Ethik Trip to Thaïland

This eco-responsible tour has been carefully curated with eco-responsible hotels and activities privileging the local communities. Spend 12 days between nature, culture, and discovery from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, passing by Phitsanulok and Ayutthaya.Namely, a direct flight by plane Paris-Bangkok emits 1.683 tons of CO2. To offset this emission, we, therefore, favored transport by train or public transport. For your part, during your stay or even back home, we advise you to limit your meat consumption and your waste by buying in bulk, for example.Highlights :

• Bangkok: Discover the cultural riches and the most beautiful temples of the “City of Angels”
• Bangkok: 5-hour bike and longtail boat ride: between Chinatown and the lush Bangkokjungle, navigate the Venice of the East
• Chiang Mai: Immersion in a Northern Tribe: discovery of the countryside of Chiang Mai
• Chiang Mai: Magical Morning at an Elephant Sanctuary
• Phitsanulok: Free discovery day
• Ayutthaya: Ayutthaya Historical Park Tour by Bike
• Ayutthaya: Dinner Cruise on a Rice Barge

Les Secret du Siam

Our partner agency is Les Secrets du Siam.The Secrets of Siam team will accompany you on new adventures. They will allow you to explore and visit marvellous landscapes in order to stay in the most magical places as close as possible to the Thai culture.Discovering the secrets of Thailand and living a unique experience while respecting the fundamental values of respect and peace of this magnificent country is therefore possible!Contact:@ : www.lessecretsdusiam.comEmail : info@lessecretsdusiam.com

12 days / 11 nightsFrom 1.388 euro to 1.635 euro per person.

PROGRAMME

Day 1 / Arrival in Bangkok, welcome to the Land of Smiles

The Secrets of Siam team welcomes you to Thailand!

Upon your arrival at the airport, our local representative will greet you and arrange for your transfer to your hotel. Comfortably installed in the city, you can then rest from your long trip. Your room will be available between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. 

During your free time, we advise you to explore the tasty Thai cuisine. The dishes are sometimes spicy so if you are a little reluctant to eat spicy, do not hesitate to specify it when ordering: “maï pet” or “maï saï phrik” (which means: not spicy). If you are a little confused by the multitude of dishes on offer, we suggest you try the “Som Tam” (green papaya salad) as a starter and the unmissable “Pad Thai” as a main course. For dessert, you will be spoiled for choice: fresh exotic fruits, smoothies, rotees (local pancakes) or the famous “Mango Sticky Rice” (sticky rice with mango). Your taste buds will remember it! 

The Secrets of Siam is an eco-responsible agency. We try to promote public transport as much as possible for transportation in Bangkok. Besides, taking public transport is a great way to get closer to the local population, meet new people, and discover the city differently! 

In this ecological and responsible approach, you will have to go from the international airport to your hotel by your own means (public boat, Skytrain, metro, or local bus). 

We will provide you with a detailed plan with your travel log. 

HOTEL 

Bangkok Tree House 

Constructed from environmentally friendly materials and powered by natural energy sources, the hotel has incorporated ‘zero waste’ goals into all aspects of its operation located in the heart of ‘Bangkok’s green lung’ – the last natural border of the city located right in the center. 

The wall insulation is made from recycled juice cartons. Reclaimed wood makes up the walkways, and 100% of the exterior lighting is powered by wind and solar energy. All food waste is composted, and the equipment is all locally sourced. “Air cleaning plants” are grown in bedrooms to purify the air. 

Additionally, the property provides all amenities to local eco-friendly businesses. It is committed to removing one kilogram of trash from the Chao Phraya River per booking.

Day 2 / Discovery of the cultural riches and the most beautiful temples of the “City of Angels”

Breakfast and lunch included. 

ACTIVITY 

Bangkok, also called “Krung Thep” by locals, rarely disappoints. This thanks to the multitude of activities that it invites the traveler to undertake. Are you a history buff? The capital offers a variety of historic buildings and ancient temples to visit. 

