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8-Nights Thailand Essentials: Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Phuket — CALL

Avanti Destinations

OFFER ID 1243734

Thailand Essentials
Discover rich cultural heritage, bustling cities, verdant scenery, and pristine beaches. Get under the skin of the capital, head to a cultural hub, ascend to a famous temple, and cap the journey off with turquoise waters amidst stunning limestone karsts.

Includes:

  • Private Arrival & Departure Transfers Per City
  • 2 Nights Bangkok
  • Private Bangkok Highlights: City
  • Temple
  • and Klong Tour
  • 2 Nights Chiang Mai
  • Private Chiang Mai City Tour
  • Private Transfer Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai with Excursion Enroute
  • 1 Night Chiang Rai
  • 3 Nights Phuket
  • Phi Phi Islands Tour by Speedboat
  • Daily Breakfast


8 nights | Call for pricing

Itinerary
Click here for Full Itinerary Details
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Itinerary Details

Avanti Destinations: Thailand Essentials

Day 1 Arrive Bangkok
Arrival in Bangkok

Transfer.

Overnight in Bangkok.

Centrally Located Hotel In Bangkok, ()

Day 2 Bangkok
Bangkok Highlights: City, Temples and Klong Tour
In the morning, visit two of the most impressive sights in the city. The Reclining Buddha at Wat Po is an enormous Buddha covered in gold leaf, lying majestically on its side. The Grand Palace has no equal and is a must-see for every visitor to Bangkok. Built by King Rama I in 1782, it was the centre of power for more than 150 years; today it is Bangkok's most celebrated landmark. Within the compound is the Temple of The Emerald Buddha - Wat Pra Kaew - which houses Thailand's most precious image of the Lord Buddha.

Lunch will be served in a Thai restaurant near the river. In the afternoon, travel along the picturesque Chao Phraya River through the klongs (canals) of Thonburi. Observe and photograph the serene family homes and temples along the waterways which gave the city the name Venice of the East. Finally, pay a visit to one of the city's most photographed sites, the shimmering Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn). The majestic shrine has a pagoda of 79m high. It is decorated with glazed ceramic pieces that reflect the sun's rays and give the temple its name.

Centrally Located Hotel In Bangkok, (B,L)

Day 3 Bangkok to Chiang Mai
After breakfast, transfer to the airport.

Arrival in Chiang Mai

Meet and greet with our guide then transfer to the hotel.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Centrally Located Hotel In Chiang Mai, (B)

Day 4 Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai City Tour
Your afternoon tour takes you around the famous city for an up-close and personal look at some of its most notable temples, as well as stops at its old city walls, gates, and moat. The highlight of this trip is Wat Pan Tao, built in the typical wooden northern-Thailand architecture, with exquisite fine carving on the eaves and door. Proceed to Wat Jet Yod with its seven spires and incredible architecture commemorating the year 2000 of the Buddha era. Then drive up to Doi Suthep to visit Wat Phra Dhat Doi Suthep (built in A.D. 1384). Wat Doi Suthep is the most sacred temple in northern Thailand, containing a holy relic of Lord Buddha.

Overnight in Chiang Mai.

Centrally Located Hotel In Chiang Mai, (B,L)

Day 5 Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
Breakfast at hotel.

Then depart by road to Chiang Rai. On the way, visit Hot Spring Baan Pong Nam Ron. Visit Wat Rong Khun or the "White Temple". This temple is unique from other temples in that it has been constructed entirely in a radiant white color with sparking reflections from mirrored glass mosaics embedded in the white plaster. Continue on to take a long-tailed boat cruise approximately 1 hour to visit Karen hill tribe village.

Overnight in Chiang Rai.

Centrally Located Hotel In Chiang Rai, (B,L)

Day 6 Chiang Rai to Phuket
Breakfast at hotel.

Transfer to the airport.

Arrival in Phuket

Transfer

Overnight in Phuket.

