Explore the Far East with Escape Worldwide
Call 020 8989 0970
Call 020 8989 0970
or Contact Us by email
We’ve been, we know - just call!
VISIT OUR WORLD:
Destination
Quick Links
Escape Worldwide S2264. We act as The Global Travel Group plc in connection with
the sale of travel products. Unless specified as the operator, the Global Travel Group
plc is the agent of ATOL protected Tour Operators and other principals.
ITINERARY
Day 1 - UK to Bangkok
Fly from Heathrow to Bangkok, arriving the following day. Departures from other UK airports are also available, please ask for details.
Day 2 - Bangkok
On arrival, you'll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel, for a three night stay. Your stay in Bangkok is flexible so if you prefer a different duration just let us know, plus we have a wide selection of hotel options.
Days 3-4 - Bangkok
Spend the next few days exploring chaotic Bangkok. Check out the temples, markets, restaurants and nightlife of this wonderful city.
Day 5 - Bangkok to Chiang Rai – Golden Triangle
Transfer to Bangkok airport for the flight to Chiang Rai. Arrive Chiang Rai, met our local guide and then continue to Chiang Saen and climb the 383 steps to Wat Phra Dhat Jom Kitti for some dramatic views over the Mekong River. After lunch at the local restaurant, travel up the river by long-tailed speedboat to the Golden Triangle where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet, once one of the largest opium producing areas of the world, but now famous for its beautiful scenery in the North of Thailand. In the late afternoon check-in at your hotel and the rest of the day is at leisure. (End of this tour approx. 16:00hrs.)
Accommodation: Imperial Golden Triangle Resort
Meals included: Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: Golden Triangle – Chiang Rai
After breakfast drive to Mae Sai, the northern-most Thai small town on the Burmese border, visiting a Jade factory and the colorful border market, where local sellers sell everything from cheap electronics to local art objects. Take a selfie at the small arch marking the most northern point of Thailand. Make a stop at Wat Tham Pla Temple, better known as the fish and monkey cave. Located just under a limestone mountain, with cool water flowing from the entrance all the time and full of schools of fish. If lucky local monkey’s come down to greet the visitors. Continue onto Doi Mae Salong, passing through beautiful mountain scenery. Between November and February, enjoy the cool weather as well as learning more about the culture of Chinese descendants of KMT Nationalist Chinese Army Regiment at their village, Santikhiri. The mountain is also home to numerous hill tribe settlements. Near the peak of the mountain visitors will find several tea plantations as well as tea houses. After lunch, visit one of the local Akha, Yao and Lisu hill tribes before continuing to Chiang Rai.
Accommodation: Standard option: Khamthana Hotel
Superior option: The Legend Chiang Rai
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: Kok River – Hilltribe Country
After breakfast at the hotel and check-out. Enjoy an early morning long-tailed boat cruise at Kok river, flowing out of the hills of Burma’s Shan State at Tha Ton before winding its way across Chiang Rai Province – an exhilarating journey along tropical nature, fringed by riverside bamboo huts of hilltribe villages. There are stops at a Lahu hilltribe village and the village of Ban Pha Tai before lunch at the restaurant near Kok river. Continue by road to Mae Rim and the Hmong Hilltribe Lodge for an overnight stay in Meo-style bungalows near a traditional hilltribe village. Cradled in the scenic valley of the Suthep-Pui mountain range, Hmong Hilltribe Lodge is a hilltribe resort offering guests a unique opportunity to experience traditional Hmong culture amidst striking natural beauty. In the evening, enjoy a barbecue dinner around a campfire, followed by a dance performance by hilltribe people.
Accommodation: Hmong Hilltribe Lodge – Hmong House
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: Hilltribe Country – Chiang Mai
After breakfast, get pick up from your hotel in Chiang Mai city and drive approximately 1 hour for a half-day elephant care activity (Elephant care is based join-in (SIC) activity). Enjoy a visit to a natural home and sanctuary for the elderly and sick elephants. At the park, you will have the opportunity to spend time with the various herds, learn about how to care elephants as well as their individual stories. One of the highlights is to prepare foods, make the herbal supplement and feed elephants from the feeding platform. You can expect to have some wonderful photo opportunities during this time. Take a walk around the park with your expert guide and elephants, with no riding and you may have a chance to see the elephants socializing in their herds, concluding at one of the elephant’s favourite places, the mud bath. After the guided walk through the park, take a relax with a drink and snacks provided by the park. Around noon, it is time for goodbyes to the elephants. After lunch at the local restaurant, make a stop at Orchid Farm before heading to your hotel in Chiang Mai town. In the evening, you will be picked up from your hotel for the customary northern style Kantoke Dinner. During dinner, entertainers will perform the intricate Forn Leb finger dance; the Forn Thien candle dance; the Ramwong circle dance; and the Ram Dab sword dance. Opt for an additional hill tribe show performed by various members of the Yao, Lahu, Meo, Lisu, and Karen hill tribes. Transfer back to hotels at the end of the evening.