After your breakfast, around 9 am, your local guide will pick you up from your hotel for a memorable day exploring Bangkok. During this day, you will have the opportunity to visit the city in all its splendor. You will discover almost all the modes of transport that Bangkok offers to its visitors: walking (between 4 and 5 km), ferry boat on the river, Sky Train and Taxi. 

You will start by visiting the splendid Royal Palace, also called the “Grand Palais”. This set of monuments, built-in 1782 by King Rama I, houses, among others, Wat Phra Kaew and its magnificent Emerald Buddha. Its majestic architecture and the finesse of each decorative mosaic will amaze you. Follow in the footsteps of successive generations of kings and discover the grandeur of the ancient kingdom of Siam. 

After a delicious lunch in a local restaurant, you will descend the river by boat: a dream opportunity to contemplate local life and ancient temples. You will then reach via the “Sky train”, the Silk Museum and the Jim Thompson House.

Then you will reach the “Mountain of Gold” (also known as Wat Saket) and its 318 steps. This temple built at the end of the 18th century is located in the city’s historic district. It is one of the oldest temples in Bangkok. It was renamed by King Rama I: Wat Saket Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan. 

Then you will leave towards the majestic Wat Pho. It is one of the oldest temples in Thailand. Its construction started in the 16th century and only finished 200 years later. Also called the “Temple of the Reclining Buddha,” it is one of the most famous Buddhist temples for tourists. 

At the end of this day full of discoveries, you will be escorted back to your hotel at the end of the afternoon. 

HOTEL 

Bangkok Tree House 

Night at Bangkok Tree House, a 4-star hotel. 

Day 3 / Bangkok by boat and bike

Breakfast and lunch included.

The Secrets of Siam is an eco-responsible agency. We try to promote public transport as much as possible for transportation in Bangkok. Besides, taking public transport is a great way to get closer to the local population, meet new people, and discover the city differently! 

This excursion by bike and then by boat lasts 5 hours. It will unveil the authentic Bangkok to you, discovering the bustling streets of Chinatown with its quiet and forgotten plantations. Between these two landscapes, you will explore the “Venice of the Orient” by “longtail boat,” and you will savor a delicious Thai meal. 

You will discover all the wonders that the city of Bangkok has to offer as you browse the frenetic Chinatown Market. You will pedal quietly in the heart of the narrow alleys and the small side streets. You will cross the river on a local boat to arrive at the Bangkok jungle. You will cross the shaded cycle paths to discover the local culture, the Thai lifestyle, wooden houses, farms, and temples. 

In this ecological and responsible approach, you will have to go from your hotel to the office of our service provider by your own means (public boat, Skytrain, metro, or local bus). 

We will provide you with a detailed plan with your travel log. 

ACTIVITY 

This morning, you will meet at the clubhouse (located at the bottom of the Sheraton Royal Orchid hotel) at 6.30 am for a departure at 7 am, for your bike ride in Bangkok with your guide (distance of 15 km, in a small group of about ten people). 

This tour includes service from experienced local guides, rental of a mountain bike (or standard city bike), loan of a helmet (child/adult) if desired, refreshing drinks along the way, river crossing fees, local style longtail boat ride, and light snacks. 

Additional information: 

• Duration of the tour: 5 hours 
• Distance covered: 15 km 
• Required physical capacity: moderate 
• Suitable for children over five years old 
• For women, knees and shoulders should be covered when visiting temples (assign a blanket, scarf, or sarong). 

After your activity, you will have to go from our service provider’s office to your hotel by your own means (public boat, Skytrain, metro, or local bus). 

We will provide you with a detailed plan with your travel log.

At the end of the afternoon, you will have to get from your hotel to the station by your own means (public boat, Skytrain, metro, or local bus). 

We will provide you with a detailed plan with your travel log. 

