China & Thailand: Twenty-One Days Itinerary
pdf file of itinerary and contact numbers from Travel Agency
Wed Jun 11
11JUN BOSTON/BEIJING UA897 10:00/13:55
Thur Jun 12 (D)
Arrive in Beijing via UA897 13:55, meet and transfer to 4* Zhongming Plaza Hotel for rest.
Fri Jun 13 (B/L/D)
Buffet breakfast at hotel. Full day city tour to Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven. Please enjoy Acrobatic Show followed with the Peking Duck Dinner.
Sat Jun 14 (B/L/D)
Buffet breakfast at hotel. Sightseeing includes Mutianyu, Ming Tombs with lunch at local restaurant en route. Tentative plans for Tabor dinner at China Club with Tabor alumni, students, families
Sun Jun 15 (B)
Beijing to Xian. Exploration day. Then take evening sleeper train to Xian
Tentative plans to visit Beijing Film Studio and ancient Temple in the morning and early afternoon with Tabor alumnus Dede Nickerson
Z19 2124/0825
Mon Jun 16 (B/L/D)
Arrive in Xian and transfer to 3* New Henderson Xian hotel for breakfast. City excursion to Terra Cotta Army, Bell Tower and Grand Mosque with lunch at local restaurant en route. In the evening, dumpling dinner awaits you.
Tues Jun 17 (B/L/D)
Buffet breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the airport for flight to Kunming. Upon arrival, transfer to Dragon Gate of West Mountain in the afternoon. Please enjoy Over-the-Bridge Rice Noodles in the evening. Walk around pedestrian road at city center (Buxingjie), then overnight at 3* King World Hotel or similar.
XIAN/KUNMING MU5726 10:55/12:55
Wed Jun 18 (B/L/D)
Buffet breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the airport for flight to Lijiang. Once arrival, transfer to 3* Sanhe Hotel (Tavern Hotel in ancient town). Half day city tour to Ancient City of Lijiang.
KUNMING/LIJIANG MU5957 10:30/11:20
Thur Jun 19 (B/L/D)
Buffet breakfast at hotel. Trip by coach to Zhongdian to visit first Bend of Yangtze River, Tiger Leaping Gorge and Stone Drum, continue 105 km to Zhongdian, capital city of Deqen Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, close to Tibet. It is known as Shangri-La, the hidden paradise in James Hilton's 1993 novel, Lost Horizon. Overnight at 4* Holy Palace Hotel or similar.
Fri Jun 20 (B/L/D)
Buffet breakfast at hotel. City tour to Songzanlin Temple, NapaHai (lake) and Sifang Old Street.
Sat Jun 21 (B/L/D)
Buffet breakfast at hotel. Sightseeing includes Babao Temple and horse riding, in the afternoon visiting local Tibet family.
Sun Jun 22 (B/L/D)
Buffet breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the airport for flight to Kunming, and proceed to visit Bird and Flower Market and Private University in northwest Kunming. In the late afternoon, transfer to the airport for take flight to Chiang Mai. Our guide will meet you at airport transfer to Chiang Mai Plaza Hotel. Tonight enjoy Kantoke dinner and dance.
DIQING /KUNMING MU5934 0850/0950
KUNMING/CHIANGMAI TG617 1815/1850
Mon Jun 23 (B/L/D)
Pick up travelers from Chiang Mai Plaza Hotel and drive out of Chiang Mai by air-conditioned car/mini-van. Drive time is approximately 3 hours along picturesque scenery through sharp curves and steep drops of the Mae Taeng district. A picnic lunch at the district is provided and make a short trek down the valley to a Karen Village where we spend the rest of day discreetly witnessing their lifestyle and customs. Dinner and overnight at Karen Family.
Tues Jun 24 (B/L/D)
Simple breakfast at the village. After breakfast, we pack our bags and we set out on a 3-hour trekking/walking trip through the lush, dense tropical forests to a typical Skaw Karen village, whose people still live with their own traditional beliefs and traditions. After the picnic lunch we take our adventurous tour by making a memorable 2-hour trip on the back of an elephant along trails and creeks to a White Karen village. Dinner and overnight stay at the village.
Wed Jun 25 (B/L)
Simple breakfast at the village. Today, we have the chance to explore the fascinating surrounding of the Mae Taeng on a 3-hour duration raft trip down the curves and rapids of Mae Taeng River. End this morning highlight with a Thai lunch at a river lodge before we head out to Chiang Rai for checking in a resort. Dinner and overnight at Rimkok Resort.
