UNIVERSAL Tours and Holidays - Thailand Central Highlight Tour

Day 1 (Tuesday): Bangkok - Rose Garden (L)
Depart from your hotel in Bangkok at 08:00 AM and drive across the Chao Phraya River to Don Wai, a lively morning market along the Ta Chin River, where fresh vegetables, fruit and plants are on sale. Board a wooden barge and cruise along Ta Chin River to the Rose Garden Aprime Resort. Join a Thai cooking class (a maximum of 10 persons can join the class at one time). You will then taste your creations for lunch and also receive an apron as a souvenir. In the afternoon join the cultural show at the Rose Garden Village, which is a colorful presentation of traditional dances, sports and ceremonies. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure: Relax at the ozone-filtered, chlorine free swimming pool, take a stroll through the extensive park, the herbal garden or the Thai village, where various crafts, such as cloth weaving, pottery making and silk painting are demonstrated. Overnight at ROSEGARDEN APRIME RESORT.

Day 2 (Wednesday): Rose Garden - Damnoen Saduak - Kanchanaburi (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Visit the Phra Pathom Chedi, one of the largest stupas in the world, then continue to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. The district consists of a large network of canals and women gather each morning on the klongs to sell their wares from small hand-rowed boats. Drive to Kanchanaburi and visit the Burma-Thailand Railway Museum and famous Bridge over the River Kwai. Then board the local train for the exciting ride on the Death Railway. Transfer to your hotel located on the Kwai River by long-tail boat. The afternoon is at leisure. Optional activities (not included in our tour price): Mountain biking, canoeing on the Kwai River, traditional Thai massage. Overnight at RESOTEL.

Optional program: Mon Dances at Jungle Rafts (19:30-21:00) Board a long-tail boat for a 15-minute upriver to Jungle Rafts. The young men and women of the nearby Mon village, who are of Burmese origin, perform traditional dances and chants, which differ greatly from their Thai compatriots. Return to Resotel by boat. Price per person: 300.- Baht

Day 3 (Thursday): Kanchanaburi - Ayutthaya (B)
Breakfast at hotel. Drive via Suphanburi to the former capital city of Siam, Ayutthaya. Located approximately 80 kilometers north of Bangkok, the ancient city of Ayutthaya is known as the "Venice of the East", and it lies along the Chao Phraya River, the tributaries of which surround Ayutthaya province. The glory of the Ayutthaya empire (1350-1767A.D.) is evident in the remains of temples such as Wat Phra Sri Sanphet and Wat Chai Wattanaram, which we will visit in the afternoon. A further visit includes Wat Yai Chai Mongkol. This well-tended temple was founded by King U-Thong in 1357 as a center for monks returning from study in Sri Lanka. The white reclining Buddha near the entrance was built by King Naresuan. The massive pagoda was also built by King Naresuan to celebrate his defeat of the Burmese at Suphanburi in 1593 by killing their crown prince in a single-handed combat on elephants. Overnight at KRUNGSRI RIVER HOTEL.

Day 4 (Friday): Ayutthaya - Bang Pa In - Bangkok (B)
Optional: Optional: 06:00AM visit the morning market to buy fresh food, which you will then donate to the monks, who are making their rounds to receive alms from the local people. Return to the hotel for breakfast. A 40-minute boat trip on the Chao Phraya River brings you to Bang Pa In, followed by a visit of the Royal Summer Palace. Return to Bangkok by coach and transfer to the airport for your next destination or to your hotel in Bangkok. Arrival in Bangkok at noon.