Exotic Isan: Elephants, the Mighty
Mekong
and
Relics of the Khmer Empire
(with day-excursions into
Cambodia
and
Laos
)
Code: TAI025 |
Follow the ‘Royal Road’ to the “Emerald Triangle” corner of Isan. Climb to a mysterious mountain temple in Cambodia and shop the border markets of Laos; Ride Elephants with the Suai people; Visit sacred prehistoric places-of-worship at Pha Taem cliff over the Mekong, and experience the “Real Thailand” on its banks. |
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Bangkok – Khorat – Ban Than Prasat – Phi Mai – Dan
Kwien – Muang Tham & Phnom Rung – Surin – Tha Klang – KWao Sinarin – Ubon – Chong Mek (LAOS) – Khong Jiam – Pha
Taem – Ubon Ratchathani |
| GETTING THERE: |
Guided service starts at the Bangkok airport or your
hotel and ends at the Ubon Ratchathani
Airport. Ask our destination experts for suggestions on integrating this program in your itinerary. |
|
| Day 1:
Bangkok –
Lunch in
Khorat
Town – Ban Pra Sat Bronze age
Excavations – Phi Mai Khmer Empire Ruins – Korat (Nakorn Ratchasima) – Night
Market – Korat |
|
Your guide will pick you up at your hotel for drive
thru this “gateway” to Isan (Korat), and the excavation at Ban Than Prasat of 3500
year old Bronze-age.
Phi
Mai
Khmer
Temple
is our next stop, probably the most famous and
best restored of the Khmer temples in
Thailand,
was the terminus of
Emperor Jayavarman’s (VIII)
Royal
Road. This temple was the first of those restored
in
Thailand
(begun in the 1970s) and has a small museum there as well, which helps us in
the understanding of this mighty culture. Return to Korat to enjoy an Isan dinner and those who wish to may join
our staff for a visit to the night market.
|
Day 2: Korat –
Ban
Dan
Kwien
Pottery
Village – Nang Rong Area Village
Walk – Phnom Rung & Muang Tham Khmer
Temples – Surin |
|
Drive to the pottery
village of
Ban Dan Kwien
where old styles here mix with the new and walk thru the village to see the creative
process. Then continue to Nang Rong and
get a taste of local life and lunch.
Visit
Phnom Rung & Muang Tam Khmer Temples important points on the “
Royal Road” to Phi
Mai. Continue to Surin where we will stay for the night. Dinner will be at a
local restaurant near the hotel. These days Surin has a vibrant local night
life nearby the hotel.
Meals: B, L, D
|
| Day 3: Surin – Elephant Ride
at Ban Tha Klang – Kwao Sinarin Silk & Silver Handicrafts –
Museum & Temple – Ubon Ratchathani
|
An early departure to the Moon River and Ban Tha Klang, where the Suai minority people make their living with elephants formerly as war elephants in the service of the early Rama Kings of Thailand. Enjoy an early morning ride on local elephants before visiting the village itself and the small elephant museum.
Then visit the silk village of Kwao Sinarin, famous for Cambodian style silk weaving. Then drive visit a silversmith at work before continuing to the town of Ubon Ratchathani. In Ubon visit the National Museum and Wat Thung Si Muang before check in at the hotel to relax until a boat ride to a riverside restaurant.
Meals: B, L, D
Accom: Lai Thong Hotel
|
| Day 4: Ubon – Chong Mek
Market (Laos note: no visa needed) – Khong Jiam – Pha Taem Historical Park –
Mekong Riverboat Ride – Thosaeng Khong Jiam Resort |
Drive to Khong Jiam on the
Mekong
river for a delicious lunch at a local restaurant then check in at the resort.
Visit Pha Taem Historical park with ‘pre-historic’ paintings. Afterwards, we
will board a local style riverboat for the trip to the resort.
This is a lovely little ride, as this part of
the
Mekong is narrow and full of interesting
features. Arrive in the late afternoon /
early evening at the Thosaeng Khong Jiam Resort. Dinner at the resort.
Meals: B, L, D
Accom: Tohsang Khong
Jiam Resort |
| Day 5: Khong Jiam – Khao Phra
Viharn (Preah Vihear) Khmer Temple Complex on the Cambodian Border – Ubon Ratchathani |
|
Drive to Khao
Phra Viharn Khmer temple complex even before Angkor Wat. Walk up steps
to graded causeways and arrive at the extensive but dilapidated center, which
is on a cliff-top overlooking the virgin Cambodian countryside. On the way back
stop at Maw-I-Daeng cliff carvings. Drive back to Ubon Ratchathani. Visit a number of
city sites before Transfer
to the airport or train station for your next destination.
Meals:
B, L
Accom: none
End of Service
|
| Rates
and Other Information |
EXOTIC ISAN
(CODE: TAI025)
Tariff: Based on Thai BAHT per person
on twin or double sharing room
CONVERT to currency of your choice.
Period |
1 Pax |
2 Pax |
3-5 Pax |
6-9 Pax |
SS |
1st
Nov 07 - 31st Oct 08 |
43,078 |
24,473 |
19,216 |
13,533 |
2,475 |
Tohsang Khong Jian Resort surcharge as follows:
- Songkran Festival (13-15 Apr 08)
@ THB 400 /room/night
- Candle Festival (18 Jul 08) @
THB 500 /room/night
- Compulsory Gala Dinner on 31 Dec
07 @ THB 1,400 /person
- Peak Season surcharge (24 Dec 07
– 3 Jan 08) @ THB 500 /room/night
Price includes:
- All accommodation
- Meals as indicated on above itinerary
- All entrance fees on route and
Laos
&
Cambodia
entrance fee.
- Baggage handling and portage
- Services of an English Speaking Guide
throughout the tour from the start of the tour in
Bangkok to the end of the tour at Ubon
Ratchathani.
- Transportation in an air-conditioned
car, mini bus or coach, depending on numbers booked.
Price does not include:
- All domestic & international airfare
- Drinks other than water at meal times
- Meals other than those mentioned in the
program
- Personal hotel extras bills and personal
incidental charges
- Domestic or International airport
departure tax and air-tickets
- Tips & Gratitude for guide and
driver
-
Credit
card charge
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