Thailand Culture and Bird Watching Tour 15 days 14 nights

Destinations: Bangkok, Aytuthaya, Khao Yai National Park, Pitsanulok, Sukhothai, Chiangmai, Chiang Dao, Doi Angkhang, Doi Inthanon National Park

This itinerary blend all the fascination of the culture, history, beauty of nature and wild life which Thailand has to offer. From the exciting capital city where we will observe modern society and magnificent Grand Palace, ancient historical park in middle of Thailand, to the contrasting adventurous tour of serene and tranquil different national parks, this awesome combination trip will turn your dreams of Thailand into reality. The journey is an education of how Thai cultures and ways of life have complimented both modern progress and the divers of birds, wild animals and nature environment.

Day by day itinerary

Day 1 Bangkok

Start the day by taking a long tail boat cruise down the Chao Phraya River. See the traditional houses precariously perched along the river. Along the way, stop to visit The Temple of dawn, an extraordinary feat of architecture and one of the most revered sights along the river, and The Royal Barge Museum, to note the ornately carved and gilded royal barges, much talked about by European visitors since the 17th century, due to their grandeur. After your boat trip, we will visit the exquisite Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha Temple.

After a traditional Thai lunch at a local restaurant, we will head for “Wat Pho” or The Reclining Buddha Temple. This temple is one of the oldest and largest in Bangkok.

(Meals include: Lunch)

Day 2 Bangkok > Ayuthaya> Khaoyai

This morning we check out of our hotel and leave for The Bang Pa In Summer Palace, used by the Royal Family for over three centuries (journey time approx 1hr). Continue on to the ancient city of Ayuttaya, once the capital of Siam, which is protected and conserved by the World Heritage Organization. We will visit Wat Phra Srisanpet and Wat Mongkol Bopit. The latter houses a glorious sitting Buddha statue. Stroll around the age-old ruins and discover how Ayuttaya grew to be one of the most powerful cities in South-East Asia.

Late afternoon drive to Khao Yai National Park area, Check in at the hotel

(Meals include: Lunch)

Day 3 Khao Yai National Park

6:00 am start to drive up to Khoa Yai National Park, one of the best bird watcher paradise. We will stroll around different nature trail in the park area. Great opportunity to spot wild life: Gibbon, wild elephants, Red Muntjac, short tail macaque. Birds possible to be seen: Coral-billed Ground – Cuckoo, Brown-backed Needletail, Laced Woodpecker, Heart-spotted Woodpecker, Great Hornbill, Oriental Pied Hornbill.

Evening animal spotting safari and return to hotel.

(Meals include: Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 4 Khao Yai > Sukhothai

After checking out from the hotel. We heading north, a stop to visit Pra Prang Sam Yod, a classic Hindu shrine, Khmer Bayon architecture period. The compound also famous for monkeys, which stay around the temple. We will then carry on to Pitsanulok town to visit the distinguished Wat Mahathat, the provinces most important religious structure. This temple houses the major spectacle of Sukhothai Art, Phra Buddha Chinaraj – an awe-inspiring sculpture, and then we will head for Thailand’s first capital –

Sukhothai (approx 1hr drive).

Check in at the hotel

(Meals include: Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 5 Sukhothai

After breakfast to get an insight into the history of this area, we will start out at The Ramkangkeng National Museum. Then, move on to begin discovering the cities ruins of Royal Palaces, several Buddhist temples, city gates, walls, moats, canals, ponds and the water dyke control system which was the spiritual center of the Kingdom.

Overnight in Sukhothai

(Meals include: Breakfast, Lunch)

 Day 6 Sukhothai > Chiangmai

After breakfast and checking out from your hotel. We drive north, past rice paddies, villages to The Historical Park of Sri Satchanalai. The twin city of Sukhothai, visit the ruins temple such as Wat Chang Lorm, Wat chedi jed teaw etc, then wander down to the riverside to explore an archeological site showing an excavation of over 1,000 pottery kilns. After lunch we will drive to Lampang will stop at Wat Phrathat Lampang Luang – a monument of fine Lanna Thai art and architecture. We will then drive on to Chiang Mai

Check in at hotel.

(Meals include: Breakfast, Lunch)

Day 7 Birding and Doi Suthep Temple

Early morning, will drive up to the back site of Doi Suthep National Park for bird watching, birds possible to be seen; Long – tailed Broadbill, Silver – breasted Broadbill, Maroon Oriole, Hill – blued Flycatcher, Black Baza, Silver – eared Mesia, Mountain Bulbul, Striated Yuhina, White-rumped Munia, Golden – fronted Leafbird etc.

