Day 2: ARRIVE BANGKOK
Upon arrival, after immigration & customs, you will be greeted by our Host Country Guide with a welcome banner and a garland of flowers and transferred to your hotel.

Day 3: BANGKOK
Meals: B, L. This tour will take you through some of the most interesting and historic parts ofBangkok, including a stop at the Temple of the Reclining Buddha, one of Thailand’s most spectacular sights, a 150-ft. long and 72-ft. high statue. In 1832 the soles of the Buddha’s feet were inlaid with mother-of-pearl to illustrate the passing of the Buddha into nirvana. The Temple of the Golden Buddha (Wat Trimit), famous as the oldest and largest temple in Bangkok, is the home of a 6-ton Buddha image of solid gold which is 900 years old. The story of how this statue, covered in clay for 250 years, was rediscovered to be of solid gold is fascinating. Imagine the brilliance of the Buddha being covered over for so many years. How might that apply to our lives? Throughout our Sacred Journey, Dennis will be guiding us in dialogue, taking us on a deeper exploration of our own sense of the sacred.

Later we will go to the Grand Palace where the Emerald Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Kaeo) is located and see a replica of Angkor Wat. Built as a private royal temple, Wat Phra Kaeo is the holiest site in the country and houses a most important image, the Emerald Buddha.

We will return to our hotel for a short rest and a buffet dinner before we go to the Siam Niramit show. Siam Niramit is a world-class performance of Thailand’s arts and cultural heritage. This must-see spectacular is performed on a gigantic stage now listed in the Guinness Book of World Records, featuring over 150 performers with as many as 500 costumes. Enhanced special effects with the world’s most advanced technology are used to produce a stimulating, very realistic and inspiring experience. This is a Journey to the Enchanted Kingdom of Thailand that no one should miss.

Day 4: BANGKOK ~ Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Meals: B, D. Today we will drive to the most colorful floating market in Thailand. At Damnoen Saduak, we will first visit the gardener’s house and see how sugar is made from the coconut tree and take the long tailed speedboat to the main part of the market. See a fascinating Thai way of life from long ago which is still widely practiced in this area. Totally chaotic, small “klongs” or canals are filled with flat boats piled high with fresh produce, each jockeying for position and paddled by ladies ready to stop and bargain at a moment’s notice. It’s colorful, noisy, touristy but great fun. On the way back, we stop at a very old temple called Wat Phra Phatom Chedi - a bell shaped “stupa”, the largest of its kind in central Thailand. Spend the afternoon in a temple at Wat Mahathat - where we will meet and converse with English speaking Buddhist monks. Imagine actually meditating in this ancient sacred temple, exploring your own inner journey.

Day 5: AYUTTHAYA
Meals: B, L. We will travel to Ayutthaya, visit Bang Pa-In, which once was the Summer Palace of the late King Rama V, which contains some exquisite art works. We’ll visit some temples of the former capital of Siam. Later, we’ll return on a comfortable motorboat cruiser downstream to Bangkok and enjoy the sights of rural Thailand. A buffet lunch will be served on board. After our return to Bangkok, we will hear a presentation by a professor from the University of Bangkok who will speak about Buddhist spirituality and the history and culture of Thailand.

Day 6: KANCHANABURI ~ River Kwai Jungle River Rafts
Meals: B, L, D. Today we will make our way deep into the jungle of Kanchanaburi and the location of the River Kwai Jungle River Rafts, a little piece of paradise to offer you in the heart of the jungle. (To learn more about this once in a lifetime adventure, check out Trip Advisor Traveler Reviews). A stay on this floatel moored along this historic river is a unique opportunity to step out of our everyday world into the harmony of nature. Getting to this magical place is half the fun. An exhilarating forty minute boat trip through spectacular gorges, beckoning beaches and clusters of brilliantly colored birds, delight the senses as we venture deeper into the heart of the jungle. Bathe away the last traces of the outside world under breathtaking waterfalls, view wild orchids on jungle jaunts or explore deep inside fabled mystical caves. Or, to ensure your stay is pleasurable, the Jungle Rafts provide a menu that is as good for the body as the atmosphere is for the mind and spirit. It has been said that some of the best massages in the world are found in Thailand. What better way to end this special day of your sojourn? As dusk turns to night and the river changes its mood, the cool evening reverberates with the magical sounds of Mon music and their Balinese-like dancing. The night wanders on like the river, whispers and smiles pass across candlelit wooden tables as we dine on Thai or American cuisine and listen to our host tell folkloric stories of the river.

Day 7: KANCHANABURI
Meals: B, D. Awake to the stunning nature surrounding the tropical forest and begin the day with a hearty breakfast. Today we will visit the elephant camp which is located in a Mon Village. The Mon people originated in Burma and fled to Thailand over many years. We will ride the elephants and also take a bamboo raft along the river, enjoying the beautiful scenery in this jungle paradise. If time allows, we will stop by the local village school where the Mon children are taught. Tonight, you will see a traditional Mon performance before dinner.

Day 8: KANCHANABURI ~ BANGKOK
Meals: B, D. After breakfast we leave the Kwai River Rafts and go to the Tiger Temple. This is a Buddhist temple where tigers live side by side with the monks who care for them. The staff guide visitors as they greet, sit with, and pet these magnificent cats. Later, we will say goodbye to this jungle paradise as we make our way back to Bangkok.

Day 9: CHIANG RAI ~ CHIANG MAI
Meals: B, D. We make an early morning transfer to the airport for a short flight to Chiang Rai. There our bus is waiting for us and we will visit the famous Golden Triangle which is the borderline between Burma, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. From Chiang Rai we make our way to Chiang Mai to see the northern countryside with magnificent mountains and tropical rain forests. The scenery is the most beautiful in Thailand and this province boasts a rich cultural diversity with many ethnic communities, hill tribes and ancient aboriginal people. Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Day 10: CHIANG MAI
Meals: B, D. After breakfast we visit Doi Suthep - the most important temple in Chiang Mai. Next, we make our way to Wat Suan Dok, a Buddhist temple were we will meet and interact with the resident monks. At this Meditation Retreat there are workshops and classes you may want to attend. Chanting and meditation classes are also available, as well as talks by Buddhist Monks. We will spend most of the day at this deeply spiritual place.

Day 11: CHIANG MAI ~ BANGKOK
Meals: B, D. In the morning, we will have time for some last minute shopping before we depart from Chiang Mai. After arrival in Bangkok we’ll transfer to the Hotel. Tonight we will have a farewell dinner at one of the riverboats and see Bangkok at night with its golden palaces and temples along the riverfront.

Day 12: BANGKOK
Meals: B. Enjoy your breakfast before transferring to the airport for your journey home.

Includes: All entrance fees, transportation by air conditioned bus and boat, meals as indicated, and air flights within Thailand.

Please be mindful that this trip will require a moderate amount of walking as we visit various sites. Please evaluate your level of physical ability and plan accordingly.

*Land package only. Roundtrip airfare to Bangkok at Special Group Rates available upon request. For airfare information call: (727) 367-1885. (Single Supplement: $500)

Spectacular Show at Siam Niramit! www.siamniramit.com