Christmas in Thailand
Christmas in Thailand
Christmas in Thailand
13 Days
Visiting: Thailand
Tour operator:
Tour code:
2419
Physical rating:
Level1
Trip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
From:
$5487
$5112 (USD)
including Flights from the UK
Operator discount: -$375
Tour Overview
This Christmas, journey through the magic of Thailand. A traditionally Buddhist country, there is no shortage of celebration and cheer no matter the time of year. When better to explore the marvels of this visually breathtaking place than December, with hot sunny days and balmy nights?Arriving In Bangkok, explore the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and Chinatown, then sail the Chao Phraya River on a longtail boat. Travel to Kanchanaburi province, where we'll see the historic Bridge on the River Kwai and learn about the Death Railway built by Allied POWs during WWII. Next, fly north to Chiang Rai, famous for its beautiful tea plantations and rolling hills. After exploring the Golden Triangle, head west to Mae Rim and relax in an eco-lodge nestled in the northern highlands, where you'll experience a warm welcome with a local dinner and Hmong Hilltribe folklore.
Come Christmas Eve, head to Chiang Mai, our home for the festive celebrations. Spend Christmas Day morning at an elephant rescue sanctuary in Chiang Mai, fostering memories with these majestic creatures before sitting down to Christmas dinner in a beautiful colonial mansion. Finally, enjoy a light-hearted Boxing Day cooking class to round the trip off before your return home.
Itinerary
Day 1 - 2 : Days 1-2: Bangkok
Meals Included: Dinner
You will be met at Bangkok Airport by your local guide or National Escort from Wendy Wu Tours. Together with all other group members who may be arriving at a similar time, transfer approximately 1 hour to your hotel.
Day 3: Bangkok Highlights
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Bangkok's dazzling neon signs, charming architecture, Thai cuisine and lively markets make for an exciting introduction to this fascinating country. Enjoy a Bangkok city tour. Tour the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Chinatown before cruising down Chao Phraya River on a longboat to Pak Khlong Talaat Flower Market, whilst enjoying an alternative view of the city.
Day 4: Floating Market & The Bridge On The River Kwai
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Begin at the Maeklong Railway Market in Samut Songkram, and enjoy the spectacle as vendors quickly pack up their stalls to let trains pass directly through the market. Continue to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, where you'll hop in small boats to explore the market's bustling canals.
Continue to Kanchanaburi, made famous by 'The Bridge on the River Kwai'. During the Japanese occupation of Thailand in WWII, tens of thousands of Allied POWs and Southeast Asian indentured labourers were forced to build the Thai-Burma Railway, often called the Death Railway; many of the prisoners died under the brutal conditions. Learn about their tragic story at the Thai-Burma Railway Museum, then pay respects to the victims at the Allied War Cemetery before checking in at your hotel.
Day 5: Kanchanaburi - Death Railway- Bangkok
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visit Hellfire Pass, a dramatic part of the railway that literally cuts through mountain. Begin at the Hellfire Pass Memorial Museum, which tells the stories of human suffering at the hands of this engineering feat, before a 3 kilometre walk through the pass. Finally, take a short train journey on the Death Railway and see more of this beautiful valley before driving back to Bangkok.
Day 6: Ayutthaya – Chiang Rai
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive 90 minutes east out of Bangkok to discover the historic ruins of Ayutthaya, the historic capital of Siam from 1350 until its destruction by Burmese invaders in 1767. Explore its gilded palaces, pavilions and gardens, together with its ruined stupas, reminiscent of a smaller Angkor. Enjoy lunch at the local restaurant and take the road trip back to Bangkok. This afternoon, return to Bangkok for your 80-minute flight to Chiang Rai.
Day 7: Chiang Rai & The Golden Triangle
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, head out to admire the area known as the 'Golden Triangle'; the point where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet. This area was once a hub of opium production, but since the 1970s, Thailand has been promoting local initiatives to enable locals to switch to other sources of income, such as tea, coffee and tourism.
Continue to Mae Sai, the northernmost point of Thailand and an important trading town on the Myanmar border. Return to Chiang Rai for dinner; afterwards, you may wish to explore the colourful night market.
Day 8: Tribes & Tea Plantations In Mae Salong
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive 90 minutes through rolling countryside to Mae Salong Mountain, renowned for its hill tribes and tea plantations. From the base of the mountain, travel by truck to a plantation, where you will have an opportunity to sample the local tea.
Enjoy lunch at a mountaintop restaurant before an excursion to Mae Salong, visiting a tea plantation, a Yao Tribe and an Akha village known as Ban Lorcha. Sightseeing today will include approximately 3 hours on foot.
Day 9: The White Temple & Hmong Hilltribe Lodge
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Depart Chiang Rai and take a short 30-minute drive to explore Wat Rong Khun, the bizarre and fascinating White Temple. Stop at a local market before lunch.
This afternoon is spent crossing the countryside, passing forests, farms and villages to reach the Hmong Hilltribe Lodge. Here you will be guests of the Hmong community. The Lodge is made up of ten individual houses, each comprising of four separate bedrooms with private en-suite bathrooms, arranged around a central communal area. This evening, enjoy a barbecue dinner and a cultural show.
Day 10: Christmas Eve - Bamboo Rafting & Chiang Mai
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Depart the lodge and drive an hour north to Mae Daeng to enjoy a relaxed bamboo rafting trip on the Mae Daang River. Sit back and enjoy the passing scenery as your boatman steers you along the river.
