Thailand is often referred to as the ‘Land of Smiles’ which encapsulates the warm hospitality of the Thai people. It is a land of contrasts from the modern and vibrant city of Bangkok, to the tranquil and cultural splendour of the Golden Triangle gateway cities of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. This magnificent itinerary takes in the highlights of this fascinating country with its colourful local markets and culinary delicacies, devout Buddhism and beautiful temples, rich history and ancient ruins, natural treasures and traditional handicrafts, smaller laid-back towns with quiet lanes and striking Thai teak architecture, old style wooden shop fronts and colonial period merchant houses. There is also time to do some exploration on your own, be it joining the bustle of the Thai locals as they go about their daily lives or tantalising your palate with the gastronomic delights of the wonderful Thai cuisine.
Your Host – NZ PGA President Susan Farron
Susan Farron is NZ Golf. From her early beginnings as a Tour Professional back in 1994 on the European, Asian and Australasian Tours, to her continued coaching of budding golfers and her recent appointment as the first woman PGA President, she embodies all that golf is – persistence, dedication, strength and determination. It is these same skills that have seen her recently compete in the marathon field completing the Gold Coast and New York Marathons.
Susan’s love of golf and of health and fitness saw her jump at the opportunity of hosting a tour with World Expeditions that combines her two current passions. Playing some of Thailand’s and the world’s top courses will be a highlight, but Susan is also looking forward to experiencing ‘real’ Thailand with you all, by cycling the green heart of Bangkok, Kayaking in the National Parks and enjoying some of the local attractions and markets. The goal of this tour is to have fun, keep fit and experience life. If you are a first time golfer, Susan will help impart some wisdom that will soon see you enjoy the game and pick up some valuable skills. As a professional golfer, the designs and waterways of the Thailand courses will challenge you. Susan as the host will be there to impart her golf wisdom with you, but when it comes to guiding, she will leave that to our local bilingual guide and Thailand professional.
Trip Highlights:
Discover the vibrant markets and warm hospitality of Thailand
See the sights of Bangkok by night on an evening dinner cruise
Explore the green heart of Bangkok, Bang Ka Jao, at handlebar level
Kayak and cycle around the spectacular Sri Lanna National Park
Enjoy golf at some of Thailand’s and the worlds top golf courses
Relax and golf in the beautiful seaside town of Hua Hin
Includes:
11 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 7 dinners
comfortable 4* boutique hotels on a twin share basis
Bangkok airport transfers (day 1 & 12 only)
Internal flights Bangkok/Chiang Mai/Bangkok valued at USD$290
private air conditioned vehicles
sightseeing and entry fees as listed in itinerary
expert bilingual guide (except on golf days)
medical kit
one round of 18-hole green fees on days mentioned in itinerary
one round of 18-hole caddy fees on days mentioned in itinerary
golf cart at all golf course
Departs:
8 – 19th October 2015-03-23
Cost:
From NZD $6190 per person, twin share (clients will be matched if a single traveller unless they would like their own room)
Itinerary:
Day 1
If you are arriving in Bangkok today you will be met at the airport and transferred to the group hotel. A group briefing will take place with your guide at some stage this evening (time to be advised). Dinner will be available at the hotel to enjoy at your leisure.
** travel time from Bangkok Airport to Hotel is approx 1hr 10mins
Day 2
After breakfast you will be transferred to the Thai Country Club for one round of 18 hole golf. The Thai Country Club was designed by Denis Griffiths, opened in 1996 and has hosted PGA wins by Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh. The high-tech computer designed greens make for many interesting pin placements and the course is a constant test of one’s golfing proficiency. Return to the hotel after your game for a freshen up.
This evening you will experience Bangkok in style on the luxury Manohra rice barge cruise, which has been converted into one of Bangkok’s finest dining venues. Whilst cruising along the Chao Phraya River, you will pass by the glittering sights of Bangkok. From the stunning Temple of Dawn, the illuminated Grand Palace, magnificent temples, striking bridges and other famous Bangkok landmarks. On board you will enjoy a sumptuous five-course dinner. The cruise offers a perfectly relaxing night in Bangkok.
Day 3
After breakfast, enjoy a half day biking trip to explore the green heart of Bangkok: Bang Ka Jao. This small green area has a unique style of waterways and small roads. We pass local markets and Thai houses where we see communities that live and work here. Ride along minor roads, pathways, through alleys, temples, gardens and tropical jungle for approximately 2 hours. The ride is easy and suitable for anyone that can ride a bike. After the ride, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.
This afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Chiang Mai. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the hotel for a freshen up.
Private cars will this evening take you to The Deck, nestled on the banks of the Ping River. Enjoy delicious Thai cuisine in this lovely open air, elegant restaurant. After dinner, head to one of Chiang Mai’s colourful night markets. The guide will escort you through the labyrinth of stalls selling everything from local crafts to fun imitation goods. Choose from an astonishing variety of souvenirs, sample the smoothness of the colourful silk on sale everywhere, have a suit measured and ready for your collection the following evening and browse exquisite Asian silver jewellery and beads. A great place to practice your bargaining skills.
Day 4
After breakfast, you will head out to the Chiang Mai Highlands Golf Club for a round of 18-holes. Set in the foot-hills east of Chiang Mai, Chiangmai Highlands was designed by Schmidt-Curley Design giving golfers the distraction of magnificent views on every hole. Open to the public in December 2005, the course has already been heralded as one of the Best New Courses in Asia and the number one course in Thailand. After returning to the hotel, your afternoon and evening will be at leisure to relax, enjoy and do as you please. Explore Chiang Mai, or relax with a massage; the choice is yours.
