Thailand
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Thailand, zoals u het niet kent .. 4 routes die goed te combineren zijn tot één geweldige reis.
1.
The Spirit of Lanna
The sustainability of the route lies in its essences of cultural heritage and the preservation of traditional Thai life, supporting communities’ natural resource management, art, wisdom, architecture, agriculture, gastronomy and wellness.
Dag 1
Chiang Mai - Lamphun – Ban Ta Pa Pao
09:00 Met by local guide at Chiang Mai Airport or Chiang Mai Railway Station. Transfer by van to the village, Ban Ta Pa Pao, about 60 kilometers from Chiang Mai.
10:30 Arrival at Ban Ta Pa Pao Community Based Tourism community. Welcome by the villagers with a welcome drink, served in a coconut shell cup. Check-in at the home stay. Hosts inform the guests about the family and the accommodation.
12:00 Local lunch at the home-stay, prepared by the hosts.
13:00 After lunch guests join the community in their daily activities such as making rice cakes, folding banana leaves etc.
15:00 Time to explore the community, including a small temple and museum on the hilltop with panoramic view over the village. Then visit the local village school. Here the young generation learn about recycling waste plastic bag and papers as well as helping to conserve the local culture. Elder people transfer their wisdom and knowledge to the school children.
16:00 Continue to explore the fascinating community forest with the local guide and learn about medicinal plants and herbs in the forest.
17:00 Return to the home stay. Relax.
19:00 Guests dressed in proper attire meet with the villagers at the community. Taditional Kantoke dinner accompanied by northern style music. Guests have an opportunity to socialize with the villagers and learn more or exchange with them about way of life, culture and traditions.
21:00 Overnight at the home stay
Dag 2
Ban Ta Pa Pao - Lampang
07:00 Join your hosts to give morning alms to the monks.
08:00 Thai breakfast at home stay.
09:00 Check out. Drive to Lampang.
09:45 Visit a center for coconut shell products at Hang Chat district which are produced by the villagers including bags, lamps, mobiles, accessories.
10:30 Continue to visit Lampang Herb Conservation Assembly. Introduction and briefing about the activities of the assembly as well as its health and spa services including herbal steam and Thai massage. Enjoy one hour Thai massage with herbal compress. (Herbal products available for sale).
12:15 Drive to BB Coffee Restaurant for lunch.
13:30 Among the various family businesses, visit a home factory producing Lampang’s famous rice crackers
made of sticky rice and water melon juice called “Kao Tan Nam Taeng Mo”. Taste the delicious rice crackers and see the production process before continuing to Patamasevee Learning Center which locates in a well conserved old northern Thai house. Learn about production process of beautiful paper lanterns made of bamboo sticks and colorful hand-made papers. The lanterns contain several wisdom and metaphoric meanings in Buddhism and therefore, have been used in religious and traditional ceremonies.
15:00 Visit the temple Wat Pong Sanuk, which won international plaudits for its inspirational model of community-led conservation in saving a unique form of Lanna architecture. The temple received a Heritage Award of Merit in 2008 form the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for its inspiring restoration efforts.
16:00 Transfer to the city center to board on a horse carriage to explore Lampang city passing by well conserved old wooden houses and buildings built in traditional northern style along the Forestry Lane and Gad Gongta old market.
17:30 Drive to ambient Lampang River Lodge Resort. Check-in
19:30 Transfer to down town of Lampang city for a Dinner at Khong Gin Ban Hao Restaurant. Enjoy typical northern style food which contains various kinds of local herbs and vegetables. Overnight at Lampang River Lodge.
Dag 3
Lampang – Chiang Mai
07:30 Breakfast at the hotel.
08:00 Depart for Thai Elephant Conservation Center.
08:30 Arrive at the center and have a short briefing about the conservation activities of the center. Then get on an elephant’s back to enjoy a hour of gentle elephant riding, passing by the elephant nursery.
09:15 Stop at the elephant’s hospital. See how sick or wounded elephants are cured by the veterinary team.
09:45 See how elephants are bathed and trained by the mahout to work in the forest. The clever elephants here are also enthusiastic to play some musical instruments and even to paint a picture!
10:30 Transfer to Chiang Mai. On the way visit Ban Ta market to see interesting exotic fresh products offered by the villagers.
12:00 Arrive Chiang Mai. Lunch at the local restaurant Just Khao Soy. Here the famous Northern style curry noodles called “Khao Soy” will be served, followed by home-made herbal ice cream or seasonal fruits.
13:00 Transfer to Chiang Mai Airport or Chiang Mai Railway Station.*****
Highlights -
Service and Sustainability in Lampun and LampangTa Pa Pao Community Based Tourism
“We are proud to share what we have.”