TRANSFERT 

Bangkok To Chiang Mai (Train) 

Once you arrive, you will board the comfortable overnight train (sleeper) to Chiang Mai. This is a comfortable train, making it possible to withstand the 13-hour journey to reach your destination. In the morning, you will be able to admire the picturesque landscapes offered to you by the train’s windows. * We advise you to take some snacks because the food sold on board may not be to your liking. 

Day 4 / Welcome to Chiang Mai

This historic city is often referred to as “The Northern rose” and has over 300 temples! It is a quintessential cultural city, renowned for its craftsmanship for decades. Between two visits, do not hesitate to taste the traditional flavors of the region. Your taste buds will delight in all the local specialties.

You can also enjoy some local activities during your stopover (not included): 

• Visit Wat Phra Singh, the most visited temple in the city. 
• The “Sunday Walking Street” market at Thapae Gate will offer you all kinds of products and an excellent overview of the local culture. Equally interesting is the “Saturday Night Market” at Chiang Mai Gate. 
• Visit of Wat Ketkaran: a temple built in the 15th century. 
• Visit to Wat Chedi Luang. 
• Visit the monument of the three kings. 
• Relax in one of the many “coffee shops” to taste a coffee from the northern provinces. – Doi Suthep National Park: an unmissable temple offering a panoramic and spectacular view of the city. – Thai cooking class. 
• Thai massage or a day at the spa. 
• Scooter rental to visit the city and its surroundings. 

As soon as you are installed at the hotel, do not hesitate to discover this pretty city at your own pace. You will undoubtedly find new flavors to taste or photograph. 

TRANSFER 

Chiang Mai To Chiang Mai (Mini Van) 

Upon arrival at Chiang Mai train station, a driver will greet you and drive you to your Chiang Mai hotel by minivan. 

The trip will take approximately 30 minutes depending on trafic. 

Your room will be available between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. You can leave your luggage at the reception of your hotel and go for breakfast in town (not included) and explore the old city with your family and at your own pace. 

HOTEL 

POR Thapae Gate Night at the POR Thapae Gate, a 3 stars hotel

Day 5 / Immersion in a northern tribe

Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. 

ACTIVITY 

What you will experience during this stay will be much more of a human experience and culture shock than a simple tourist trip. There is no 5-star hotel or bubble bath here. You will live in a traditional house in a Karen Village as guests of the family. 

Our guide will make you discover the village of her family, where her husband grew up with his parents. Like family members, you will be welcomed in one of the last Karen tribes: authentic, not reconstruction for tourists. 

Here no tourists, no voyeurism, only a unique experience with the locals. 

This morning your guide will pick you up from your hotel and drive you first to Chom Tong to discover the local market and traditional dishes. 

After that, you will join your place of stay to present the village and the family with whom you will spend the night. You will have the honor of enjoying a traditional meal in the company of your hosts. 

The afternoon will be devoted to visiting the magnificent rice fields and the surrounding area. You will then discover a small local store, a Christian village, a school in the valley, and various plantations. You will then return to the town to share a privileged moment with the inhabitants.

Depending on the availability and the weather, various activities will be offered to you such as Thai boxing, weaving, a snack with the Karen people, removing the bran from the rice, helping the villagers in their various daily tasks, looking for food for dinner (bamboo shoots, insects, different plants, roots, etc.). 

When it comes time for dinner, you can also watch the Karens cook and help them before sharing a typically delicious meal altogether. During this evening, you will then have the opportunity to share much more with the Karen people. You will bond with this indigenous population in a warm and family atmosphere, a magical and unforgettable moment! 

Night with a Karen family 

* This experience will not be suitable for everyone 

** Basic accommodation: traditional private house, mattress with mosquito net, electricity but no modern bathroom. (It’s the bathroom in the garden and no hot water). 

Day 6 / Scenic trails, farmland and northern tribes

Breakfast and lunch included. 

ACTIVITY 

This morning, you will be entitled to a typical breakfast in the village. 

