OVERVIEW

Tour Code: S56_ NE-9D8N_Grand Northeastern

Trip Name: Grand Northeastern 9 Days 8 Nights
Type of trip: Private
Trip Duration: 9 Days
Start: Bangkok, Thailand
Finish: Bangkok, Thailand
Destinations: BKK-Korat-Petchbun-Loei-Udon-Nongkai-Bkk

Package Tours valid until 31 Oct 2016 but require for surcharge for bellow dates
1. Christmas Eve 2015
2. New Year Eve 2016
3. 12 – 16 Apr 2016 (Water Festival)

BRIEF ITINERARY
Day 01: Bangkok – Nakorn Rachasima (Khaoyai National Park) (L)

Day 02: Chaiyaphumi – Si Thep (Petchabun) (B/L)

Day 03: Si Thep (Petchabun) – Khao Khor (Petchabun) (B/L)

Day 04: Lomsak (Petchabun) – Nam Nao National Park (Petchabun) (B/L)

Day 05: Khao Khor (Petchabun) – Chiangkan (Loei)   (B/L)

Day 07: Udornthani – Nongkhai (B/L)

Day 08-9: Nongkhai Tours – Bangkok by train Overnight (B/L)

09 Days 08 Nights Grand Northeastern Package Tour

Bangkok – Nakorn Ratchasima – Petchabun – Loie – Udornthani – Nongkai-Bangkok

 

Tour itinerary

Day 01: Bangkok – Nakorn Rachasima (Khaoyai National Park) (L)

After breakfast, 08.30am: our guide will pick up you from the hotel and drive straight to Khaoyai National Park (World Heritage). After arrived, trekking along the jungle to visit “Heaw Narok Waterfall”and Heaw Suwat Waterfall,the most famous in the park. Then continue drive pass to stop at Pa Diew Dai and Pa Tom Chai has most beautiful scenery view of the park for enjoying taking some photos. And next go to do parking our car and walk along the trail about 200 meters to Mor Singto Animal Observation House where the place was built by the US army in the past. After that walk back to the car and getting on our car for driving to Krua Kam Pan Thai Restaurant for lunch and after lunch, we will do digestion by continue our trip to Nong Pakchee Animal Observation House and Saisin Dam by walking about 800 meters from the parking point. Then return to the hotel and check in and relax on your own time until 18.30pm: we will go to see the night safari tour from 19.00pm – 20.00pm. Then return to your hotel after the night safari tour.

Note: Breakfast, Dinner is on your own expense

Overnight in Khaoyai National Park

 

Day 02: Chaiyaphumi – Si Thep (Petchabun) (B/L)

After breakfast, check out and drive to Chaiyaphumi province and visit Pa Hin Ngam National Park is dotted with large rocks of unusual shapes, some, for instance, resembling a nail, a serpent head or an ancient castle. During the early part of the rainy season in July, Dok Krachiao or Siam Tulips (a type of jungle flower with an underground bulb, related to ginger) sprout cheery pink blooms all over the area. With winter, orchids emerge from cracks in rocks, alongside numerous wild flowers. After that, drive into the downtown of Chaiyaphum and make a stop at Ban Khae Topiary Centre, many species and sizes of beautifully manicured plants are on sale on both sides of Highway No. 201 near Ban Khae. Locals many years ago took up the art of topiary and have become renowned for their expertise. Amongst the plants are Khoi (Siamese Rough Bush) and Tako, offered at reasonable prices as garden decoration. Another stop for lunch at a local restaurant before continuing our trip to Tat Ton National Park covers some parts of Phu Laen Kha mountain range. There are several beautiful waterfalls, but its namesake waterfall Namtok Tat Ton is the best. The water here cascades down wide rock plateaus, part of a breathtaking view, especially in the rainy season when there is plenty of water. In addition, Chaopho Tat Ton (Pu Duang) Shrine, honoring an ethnic Khmer holy man, is widely visited by locals who come to pay respect to the site four times a year. The park is also home to Pha Lang waterfall, which is 32 kilometers from the city on the Chaiyaphum-Nong Bua Daeng road, and Tat Fa waterfall, which is 25 kilometers from the city on the Chaiyaphum-Kaeng Khro road. Now enjoy your time for swimming and watching the nature and taking some photos before we are returning back to Chaiyabhum downtown

Note: Dinner is on your own expense

Overnight in Chaiyabhum province

 