The people of Ta Pa Pao community live a simple life, close to nature, Basic but comfortable, Homestay accommodation and a warm welcome; Explore community forest, learn about herbal remedies with local guides; Multiple awards for conservation and cultural renaissance – the community have worked together to preserve traditional performance arts and games; Drug-free and healthy community – “Eat well and sleep soundly”, Environmental camps and specialist nature study tours can be organized
2.
The Flavours and Fragrances of Central Thailand
The sustainability of the route lies in its essences of cultural heritage and the preservation of traditional Thai life, supporting communities’ natural resource management, art, wisdom, architecture, agriculture, gastronomy and wellness.
Dag 1
Amphawa / Samut Songkram
07:00 Leave Bangkok and proceed to Samut Songkram
08:40 On arrival at Samut Songkram, we will visit Mae Klong Market. Local trains run through 8 times daily. As the train approaches the station, many vendors hastily raise their awnings, fold up their umbrellas and pull their stalls away. The hidden railway tracks suddenly appear. After the train has passed, everything is set in their previous position. The name of the market “ Talad Romhup ” is derived from the vendors’ closing umbrellas
09.00 We travel on to coconut plantations at Amphawa
09.30 At the coconut plantation, we see how villagers produce traditional coconut sugar which is a main ingredient for Thai desserts and a natural condiment in authentic Thai cooking. We see the whole process of natural sugar production, from climbing up a coconut tree to retrieve its nectar, collecting sugar in bamboo containers hung overnight, stirring in a large black iron pan over a wood fire until ready. You can taste a favorite local Thai dessert made from fresh coconut milk and coconut sugar.
10:00 Next, we visit Wat Phummarin Kudi Thong, located on the bank of Mae Klong River. The remarkable attraction is the Kudee Thong (Golden Hermitage) built by the father of Khun Nak, Queen of King Rama I, the founder of present Chakri Dynasty. She was the Mother of King Rama II, a great patron to arts and culture which have become national heritage.
10:20 We hop on board a boat to see agricultural villages along the Mae Klong River, passing various kinds of tropical fruit orchards - coconut groves, pomelo and lychees, and ancient style Thai houses rarely seen nowadays in the communities of Amphawa. Many riverside communities become crowded floating markets during the weekends. Our trip ends in Amphawa where you can walk around and see traditional lifestyle.
11:00 Next, we visit Baan Khanom Thai community (literally the sweets village) where guests will see demonstration of how to make traditional Thai desserts using methods specified in the poetry composed by King Rama II (can be changed without notice)
11:45 We proceed to the Community of Bang Phlap, well- known for its’ sweet, organic pomelo orchards. This community is a popular place to learn about local wisdom of chemical free agriculture, how to transform unused parts of fruits or plants into charcoals and wood smoke vinegar, conventional ways of fruit & vegetable preservation as well as the community’s profit sharing system which raises funds for their children’s education.
12:00 A local, authentic Thai lunch will be served at the community. After lunch, we visit Pomelo orchards where guests can learn how to plant organic pomelos and produce organic fertilizer, how to burn unused fruits into charcoal and produce wood vinegar, learn how the villagers preserve their fruits and how they produce a variety of interesting products.
15:00 Proceed to Baan Amphawa Resort and Spa, a Green Leaf Hotel in Samut Songkram which is approximate 2 hours drive from Bangkok. Baan Amphawa Resort and Spa is a Thai Style House Resort in the midst of lush green orchards and coconut plantations, by the riverside of Mae Klong River.
Check in to the Baan Amphawa Resort and Spa. Relaxation at the resort.
19.00 Dinner and overnight at Baan Amphawa Resort and Spa.
Dag 2 Samut Songkram – Phetchaburi
06:00 We offer alms to Buddhist monks at the resort.
Breakfast at the resort’s restaurant.
09:00 By van, we start our journey along the “Salt Road” to visit the Salt Learning School and learn about traditional methods of producing salt from sea water. The Center is one of 6 Universities of Local Wisdom and Knowledge, which exist to support the transmission of cultural heritage to the next generation, especially local Thai children who lack opportunities.
10:00 Proceeding along the “Salt Road” we see lots of salt farming, local food stalls, dried fish and strange multi-storey buildings which are homes for thousands of swiftlets whose nests are made of solidified saliva and are the basic ingredients of ”Bird’s nest soup” an expensive favourite dish for Chinese.
10:45 A stop will be made at Wat Nai Klang where you will see a beautiful Thai style House dismantled from the old capital city and assembled here by the command of King Taksin the Great in order to thank to the people of Ban Laem who looked after his Royal Mother during the war.
11:15 We proceed to Banlad district in Phetchaburi.
