Elephant Kingdoms (Family)

Day 1: Bangkok

Arrive in Bangkok where you are transferred to your comfortable and centrally-located hotel. A pre-trip briefing is held in the evening so that you can meet the other members of your group and discuss the trip itinerary. After the meeting we may adjourn to a nearby restaurant and enjoy a meal together. The rest of the evening is free to relax or you may choose to head out and visit the bustling night markets of Bangkok.

Day 2: Bangkok - Overnight Train To Chiang Mai

Today is a full day to enjoy the sights of Bangkok. This city tour is all done on the different forms of public transport available to the citizens of Bangkok (Skytrain, canal boat, ferry and bus), to give you a true taste of life in this busy and vibrant city. We visit the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), a must for first-time travellers to Bangkok. We also visit Wat Po, home of the famous Reclining Buddha. (When visiting temples and palaces in Thailand, please dress conservatively in order to respect the local culture). In the afternoon we transfer to the train station to board our overnight air conditioned sleeper train bound for Chiang Mai (approximately 13 hours). Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 3: Chiang Mai

An early morning arrival into Chiang Mai (providing our train is on schedule – not always the case). A day to enjoy the more relaxed ambience of the ‘Rose of the North’, as Chiang Mai is sometimes called. It’s literal translation actually means ‘New City’. In the afternoon we will visit the Hilltribe Musuem and Wat Doi Suthep, a beautiful Buddhist temple situated high on Suthep hill. The evening provides the perfect opportunity to hit Chiang Mai’s infamous Night Bazaar and practice your bargaining skills. Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 4: Hilltribe Day Tour

We catch a private mini-bus and drive for an hour and a half into the northern hill region around Chiang Dao. An elephant ride through the forest delivers us the hilltribe villages where we then trek around the area, visiting Palong, Karen, Lisu and Akha people. Meeting these colourful people gives you an insight into their unique and fascinating lifestyles and customs. Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch

Day 5: Chiang Khong

A mid morning departure sees us travel to the northern city of Chiang Khong, via Chiang Rai (approximately 5-6 hours). In Chiang Khong you will be able to sit on the banks of the mighty Mekong River and look across at Laos as it beckons. Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 6: Mekong River & Pak Beng

In the morning we transfer to the Thai/Lao border. Once passed Thai Immigration, we say good-bye to our Thai Tour Leader and board small boats to transfer across the Mekong river to Lao immigration where you will be met by your Lao Tour Leader. Following immigration formalities being completed, we transfer to the Huay Sai pier to board our private slowboat for the journey down the Mekong river, the 2 day journey is a chance to relax and take in the breathtaking scenery on our comfortable private slowboat. This evening we overnight in the little township of Pak Beng, a small traders town and now an overnight stop for tourists travelling to Luang Prabang. Please note that Pak Beng is a basic town, be prepared for the possibility of cold showers and limited electricity supply, a “Spirit of Adventure” is essential. Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 7: Luang Prabang

This morning we board a private slow boat for a two-hour journey upstream to Pak Ou (meaning ‘mouth of the Ou River’), where the famous Tam Ting Cave houses thousands of Buddha images of various shapes and sizes, all brought there by devoted villagers. Along the way we stop at the village of Ban Sang Hai, where they make the potent local rice-wine. We continue onto our destination - Lauang Prabang and enjoy the chance to walk around the local shops, which are well known for their hand-weaving and other interesting artefacts. Here is a chance for the shoppers to try their hand at bargaining. Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 8: Luang Prabang

In the morning we have the option to rise early to view the procession of monks on their daily outing collecting alms, a practice that dates back centuries. The people of the town wait out the front of their houses with food for the monks to collect and take back to the temple. It is done early as the monks cannot eat anything after midday. By giving food to a monk you ‘het bon’ or make merit, which should augur well for your next life! Following breakfast we visit the major temples, including the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong, which nestles at the meeting of the Mekong and the Nam Khan rivers, and Wat Wisunalat, which is the oldest temple in the city. The afternoon is free to enjoy the chance to walk around the local shops, which are well known for their hand-weaving and other interesting artefacts. Here is a chance for the shoppers to try their hand at bargaining. Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 9: Luang Prabang

We visit the National Museum at the former Royal Palace, an interesting structure that dates from the early years of the 20th Century and combines traditional Lao architecture with French colonial influence. The collection of treasures and artefacts reflects the richness of Lao culture dating from the days of the early kings right through to the last sovereign, who was deposed in 1975. The afternoon is free to make your own discoveries. A great optional activity is to sample a traditional Lao massage and herbal sauna. Another highlight of our stay is a journey 29 kilometres south of town to visit the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfalls. Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 10: Vang Vieng

Travelling south, our private bus winds its way over high mountain passes and down through breathtaking scenery for seven hours. This is a very long and arduous, but ultimately rewarding, day of travelling. You will certainly need to bring with you your spirit of adventure! During our stay we cross the river to explore the huge caves that line the West Bank. These caves are riddled with unexplored tunnels and caverns, and there is plenty of time to make our own discoveries or partake in a day-trip kayaking (additional cost) along the Nam Song.

Day 11: Vang Vieng

The village of Vang Vieng is located in a beautiful location, on a bend in the Nam Song River. Today is a free day for you to do what you wish, there are plenty of options from canoeing on the river to hiring a bicycle and riding through the beautiful surrounding scenery. Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 12: Vientiane

Today we drive to the capital of Laos – Vientiane (approximately 4 hours). In the afternoon a city tour acquaints us with the major sights of the capital. We visit the imposing Patuxai monument (also known as the Anousavari, which translates as ‘Victory’ in Lao - hence the name Victory monument), which is Vientiane's version of the Arc de Triomphe and dominates the city's main thoroughfare. It has also been nicknamed the ‘Vertical Runway’, which refers to the fact that it was built in the 1960s from funds the US Government had given to the Lao Government for the expressed purpose of extending the runway at the airport! Wat Si Saket is the oldest temple in the city, while the former royal temple of Wat Prakeo previously housed the famous Emerald Buddha image before it was taken by the Siamese in the late 18th Century. We visit both temples and the famous structure in Laos, the That Luang stupa. Meals included: 1 breakfast

Days 13 & 14: Bangkok

Today we transfer to Wattay International Airport for our flight from Vientiane to Bangkok. We say goodbye to our Lao tour leader before passing through immigration. We fly to Bangkok unescorted, but our Thai tour leader will be waiting for us in the arrivals hall at Bangkok International Airport and transfer us to our hotel. This evening is a great opportunity to go out as a group for a final dinner. The tour ends after breakfast on Saturday. A transfer to the airport is not included; however, your tour leader will be on hand to advise you as to the options available. Meals included: 2 breakfasts