Day 03: Si Thep (Petchabun) – Khao Khor (Petchabun) (B/L)

After breakfast, driving to Si Thep Historical Park contains the ruins of ancient Phetchabun, encompassing Si Thep Ancient Town, originally called Mueang Aphai Sali. It is believed to have been built during the boom years of the ancient Khmer empire, no less than 1,000 years old. The historic town is surrounded by a moat and a mound; inside, ponds and swamps dot the compound. And next, if you are tiring, then we will visit Ban Phu Toei Hot Spring Park, this natural spring, its hot water bubbling to the surface, is a relaxing venue for the health-conscious. The area has been developed into a health tourism spot and spa services are available daily. These include mineral water bathing, massages for the feet and the body, and other spa treatments. Stop for having some lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, drive straight to Baan Kru mineral spring is located at Tambol Pukam, Amphur Vichienburi. It is the natural mineral spring with water all year and does not have any smell of sulphur. It was found in 2006 during the water excavation. The digger dug for 42 meters and found the hot water at 48 degrees celcius. After analysing, it was found to provide nutrients for the body. Therefore, it was opened as a mineral spring center. The name of this mineral spring came from the owner’s name who is a teacher in the village. And continue to Chao Doi Travel Village is located at Mu 9, Khao Kho sub-district, Khao Kho district, Phetchabun province. It is another tourist site of Khao Kho, where a large number of Hmong people live. In the past, Hmong people preferred to grow a lot of opium. However, the government authority launched a campaign to encourage people to stop growing opium and switch to other agricultural occupations. Currently, Hmong hill tribes plant maize and upland rice, including processed bamboo products, all of which generate an income to communities. After entering the village, tourists will notice houses and livelihood of Hmong people as well as their costumes woven by themselves, including livestock and wooden mortars for pounding rice in the village. Hmong villages are usually on highland or hillsides, easily built of natural materials to protect them from rainfall. There is also an area for adolescents to play the Hmong ball tossing game during the Hmong New Year celebration. The end destination place for today is visiting to Khao Kho Royal Palace is situated on Khao Ya, Tambol Sadohpong, Amphur Khao Kho and is 1,100 meters high from the mean sea level. It is the King and the Queen’s accommodation during their visit to Amphur Khao Kho or nearby.

After that, drive to hotel. Check in and relax on your own time afterwards.

Note: Dinner is on your own expense

Overnight in Khao Khor, Petchabun province

 

 

Day 04: Lomsak (Petchabun) – Nam Nao National Park (Petchabun) (B/L)

After breakfast and leave for drive to Rai B.N. Fresh fruits and vegetables direct from fields and orchards are on offer at this farm, also known as “Rai B.N.”, with availability varying according to the season. Visitors can buy broccoli, iceberg lettuce and eggplant, as well as strawberries, lychees, macadamia nuts and more. Also on offer are preserved fruits and vegetables, often baked, candied or made into jams. Decorative plants and flowers, such as Bird of Paradise, torch ginger, and those in the Heliconia family are also available. Visitors can explore the vegetable plots and plant growing and take a walk around the farm. Then continue drive to The Nam Nao National Park is an immense tract of forest which has remained mostly untouched. Its pine forests, grasslands and virgin jungles are home to a large number of animals and more than 100 species of birds. Between December and January, temperatures drop to as low as 2-5 degrees Celsius. Lunch at a local restaurant and after lunch, and then drive downward to Agro-tourism in Nam Nao District. There are agro-tourism places for tourists to enjoy in Nam Nao, for example, Suan Nam Nao”, which has various flowers such as sterling rose, chrysanthemum and amaryllis. These interesting gardens not only produce high-quality plants and have learning centres, but also process products such as Thai blueberry wine and lychee wine. Then transfer to hotel. Check in and relax on your own time.