12.15 Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
13.15 Depart for Tambon Ban Thamrong, Ban Lad District in Phetchaburi Province, famous for traditional Thai Desserts as there are a lot of sugar palm trees that stand side by side in rice fields. The sugar palm tree is economically useful to the locals as it can produce many items such as fresh sugar juice, authentic palm sugar, young palm seeds, toddy palm cake, palm seed in syrup, palm-leave hat, palm-wood containers, etc
13:30 At Ban Thamrong, we make a quick visit to a sugar palm tree plantation to learn more about sugar palm trees. Then, we drive through agro-forestry to local houses where we see the daily work of utilizing sugar palms. Besides yielding sugar, Ban Thamrong has various occupational groups, providing a great number of products and benefits to the villagers such as producing chili paste, Lod Chong ice-cream, basketry, cock farms etc.
14.15 Practise palm leave weaving at Uncle Pud ‘s house
15:00 We proceed to Petchvarin Resort and Spa, a Greenleaf Foundation smoke free hotel, set amidst tropical forest on the bank of Phetchburi River.
16:00 Arrive and check in at Petchvarin Resort and Spa.
Free time and relax.
19:00 Dinner at the resort.
Overnight at Petchvarin Resort and Spa.
Dag 3 Phetchaburi
08:00 Breakfast at the resort’s restaurant
09:00 Check out and depart for the Wildlife Rescue Center.
09:30 Arrive at the Center. Visit to Wildlife Hospital. See how officers work to rescue wildlife injured by people who captured them as pets.
10:30 Depart for Wattana Garden in Cha-Am to see a variety of flowers in culinary art and drinks.
11.45 Arrive at Wattana Garden- an open private garden. Enjoy short course of cooking with freshly picked flowers, tasting drinks and various products from fruits and flowers.
12:00 Lunch at a local restaurant.p.m. Transfer to Bangkok
3 The Charm of Isaan Life
The sustainability of the route lies in its essences of cultural heritage and the preservation of traditional Thai life, supporting communities’ natural resource management, art, wisdom, architecture, agriculture, gastronomy and wellness.
Dag 1 Nakorn Rachasima (Korat)08.00 Depart the hotel and proceed to Bann Prasat Community Based Tourism Community. Stop for local fruit at the market at Bann Klang Dong.
11.30 Arrive at Bann Prasat. Enjoy lunch, cooked by the community.
13.00-15.00 Visit famous local archeological sites. Your local guide will also take you to see silk weaving, local reed products and survey the home stays.
15.00 Depart Bann Prasat
15.30 Check in at Dusit Princess Hotel. Free at leisure.
17.00 Hotel inspection and learn about their interesting green projects, including an organic vegetable plot tended by the hotel staff.
18.00 Depart the hotel to Khun Ying Mo’s Monument, situated in front of the old gate of "Pratu Chumpon" on the west side of the city. This monument was built in 1934 to commemorate the heroic deed of Khun Ying Mo. Then take a tricycle for the city tour and on to the restaurant for dinner.
19.00 Dinner at a local restaurant and transfer back to Dusit Princess Hotel.
Dag 2 Pimai Sanctuary – Korat Fossil Museum
08.00 Visit the local morning market for 30 minutes where you can learn about local people’s life. Then visit Prasat Hin Pimai which is the largest sand stone sanctuary in Thailand, situated in the center of ancient Pimai city. Its architectural style closely resembles Angkorean buildings, and having been built before Angkor Wat some believe it may have been the model for Angkor Wat.
12.30 Lunch at local restaurant.
13.30 Visit the Korat Fossil Museum where you will be amazed by ancient Petrified wood, Ancient Elephant and Dinosaur fossils. Then continue to Macchada Thai silk factory at Pak Tong Chai which is a very famous district for good quality hand woven Thai silk. You can see all the processes of making Thai silk here.
19.00 Dinner at delicious Dadad restaurant, fusion style Isaan food and transfer back to
Dusit Princess Hotel.
Dag 3 Elephat Conservation Center – Life Park08.00 Visit the Elephant conservation Center. Enjoy learning about elephant’s life and elephants via Khao yai National Park and ride on the elephant’s back for 30 minutes.
12.00 Lunch at the local restaurant.
13.00 Check in at Greenery Resort. Then enjoy adventurous activities at Life Park, Greenery Resort.
19.00 Dinner at a hotel’s restaurant and transfer back to The Greenery Resort.
Dag 4 Khao Yai - BKK
08.00 Visit Khao Yai National Park, a World Heritage Site because of its
rich biodiversity. Stop at the visitor center to learn about the Park. Enjoy trekking from Pa Kluay Mai Waterfall to Heaw Suwat waterfall which is about 3 kilometers. You will see many different kind of tropical forest flora and fauna enroute. If you’re lucky you may see a crocodile.