Later we will visit one of the most important temple, Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, once you have reached the temple, you can enjoy the best views of Chiang Mai city, from 3,000ft above the ground. Learn about the history of this temple and how it came to be constructed so high up the mountain. Then visit Wat Suan Dok, Wat Phra Singh in the old city (If time permits)

Evening: Enjoy Classical Thai and Norther Thai dance with Khan Toke Dinner

(Meals include: Lunch, Dinner)

Day 8 Full Day Thai Cooking Class

Today is your great day and we wish you to enjoy your day with us at our organic farm. Between 08:30 to 9:00 the teacher will come to pick you up from your hotel or guesthouse. We will bring you to Ruamchook-market, which is a large and clean market just outside the city on the way to our farm. The teacher will explain you about rice, how to make fresh coconut milk and how to choose seasoning products. Arrive at our farm, after a refreshing drink, we will take you around the farm, explain you about the ingredients, how to pick them and show you how they actually grow. We will take place at the terrace above the fish pond where we start pounding the curry paste. In the kitchen each person gets his own cooking station. You will start cooking the dishes that you have chosen from our menu. Please remember: our course is completely hands on, it is you who has to do all the cooking. Time for your lunch. Eat together with your friends of the cooking class.

Late afternoon, return to your hotel.

(Meals include: Lunch)

Day 9 Elephant day care > Chiang Dao foot hill area

Check out from the hotel. Today we will take an exciting trip to do Elephant Care program. In here you will share your love and care for elephants. You will have a magical experience with elephants, giving a daily health check, feed, take elephant for a walk to feed and exercise through jungle (no riding), observe elephant resting in the natural environment, bathe and scrub elephants. Lunch, tea & coffee break will be served in the park.  Come and enjoy this experience with healthy and happy elephants

Bidding farewell to the elephants, then we continue driving to birding around Chiangdao rice field area.

Overnight in Chiang Dao

(Meals include: Lunch)

Day 10 Chiang Dao > Doi Angkhang

Early morning, we will check for the birds at Doi Chiang Dao foot hill area, possible to see Pin-tailed Parrot finch, Pin-tailed Green Pigeon, Crimson Sunbird, Streaked Spiderhunter, Thick-billed Flowerpecker, etc.

Late afternoon, transfer to Fang

Overnight in Fang town

(Meals include: Lunch)

Day 11 Doi Angkhang

Early morning drives up to Doi Angkhang, during the day we will birding at different site. Possible spotting several bird species and enjoy the cool climate of Doi Angkhang, at the border military camp, hill tribe village, Royal Project garden. Possible birds to be seen; Giant Nuthatch, Silver-eared Mesia, White–tailed Robin, White–browed Scimitar Babbler, Mountain Tailorbird, White–rumped Shama, Daurian Redstart, Brown–breasted Bulbul, Crested Finchbill, Black–crested Bulbul, Peregrine Falcon, Great Barbet, Green–billed Malkoha, Spot-breasted Parrotbill and the Red-faced Liocichla etc.

Evening overnight at Fang Town

(Meals include: Lunch)

Day 12 Doi Angkhang – Doi Inthanon

Morning, check out some others Trails in Doi Angkhang, today we might spot some birds such as Speckled Piculet, Stripe–breasted Woodpecker, Japanese Tit, Yellow–checked Tit, Blue – winged Minla, etc.

Late morning, will drive down and head to Doi Inthanon National Park

Check in at the accommodation

(Meals include: Lunch)

Day 13- 14 Full day in Doi Inthanon National Park

Spend two full day explore around the National Park

The Second checkpoint, birds that possible to be seen are; Rufouse-bellied Niltava, Small Niltava, White-gorgeted Flycather, White-browed Scimitar-Babbler, Yellow-checked Tit, Grey-checked Fulveta, Black-headed Sibia, Asian Emerald Cuckcoo, White – tailed Leaf Warbler, White-throated Fantail, Silver-eared Mesia, Spectacled Barwing, Stripe-breasted Woodpecker.

The mountain summit to look for some of the mountain’s rarer birds such as Green – tailed Sunbird, Chestnut – tailed Minla, Pigmy Wren Babbler, Slaty – bellied Tesia, Ashy – throated Warbler, Snowy – browed Flycatcher, Rufous – throated Partridge.

Explore water fall area, birds that possible to be seen: Plumbeous Redstart, White – capped Water Redstart, Slaty – backed Forktail, Black – backed Forktail, Blue Whistling Thrush, Silver – breasted Broadbill, Black – napped Monarch, Asian Paradise – Flycatcher and more…

At the foothill and start early birding, blossom-headed parakeet, Indochinese Bushlark, Burmese Shrike, Purple Sunbird, Golden fronted Leafbird, Rufous Treepie, Scarlet – backed Flowerpecker would be seen at this elevation.

Evening return to accommodation

(Meals include: Lunch)

Day 15 Doi Inthanon to Chiang Mai Airport

Half day morning, spend time bird watching then transfer to Chiang Mai airport for your next destination.

More information, please contact us>>>>