Centrally Located Hotel In Phuket, (B,L)

Day 7 Phuket
Phi Phi Island Tour by Join Speedboat
Take a speed boat to Phi Phi island. Enjoy a swim/snorkel stop at its beach. Drive to Phi Phi Ley, famous for its birds nests.

Pick up from your hotel and arrive at the prestigious Royal Phuket Marina. Depart for Maya Bay and Phi Phi Island. Relax at Maya Bay (where The Beach was partially filmed). Snorkel and swim in clear water at Loh Samah and Pileh Cove. Visit the Viking Cave, now home to nest producing swallows. Feed the local inhabitants at The Monkey Beach. Appreciate the magnificent marine life at the Hin Klang (Great Coral Reef). Lunch will be served at Phi Phi Natural Resort (Private beach). After lunch, explore Bamboo Island, a flat beautiful island blending white sand and very clear water. Relax on the beach or swim and snorkel. There is also a nice coral reef near the beach. Return to the Royal Phuket Marina and transfer back to your hotel.

Centrally Located Hotel In Phuket, (B,L)

Day 8 Phuket
After breakfast, explore this enchanting area on your own.

Overnight in Phuket.

Centrally Located Hotel In Phuket, (B,L)

Day 9 Depart Phuket
Transfer to the airport to continue on to your next Avanti destination!

Centrally Located Hotel In Phuket, (B)

Featured Destinations
Phuket
Known as the "Pearl of Thailand," Phuket offers pristine beaches, lush vegetation, traditional villages and seascapes of huge limestone pillars that rise above the turquoise waters of Phang-Nga Bay. With a culture all its own, it combines Chinese and Portuguese influences with that of indigenous ocean-going people. Phuket Town is the island’s capital located in the southeast. The architecture features the attractive Sino-Portuguese style which is reflected in the spacious residences built by wealthy Chinese tin barons as testimony to their success. Visitors come because of the glorious beaches, especially those on the west coast. Patong Beach is about a 45-minute drive from the port and offers a wide selection of watersports. Phuket still casts its spell on all who come to its shores.

Excursions

At your Leisure in Phuket (Car & Driver Only)

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At your Leisure in Phuket (Car & Driver Only)

Enjoy a private chauffeur-driven luxury sedan with driver for “At Your Leisure” touring. You decide where you want to go and what you want to see.

Inclusions: 
• Transfers in private air-conditioned vehicle
• Professional English-speaking local guide 
• Local bottled water

Exclusions: 
• Expenses of a personal nature such as gratuities to guides and drivers

Stories of Phuket Old Town - 4 hours

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Stories of Phuket Old Town - 4 hours

Meet your professional local guide to begin your private experience of Phuket. Explore the old town, which prospered during the 16th to 18th centuries due to a booming tin-mining industry. The town features beautifully preserved Sino-Portuguese architecture and is a melting pot of Thai, Malay, Chinese and Portuguese influences. 

Visit Chin Pracha, one of the oldest houses on the island built in 1904. Iconic films such as “Indiana Jones,”  “Heaven & Earth” and many others, were filmed in this house.

Continue driving to a viewpoint at the top of Rang Hill, which offers scenic views over Phuket Town. Then head to Wat Chalong, one of the island’s most famous temples. Learn a bit about Buddhist beliefs and customs and hear the interesting story of the gilt statues of the monk-hero Luang Pho Chaem and his aid Luang Pho Chuang. After exploring the temple, return to the ship.

Inclusions: 
• Sightseeing and transfers in a private air-conditioned vehicle
• Professional English-speaking local guide
• Entrance fees for listed sites
• Local bottled water

Exclusions: 
• Expenses of a personal nature such as gratuities to guides and drivers
• Meals and beverages

Duration: 4 hours   

Phuket Old Town and Scenery - 8 hours

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Phuket Old Town and Scenery - 8 hours

Meet your professional local guide to begin your private experience of Phuket. Explore the old town, which prospered during the 16th to 18th centuries due to a booming tin-mining industry. The town features beautifully preserved Sino-Portuguese architecture and is a melting pot of Thai, Malay, Chinese and Portuguese influences. 

