Exotic Thailand - Student Travel Tour

Exotic Thailand (2012)

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ITINERARY AT A GLANCE

DAY 1 - FLIGHT

Overnight flight

Overnight flight
Board your overnight flight, bound for Asia.

DAY 2 - BANGKOK

Arrive in Bangkok

Arrive in Bangkok
Welcome to Bangkok! After clearing customs, you’ll meet your full-time tour director and the rest of your group. Bangkok is known for its fun—people here like to have a good time. Like many big cities in this part of the world, Bangkok is an eclectic mix of ancient and modern, with restaurants, bars, clubs, temples and markets.

DAY 3 - BANGKOK

Sightseeing tour of Bangkok (local guide)

Sightseeing tour of Bangkok (local guide)
Tour the Thai capital with a local guide. Begin with a boat ride on the Chao Phraya River and through the city's many canals. Along the way, stop at the Temple of Dawn, one of Bangkok's most iconic landmarks. Visit the Grand Palace, an enormous compound whose high walls once separated the kings from the commoners. Also go inside the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and see Thailand's most sacred Buddha image.

Thai dinner and traditional dances

Thai dinner and traditional dances
Enjoy authentic Thai cuisine and watch dancers perform stories based on classic Thai literature and folktales.

Lunch and dinner (show) are included today

DAY 4 - BANGKOK

Excursion to Ayutthaya

Excursion to Ayutthaya
Head to Ayutthaya, one-time capital of Thailand. This was one of the most impressive cities in the Orient until it was sacked by the Burmese in 1767. You'll visit the amazing Summer Palace, with its interesting mix of Thai, Chinese and Gothic architecture. Return to Bangkok by riverboat along the Chao Phraya River.

Free time in Bangkok (night)

Free time in Bangkok (night)
Top 5 nightlife suggestions:
1. Cheap Charlie's – Have a beer and strike up a conversation with the locals and tourists who flock to this wooden shack.
2. Joe Louis Puppet Theatre – See the latest take on the ancient art of Thai puppetry (lákhon lék) at this renowned theater.
3. Bamboo Bar – Internationally recognized jazz bands perform live at this bar located in a historic hotel.
4. Q Bar – This is Bangkok's most famous dance club; it has an industrial feel, with thumping techno and an extensive bar.
5. Thai kickboxing – Go to a thrilling match of this traditional sport.

For more ideas and details, see our Lonely Planet city guide for Bangkok.

Lunch and dinner are included today

DAY 5 - KANCHANABURI

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Ride in a speedboat through marshes and past traditional stilt houses all the way to Thailand's famed floating market. Check out the traditional crafts and wares among the market’s barges and waterways. Buy some souvenirs or just soak in the atmosphere of rural Thai life.

Kanchanaburi

Kanchanaburi
Continue to Thailand's fourth-largest province. At the JEATH War Museum, see the exhibits dedicated to victims of the Death Railway Bridge, including photographs, memorabilia, paintings and more. Also visit the famous bridge over the River Kwai. This reconstruction of the original bridge was built by WWII POWs to connect the segments of the Japanese Empire.

Lunch and dinner are included today

DAY 6 - KANCHANABURI

Saiyoke Yai Waterfall and National Park

Saiyoke Yai Waterfall and National Park
These thunderous falls are one of Thailand's most beautiful natural wonders. Walk through the dense forest around the waterfall, and maybe see some exotic animals—anything from the blue-winged pitta to the tiny Kitti hog-nosed bat. Also stop at the Hellfire Pass, where POWs once dug a tunnel through the rocks and mountains using only hand tools. This afternoon, take a ride on the "Death Railway".

Lunch and dinner are included today

DAY 7 - PHITSANULOK

Travel via Wat Pa Lelai monastery

Travel via Wat Pa Lelai monastery
Inside this ancient Buddhist monastery on the banks of the Suphan River sits the Luang Pho To, a highly revered depiction of the Buddha. Twice a year, pilgrims gather here to pay their respects.

Arrive in Phitsanulok

Arrive in Phitsanulok
Continue to Phitsanulok. This area is home to a national park and a friendly town that was once the capital of Thailand.

Lunch and dinner are included today

DAY 8 - SUKHOTHAI • CHIANG MAI

Sukhothai Historical Park

Sukhothai Historical Park
Visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site, which houses the remains of the royal palace and many Buddhist temples.

Travel to Chiang Mai

Travel to Chiang Mai
Travel via Lampang to Chiang Mai, Thailand's second-largest city. Chiang Mai is chock full of Buddhist temples (more than 300 in all), and it’s a great place to really get a sense of the Thai culture.