Note: Dinner is on your own expense

Overnight in Lomsak, Petchabun province

 

Day 05: Khao Khor (Petchabun) – Chiangkan (Loei)   (B/L)

After breakfast, this morning, we are driving to Ban Thap Boek see the beautiful view and visiting to a Hmong hill tribe village called Ban Thap Boek. The area lies 1,768 meters above sea level and is often referred to as the highest point in Phetchabun province. Mountainous terrain and high altitudes guarantee year-round cool weather for visitors. And then drive to Lomsak district. Check in hotel and relax on your own time afterwards. And then after that, driving further to Phra That Si Song Rak This Lao-style white pagoda was built as a symbol of a mutual friendship between the kings of Ayutthaya and Sri Sattana Khanahut (Vientiane) who were alliance against in the invasion of an ancient Burmese troop in circa 1560. It is a famous religious venue for couples to pray for everlasting love. Red flowers and red attires are prohibited in the temple. Lunch will be stopped and ate in a local restaurant. After lunch, we will drive ahead to visit Phu Ruea National Park, located in Loei, one of the coolest provinces of Thailand. It is rugged mountain range and also the headwater of many rivers of Loei. Phu Ruea is the highest peak of 1,365m above sea level. At the top, it is viewpoint that you can panoramically see Hueang and Khong Rivers. More than half of the top of Phu Ruea is covered with low shrubbery, grasslands and strangely formed rock formations. Due to the cool climate the area is rich in orchid species which flower throughout the year. Pha Lon Noi is good point to see the sun rise. Phuruea has many kinds of plants and wild lives such as wild roses, moss, fern, wild orchid, bear, barking deer, boar, hyena, monkey, squirrel, wild fowl, rabbit, turtle, as well as birds and colorful winter flowers, such as petunia and Christmas trees, at this nursery for plants and flowers. And drive straight to Chiangkhan, Loei province.

Note: Dinner is on your own expense

Overnight in Chiangkhan

Day 06: Loei (Chiangkan) – Udonthani (B/L)

After breakfast, this morning, we are going to do Tak Bat (offering foods to monks) and sit a coffee shop to sip and get the fresh air of the Maekhong River as for the local knows that Chiang Khan is a lovely small town with restaurants, coffee and souvenir shops. Besides, it is the city is twin to Luang Prabang, Laos. There are more traditional and cultures to be explored by you. Check out and get on the car and driving along parallel the rim of Maekhong River and stop at the scenic spot for taking some photos of the beautiful views of locals and the Maekhong River. Later, we will continue to visit Arabica and coffee cultivated farms at Vilai’s farm in Baan Pherm where you can taste of some coffee, soup coffees and drip-bag coffees. Besides, you will see banana gardens and rubber trees to see how the locals growing and collecting. After that, we will continue to visit Wat Pa Pukon, Udonthani to see the beauty of the white large reclining Buddha image keeps in the temple on the top of mountain. Continue driving to visit Phu Phrabat Historical Park situated in Ban Phue District, this archeological site features a large number of ancient ruins and objects dating from prehistory. They are mostly from the Dvaravati, Lop Buri, and Lan Xang periods. The site is located in a lush forest called Pa Khua Nam. Within are many rocks of peculiar shapes, the result of a slow-moving glacier millions of years ago. Many of the ruins and objects found in the area were made from the materials found locally, and were not built entirely by hand – for instance, a rock decorated as a stupa, or chiseled into the shape of a foot. Pre-historic cave paintings, sandstone images and idols, and more are interesting sights to behold. The site was declared a historical park by the Fine Arts Department in 1991. We will have some lunch at the historical park’s restaurant and then after lunch and keep continue driving to Udornthani province.

Note: Dinner is on your own expense

Overnight in Udornthani province

Day 07: Udonthani – Nongkhai (B/L)

After breakfast, this early morning, we will visit explore the Udonthani Dhesaban morning market. You will see the busy life of locals bring local died and fresh foods for selling and the local costs here cheap. After walking in the market, we will take you to eat the famous local dish as Khai Kata or fried eggs mixed pork in the tray and serving with local French bakes. After breakfast, then we will walk back to hotel and leaving for Udon Sunshine Orchid Farm where garden is a nursery dedicated to Udon Sunshine, a cross between the Vanda and the Josephine Van Berrow orchids. The species, registered with the United Kingdom’s World Orchid Society in 1988, is known for its lovely scent. It is one of the few orchids used to make perfume, branded for sale with its species name. And next, we are driving to visit the Red Lotus Sea This spectacular site is home to millions of lotus flowers and appropriately named the Red Lotus Sea, or Talay Bua Daeng. And then, we are driving ahead to Udornthani downtown for having lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, we will visit to Udonthani province and stop for visiting at Baan Chiang National Museum is considered one of the most significant archaeological sites in Southeast Asia and was registered as a World Heritage Site in 1992. Excavations at a large, oval mound at the site uncovered pre-historic artifacts, especially pottery and bronze implements. Since the discovery of the site in 1966, the dating of Ban Chiang artifacts has been adjusted and refined over time in line with advances in the understanding and techniques of radiometric dating. This research has revealed that the site dates to as early as 3,500 years ago and that the site was continuously occupied for at least 2,000 years.  The discoveries at the site, from both Neolithic and Bronze Age civilizations, have shown it has long been a habitation and burial site. After Baan Chiang, we will drive to Baan  Dung district where its famous for the rock salt and there is only one district in the Northeastern of Thailand has the salt paddy field in order to explore and observe how the local people here process the salts to be sold to all around of Thailand. Then we will drive to Nongkhai and en route will stop at Ban Na Kha and Ban Men Handicraft Center, this village, about 16 kilometers from Udon Thani town, is a center for cotton, silk, and Khit silk trading. Khit silk cloth, hand-made using a traditional style of Thai silk weaving from the Northeastern region, has a fine texture with elegant patterns and colors. And then drive straight to Nongkhai Province.