Visit Chin Pracha, one of the oldest houses on the island built in 1904. Iconic films such as “Indiana Jones,”  “Heaven & Earth” and many others, were filmed in this house.

Continue to Saphan Hin, a recreational park that houses a tin mining monument dedicated to Australian Captain Edward Thomas Miles, the man who brought the first dredge to Phuket in 1909. Then visit the Chinese shrine in the park to discover a traditional place of worship.

Then head to Wat Chalong, one of the island’s most famous temples. Learn a bit about Buddhist beliefs and customs and hear the interesting story of the gilt statues of the monk-hero Luang Pho Chaem and his aid Luang Pho Chuang. 

Finally, make a stop at Laem Phromthep, a stunning coastal viewpiont that offers breathtaking views of the Andaman Sea. Transfer back to the ship.

Inclusions: 
• Sightseeing and transfers in a private air-conditioned vehicle
• Professional English-speaking local guide
• Entrance fees for listed sites
• Local bottled water

Exclusions: 
• Expenses of a personal nature such as gratuities to guides and drivers
• Meals and beverages

Duration: 8 hours   

Life of Old Phuket - 4 hours

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Life of Old Phuket - 4 hours

Meet your professional local guide to begin your private experience of Phuket. Explore the old town, which prospered during the 16th to 18th centuries due to a booming tin-mining industry. The town features beautifully preserved Sino-Portuguese architecture and is a melting pot of Thai, Malay, Chinese and Portuguese influences. 

Walk along the old streets of town and feel the charm of lives lived a century ago around Thalang, Dibuk and Krabi roads. Visit Thai Hau Museum to learn more about the history of the island.

Continue to a Chinese shrine set in a peaceful spot along Phang Nga Road. Despite being in the center of town, the shrine remains unaffected by the hustle and bustle. Then drive to a viewpoint at the top of Rang Hill to admire scenic views over Phuket Town before returning to the ship. 

Inclusions: 
• Sightseeing and transfers in a private air-conditioned vehicle
• Professional English-speaking local guide
• Entrance fees for listed sites
• Local bottled water

Exclusions: 
• Expenses of a personal nature such as gratuities to guides and drivers
• Meals and beverages

Duration: 4 hours   

Phuket Rubber Plantation, Gibbons and Old Town - 8 hours

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Phuket Rubber Plantation, Gibbons and Old Town - 8 hours

Meet your professional local guide to explore some of the beautiful natural scenery and cultural highlights of Phuket. Visit a rubber plantation to learn about the arduous work of collecting sap and transforming it into sheets of rubber. Then continue to Bang Pae waterfall to admire the tropical greenery and observe the wildlife at the nearby Gibbon Rehabilitation Project.
 
Explore the old town, which prospered during the 16th to 18th centuries due to a booming tin-mining industry. The town features beautifully preserved Sino-Portuguese architecture and is a melting pot of Thai, Malay, Chinese and Portuguese influences. 
 
You may stop for lunch on your own account at Blue Elephant restaurant, serving traditional Thai cuisine. After lunch, stop by to see the Big Buddha temple and enjoy the scenic views before returning to the ship.

Optional Costs:
• Lunch at Blue Elephant including two units of drinks (water, juice, soft drink)

Inclusions: 
• Sightseeing and transfers in a private air-conditioned vehicle
• Professional English-speaking local guide
• Entrance fees for listed sites
• Local bottled water

Exclusions: 
• Expenses of a personal nature such as gratuities to guides and drivers
• Meals and beverages

Duration: 8 hours   

Phuket Port

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Phuket Port

THAILAND - PHUKET PORT 

Destination: Phuket 
Tour Duration: Within 4 hours or 
8 hours 

Tour Description:
Meet with guide at the ship docking and transfer to town. Car and guide is at disposal.
 