Afterwards, head to Chiang Mai and visit a social enterprise café. This little restaurant offers life-changing vocational training to reformed women from Chiang Mai's Correctional Institution. The skills they learn here enable them to reintegrate into society with the skills for a new career.
This afternoon, visit two of Chiang Mai's most important temples, Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Singh.
Day 11: Christmas Day - Elephant Rescue & Christmas Dinner
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy a wonderful start to Christmas Day – a visit to an elephant sanctuary! The centre is located in the beautiful Mesa valley and offers a peaceful retirement home for elephants rescued from illegal logging camps and elephant shows. Meet one of their caretakers, who will guide you through the centre, explaining about the centre and its inhabitants.
Return to Chiang Mai and freshen up at the hotel before this afternoon's Thai Christmas dinner at the lovely House by Ginger. This 1930s colonial mansion has been preserved as a stylish restaurant with a luxurious yet homely atmosphere.
This evening, return to the hotel and relax, or stay out in town and continue to celebrate at your leisure.
Day 12: Boxing Day Cooking Class & Wat Doi Suthep
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Spend Boxing Day morning at a cooking class, learning to cook traditional Thai cuisine and enjoy your creations for lunch. Later, drive to Wat Doi Suthep, a beautiful hilltop temple with panoramic views across the countryside. You will have the choice of climbing the Naga staircase (300 steps) or catching the cable car to visit the exquisite golden pagoda.
This evening, enjoy a typical Khantoke dinner while watching a performance of traditional song and dance from Northern Thailand by various hill tribes.
Day 13: Departure
Meals Included: Breakfast
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight. Late checkout is bookable in advance for those who have chosen a later flight option.
If you wish to extend your stay in Southeast Asia, please talk to our team about our various private extension packages before your departure. We have options for hiking in Sapa, beach breaks in Mui Ne, Phuket or Hua Hin, city stays in Singapore, and more.
Check out our Q&As
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If, after our confirmation invoice has been issued, you wish to change your travel arrangements in any way, we will endeavour to make these changes, but it may not always be possible. Any changes to confirmed bookings need to be sent to us in writing via your travel agent. Please refer to our booking conditions for further information and fees.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Customers booking to travel solo can choose our ‘Happy to Share’ option, which may enable them to share a twin room with other solo customers of the same gender who also request Happy to Share, thus avoiding the need to pay single room supplements. Note that ‘Happy to Share’ requests can be received when you make your booking with us but will not be confirmed until your final payment due date.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your Final Travel Documents are usually sent to you 2-3 weeks prior to your departure. Your travel pack will include your tour itinerary, hotel details, flight e-tickets and a travel guide. If you have booked with a travel agent, your tickets will be dispatched to your travel agent unless we have been otherwise informed.
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Will I be travelling with passengers from other countries?
Our passengers generally enjoy the mixture of British, Australian and American clients on tour. Occasionally we are joined by English-speaking passengers from other countries.
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Do you allow children on your tours?
We allow children 12 years and over on our group tours. We recommend that families with children of any age take advantage of our private or tailormade tours. This will give you more flexibility while on tour.
Reviews of this Operator
Dates & Availability
Sunday - Friday
Dec 15, 2024 - Dec 27, 2024Monday - Saturday
Dec 15, 2025 - Dec 27, 2025Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
Wendy Wu allows you to make 1 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 0 days before the start of the tour.
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Low Deposit
Wendy Wu requires a minimum deposit of 350 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of wendy wu charges.
Up to 75 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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How we Keep you safe on our Tours
Your safety and well-being will always be our Number 1 priority which is why we’ve instituted the most stringent COVID health and safety protocols on all of our tours. Here is a brief summary of the steps we are taking to ensure you will be safe, secure and satisfied when you travel with us.
Guides and National Escorts
Our National Escorts and guides will conduct a Health and Safety briefing with you before the tour begins and will help everyone ensure they adhere to social distancing, hygiene practises and local regulations. They will carry a supply of face masks and hand sanitiser for you to use free of charge and will, of course, observe the highest level of personal hygiene at all times.
Should anyone on the group fall ill your National Escort will ensure the individual receives swift medical attention and can only return to the group once cleared to do so.
Transport & Sightseeing
Vehicles will be thoroughly cleaned with disinfectant after each excursion service, overnight and between different groups.
You will always have at least one seat between you and your fellow tourers, hand sanitiser will be given to the group on each embarkation and vehicles will be thoroughly ventilated prior to passengers boarding.
Drivers will always embark vehicles after clients, disembark the group vehicle prior to clients disembarking, and maintain social distancing and a high level of personal hygiene at all times.
Your guides will assess the situation on the ground avoiding large crowds – where possible, alter timings and splitting the group into smaller sizes.
Accommodation
Wendy Wu Tours will only offer hotels that have undergone a detailed hygiene assessment, have specific COVID-19 protocols in place and comply with government standards.
We will ensure these protocols include staff practising social distancing and wearing appropriate PPI, regular cleaning and disinfection of high frequency touch points in all areas and food safety.
Dining
All the restaurants we visit will be researched and inspected regularly to ensure that they follow the strictest health, cleanliness and safety guidelines.
All waiting staff will wear face masks and gloves and we will arrange à la carte dining, waiter-served meals or waiter-assisted buffets throughout the tour. We will not share open-buffet meals with other hotel or restaurant guests.
Hand sanitiser will be provided to the group before and after every food and beverage service.