VTLT04 - THAILAND UNUSUAL

Day 1: Arrival in Bangkok (–)

Activities:

• Arrive at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

• Warm welcome by your guide and transfer to your hotel.

• Free at leisure to rest after your flight or explore the nearby surroundings.

Overnight: Bangkok

 

Day 2: Bangkok –  Khao Yai (B)

Morning:

• Breakfast at the hotel.

• Depart Bangkok heading northeast toward Khao Yai.

• Stop at Klang Don Fruit Market, a vibrant local market known for its tropical produce and regional specialties.

Afternoon:

• Visit Khao Yai National Park, Thailand's oldest and one of its most biodiverse parks.

• Stroll along the scenic Haew Suwat Waterfall Trail.

• Spot wildlife and enjoy the cool forested landscape.

Evening:

• Check-in to your nature lodge or hotel near the park.

• Free time to relax.

Overnight: Khao Yai

 

Day 3: Khao Yai – Phimai – Korat (B)

Morning:

• Breakfast and drive north to Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat).

• Stop at Dan Kwian Village, famous for its unique pottery with earthy textures and traditional motifs.

Afternoon:

• Visit Thao Suranari Memorial (Lady Mo), a symbol of local pride and historical resistance.

• Explore Ban Prasat Archaeological Site, featuring prehistoric burial remains and ancient cultural traces.

• Continue to Phimai Historical Park, home to Prasat Hin Phimai, a majestic Khmer-style temple predating Angkor Wat.

• Visit Sai Ngam, an area covered by one of Thailand’s largest ficus trees.

Evening: Return to Korat for check-in and evening at leisure.

Overnight: Korat

 

Day 4: Korat – Buriram – Surin (B)

Morning:

• Travel to Buriram province to visit Phanom Rung Historical Park, a hilltop Khmer sanctuary with stunning views and intricate carvings.

• Visit nearby Muang Tham Temple, another ancient Khmer site near a serene baray (water reservoir).

Afternoon: Head toward Surin, stopping to visit the Surin National Museum (closed Mondays & Tuesdays), with exhibits on ethnic cultures, prehistory, and Khmer heritage.

Evening: Check in to your hotel in Surin.

Overnight: Surin

 

Day 5: Surin – Khong Jiam (B)

Morning:

• Visit Ban Khwao Sinarin, a traditional silversmith and weaving village.

• Explore Ban Sam Kho, an untouched village where most families weave Pha Mai silk under their stilt houses.

Afternoon:

• Continue to Sikhoraphum Temple, with five towers and a chedi from the 12th century.

• Visit Kamphaeng Yai, a lesser-known 11th-century Khmer site with sculptures of Shiva and Vishnu.

Evening: Arrive in Khong Jiam, a peaceful town on the banks of the Mekong River, opposite Laos.

Overnight: Khong Jiam
 

Day 6: Khong Jiam – Mukdahan – Nakhon Phanom (B)

Morning:

• Depart for Mukdahan, a border town with Laos.

• Explore the Indochina Market, where Thai, Lao, Vietnamese, and Chinese goods blend.

• Optional: Sample exotic street food such as red ant eggs, monitor lizard curry, and grilled insects.

Afternoon:

• Visit Wat Phra That Phanom, an important Laotian-style Buddhist temple for Isan locals.

• Stop at Ban Na Chok, the former residence of Ho Chi Minh (1923–1929), now a small museum.

Evening: Arrive in Nakhon Phanom, a charming riverside town on the Mekong.

Overnight: Nakhon Phanom

 

Day 7: Nakhon Phanom – Sakhon Nakhon – Udon Thani (B)

Morning:

• Drive to Sakhon Nakhon and participate in the sacred thread ceremony, a ritual believed to bind protective spirits to the body.

• Visit Ban Chiang, Southeast Asia’s most important prehistoric archaeological site (UNESCO-listed).

• View ancient pottery, bronze tools, and early evidence of rice farming and metallurgy.

Afternoon:

• Explore traditional craft villages:

  • Dong Yen Village (bamboo weaving)

  • Ban Pulu (pottery painting)

• Head south to Talay Bua Daeng (Red Lotus Lake) in Udon Thani for a serene boat ride through blooming lotus flowers (best from Dec–Feb).

Evening: Check-in at your hotel in Udon Thani.

Overnight: Udon Thani

 

Day 8: Udon Thani – Nong Khai – Flight To Bangkok – Departure (B)

Morning:

• Visit the Udon Sunshine Orchid Farm, home of the fragrant Udon Sunshine orchid variety.

• Transfer to Nong Khai, a lively town along the Mekong.

• Explore Sala Kaew Ku, a mystical sculpture park blending Hindu and Buddhist iconography with towering surreal statues.

• Browse Tha Sadet Market, famous for Indochinese crafts and cross-border trade with Laos.

Afternoon: Return to Udon Thani Airport for your flight back to Bangkok.

End of services.

 

Notes:

• Meals Included: B (Breakfast only)

• Activities may vary depending on weather, season, or local festivals.

• Please bring modest clothing for temple visits and comfortable walking shoes.

• Mekong market and red lotus bloom are season-sensitive experiences.