Inclusions:
• Private transfer
• Port pick-up and drop-off
• Sightseeing with Local English Speaking guide
• Entrance fees
• Meals as specified (meals only, no drinks/ waters)
• Cold towels and water on sightseeing days 

Non-inclusions:
• Thailand Visa (
Please contact your cruise for the visa details)
• Meals
• Drinks/ waters on meals
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Tips and Gratuities
• Other services not listed in inclusive column



 

Phuket - Town Sightseeing Half Day

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Phuket - Town Sightseeing Half Day

PHUKET TOWN SIGHTSEEING HALF DAY
 
Destination: Phuket
Tour Duration: 05 hours
Code: MDHKTSE003

Tour Description:

Disembark the ship and meet your guide. Depart on a drive along the Phuket coastline past Karon Beach and Kata Beach to a viewpoint where you can see Phuket’s three most beautiful beaches. Continue to Promthep Cape at the southernmost point of Phuket for its best viewpoint of the coastline. Drive by Rawai Beach and visit Wat Chalong, Phuket’s largest and most revered temple, built at the beginning of the 19th century. Next, stop at a cashew nut factory to see how the nuts are grown and processed. Drive back to Old Phuket to see the charming Sino-Portuguese shophouses on Thalang and Debuk Roads, reflecting the architecture of people who came to Phuket centuries ago for its tin mining industry. Return to the port and your ship.
Notes:
  • Suggested departure time: 11:00.
  • Timing may be changed without prior notice, depending on local conditions such as weather, traffic and / or other conditions.
  • Lunch is not included, but there are places to stop for a quick bite, if desired (Local noodle shop or snacks at the Sino-Portuguese area).
 Inclusions:
  • Private transfer
  • Port pick-up and drop-off
  • Sightseeing with Local English Speaking guide
  • Entrance fees
  • Meals as specified (meals only, no drinks/ waters)
  • Cold towels and water on sightseeing days 
Exclusions:
  • Visa (Please contact your cruise for the visa details)
  • Other meals where not mention in the program
  • Drinks/ waters on meals
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips and Gratuities
  • Other services not listed

Chiang Rai
Chiang Rai was founded in 1262 by King Meng Rai and was the first capital of Lanna Thai (Kingdom of a Million Ricefields). The province contains Thailand's northernmost point at Mae Sai, is well known for its crisp mountain scenery, and hill tribes, and falls within the region known as the Golden Triangle, the area where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos converge.

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is a city built on the roots of a traditional heritage that dig deep into the soil of time. It's a city with a beautiful cultural personality of its own. In addition, it's been blessed with much majestic beauty in nature. The people themselves are an unforgettable part of Chiang Mai. Handicrafts of silk, silver and wood are timeless souvenirs for visitors from all over the globe.

Bangkok
Bangkok is chief port capital of Thailand and one of the most important cities in Southeast Asia. It is the epitome of the country's kaleidoscopic blend of old and new. It is an expression of Thai respect for tradition coupled with their vibrant involvement with modern progress. Rama I built the walled Grand Palace, which contains Temple of the Emerald Buddha. During the 19th century, Bangkok was known as the Venice of the East because of its many canals, which served as streets and commercial thoroughfares. Houses perched along the banks of the remaining canals are still common sight. Some of Bangkok’s most distinctive features are the approximately 400 Buddhist temples, known as wats. Bangkok is Thailand's economic center. Other sights to see include Temples, monuments, museums, Vimarnmekh Mansion, and Jim Thompson’s House.

Excursions

Bangkok City tour

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Bangkok City tour

BANGKOK CITY TOUR
 
Destination: Bangkok      
Tour Duration: 8 hours 
Code: MDBKKSE001


Tour Description:
From its beginnings as a small trading post during the Ayutthaya Kingdom in the 15th century, Bangkok has expanded to become one of Asia’s most exciting capital cities with over 14 million people. From the port, drive 2.5hr to Bangkok for lunch. Then visit Grand Palace, one of the most impressive palaces in Southeast Asia, the vast 94ha (233ac) grounds encompass more than 100 buildings including the Royal Residence and Throne Halls, government offices and the renowned Wat Phra Kaew, home to the most revered Buddha image in Thailand, the Emerald Buddha (which is actually made of jade or jasper, rather than emerald). Continue to Wat Pho, one of the oldest temples in Bangkok, and home to the famous 45m (148ft) reclining Buddha as well as the original school of traditional Thai massage. Return to the port and your ship in late afternoon.
 
