai where we will rent bicycles and see the old ruins and lotus ponds.
Then we continue towards Chiang Mai, on the way we will stop at
Lampang with its famous teak wood temple. After arrival in
Chiang Mai this tour ends.
Includes:
Accomodation with breakfast
Aircon Car with driver for 5 days
English speaking Guide
Excludes:
Other meals
Entrance fees
Personal expenses and tips
NB: The North East of Thailand is being very rarely visited but is well worth going to because of beautiful nature, national parks, centuries old temples and villages where time stood still.