Note: Dinner is on your own expense

Overnight in Nongkhai province

Day 08-09: Nongkhai Tours – Bangkok by train (B/L)

After breakfast, we are checking out and drive to Nongkhai province and on the way stop at Baan Nahee Handicraft Village at Nisachol weaving house. Continue on to visit Nongkhai Governor’s Residence Museum which is located in the west of the town. This beautiful French colonial building that was once the Governor’s Residence. It was built in 1929 for the provincial commissioner, Yiam Patumthewaphiban and it was last used by the 37th Governor, Suphut Lawansiri who lived here as recently as 2007. The king and queen have visited here for lunch on three occasions. The building features some nice wooden louvers and wooden furniture and is full of photos of previous governors. After that getting on the boat sightseeing along the Maekhong River and cruising to see beautiful views of Thailand and Laos river banks and will pass the 1^st Thailand-Laos friendship bridge. And continue to Sala Kaew Ku (also Keoku) sculpture park quirky or just plain bizarre, there’s no denying that it’s Nong Khai’s only “can’t-miss” attraction. The park’s countless dazzling sculptures were the life’s work of Boun Leua Sulilat, a Lao man who spent much of his early life absorbing mystical knowledge from an ascetic hermit named Kaew Ku, who lived in a cave in Laos. Sala Kaew Ku is Sulilat’s impressive attempt to bring this knowledge to life. While the striking depictions draw from a wide range of ancient beliefs, including animist folklore, Hindu mythology and Buddhist traditionalism, the execution is all Sulilat. Then back to the downtown of Nongkhai and having lunch at Daeng Naemniang Nongkhai famous local restaurant. After lunch, we will give you free time to shopping and exploring Indochina Market and Thasadet until time to be transferred to Nong Khai Train Station for catching an overnight train back to Bangkok.

Note: Dinner is on your own expense

Overnight on the train

PRICE & INCLUDE

Price Included:
 Accommodation as mentioned based on twin sharing or similar one
 Tour and transportation as private air-con vehicle
 Meals as mentioned in the program (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
 Entrance fees on the archaeological site mentioned in the itinerary
 Local English speaking guide
 All activities were stated in the program
 Travel insurance (required copy passport)
 Cool drink water during on tours
 Government tax & Service Charge

Price Excluded:
 All the other things are not stated in the part of inclusions
 International flights
 Domestic Flight Bangkok- Chiang Mai- Bangkok
 Telephone services
 Laundry services
 Personal Expenses
 Any drinks during lunch and dinner at a local restaurant are not mentioned
 Tips to a guide or driver if you like his or her services
 Late check out
 Early check in
 Peak period surcharge
 Visa fees to Thailand
 Any optional additional tours or activities during free time.
Remarks:
 All rates are quoted in US Dollars per person.
 Packages tour rates are Nett, non-commissionable.
 Child fare:
o Child (2-11 yrs) - 100% sharing room with 1 adult in Twin Room
o Child (2-11 yrs) - 80% sharing room with 2 adults with extra bed
o Child (2-11 yrs) - 50% sharing room with 2 adults without bed
 Other period of packages tour price, please contact us anytime.
 Confirmation of room & price are subject to space availability at the time of booking only.
 All rates are subject to change without prior notices.
 All above itinerary is flexible, depending on arrival or departure flights of passengers

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