08.30 hrs Docking time.
09.30 hrs Departure to Bangkok from Laem Chabang Sea Port (2.5 hours drive).
12.00 hrs Arrive Bangkok for Lunch at local restaurant.
13.00 hrs Visit Grand Palace.
14.00 hrs Visit Wat Pho.
15.00 hrs Return to Laem Chabang Sea Port (2.5 hours drive).
17.30 hrs Arrive Laem Chabang Sea Port.
 
Notes:
  • Pick up time: 09:30
Inclusions:
  • Private transfer
  • Port pick-up and drop-off
  • Sightseeing with Local English Speaking guide
  • Entrance fees
  • Meals as specified (meals only, no drinks/ waters)
  • Cold towels and water on sightseeing days 
Exclusions:
  • Visa (Please contact your cruise for the visa details)
  • Other meals where not mention in the program
  • Drinks/ waters on meals
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips and Gratuities
  • Other services not listed

Bangkok City By Helicopter

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Bangkok City By Helicopter

BANGKOK CITY BY HELICOPTER 
 
Destination: Bangkok 
Tour Duration: 8 hours
Code: MDBKKSE008

Tour Description:

Enjoy an amazing bird’s eye view of sprawling Bangkok on a thrilling 30 minute helicopter ride. From the port, depart on a 2hr drive to AA Bangkok Base where you begin your helicopter flight over Rajamangala National Stadium, the home stadium for the Thailand national football team, and the Erawan Museum shaped in the form of a three-headed elephant. From there, fly over the nearby provinces of Phra Samut Chedi, Paknum Samutprakarn and the Ancient City Museum, a massive 81ha (200ac) outdoor museum shaped like the country of Thailand. Continue over the mudflats and mangroves of Bang Poo and past the Bhumibol Bridge and Rama IX Bridge over the Chao Phraya River. On the way back, fly over Bangkok’s Silom area before landing at the AA Bangkok Base. Return to the port and your ship.

Notes:
  • Suggested departure time: 10:00 (not including 2hr drive from/to Laem Chabang Port each way).
  • Vehicle: Car / 9-seater minivan.
  • Landing at the following helipads in the city centre are available on request (surcharge applies): UBC II Tower, Charn Issara II Tower, Bangkok City Tower, Peninsula Bangkok, Amari Atrium, etc. Air space above the Grand Palace and Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) are designated no-fly zones.
Inclusions:
  • Private transfer
  • Port pick-up and drop-off
  • Sightseeing with Local English Speaking guide
  • Entrance fees
  • Meals as specified (meals only, no drinks/ waters)
  • Cold towels and water on sightseeing days 
Exclusions:
  • Visa (Please contact your cruise for the visa details)
  • Other meals where not mention in the program
  • Drinks/ waters on meals
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Tips and Gratuities
  • Other services not listed 

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges
10/01/2023 - 12/31/2025
Call for pricing


* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
Prices Start At
Call for pricing
Length
8 Nights
Air City
Call for airfares from your city.
Vacation Rating
Deluxe
Fine dining, on-site bars or lounges and room service with extended hours are characteristic of deluxe establishments. Guest services usually include valet parking, concierge services, baggage assistance and laundry services. Other on-site facilities often include shops and boutiques, full service spas, full fitness facilities with pools and tennis courts. Business amenities may include available up-to-date technology and support staffs available for services. Attention to detail is apparent in the guestrooms which typically have stylish furnishings, quality bedding and bath products and often provide an evening turn down service.
Remarks

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID
1243734

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