Then you will go for a walk in the surrounding countryside. You will thus discover all the different cultures that this Karen community takes care of. This village lives mainly on rice, cabbage, and onions which punctuate the year and change the landscape according to the seasons. It is, in particular, the rice terraces that take up the most 

space in the landscape. These rice fields require more work from the peasants because of their geographical location in the mountains.

Here, you can fully immerse yourself in nature and all the splendid and romantic landscapes that will be offered to you. Lush greenery in ancient mystical mountains. Don’t forget to take pictures to remember those precious moments. 

You will then return to the village for the last lunch with your host family. 

In the afternoon, your guide will bring you back to city life while concocting a little journey filled with surprises. For example, he will show you around a small temple hidden in the jungle and much more. 

The return is scheduled between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. 

HOTEL 

POR Thapae Gate Night at the POR Thapae Gate, a 3 stars hotel 

Day 7 / Connect with elephants while supporting their conservation

Breakfast and lunch included. 

TRANSFER 

Chiang Mai To Chiang Mai (Mini Van)

After your breakfast, your driver will meet you at your hotel and take you to your Chiang Mai hotel by mini-van. 

The trip will take approximately 30 minutes depending on traf ic. 

ACTIVITY 

Upon your arrival, around 9:00 am, your guide will meet you at the reception of your hotel. You will leave in a traditional Thai songtaew (covered pick-up). 

During the morning, you will meet magnificent pachyderms and learn how to approach them and communicate with them. You will learn how to make their remedy and then take them for a swim before setting off in search of fresh and healthy food. 

Learn about their history in Thailand and how your participation helps create a safe and permanent home for them. Relax at the riverside cafe and taste delicious local dishes. 

After lunch, you will be escorted back to your hotel around 2:00 pm. 

HOTEL 

The Chai Lai Orchid Night at the The Chai Lai Orchid, a 5 stars hotel

Day 8 / On the way to Phitsanulok

 Breakfast included 

TRANSFER 

Chiang Mai To Chiang Mai (Mini Van) 

This morning, after your breakfast, your driver will pick you up from your hotel to take you to the train station. The trip will take approximately 30 minutes depending on traf ic. 

TRANSFER 

Chiang Mai To Phitsanulok (Train) 

This morning you will take your overnight train from Chiang Mai Station to Phitsanulok Station. It will take around 7 hours on board this train. 

This unique train experience will allow you to enjoy the picturesque landscapes of the region. Once you arrive, your hotel team will be waiting to take you to your room.

HOTEL 

Shinnabhura historic boutique hotel Night at the Shinnabhura historic boutique hotel, a 4 stars hotel 

Day 9 / Free day in Phitsanulok

Breakfast included. 

Phitsanulok Province is a prosperous city in many ways and is a significant tourist destination in Thailand. 

While visiting Phitsanulok, be sure to see the magnificence of Phra Buddha Chinnarat at Wat Phra Si Mahathat Woramahaviharn, which is the most beautiful Buddha statue in Thailand. 

You can enjoy the following activities (not included): 

• Swimming in the Chat Trakan waterfall, where you can observe the mist that extends as far as the eye can see from the viewpoint of Nakorn Chum, 
• Discover the culture in the middle of the mountains and the vast rice fields of the district of Noen Maprang, – Rafting at the Huai Sam Ruak reservoir,
• Visit Chan Palace, Wat Rajabhat, and Sergey Thawi Folk Museum; a knowledge base that reflects the life and folk wisdom of the people of Phitsanulok. 

TRANSFER 

Phitsanulok To Ayutthaya (Train) 

Tonight, your hotel team will drive you to the train station, where you will catch your night train from Phitsanulok station to Ayutthaya station. It will take around 5 hours on board this sleeper train. 

This unique sleeper train experience will allow you to enjoy the picturesque landscapes in the early morning. 

TRANSFER 

Ayutthaya To Ayutthaya (Tuk tuk) 

Upon arrival, your driver will be waiting to transfer you to your Ayutthaya hotel by tuk tuk. The journey will take around 15 minutes. 