Day 5
After breakfast, get active and ready for an exciting day of kayaking and cycling in and around spectacular Sri Lanna National Park, located only an hours drive from Chiang Mai. Start by cycling 20 kilometres along the beautiful rural roads set against a backdrop of dazzling bamboo and fern groves, fruit orchards and rolling rice fields. Then paddle kayaks on Mae Ngud Lake Reservoir before breaking for a mouth-watering Lanna lunch at an exotic bamboo floating raft house on the lake. The afternoon can be spent paddling and exploring the lake, swimming or simply finding an isolated shoreline spot for sunbathing. Pack up the bikes and transfer back to Chiang Mai.
This evening you’ll be met by your guide and transferred to the open air restaurant of Baan Suan. This architect designed restaurant, serving Thai fusion cuisine, is beautifully located overlooking the Ping River. Enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail before starting the culinary delights of Northern Thailand. After the delicious dinner, light a paper lantern or khom loy and launch it into the night following the local belief that misfortune will be floated away.
Day 6
After breakfast this morning you are transferred to Summit Green Valley Chiang Mai Country Club for a round of golf. Summit Green Valley offers beautiful surroundings, and various native landscaping unique to Northern Thailand. Hundreds of palm trees line the course, which affords nice views of the surrounding mountains. The course features an abundance of well placed sand bunkers and lots of water that can come into play on nearly every hole on the course. The most memorable hole is the 416 yard, par 4, 9th. The tee shot must carry over water and the fairway has sand traps left and right at the landing area. The 2nd shot is also over water to an elevated island green encircled by big palm trees. Return to the hotel for a quick freshen up before transferring to the airport. We fly from Chiang Mai, via Bangkok down to Hua Hin. Dinner and overnight in Hua Hin.
Day 7
After breakfast, transfer out to Springfield Royal Country Club for a round of 18 hole golf. Beautifully maintained, the Springfield Royal Country Club is a true Jack Nicklaus masterpiece. A championship course with five sets of tees to play from, the course offers varying degrees of difficulty that accentuate the dramatic lush landscape. Be prepared for some long carries if you are brave enough to play from the back tees. It is one of the best courses you will ever play. Return to the hotel after the game for a freshen up.
This evening you embark on a city tour of Hua Hin. The invention of the railway transformed this once tiny fishing village into an elegant resort destination, where royalty and aristocracy spent their summer months. You start the trip by visiting Hua Hin’s famous railway station, where the guide will share some fascinating facts about Hua Hin. Then travel through the bustling town to see the busy fishing pier and watch the days catch being off-loaded before enjoying dinner in one of Hua Hin’s Thai Seafood restaurants. After dinner, walk to the night markets with some free time to explore before returning to the hotel.
Day 8
After breakfast, travel down south to Sam Roi Yod National Park. The first visit will be to the seaside village “Khung Tanod” where the scenery was featured in the world famous film “The Killing Fields”. Stop at “Sai Cave”. These ancient caverns have petrified waterfalls and monstrous limestone domes with dangling stone tentacles. The climb to the cave is quite rigorous and optional. You then travel to the national parks headquarters and continue to Horizon Adventure Camp to enjoy a picnic lunch before setting out on the kayaks. The kayak route is the Khao Daeng trial and the mangrove nature trails are excellent opportunities to view a variety of habitats and wildlife. On the mangrove nature trail, mud skippers, crabs, monitor lizards, kingfishers, herons, egrets and a variety of other bird life can be spotted. Return to the hotel in the afternoon and enjoy the evening at leisure.
Day 9
After breakfast, transfer out to the Imperial Lake View for a round of 18-hole golf. Inland through small farms & pineapple plantations, Lake View is another example of the quality of Golf Courses in and around Hua Hin. The design of this championship course conveys a sense of adventure. Hidden greens, mature palm trees and well defined fairways are on offer throughout this course. This course offers exciting and demanding play for the experienced golfer, but also accommodates the occasional enthusiast. Return to the hotel after the game and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.
Day 10
After enjoying your breakfast this morning, transfer out to the Black Mountain Golf Club for 18 holes. Black Mountain is everything you would expect of a world-class golf resort. Not only is the championship course acknowledged as being one of the best in Asia, it is the only course in Thailand ever named in Golf Digest’s Top 100 Courses Outside the US. Here you will experience golf at its very best in a wonderful setting, with sweeping vistas from almost every hole and tour-standard conditioning. Set in a natural valley, there is water on every hole requiring precise shot making and concentration, just as you need on a full-length course! Return to the hotel after your game and enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.
Day 11
After breakfast this morning, transfer out to Banyan Golf Club for your last round of 18 holes. The championship 18-hole golf course at the Banyan Golf Club, Hua Hin was designed and constructed by Thailand’s leading golf course architect Pirapon Namatra of Golf East. The Banyan Golf Club has featured in the Top 1000 in the World by Rolex. The signature hole is the 15th, 139 yards Par-3 with Ocean views to Singtoh Island.
In the afternoon, we will visit Hua Hin Hills Vineyard, the first boutique vineyard at this seaside resort and the producer of Monsoon Valley Wines, the country’s leading premium Thai wine where we will enjoy wine tasting and tapas. A farewell dinner tonight will be enjoyed at Supatra by the Sea.
Day 12
After an early breakfast this morning, we drive south to see The Maruekhathaiyawan Palace, (Palace of Love and Hope), designed by King Rama VI, and completed in 1924. Spend time walking around the beautiful teak wood palace, before enjoying a cable car journey to the beautiful summer palace of King Rama VI, the setting of the famous movie “The King and I”. The view from the observatory is spectacular. We continue to Khao Luang Cave (which houses no less than 170 Buddha images and from there visit a stucco-art decorated temple before returning to the hotel around 1.30pm. You are transferred back to Bangkok for your flight home or own onward arrangements.
Natalie Tambolash
natalie@worldexpeditions.co.nz
www.utracks.com