Thailand 2011 - (Page 30)

TOURING THAILAND CONTINUED interests, while enjoying the best of Thailand. Starting in Bangkok, they can begin by exploring the Prasart Museum, which showcases Thai antiques and artwork from different art periods, as well as the sights and sounds of the city’s klongs or canals. They can then ﬂy to Sukhothai to explore the UNESCO World Heritage site of Sukhothai Historical Park and afterwards drive to Lampang to ride a horse cart and visit one of Thailand’s most enchanting temples, Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, said to house one of Buddha’s relics. They may enjoy a visit to a couple of “longneck” tribe villages, visit Mae Hong Son’s market and admire the night market and rice terraces of Chiang Mai before attending a local workshop of traditional textiles and spending time learning to paint and communicate with elephants at the Maesa Elephant Camp. Thai Villages & Rivers is part of Abercrombie & Kent’s Tailor Made series, which means the trip’s duration, visits and luxury lodging are chosen by travelers. Call for rates. ISLAND HOPPING Kensington Tours’ (kensingtontours.com) Private Yachting Phuket allows travelers to explore Thailand’s Andaman Coast and the beautiful islands of Phang Nga Bay on a professionally crewed, 2-cabin yacht that comes with its own chef. What they’ll experience is pristine lands and some of the prettiest beaches in the world. They’ll ﬁrst spend two nights exploring Bangkok with a private guide, discovering its many canals and temples—including the temple complex of Wat Pho—and staying at the Chatrium Hotel Riverside T30 overlooking the Chao Phraya River. They’ll then ﬂy to Phuket to begin their sailing trip. First, they’ll explore the caves and lagoons inside the island of Koh Phanak. Next, they’ll visit “James Bond Island,” featured in 1974’s “The Man with the Golden Gun” with Roger Moore, before heading east to Koh Roi to indulge in a leisurely swim. They’ll also visit the bay of Phi Phi and snorkel its clear waters before exploring the island and enjoying a ﬁre-dancing show, then head to Maya Bay, where “The Beach” was ﬁlmed. Before going back to Phuket and Bangkok, they’ll stop for a last walking or biking exploration in the small island of Rang Yai. Prices for this private trip start at $2,499 pp dbl, with the chance to customize and add extra days. ADVENTURE Thrill seekers have an almost inﬁnite amount of choices through which to experience Thailand, whether on land or sea. Thailand Biking from Backroads (backroads.com), priced at $3,998 pp dbl, lets clients ride on backcountry lanes, past rice paddies and welcoming villages, and explore the day-to-day customs that take place around them. Led by expert guides, they’ll discover some of Northern Thailand’s most enchanting spots—from Chiang Mai to the Golden Triangle—while enjoying full immersion into local cultures by jungle trekking aboard elephants, savoring traditional cuisine, taking part in a cooking class and ﬂoating down the Maekok River. They’ll also bike along the Mekong River by the border to Laos and Myanmar to explore the ancient kingdom of Chiang Saen. Another plus to this tour option: its choice of premiere inns, which allow for above-par retreats that combine the best of Thai and Western comforts. In Chiang Saen, for instance, they’ll stay at the Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa, a Travel + Leisure “World’s Best” award winner nestled in acres of bamboo jungle, while in Mae Suay—a district in Chiang Rai—they’ll spend two nights at Suanthip Vana Resort surrounded by lush forests. Scuba aﬁcionados will want to look into Caradonna Dive Adventures’ (caradonna.com) 10-night Best of Thailand Dive Vacations, which visits the country’s most famous diving sites: Hin Daeng, Koh Ha Yai, Koh Bon (which has one of the few vertical walls in the country), Hin Muang, Koh Racha Noi, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock, near the border with Myanmar. Starting at $3,319 pp dbl, the trip includes the diving equipment, meals and plenty of opportunities for underwater exploration. Travelers will get the chance to see the wealth of area sea life, including the huge whale sharks, corals of different colors, leopard sharks, hawks bill turtles, manta rays and an endless amount of colorful ﬁsh. Clients will travel aboard the 112-ft. Oriental Siren, a traditional Indonesian “Phinisi” made out of ironwood and teak. Intrepid Travel (intrepidtravel. com) has an array of short trips that allow clients to mix and match their preferred spots. The 5-day Canoeing & Caves in Krabi, which starts at $435 pp, lets them revel in the beauty of this portion of Southern Thailand, known for its beautiful beaches, national parks and scenic attractions. They can take advantage of the pristine shorelines and explore the ocean, mangrove forests and caves by canoe, while trying to spot gibbons, monkeys and even prehistoric paintings. Clients might want to combine this with an in-depth exploration of Bangkok or a visit to Chiang Mai, where they can go whitewater rafting on the Mae Taeng River or biking along the Ping River. RIVER CRUISING Travelers wanting to enjoy a ﬂoating holiday can look into Goway’s (goway.com) short river cruises on board a traditional teak rice barge, from which they can enjoy Thailand’s Central Plains and see areas not often reached by visitors. The 3-day Thanathatree Cruise along the Chao Phraya River, for instance, stops by a pottery-making village and the Pathum Thani market and lets clients visit several villages on bikes and stop by a local school. If they choose, they may also go food shopping with the barge’s cook. The wide variety of Goway’s Thailand options also allows for great combinations. After a Thanathatree Cruise, they can sign up for a 3-night excursion to Pattaya Beach, about 90 miles from Bangkok, or hop on the Bangkok to Chiang Mai Connector to explore the region between the areas. Check with Goway for speciﬁc pricing. Should they head to Chiang Mai, they can do a bit of voluntourism through Goway at the Thai Elephant Conservation Center, where they will learn about the issues affecting the majestic pachyderms and get the chance to ride them. Clients will also learn how their donation of roughly $67 will help the center care for the elephants. ❖ http://www.goway.com http://www.caradonna.com http://www.backroads.com http://www.kensingtontours.com http://intrepidtravel.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Thailand 2011

Cultural Highs
Medical Tourism
Romance, Thai-Style
Think Green
Thailand Tee Times
Muay Thai
A Culinary Feast
All Aboard
Touring Thailand
Fast Facts

Thailand 2011