Central / Northern Thailand 14 Day Journeys

Day 1: Arrival in Bangkok:

Assemble at the guesthouse in the early afternoon so group members can meet and take a brief walking tour of the Banglampoo district and surrounding areas for an introduction to Thai street culture. We will have dinner as a group at a street restaurant while swapping stories of what has brought us all together in Asia. Back to the guesthouse for an early night to get onto the sleep patterns of your new continent.

Day 2: Bangkok to Ayuthaya:

Up early to enjoy a group breakfast as we begin an ongoing discussion of the Learning the Art of Travel Program (LATP). Next we will walk down to the Chao Phraya River for a water taxi to Tha Tien Pier. We will take a cross-river ferry to the Thonburi side of Bangkok to Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, for a tour of the early 19th century structure. Back across the river, we will make our way into Chinatown for a walking tour of one of Bangkok’s most vibrant street market areas. As we wind our way through the maze of stalls, relevant points from the LATP will be discussed. We will navigate back to our guesthouse, check out, and head to Hualamphong Train Station to familiarize ourselves with the Thai rail system before heading north. The local train out of Bangkok is an exceptional way to get a feel for the size and diversity that makes up this city and its surrounding areas. After the one and a half hour train ride from Bangkok we will make our way to our new residence in Ayuthaya, the previous Siamese Capital City. We will have an evening meal together to discuss tomorrow’s itinerary.

Day 3: Exploration of Ayuthaya:

Now that you are getting more comfortable with navigating the Thai city landscape, you will have a morning free to explore on your own in this historical city. With a population of roughly 80,000 residents, you will feel as though you are in a tiny town compared to the metropolis of Bangkok. We will have set a time to meet mid-afternoon at the entrance to Wat Na Phra Meru, and if time allows we will pay a visit to Wat Kuti Thong before sunset. There will be a group meeting to review points from the LATP before group members are free to work out details for dinner. The NSJ guide will be available to make dinner suggestions or you can accompany the guide for some more time spent on the LATP in which you can discuss any difficulties you have been having in acclimating to your new life on the road in Asia.

Back to Top

Day 4: Exploration of Ayuthaya:

Today we will gather as a group early to take advantage of the morning temperatures and light while visiting the Ayuthaya Historical Park. After mid-day, the NSJ guide will hand out maps to further sites if you are still capable of taking in more history. If you are filling up on history and in need of food and rest, the group will take a long-tail boat back towards our guesthouse. You are free for the afternoon and evening, but the NSJ guide will alert all members as to a meeting point to discuss further aspects of the LATP.

Day 5: Ayuthaya to Phitsanulok:

After a breakfast meeting, we will make our way to the train station where we will purchase our tickets for the seven hour ride through the fertile rice fields of Thailand to our day's destination, Phitsanulok. The NSJ guide will be available throughout the journey to discuss points in the LATP at your request. After arriving and getting settled into our guesthouse, we will take a brief walking tour of the town on our way to an evening meal along the river Mae Nam Nan.

Day 6: Exploration of Phitsanulok:

In a "treasure hunt" manner, you will be given maps to the Buddha Casting Foundry, enough Baht to make the journey, and a time to meet. You are on your own for the beginning part of the day, and after we link up at the Foundry, the group will take a tour of the casting process before heading back through town. You are free for the evening, but as always, the NSJ guide is available for extended conversations regarding the LATP.

Back to Top

Day 7: Exploration of Sukhothai:

Even though we begin and end our day in Phitsanulok, today will actually be spent in the town of Sukhothai. We will depart early by local bus for the one hour journey and will spend the majority of the day making our way through the myriad of sites in the Sukhothai Historical Park; a World Heritage site. The group will have an early evening dinner and meeting together in Sukhothai before taking the bus back to Phitsanulok.

Day 8: Phitsanulok to Phrae:

Today, group members are encouraged to make their own way to Phrae. Schedules and plans will have been made the night before and all group members will be required to check into the designated guesthouse no later that 4pm. Our late afternoon arrival will allow for settling into the guesthouse before heading out onto the town to find dinner and to talk about the day ahead and our journey behind us.

Day 9: Phrae to Lampang:

The relatively small size and population of Phrae, along with its exceedingly diverse cultures, make it a wonderful location for adventuring on foot. We will spend the day exploring the town and getting to know several of the local temples, the street life, and a few of the hill tribe cultures of northern Thailand. The NSJ guide will be available for continued discussions but you are free for the evening to explore at will.

Back to Top

Day 10: Lampang to Chiang Mai:

We will make an early departure for Chiang Mai to try to maximize the amount of time we have there. Group members are encouraged to make their own way to the train station to board the designated train, but your guides are available if assistance is needed. After our arrival, we will get situated in our rooms and the group will take a brief walking tour of the “old city” within the walls and moat to become oriented. You will have the afternoon free for exploring. The NSJ guide will provide you with maps and suggestions on several local sites not to be missed during our stay. The NSJ guide will choose one of those highlights and any or all of the group is welcome to join in on the adventure. For those of you who choose to explore alone, we will regroup at one of the “Walled City’s” four main gates at a specific time. Then we will be off to a riverside restaurant and the Night Market for the remainder of the evening.

Day 11: Chiang Mai:

A leisurely morning will begin with a late breakfast at a local bakery. From here, group members are free to go with the guide to the craft village of San Kampang, take a half day Thai Cooking Couse, or strike out on their own. After reconvening late in the day, the group will head to a local English school to join one of the high level classes as they practice their English (and perhaps your Thai). The remainder of the evening will be free.

Day 12: Chiang Mai to Bangkok:

Up early to take part in the offering of alms to the Buddhist monks who walk the streets early. After breakfast, we will take a trip up to Doi Suthep to see the city from a different vantage point. The remainder of the day will be free with the group members required to make their own way to the train station at the appointed time to get ready for the overnight trip back to Bangkok.

Back to Top

Day 13: Exploration of Bangkok:

Your train arrives in Bangkok early in the morning. We will make our way to our old familiar guest house and regroup later in the morning for a breakfast meeting. We will walk together through the University area and the amulet markets of Bangkok and emerge at the foot of the Grand Palace. After a tour of the Palace, we will walk to the river for a boat to the Sky Train from which you will experience Bangkok from its most efficient and air conditioned mode of transportation. We will get off at the MBK shopping area. A predetermined meeting location and directions will be given to all travelers by the NSJ guide and you are on your own for a few hours of exploring. After regrouping we will take local transport back to Banglampoo for our final evening dinner as a group.

Day 14: Bangkok and Departure:

NSJ is officially your guide for the day but some of you will be departing for North America or points within South East Asia before the day is over. For those of you staying on for the day, you will have a free morning and an afternoon visiting Wat Pho with the guides. For those of you traveling onward today, NSJ will be happy to help you locate the most efficient method to get to the airport, train, or bus station as you prepare for the adventure that lies ahead.

Back to Top