Accommodation: Standard option: The Empress Chiang Mai Hotel
Superior option: Kantary Hills Hotel, Chiang Mai
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9: Chiang Mai – Lamphun – Lampang – Sukhothai
Approx. 08:00 hrs., pick up from your hotel in Chiang Mai city centre or airport and drive about 40km southeast to the old town area of Lumphun city. The first stop is at Wat Phra That Hariphunchai, one of the most striking temples in all of Thailand, notably with a massive 46m-high golden pagoda enshrines the authentic relic of the Lord Buddha (The design of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai is based on this much older temple). Continue driving to Lampang and make a short visit to Wat Phra That Lampang Luang. The fortified temple was built on top of a mound and surrounded by high walls and is said to be the most beautiful and oldest surviving wooden structure in Thailand. We then proceed by road via Thoen district to Sukhothai and on the way make a stop at a local restaurant for lunch. Arrived in Sukhothai, visit Sukhothai Historical Park - a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and admire beautiful standing Buddha statues as you explore the ruins of royal palaces, Buddhist temples, the city gates and walls. Overnight in Sukhothai
Accommodation: Standard option: Le Charme Sukhothai Resort
Superior option: The Legendha Sukhothai Resort
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 10: Sukhothai – Ayutthaya
Begin the day a bit early to take part in the practice of giving alms (Sai-bat) to Buddhist monks. ‘Sai-bat’ is the daily alms giving ceremony to Buddhist monks that takes place in the early hours of the morning every day, and is a very important aspect of traditional religious life. Local people donate food to the monks as a way of “making merit”, or accumulating good karma. Afterwards, return to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, we check-out and continue a long drive to Ayutthaya Ayutthaya; the second capital of Siam after Sukhothai. Throughout the centuries, an ideal location between China, India, and the Malay Archipelago made Ayutthaya the trading capital of Asia and even the world. On the way we make a short stop for lunch at the local restaurant. Arrived in Ayutthaya, begin the city tour with a visit to the Ayutthaya Historical Park where you find many enigmatic temple ruins strew across the modern city of Ayutthaya, whispering of its heyday as one of the world’s wealthiest and most cosmopolitan cities. Explore around the site of three immense temples and other structures, built during the early Ayutthaya period (1350 – 1529), that are important both historically and architecturally, Ayutthaya was also added to UNESCO’s World Heritage. Overnight in Ayutthaya.
Accommodation: Standard option: Krungsri River Hotel
Superior option: Kantary Hotel Ayutthaya
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 11: Ayutthaya – Kanchanaburi
After breakfast at the hotel, we check-out and drive to Kanchanaburi city; located at the point where the Khwae Noi and Khwae Yai rivers meet and form the Mae Klong River, is a popular resort town. Our first visit for today is the world famous Bridge over the River Kwai, a part of Death Railway constructed by Allied POWs in World War II and had seen its share of conflict and bloodshed. Then on to visit the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery and pay respect to the memorial to 6,982 allied prisoner of war who perished during the construction of the Death Railway and were moved post-war to this eternal resting place. The last visit is to Thailand-Burma Railway Centre an interactive museum and research centre, here you will find information dedicated to preserving the history of the Thailand-Burma Railway. Enjoy your delicious lunch at the local resturant before check-in at your hotel in Kanchanaburi. Relax and specnd the rest of afternoon at leisure. Overnight in Kanchanaburi.