Sankamphaeng and Bo Sang

Sankamphaeng and Bo Sang
Tour the Sankamphaeng District, known for its silk and cotton cultivation. You might even see a traditional weaving demonstration. After, visit the village of Bo Sang, where local artists produce hand-painted paper umbrellas on a large scale.

Lunch and dinner are included today

DAY 9 - HILL TRIBE VILLAGES • NIGHT TRAIN

Excursion to the Thai hills

Excursion to the Thai hills
Head out for the day and meet members of regional tribes that have lived here for centuries. You'll ride an elephant and cruise down the Ping River on a bamboo raft made by the villagers. Do some jungle trekking and meet villagers in the Akha, Lisu, Palong and Lahu hill tribes.

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep
This amazing temple, dating from 1383, rises 5,248 feet above Chiang Mai on a forested mountain peak. Go to the top by stairway or funicular railcar and take in the awesome views of the surrounding area.

Night train to Bangkok

Night train to Bangkok
Board your overnight train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. Night trains are a classic travel experience, a fun way to get from point A to B (and you don’t use up a day traveling).

Lunch and dinner are included today

DAY 10 - BANGKOK

Free time in Bangkok (day)

Free time in Bangkok (day)
Top 5 free time suggestions:
1. Ancient City – This 200-acre model city south of Bangkok has all kinds of monument replicas and is also a great place for a bike ride or a picnic.
2. Lumphini Park – Enjoy this green space named after Buddha's birthplace; the park is filled with tai chi students, joggers, kite flyers, and vendors selling snake blood.
3. Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute – This snake farm features snake milking and feeding, and has some of Thailand's most venomous snakes, including the king cobra.
4. National Museum – This is the biggest museum in Southeast Asia; learn all about Thai art here.
5. Amulet Market – Shop for traditional Thai amulets for protection against evil spirits and bad fortune.

For more ideas and details, see our Lonely Planet city guide for Bangkok.

Lunch and dinner are included today

DAY 11 - CHA-AM

Travel to Cha-Am

Travel to Cha-Am
Make your way to the turquoise seas and palm-lined beaches of Cha-Am. Cha-Am is a resort town where backpackers and Bangkok students go when they need to get away. Lots of beaches, bars and parties.

Free time in Cha-Am (night)

Free time in Cha-Am (night)
Top 5 nightlife suggestions:
1. Hua Hin – Head to this nearby resort town for a wide array of bars and restaurants.
2. Cha Am View Point – Come to this scenic spot to watch the sun set over the sea.
3. Night market – Shop after dark at this popular spot for picking up traditional Thai wares.
4. Karaoke bar – Check your ego at the door and belt out your favorite tunes.
5. Sanuk Pub – Hear live music every night, play some pool and have a few drinks.

DAY 12 - CHA-AM

Free day in Cha-Am

Free day in Cha-Am
Top 5 free time suggestions:
1. Beach – Relax on the sand, swim in the sea, or hop on a jet ski.
2. Khao Luang Cave – Do a little spelunking, and see an impressive Buddha image inside.
3. Bike ride – Rent a bike and explore the area on two wheels.
4. The Palace Of Love And Hope – Visit this palace complex with gardens and a long corridor leading to the sea.
5. Kang Krajaren National Park – Go see the evergreen forest, wildlife, and waterfalls of this scenic national park.

DAY 13 - CHA-AM • BANGKOK

Free morning in Cha-Am

Free morning in Cha-Am
Soak in your last rays of seaside sun this morning.

Return to Bangkok

Return to Bangkok
Head back to Bangkok for your last night in Thailand.

DAY 14 - FLIGHT

Fly home

Fly home
It's time to say your goodbyes. Head to the airport for your flight back home.

14 DAYS STARTING AT $3,619

Restrictions Apply

Price is valid on specific departure date and standard (triple/quad) rooming. Change and cancellation fees of up to the total price may apply. Applicable airline baggage fees are not included and can be found at efcollegebreak.com/baggage.
Prices may be subject to change.

DEPARTURES
~~12/28/2011~~FULL
05/20/2012
~~07/09/2012~~FULL

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TOTAL PRICE:

Change and cancellation fees of up to the total price will apply. Applicable airline baggage fees are not included and can be found at efcollegebreak.com/baggage.

To view EF’s Booking Conditions, visit efcollegebreak.com/pdf/2012_booking_conditions.pdf.

Current departure fees include taxes and surcharges levied by governments and airlines and may be subject to change prior to final payment.

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