THAILAND AND BALI (1999)

Flights: We fly Barcelona - Bangkok - Barcelona with "Alitalia", the domestic fligths with "Thai Airways" and we fly with "Garuda Airways" to Bali . 

Itinerary: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Mae Hong son, Chiang Mai, Thaton, Chiang Rai, "Golden Triangle", Bangkok, Bali.   

Accommodation:

Bangkok: "Sol Twin Towers" http://www.thetwintowershotel.com/index.php

Thaton: a "Maekon River Lodge"

Bali: a "Melià Benoa" in Nusa Dua (we found a super offer in Internet)

http://www.melia.com/es/hoteles/indonesia/bali/sol-beach-house-benoa/index.html?utm_source=google&gclid=CjgKEAjwn-WcBRD61NHM-uqDrm4SJADrP4tPTYHZepDW6Co114aLwhV_fGWnptBlUwxCP5l00jj6tfD_BwE

Transport: You should try a Tuk-Tuk. It is an experience way to ride through the chaotic streets of Bangkok. Cheap to travel in and a great way to soak up the sights, these crazy little modes of transport are definitely a ‘must-try’ on any Thailand holiday.

BANGKOK

Bangkok today, while the city is up to speed with modern times, the grandeur and glory of its illustrious past still prevails. Be it dazzling temples, spectacular palaces, a world-famous floating market or colourful Chinatown, each of these famous places has an intriguing story to tell. 

The 7 top places:

Grand Palace & Wat Prakeaw for 150 years the home of Thai Kings and the Royal court

Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) apart from its beauty, Wat Arun symbolises the birth of the Rattanakosin Period and the founding of the new capital after Ayutthaya fell.

Floating Markek Damnoen Saduak, the pioneer of all floating Markets.

Chinatown (Yaowarat) is a colourful, exotic and pleasingly chaotic area, packed with market stalls and probably the highest concentration of gold shops in the city.

Wat Pho where the gigantic reclining Buddha is.

Khao San Road is the street where East greets West, with travellers from every corner of the modern world.

Soi Cowboy (Sukhumvit) flashing neon lights up a colourful streetscape comprised mainly of middle-aged expats, Japanese and western tourists, and of course a lot of sex girls with cries of 'helloooa, welcome!'. 

The Royal Grand Palace is the most important landmark in Bangkok built in 1782, and it is most frequently visited by foreign tourists as well as the local Thai people. It is famous for its impressive architectures and buildings. In the same compound is situated the Wat Phra Kaew which houses the most revered Emerald Buddha (Phra Kaew Morakot), carved from a single block of jade.

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Royal Grand Palace 

Royal Grand Palace 

We take a day trip to the "Damnoen Saduak Floating Market & Rose Garden" with a Thai culture show.

Day Culture show

Wat Pho, where the gigantic reclining Buddha and a fascinating collection of murals, inscriptions and sculptures are.

Khaosan Road is a small road located about a block from the Chao Phraya River. In the last 20 years, Khaosan Road has developed into a world famous backpackers hangout. It offers everything from cheap accommodation to travel agencies and in this road is where we bought all the flights and some of the excursions.
 

CHIANG MAI 

We fly to Chiang Mai. It is the capital of Northern Thailand and famous for its cultural heritage and astonishing natural surroundings.
 

We take a city sightseeing of this 700-year-old northern capital and nearby hilltop Wat Doi Suthep (the most famous landmark of Chiang Mai), a temple with its great views to the city. Then we go on for a tour in the old part of the city and visit some of the ancient temples, such as Wat Chedi Luang with the city pillar and Wat Chiang Man. Later we take a stroll over a bustling local market. Finally we visit some of the local handicraft factories in Bosang, such as woodcarving, silver making, lacquer ware, umbrella painting etc.

Wat Doi Suthep 

Wat Doi Suthep

We take a trip to Ban Chang Thai , located in the mountain wilderness, approx. 50 km north from the city of Chiang Mai to visiti an elephant working camp, with elephant-back ride through the jungle. We watch these giants take their morning bath and demonstration of hauling logs etc. 

After lunch, we enjoy a trip on a bamboo raft down the Mae Wang River and later we take walk to visit  various hill tribes, such as the Palong, Lisu and Akha.

