| If
you live to eat, and eat to live, this is the tour for you. Experience
Thailand's through its food, and discover the reason why foodies
the world over cheer its great cooking. The only criteria for joining
this deluxe tour is a love of food, and a quest to stray off the
beaten track of standard tours. You don't have to be a skilled cook. |
   |
|
Few
know the cooking of Southeast Asia better than Robert Carmack
the Globetrotting Gourmet® and Morrison Polkinghorne. Robert
is author of "Thai Home Cooking" and "Vietnamese Home Cooking,"
and on this tour he and co-host Morrison trek far beyond Bangkok
to explore Thailand's wide and varied regional dishes. The tour
is scheduled over two holiday festivals: the beautiful Loi Krathong
holiday when intricately woven and floral decorated lanterns float
down the kingdom's river ways, while gas lanterns light the sky;
plus the Phimai Festival held amongst the 1000-year old Khmer
ruins in Thailand's remote Isan province.. After Bangkok, our
first stop begins in the silk weaving capital of Khon kaen, followed
by the 13th century ruins of Sukhothai, the far northern city
of Chiang Mai, plus the sunny beach resort of Hua Hin on the spectacular
Gulf of Siam. Special events include special banquets, river cruise
dinner, walking tours through town markets, plus special cooking
demonstrations and classes. Bangkok segments include a trip to
vast Chatuchak flea market plus the famed floating markets. Cooking
demonstrations and classes will be especially prepared for our
small group, highlighting regional foods otherwise inaccessible
to those who don't speak Thai.
|
|
|
|
Day
1 / Friday 31st Oct
|
|
| Flights
arrive today. You will be personally met at Bangkok's Don
Muang Airport, where you will be personally greeted with a
traditional floral gift. You then transfer to our select 5
star property. Early arrivals will meet Robert and Morrison
for drinks at 6 p.m., while late arrivals receive their orientation
at breakfast the following morning. We have arranged a complementary
room service sampler tray of Thai specialties for all.
|
|
|
Day
2 / Saturday 1st Nov
|
|
| Breakfast
at the hotel, then we whisk you away for a traditional Thai
massage to soothe those tired muscles after a long flight.
(For those who don't want to change into massage pajamas,
you can freely substitute this for a reflexology foot massage.
These massages are slightly shorter in duration; oil aromatherapy
massage also available for a surcharge.) The group will be
split in two this morning, alternating with one half visiting
the Jim Thompson House, then returning for their massage.
For lunch we have reserved a private teak dining room for
a very special royal Thai meal. The evening is free for rest
and relax, or you can join Robert and Morrison. Dinner not
included today. |
|
|
Day
3 / Sunday 2nd Nov
|
|
| Breakfast
at the hotel then late morning we head to the fresh food market
of Aw Taw Kaw for a hawker lunch, then walk to the nearby
Chatuchak weekend market. No matter how you put it, Chatuchak
is BIG -- and you can wander for hours without having seen
it all. We include a short orientation tour of the market,
after which you can shop on your own, or join Robert and Morrison
until the bus return at mid afternoon back to the hotel. (Late
stragglers and compulsive shoppers can easily make their way
back later on their own by taxi, or on the nearby sky train.)
|
| In
the evening we regroup for a walking tour of Bangkok's thriving
Chinatown. Here we sample a simple bowl of seafood soup for
dinner. But not just any soup! In Chinatown, seafood prices
skyrocket 10 to 20 times the city's norm, simply because here
is where you find the freshest ingredients. The setting is
humble, but the flavors ambrosial, and the seafood perfectly
cooked to the nanosecond. Lunch and dinner included. |
|
|
Day
4 / Monday 3rd Nov
|
|
| Early
breakfast at the hotel, then we fly at 10:30 a.m. to Khon
Kaen, in the heart of Thailand's undiscovered Northeast province.
It is also home to Thailand's best silks, especially the local
ikat version known as matmee. We kick off our shoes in the
five star luxury of the Raja Orchid Sofitel hotel, which boasts
seven restaurants and a German microbrewery. |
| Isan's
other cultural asset is its food. Renowned for its fiery dishes
of gai yang chicken, green papaya salad, and delicious jeow
sauces, Isan cooking has fast become the trendy stuff of foodies
the world over. We've included a sumptuous buffet lunch at
the hotel. The rest of the afternoon is yours free -- join
Robert and Morrison as they walk to nearby craft outlets;
shop for local goods, or indulge in a hotel massage, or foot
reflexology down the street (not included). Lunch included;
dinner not included today. |
|
|
Day
5 / Tuesday 4th Nov
|
|
| We
start with an optional early morning walk to the nearby Ba
Lan Poo market, then return for a sumptuous breakfast at the
hotel. We gather mid-morning to visit the neighboring silk
weaving village of Chonnobut. View skilled craftsmen hand
weave the famed matmee silk fabric of Thailand. If we are
lucky, Thailand's premier matmee designer will be in town!
