The bridge on the river Kwai

Then its on to visit the Royal Grand Palace, the most important landmark in Bangkok. It is famous for its impressive architecture and buildings. We’ll explore the magnificent Wat Phra Kaew, home of the revered Emerald Buddha, carved from a single block of jade, as well as other key attraction: the Coronation Throne Hall, Royal Reception Hall, Royal Funeral Hall, the Golden Chedi, and the Royal Pantheon. In the afternoon we’ll enjoy a cruise on wide Chaophraya River that cuts through the city. In the evening we will visit the famous Night Market. Overnight: Bangkok.

In this cooler city in the north the pace slows down a bit and the experiences are plentiful. From the airport we’ll proceed to the outskirts of Chiang Mai to visit the craft villages in order to get an insider’s perspective at Thai handicraft production: cotton and silk weaving, silverware, lacquer ware, woodcarving and Thai doll making. After the visit we will continue to our hotel. Shabbat services, followed by Shabbat dinner. Overnight: Chiang Mai.

Northern Thailand is mountainous and white water rafting is popular on the Mae Tang River, which tumbles out of the hills. On our way back we will visit Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep – Chiang Mai’s most important Temple, a sacred site and pilgrimage destination to many Thai people.  The temple is said to have been founded in 1383 when the first Chedi was built. Set on the hilltop and visible all around the countryside it offers magnificent views. In the evening we will visit the famous Chiang Mai Night Bazaar.

From Thaton River View Resort we’ll depart for a boardwalk built through a spectacular gorge.  We’ll continue our drive through the jungle to visit the Longneck women Village of Nai Soi, the largest of the three Pa Dong villages around Mae Hong Son. The Pa Dong are a small minority of the Red Karen tribe, also called Karenni. The Karenni lived in Burma, as a small independent state, until they fled from Burma to Thailand. Late afternoon we will arrive to our hotel in Chiang Rai. Overnight:  Chiang Rai.

We shall visit Yao and Akha tribes. Then we drive to the Golden Triangle – where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar (formerly Burma) and Laos meet up at the Mekong River. In the past this was the center of the opium trade run by the local hill tribes. Here we’ll board a motor boat to cruise along the scenic Mekong River. At the end of our river cruise we visit the ancient fortified city of Chiang Saen situated on the banks the Mekong River. We’ll finish our full day tour at the border town of Mai Sai where the Thai and Burmese ground borders meet.  In the evening we will return to Chiang Rai. Overnight: Chiang Rai.

A whirl of color and cosmopolitanism, Phuket revolves around and thrives on tourism, yet it retains a spark of the real Thailand. Upon arrival we’ll familiarize ourselves with the island of Phuket. We’ll take in the island’s natural beauty as we drive along the seaside roads of Patong, Karon, Kata and Rawai beaches. Each beach offers a different type of holiday experience. In the evening you may like to enjoy the spectacular Phuket Fantasea Show, a huge multi-stage Las Vegas-style production with hundreds of actors, elephants and pyrotechnics. Located in a Theme Park on Phuket’s Kamala Beach, the show also includes charming and beautiful classical dances from Thailand’s various regions (optional). Overnight: Phuket.

Phang Nga can be reached in many different ways. Our tour takes you aboard a cruiser through the jungle mangrove and limestone peaks that rise vertically from the sea. The newly discovered sea caves and ‘Hongs’ are an exciting feature. Hong is the Thai word for room. These Hongs are open-air cliff-lined cylindrical tidal lagoons connected to the outside world only through stalactite-filled tunnels which were undiscovered until the spring of 1990. On our way back to the hotel we will visit a Cashew Nut factory. Overnight: Phuket.

We’ill take a walk through the ruins that offer us an insight into Thailand of the past with many fine temples and two museums. A short drive along the banks of the Chaopraya River will bring us to Bang Pa In, the Summer Palace of the kings of Thailand. The Palace dates back to the 17th century, pre-dating the establishment of Bangkok as the Capital, although it did fall into disuse for a long period. All the buildings we see date from its revival by King Mongkut (Rama IV) in the 19th century.  Today, the Palace is only used infrequently, and then mostly for State occasions rather than as a Royal summer residence. Overnight: Bangkok.

We’ll continue our tour with a visit of a Coconut Farm, and from here will proceed to the picturesque town of Kanchanaburi, 130km west of Bangkok in the valley of the Mae Klong River. During the Japanese occupation of Thailand (Siam, back then) in World War II allied prisoners-of-war were enslaved to build the infamous ”Death Railway” along the Khwae Noi River. (A story popularized by the movie “The Bridge over the River Kwai”). It is estimated that 16,000 prisoners of war and over 50,000 impressed laborers died during the building of the railroad. We will visit the Jeath War Museum narrating the construction of the “Death Railway”, and the Cemetery for the Allied POWs who died whilst building the railway.  Then board a boat for a river trip to one of the nearby villages. At the end of the tour we return to Bangkok. Overnight: Bangkok.