Accommodation: Standard option: River Kwai Resotel
Superior option: The FloatHouse River Kwai
Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch
Day 12: Kanchanaburi – Bangkok - Beach
After breakfast at the hotel, we check-out and drive to the next destination Nakhon Pathom. We make a short stop to Wat Phra Pathom Chedi, a large compound that contains the largest Stupa in Southeast Asia. It is the second-largest in the world, measuring 120 meters at its highest peak. This temple has been a spiritual hub for the locals for close to two hundred years. Enjoy a slower pace of life and tons of local vibes around the area before moving to Ratchaburi for the lively Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. You will have a chance to hop onto decorated long-tail boats, ride through the canals and witness the local communities along the riverbank, before visit the floating market at Damoen Saduak. You will see colourful clad merchants paddle along congested canals in sturdy canoes laden with fresh fruit, vegetables, local snacks and souvenirs to sell to shoppers on the canal banks or even on the boat. Buy some local snacks, enjoy the view of the many boats find their way along the canals and locals interact with tourists. There is lots of activity and bargaining is part of the fun of the sale. Return to Bangkok, transfer to the airport for your flight to Koh Samui. On arrival transfer to your chosen beach hotel, for a seven night stay. A wide range of hotels is available and durations are flexible, so you can stay for as long as you wish (breakfast & lunch included).
Days 13-20 - Koh Samui
Spend the rest of your week on Koh Samui relaxing on the beach, exploring the Island and soaking up the atmosphere.
Day 21 - Koh Samui to UK
Return transfer to Koh Samui airport for your return flight to the UK.
Start with a few days in Bangkok before your escorted tour takes you to Chiang Rai and via elephants and hilltribes to Lampang and Chiang Mai, plus ancient capitals of Ayuthaya and Sukhothai, before finishing on the beach in Koh Samui.
Thailand Upside Down Tour plus Koh Samui
2024/25 Thailand Escorted Tour plus Koh Samui multi centre package holidays Prices are per person based on two sharing.
Prices include flights, hotels & transfers, and are subject to availability. Flights from Heathrow - other departures also available, ask for details. Holiday code G0923W.
Thailand Tour & Samui
3 nights Maitria Sukhumvit Bangkok
7 nights Thailand Upside Down Tour
7 nights Peace Resort Samui
from £3125 per person
Thailand Tour & Samui
3 nights Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok
7 nights Thailand Upside Down Tour
7 nights Sala Choengmon Samui
from £3589 per person
City & Beach twin centres |
Northern Thailand & beyond |
Touring Thailand |
Beaches & beyond |
Thailand & beyond |
Elephant Hills |
Eastern & Oriental Express |
Thailand Escorted Tour |
Elephant Hills plus Phuket |
Elephant Hills plus Krabi |
Elephant Hills plus Khao Lak |
Eastern & Oriental Express Bangkok to Singapore |
Eastern & Oriental Express with Phuket |
Eastern & Oriental Express with Khao Lak |
Eastern & Oriental Express with Koh Samui |
Thailand Escorted Tour with Phuket |
Thailand Escorted Tour with Krabi |
Thailand Escorted Tour with Koh Samui |
Thailand Escorted Tour with Hua Hin |
Kuala Lumpur & beyond |
Penang & beyond |
Langkawi & beyond |
Borneo & beyond |
Singapore & beyond |
Hong Kong & beyond |
Macau & beyond |
Macau & Hong Kong |
Macau, Hong Kong & Phuket |
Macau, Hong Kong & Bali |
Bali & beyond |
Ubud & beyond |
Lombok & beyond |
Yogyakarta & beyond |
Ubud & Bali beach |
Ubud, Bali beach & Lombok |
Ubud, Bali & Singapore |
Ubud, Bali & Kuala Lumpur |
Ubud, Bali & Hong Kong |
Ubud, Bali & Bangkok |
Lombok & Bali |
Lombok & Singapore |
Lombok & Kuala Lumpur |
Lombok, Bali & Ubud |
Lombok, Bali & Singapore |
Lombok, Bali & Kuala Lumpur |
Yogyakarta, Singapore & Bali |
Yogyakarta, Kuala Lumpur & Bali |
Vietnam & beyond |
Cambodia & beyond |
Welcome |
Bangkok |
Chiang Mai & Northern Thailand |
Phuket |
Krabi |
Khao Lak |
Koh Samui |
Hua Hin |
Pattaya |
Hideaways |
Thailand & beyond |
Welcome |
Kuala Lumpur |
Penang |
Langkawi |
Borneo |
Off the Beaten Track |
Malaysia & beyond |
Welcome |
Singapore |
Singapore & beyond |
Welcome |
Bali beach holidays |
Ubud |
Lombok |
Yogyakarta |
Bali & beyond |
Welcome |
Hong Kong |
Macau |
Hong Kong & beyond |
Welcome |
Vietnam |
Cambodia |
Thailand & beyond |
Malaysia & beyond |
Singapore & beyond |
Bali & beyond |
Hong Kong & beyond |
Indochina & beyond |