For lunch we sample some of the best baby grilled chicken
that you will find in Thailand, plus other local specialties.
Dinner is at a nearby river-front restaurant. Lunch and dinner
included. |
|
|
Day
6 / Wednesday 5th Nov
|
|
| Breakfast
at the hotel, then we gather at 9 a.m. for our bus to Nakhorn
Ratchasima, better known as Korat. Isan is Thailand's remote
outpost, flanking Laos to the East and Cambodia to its south.
Consequently, it is unknown to most tourists, yet home to
the kingdom's greatest ancient Khmer ruins, preceding even
Cambodia's Angkor Wat. And the vast and spectacular ruins
of Phanom Ruang cannot be missed, as they are reputed to be
the prototype for Angkor Wat. Today is the first day of the
festival in Phimai, and the district is set ablaze for the
annual festival and sound and light show. Lunch included.
|
|
|
Day
7 / Thursday 6th Nov
|
|
| Today
we head back toward Korat to attend the Phi Mai Sound and
Light Show, plus festival. But first we visit the local silk
weaving village of Pak Thong Chai near Korat cannot be missed,
and visit the world's largest banyon tree. Tonight, we include
a sound and light show, plus dinner, amidst the ruins of Phimai.
Lunch and dinner included. |
|
|
Day
8 / Friday 7th Nov
|
|
| Today
we have an early departure by coach through some of Thailand's
most verdant parks and mountains, stopping to taste the delicious
khamom jiin noodles for lunch, and time permitting visit a
tamarind candy factory. We arrive in the early evening, and
after checking into the brand new Grand Riverview Hotel, we
regroup for dinner at the Loi Krathong fair in the Sukhothai
historical park. As this is the eve of Loi Krathong, buy miniature
krathong floats to set adrift in the ponds. Wander through
the fair stands to barter for bric a brac, and enjoy the merriment.
then after check in, take the intrepid to Sukhothai to see
the first night festivities of loi krathong. Sukhothai is
Thailand's spiritual and cultural capital which fell in ruin
after the 13th century. The area has been designated a UNESCO
heritage site, and is the kingdom's premier location to celebrate
Loi Krathong. Lunch and dinner included. |
| Read
more about Loi Krathong here. |
|
|
Day
9 / Saturday 8th Nov
|
|
| Breakfast
at the hotel, we will visit a Buddha foundry, where
cast images are made, then lunch at the charmingly named
Pa Phin "dangling legs" restaurant, where noodles have
become a fine art. In the afternoon we visit ruins outside
of old Sukhothai, including ancient kilns, plus pottery
and weaving villages. |
|
| In
early evening you have the option of joining us walk to the
nearby Miss Loi Krathong parade in Phitsanulok, then we're
off to a floating restaurant dinner to view the glimmering
krathongs floating down the Nan river. Tonight is a beautifully
rare experience, with fireworks and gas lanterns flying high
in the sky. Afterwards, you are free to attend the crowded
celebrations along the waterfront adjacent to one of Thailand's
most venerated temples, Wat Pra Si Rattana Mahathat. (These
events are located within a 15 minute walk to the hotel.)
Lunch and dinner included. |
|
|
Day
10 / Sunday 9th Nov
|
|
| Breakfast
at the hotel, then we coach north to Chiang Mai, stopping
en route at the elephant conservation center, and also to
the old market of Lampang. The northern capital of Chiang
Mai was once so remote that no Thai monarch ever set foot
here until the 1920s. Today the northern Lanna capital of
Chiang Mai is Thailand's second largest city, and a mouth
filled condominium of Thai, Burmese and Chinese flavors. We've
located a stunning yet central, new boutique hotel in Chiang
Mai, The Tamarind Inn. We re-group in the evening for a night
of typical northern Thai dishes. Lunch and dinner included. |
|
|
Day
11 / Monday 10th Nov
|
|
| Breakfast
at the hotel, then we head back to class -- this time to learn
the intricacies of Thai fruit and vegetable carving. These
premises are absolutely stunning -- and new! -- and we have
included a deliciously light lunch to follow. In the afternoon,
you are free to explore around Chiang Mai on your own, but
we will include transport along Harng Dong As Rd. for some
serious antique shopping You are free on your final evening
in Chiang Mai to visit the famed tourists' night market for
hawker foods, or a restaurant of your choice. Lunch included. |
|
|
Day
12 / Tuesday 11th Nov
|
|
| Breakfast
at the hotel, then we head back to class -- this time to learn
the intricacies of Thai fruit and vegetable carving. These
premises are absolutely stunning -- and new! -- and we have
included a deliciously light lunch to follow. |
|
In the afternoon, you are free to explore around Chiang Mai
on your own, but we will include transport along Harng Dong
As Rd. for some serious antique shopping You are free on your
final evening in Chiang Mai to visit the famed tourists' night
market for hawker foods, or a restaurant of your choice. Lunch
included, |
|
|
Day
13 / Wednesday 12th Nov
|
|
|
Our
flight to Bangkok departs in the morning, and we immediately
drive to the famed beach resort of Hua Hin. En route we
stop for a deliciously simple riverside lunch in Phetchaburi,
then trek to the nearby mountain top splendor of Khao Wang.