Thur Jun 26 (B/L/D)
Breakfast at the hotel. Check out from hotel for a full day tour around the most northern area of Thailand: we proceed to Chiang Saen for visiting the remains of an ancient city. Drive along the famous Mekong River to the exact spot where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) meet, better known as The Golden Triangle, then follow with impressive boat trip on the famous Mekong River. Lunch at a local restaurant. Tonight stay at Martrini Hotel, owned by Tabor graduates (Laophongsit family).
Fri Jun 27 (B/L/D)
Full day community service at BaanChivitMai (Hua Doi). Stay at Mantrini Hotel.
Sat Jun 28 (B/L/D)
Full day community service at The Home In Phayagong, (BaanChivitmai) arranged by Baan Chivitmia. Stay at Mantrini Hotel.
Sun Jun 29 (B/D)
Transfer to airport and take the domestic flight to Bangkok. Our guide will meet you at airport and arrange half day tour to Grand Palace. Every traveller should visit the Royal Grand Palace at least once. It is the nation's landmark and the most praised royal monument in Thailand. The 61-acre complex includes: Wat Phra Kaeo, the holiest Buddhist site in the country, housing the most important image, the Emerald Buddha; the Golden Chedi; the Pantheon of the Chakri Kings; and the Eight Coloured Towers. Please dress respectfully by not wearing T-shirts, shorts or sandals when visiting these revered sites. Our guide will take us to dinner at Zanzibar Restaurant, as guests of Biggy Suppipat's family. Depart after dinner with Tabor students for home stays with Tabor families in Bangkok.
CHIANG RAI/BANGKOK TG1133 1110/1225
Mon Jun 30 (B/D)
Free morning. Afternoon pick you up and join half day tour for Rice Barge Cruise. Enjoy a speedy and refreshing long-tailed speedboat ride down the river and the multitude of winding canals which earned Bangkok the title of Venice of the East. The excursion offers a view of authentic riverside lifestyles, such as houses on stilts and children playing in the water. The return journey is on a sedate converted rice barge. Guests will be served seasonal fruits and unlimited cold drinks as they enjoy a relaxed cruise along the River of Kings. This half-day trip gives a view of Bangkok that most never get to see. Our guide will drop you for dinner with Ike Phenjati's family at their home. Tonight stay at Century Park Hotel, near Monument Square.
Tues Jul 1 (B)
Bangkok / Boston
01JUL BANGKOK/TOKYO UA838 06:50/15:05
01JUL TOKYO/WASHINGTON DC UA804 16:00/15:30
01JUL WASHINGTON DC/BOSTON UA822 17:00/18:34
Hotels: (these locations are probable, but might change when we arrive).
Beijing: Zhongmin Plaza Hotel
Add:7 North Bai Guang Road, Xuan Wu District, Beijing
Tel : 8610-83539988 Fax : 8610-83541941
Xian: New Henderson Hotel
Add: No.22 South West Second Ring Road, Xi'an
Tel: 86-29-88110088 Fax: 86-29-87956526
Kunming: King World Int'l Hotel
Add: No. 96 Beijing Road, Kunming, Yunnan
Tel: 86-871-3526666 Fax: 86-871-3546098
Lijiang: Sanhe Hotel
Add: No.4 Jishang lane, Xinyi Street, Lijiang Old Town
Tel: 86-888 5120891 Fax: 86-888 5120892
Zhongdian: Holy Peace Hotel
Add: Heping Road, Shangri-la County, Diqing
Tel: 86-887-8229788 Fax: 86-887- 8230558
Chiangmai Plaza Hotel
Add: 92 Sridonchai Road, Chiangmai.
Tel: 665-3903161 Fax: 665-3279457
Chiangrai Rimkok Resort Hotel
Add: 6 Moo 4 Chiangrai - Thatorn Rd. Amphur Muang, Chiangrai
Tel: 6653-716445 - 60 Fax: 6653-715859
Chiangrai Mantrini Hotel
Add: 292 Moo 13, Robwiang, Muang District, Chiangrai
Tel: 665360 1555-9 Fax: 665360 1560
Century Park Hotel
Add: 9 Ratchaprarop Road, Pratunam-Victory Monument, Bangkok
Tel: 662-246 7800 Fax : 662-246 7197
