Thailand is a wondrous kingdom, featuring Buddhist temples, exotic wildlife, and spectacular islands. Along with a fascinating history and a unique culture that includes delectable Thai food and massage, Thailand features a modern capital city, and friendly people who epitomize Thailand’s “land of smiles” reputation. The fall travel season is a great time to recommend and book your clients. Some of the current travel specials include:
Collette Vacations 14 Days Flavors of Thailand Package from $1,399
Your clients will experience another way of life as they savour the many flavours of Thailand. Wake before dawn to visit a local market and participate in the offering of alms to hundreds of saffron-robed monks. Board a long-tail boat to explore Bangkok’s network of canals and stop at the iconic Temple of the Dawn. Travel through the jungle to Maesa Elephant Camp. Visit the amazing Mae Klong Market and the Hall of Opium, an interactive museum. Enjoy a Khantoke dinner and show that highlights hill tribe culture. Visit The Golden Buddha, one of the world’s largest solid gold statues and Wat Po, temple of The Reclining Buddha.
Collette Vacations, www.collettevacations.ca/itinerary.cfm?Tour_ID=424
13 Day Classic Thailand Package from $789 by Gate 1 Travel
Book a Thailand tour with Gate 1 Travel, the premier provider of Southeast Asia vacations. We have Southeast Asia tours, travel packages, and Thailand vacations to suit your travel time and budget. Thailand independent vacations, group vacations, bus tours, flight, and hotel travel packages are several of the many Southeast Asia vacations possible. Travel to Thailand with the best Southeast Asia vacations and Thailand tour operator. Gate 1 Travel offers a 13 Day Classic Thailand escorted package, September 2011-May 2012, including four nights in Bangkok, one night in Ayutthaya, one night in Sukhothai, two nights in Chiang Rai, and three nights in Chiang Mai from $789 land only or $1,649 land and airfare.
Gate 1 Travel, www.gate1travel.com/southeast-asia/thailand-tours-13dclath12.aspx
$2,344 for 12 Day Hill Tribes of Thailand Small Group Journey from General Tours
General Tours is currently offering $1,000 per couple. Their Small Group Journey with never more than 16 guests includes Bangkok, Kanchanaburi Province Ayutthaya, Phitsanuloke, Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, Thaton and Chiang Rai is one of their most popular trips. This Small Group Journey offers travelers an in-depth and intimate view of Thailand as they travel by motorcoach, on foot, by trishaw, ox-cart, bamboo raft and even atop an elephant. Excursions in the trip are designed to reveal more of what Thailand is about… its unique Buddhist culture, the glory of its ancient kingdoms, Bangkok’s 21st century vibrancy and the enduring traditions that your clients will encounter in the many hill tribe villages included in the itinerary.
General Tours, www.generaltours.com/tour/?tid=432
Friendly Planet Travel Offers Taste of Thailand from $1,199
Friendly Planet Travel is offering a nine-day Taste of Thailand tour for $1,199. Here’s what’s included in the price.
Roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles via China Airlines, including fuel surcharges; intra-Thailand transportation; accommodations at first class hotels; daily American buffet breakfast; a welcome dinner; sightseeing tours as per itinerary and all transfers; professional, English-speaking tour guides; and more.
The Taste of Thailand tour brings travelers to Thailand’s historic Bangkok, Ayutthaya, and Kanchanaburi. The tour begins in Bangkok, was once known as the “Venice of the East” due to its extensive canal and boating transport system. Travelers will experience the iconic canal boat rides and gain a closeup view of traditional Thai life. They will also visit historic temple sites, including Wat Po, the oldest temple in Bangkok, and Wat Traimit, where the 5-ton, 700-year-old Golden Buddha resides—the largest in the world.
Then it’s on to Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Bang Pa, King Rama IV’s summer palace. Travelers will head to Kanchanaburi and the River Kwai, where they can ride on elephants through the lush jungle and enjoying a bamboo raft ride. Travelers can also choose from two optional extensions.
The first is Phuket Island, Thailand’s largest island, also known as “the Pearl of the Andaman Sea.” This stop includes a relaxing stay at Thailand’s famous Novotel Resort with plenty of sun-drenched days on the pristine beaches of Kalim Bay. There’s also an optional tour to the astonishing Angkor Wat in Cambodia for travelers looking to explore one of the most magnificent archaeological sites in the world.
Friendly Planet Travel, www.friendlyplanet.com
Goway Travel offers 50% off Thailand Rice Barge Cruise
Goway Travel has introduced a newly refurbished rice barge cruise along the Chao Phraya River in Thailand, and for a limited time they are offering 50% off the 3-day cruise, representing a $320 savings per couple. “It’s an incredible deal,” says Diane Molzan, General Manager for Asia by Goway. Goway has been offering the Thanatharee rice barge for a few years now but prior to the renovation, it was dorm style accommodation. Despite the fact the barge has always offered top notch service and comfortable amenities, the majority of our clientele couldn’t get comfortable in shared sleeping quarters. Other barge cruise options along the Chao Phraya were quite a bit more expensive and there didn’t seem to be an in-between option.”
After spending a few months under construction, the new Thanatharee is now equipped with 6 air conditioned double cabins with shared bathroom facilities. Come the 2012 season, rates will inevitably climb but until October 31, Goway is offering the new private cabin comfort at the dorm-style prices. She travels between Bangkok and the Northern ancient capital of Ayutthaya taking in rural villages of Thailand along the way. Each morning begins by offering alms to the village monks before heading into the countryside by bike to visit temples and learn more about the local hill-tribes of the area. The barge is also equipped with enough bicycles for all passengers. All meals throughout the journey are included.
Afterwards, clients can either travel further north up to Chiang Mai after the cruise or be transferred overland back to Bangkok if they have limited time. Departures are available on Saturdays from Bangkok to Ayutthaya and Wednesdays for the reverse direction.
Goway Travel, 888-469-2988, www.goway.com/asia/thailand