12.00 Lunch at the park’s restaurant.
13.00 Visit Heaw Narok waterfall which is the biggest waterfall in Khao Yai. Then go back to BKK.18.00 Arrive BKK. Safety.
*****Highlights -
Service & Sustainability in Isaan
Bann Prasat Community Based Tourism Baan Prasart is a typical north-eastern Thai rice farming community, full of
‘Isaan’ charm and good humour. The people still live a traditional life, marking
time by the changing seasons, and vibrant Buddhist festivals;
Baan Prasart Homestay was established in 1993, following the exciting discovery of 3 archeological sites dating back 2,500 to 3,000 years; Learn to make hats, bags and other souvenirs. Textiles enthusiasts will enjoy visiting the silk and cotton weaving group. Music lovers can head for the Thai Classical instrument group, where soprano and alto fiddles are crafted by hand. PATA GOLD AWARD in 1994 and an ASENTA GOLD AWARD in 1996; The villagers grow vegetables to feed tourists in home gardens. This helps to reduce villagers’ expenses while increasing income by providing food; Community members work together closely with the local school, contributing income from tourism, training students as ‘youth volunteers’ to give guests information about the local historical sites, and participating in the program; The people of Baan Prasat have often use income from tourism to offer free hospitality to study groups, in order to make a contribution to Thai society; Baan Prasat is a great destination for families. Children experience a mixture of history, culture, arts, crafts and real life experience, outside the classroom.
4. At the Cultural Crossroads
(3 days 2 nights: start in Chiang Rai and end in Chiang Mai)
The sustainability of the route lies in its essences of cultural heritage and the preservation of traditional Thai life, supporting communities’ natural resource management, art, wisdom, architecture, agriculture, gastronomy and wellness.
Dag 1 Chiang Rai – Doi Tung
Am Pick up at the airport Chiang Rai, transfer to Doi Tung (about 1 hr. drive),
Briefing about the Royal Project in Doi Tung. Then visit the royal project and tribal village & villagers who work with the Royal Project. The visit includes coffee and macadamia plantations.
12.00 Lunch at Doi Tung Restaurant in Doi Tung.
13.00 Travel to visit Wat Rong Kun, the amazing white temple (about 1 hr. drive). Then, travel to the township of Chiang Rai (about 30 minutes drive), check in at Legend Chiang Rai Boutique Resort & Spa. Take time to survey and explore.
16.30 Take a tricycle from the resort for about 30 minutes, then walk to observe the lively market (sells cooked foods, fruits, fresh vegetables and many kinds of fried insects) until reaching Wat Phra Kaew at about 17.30 hrs. See the beautiful Ho Phra Kaew and temple, and listen to the monks chanting in the temple (there are many novices residing in this temple).
18.00 Take a tricycle back to the resort, past beautiful trees lining the road.
19.00 Dinner and overnight at Legend Chiang Rai Boutique Resort & Spa.
Dag 2 Huay Kee Lek Community Based Tourism
07.00 Breakfast at the resort
08.00 After breakfast, travel to Baan Huay Kee Lek Akha village by air-conditioned Van and a local truck (about 1 ½ hrs. drive), perched on the top of a mountain with fantastic views of Chiang Rai province.
10.00 Welcome by Baan Huay Kee Lek community-based tourism group, who will introduce guests to their community, local culture and way of life
Explore Baan Huay Kee Lek with local guides, visit the village school
11.00 Soft nature trek in the community forest led by Akha guide for about 1 hr. Learn about the relationship between the Akha people and the forest.
12.00 Finish trekking, take leisure at the host home
12.30 lunch in the village, Akha style
13.30 Travel to Suanthip Wana Resort (about 1 hrs. drive) an amazing Green resort. right in the heart of the forest and mountains.
Check in at the resort, at leisure to survey and explore.
16.00 Ayuravedic massage with homemade heated herbal Compact for about 1 hrs
18.00 Start to prepare for a Thai cooking class - 2 dishes: spring roll and fried Thai noodle (Kuai-Teo-Pad-Thai)
19.30 Finish the cooking. Have dinner together
Overnight at Suanthip Wana Resort
Dag 3 Chiang Mai – Bangkok
08.30 Breakfast at the resort
09.30 After breakfast, check out and travel to Chiang Mai
11.00 Arrival in Chiang Mai, visit Wat Phrasing, observe the most beautiful mural painting in the Northern style of arts.
12:00 Lunch at “Just Khao Soy” restaurant in Chiang Mai
13.00 Travel to Chiang Mai Airport (about 1 hr) for return flight to Bangkok
Or dorp off at a hotel in Chiang Mai.
Things to bring : warm clothes in winter (Dec. - Jan.), a rain coat in rainy season
(Jun.-Oct.), shoes & long pants & long sleeve shirts for trekking, personal medicine