This is a former 19th century royal residence (and briefly
bequeathed to the German aristocracy) where monkeys roam
freely about its extensive frangipani groves. The views
are great, the setting idyllic. In Hua Hin we stay at the
best address in town, the Hua Hin Sofitel Central Resort,
located right on the beach. For those with a sweet tooth,
after check in join Robert and Morrison for an optional
short walk to a nearby hawker stand that serves the best
kaho niew mamuang (sticky rice with fresh mango). On one
of the two nights a poolside buffet and Thai dance is included,
contingent on the hotel's schedule. Lunch and dinner included.
|
|
|
Day
14 / Thursday 13th Nov
|
|
| Breakfast
at the hotel, then the day is yours free to bronze in the
sun on the Gulf of Siam. Official summer residence for the
Thai royal family, Hua Hin is a very up-market beach resort,
and the Sofitel Central Hua Hin resort is the town's grande
dame, featuring a topiary garden and four swimming pools.
|
| The
day is for rest and personal exploration around Hua Hin. Walk
into the town center -- its mere minutes away, and craft stands
abound immediately outside of the hotel grounds! Lunch is
not included today, but there is a choice of buffet lunches
in the hotel, or a la carte dining next door at the affiliated
Salathai restaurant. At 3 p.m. we gather for a special cooking
demonstration of southern Thai regional dishes, and generous
tastings. In the evening, we take a walking tour of Hua Hin's
night market, and if you are still hungty, tastings of various
hawker foods for dinner. |
|
|
Day
15 / Friday 14th Nov
|
|
| We
return to Bangkok this morning by private coach. Enroute we
stop at Phetchaburi for mid morning tea. Phetchaburi is one
of Thailand's oldest cities, and is famed for its sweets,
such as Khanom mo kaeng, or crushed mung bean pudding. WE
also stop off to watch palm sugar being made. We then return
to Bankok's Sofitel Silom Hotel. The rest of the afternoon
is free for last minute sight seeing and shopping, or resting.
At 6:30 we re-group for a sumptuous dinner cruise on the Chao
Phraya River. Lunch not included today; dinner included. |
|
|
|
Day
16 / Saturday 15th Nov
|
|
| Flights
return home today. For early morning flights, we have arranged
a complementary room service continental breakfast served
at your room along with the wake up call. For later flights,
a full buffet breakfast is included downstairs. Please advise
if you require additional nights in Bangkok. BONUS: Join us
on our post-tour extension to Cambodia and the famed ruins
of Angkor Wat, and receive tonight in Bangkok (15 Nov.) totally
free! (Includes Sunday breakfast.) For
those continuing on, the weekend is free for last-minute Bangkok
shopping, sight seeing, or even a final Thai massage. We are
personally fond of theweekend Asian brunches at the Sofitel
Silom Hotel! Take a taxi to the royal palace or to the national
museum (Prices for these weekend activities are not included.)
|
|
 
 |
|
To
ensure the best itinerary for you, we reserve the right
to amend the itinerary with prior advice to participants.
Accommodation in boutiquel 4-5 star deluxe comfort throughout,
except where noted otherwise. Hotel breakfasts included
daily, and most meals. All beverages are additional. Price
includes admission fees and transfers, except where otherwise
noted. Prices include all internal Thailand domestic travel,
but do not include Bangkok international departure taxes,
visas, passport and other documentation fees, items of personal
nature (e.g. laundry, etc.), nor overweight baggage charges.
We strongly recommend that all travelers carry travel insurance.
Land segment prices are based on double occupancy.
|
|
| |
|