HOTEL 

Baan Thai House Night at the Baan Thai House, a 3 stars hotel

Day 10 / Cultural discovery of Ayutthaya by bike

Breakfast and dinner included. 

ACTIVITY 

This afternoon, around 1:30 p.m., your driver will pick you up from your hotel reception. 

You will go for an incredible 9km bike ride, discovering the temples and remains of the ancient city of Ayutthaya! 

You will visit Wat Phra Si Sanphet, built in the 14th century, once featured a 16 meter standing Buddha covered with 250 kilos of gold! Then, you will head to Wat Lokayasutharam to admire the enormous reclining Buddha measuring 42 meters long and 8 meters high! You will continue your journey by Wat Na Phra Main (or the monastery in front of the funeral pyre). Then, you will end your walk at the beautiful Wat Mahathat, which is the most famous of all, with the head of a Buddha statue embedded in the roots of a tree: a valid symbol of Ayutthaya! 

Once the activity is over, you will be escorted back to your hotel for a snack. 

* Remember to bring clothes to cover the shoulders and knees. Indeed, in Thai culture, it isn’t polite to visit temples with bare shoulders and knees. 

** Some temples like Wat Mahathat and Phra Si Sanphet charge 50 Thb (1.2 €) entrance fee not included.

ACTIVITY 

Around 7:30 p.m., you will have the chance to climb aboard a traditional teak rice barge to drift slowly along the majestic Chao Phraya and explore the island city of Ayutthaya while enjoying a fine selection of delicious Thai food. 

During your cruise, you can admire some symbolic sites of this beautiful historic city with a splendid view thanks to the light reflection on the water: the fortress of Phet, Wat Phananchoeng, Wat Putthaisawan, Saint Joseph Catholic Church, the memorial “Stupa” of Queen Suriyothai and Wat Chai Watthanaram. 

After your meal, a driver will drive you back to your hotel around 9 p.m. 

HOTEL 

Baan Thai House Night at the Baan Thai House, a 3 stars hotel 

Breakfast Supper

Day 11 / Back to Bangkok

Breakfast included. 

TRANSFER 

Ayutthaya To Ayutthaya (Tuk tuk) 

This morning a driver will pick you up from your hotel to transfer you to Ayutthaya station by tuk tuk. The journey will take around 15 minutes. 

TRANSFER 

Ayutthaya To Bangkok (Train) 

Once you arrive, you will board the train to Bangkok. The trip will take around 1h30. 

FREEADVICE 

Upon arrival, you will need to get from the train station to your hotel on your own (public boat, skytrain, metro or local bus). 

We will provide you with a detailed plan with your travel log.

Is it the end of your trip and you haven’t done your shopping? 

Take advantage of this last day to walk the corridors of the capital’s many shopping centers. Shopping is a national sport, and Bangkok knows how to make every experience unique. A wide choice is available to you: EmQuartier and its hanging gardens, Terminal 21 and its world tour, SookSiam and its reconstituted floating market, the famous MBK Center on seven floors, the luxurious Siam Paragon, and many more! 

You can also walk to the famous local Chatuchak market during the weekend to buy the last souvenirs while enjoying a typical Thai atmosphere. 

To end your stay in style, treat yourself to a panoramic view of Bangkok from the top of a rooftop. Enjoy your cocktail and admire this city that never sleeps from above. 

HOTEL 

Bangkok Tree House Night at Bangkok Tree House, a 4 stars hotel.

Day 12 / On the way back home

Breakfast included. 

After your final breakfast in Thai land this morning, you will need to make your way from your hotel to Bangkok International Airport (public boat, Skytrain, metro, or local bus). 

We will provide you with a detailed plan with your travel log. 

Upon arrival at the airport, proceed to your airline counter and check in your luggage. On behalf of the entire Les Secrets du Siam team, we wish you a safe journey home and hope to see you again soon for new discoveries in the Land of Smiles. 

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT NOT INCLUDED