A visit to orchid farm and drive to Meo hilltribe village.

We visit Home Industries Village, producing many typical handicrafts: silk, cotton, woodcarving, jewellery, silver and lacquer wares.

In the evening, we go to a "northern-style Khantoke dinner and hill tribe cultural show" .                                                     

CHIANG MAI - MAE HONG SON

We fly to Mae-Ho-Son and spend 2 days there.

We take a boat trip on the Pai River to the Burmese border area and visit a Paduang village (better known as "longnecks"). Some women of this tribe elongate their necks by adding brass neck rings annually from an early age.

Finally we visit two picturesque Shan temples, Wat Doi Kong Moo on a hill top to have a great view over the Shan city and a great panorama of Mae Hong Son and Wat Jong Klang at the city lake as well as a Lahu and a Lisu hill tribe villages.

Wat Doi Kong Moo

Wat Jong Klang

Close to Mae Hong Son, we visit the mysterious Tham Plaa or Fish Cave National Park.

We fly back to Chiang Mai.

The highlight of the tour we are going to take on our own is the scenic stretch of the Mekong River and to experience beautiful landscapes and idyllic, remote villages along the river. Finally it shows us the highlights of the Golden Triangle area as well.

CHIANG MAI - THATON

We travel to the north by regular bus line to Thaton and overnight at the riverside resort "Mekong River Lodge".

Thaton is at the border to Myanmar. We visit the temple Wat Thaton on the hill where we have a breath taking overview over the hilly landscape to the nearby Burmese mountain wilderness and the Kok River. Buddha statues are set up on each level of the hill and the colourful Stupa on top is the highlight of this temple.

We take some time at leisure strolling around the village and swimming in a pool near by, which belongs to the same lodge.

CHIANG RAI

A must in Thaton is the ride on the Mae Kok river in "long boat". There is a public boat daily from Thaton to Chiang Rai and we take it.

CHIANG RAI - GOLDEN TRIANGLE - CHIANG MAI

Early morning drive for about one hour to the former royal town of Chiang Saen. From there we take a short ride to the well known Golden Triangle, where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar (Burma) meet. Next we visit the small Opium Museum and we go on to the border and market town of Mae Sai. We take a stroll over the bustling border market. (There is the possibility to cross to the Burmese border town of Tachilek (one day border pass available). In the afternoon return back to Chiang Mai with some brief stops on route, such as at the picturesque Wat Rong Khun (white temple). Arrive Chiang Mai by early evening.

Chiang Rai - Bangkok

From Chiang Rai, we fly to Bangkok and from there to Bali for a week.

BALI

 Bali, the famed Island of the Gods, with its varied landscape of hills and mountains, rugged coastlines and sandy beaches, lush rice terraces and barren volcanic hillsides all providing a picturesque backdrop to its colourful, deeply spiritual and unique culture, stakes a serious claim to be paradise on earth. With world-class surfing and diving, a large number of cultural, historical and archaeological attractions, and an enormous range of accommodations, this is one of the world's most popular island destinations and one which consistently wins travel awards.

 In BALI we take some excursions or tours to: 

A tour to Alas Kedaton Holy Monkey Forest, where hundreds of "tame" and very mischievous monkeys live in the forest surrounding the temple. The final stop of the day will be at the dramatic Tanah Lot sea temple. This is one of the splendid temples in Bali. Perching atop an enormous rock, it is completely surrounded by the waters of the Indian Ocean during high tide.

In Tanah Lot sea temple you have to enjoy the sunset.

It is an unforgetable experience!

A tour to Besakih Temple - the largest holy site in Bali and home to the island’s Mother Temple, located on the slopes of Mount Agung (3,142 meters). The temple is comprised of 3 main complexes dedicated to the Hindu Trinity. It was built during the late 8th century AD.

A tour to Kintamani Volcano and Barong Dance. Home to 5 volcanoes, including the sacred Mt. Agung, Kintamani and Mt. Batur must rank among the most dramatic and accessible live volcanoes to be found anywhere. Literally a volcano within a volcano, visitors can drive along the rim of a 8km wide caldera while looking across the still active Mt. Batur still spouting lava and slowly building new height. 

Barong Dance

Barong Dance

 

And... this was our amazing trip to Thailand and Bali.