Thailand World Heritage | Isan Tour
Northeast Thailand, this little known part of the country possesses a rich culture, superb landscapes and 3,000 years of history
UNESCO sites of Ayutthaya, Khao Yai and Phanom Rung
Thailand World Heritage
Our one-week, off-the-beaten-track Thailand World Heritage tour takes you from bustling and vibrant Bangkok, via the ancient Siamese capital, now UNESCO-listed, Ayutthaya into the country’s rarely visited northeastern region – commonly known as Isan.
The tour’s variety of destinations and activities begins with a visit to some of the ancient capital Ayutthaya’s many spectacular historical sites on foot and by boat followed by a jungle hike and wildlife safari in fantastic World Heritage Khao Yai National Park. From here we continue east to the well-preserved Angkor-period temple of Prasat Hin Phanom Rung, dramatically perched atop an extinct volcano and the nearby, picturesque 11th-century site of Muang Tam (both currently on UNESCO’s tentative World Heritage list). A stay in the scenic riverside town of Khong Chiam and a hike through Pha Taem National Park with its spectacular views of the Mekong River and its remarkable 3,000-year-old petroglyphs, complete this highly original itinerary.
This 1-week Thailand World Heritage tour is designed as a stand-alone trip, perhaps with the addition of a Bangkok Behind the Scenes add-on and, or an island extension to unspoilt Koh Mak or Koh Chang in the Gulf of Thailand. For those with more time on their hands, there’s the option of continuing over the border from Ubon Ratchathani into southern Laos and northern Cambodia on our Emerald Triangle Tour. Finishing in Cambodia’s Phnom Penh, this extended tour includes the landscapes of the Boloven Plateau, the charming 4,000 Islands and Lipi Falls as well as the additional World Heritage Site of Wat Phu Laos.
As we said, 3,000 years of history on this Thailand World Heritage tour as well as truly spectacular and varied landscapes, exotic flora and fauna plus the fascinating street life, local markets and, of course, the justifiably reputed local food.
Includes: Meals: B x 6, L x 5, D x 3
| Isan Tour
Itinerary
Here's an idea of what you can expect to do and see day-to-day.
Day 1 - Bangkok - arrival
Our tour begins with a late morning check-in to a well-located hotel situated in the city’s bustling Banglamphu District. The afternoon is at leisure – with activities depending upon arrival time – but could include, for instance, a walking tour of the narrow alleys, street cafes and street art of fascinating Chinatown before a local-style welcome dinner.
Extra nights in Bangkok available on request
Overnight: Bangkok Transport: Walk, Meals: D,
Day 2 - Ayutthaya - ancient capital of Siam
Departure upcountry for the ancient city of Ayutthaya, the Siamese capital between the 14th and 18th centuries, and once one of the largest and wealthiest cities in Asia. Tour of some of the myriad historical sites by boat and on foot before an afternoon transfer to Pak Chong town, our base for nearby Khao Yai National Park.
Overnight: Pak Chong Transport: Minibus, Boat, Walk, Meals: B, L, D,
Day 3 - In the jungle - Khao Yai National Park
Day tour of the World Heritage site includes morning and afternoon safaris to spot some of the park’s rich fauna including gibbons, hornbills and with luck wild elephants. We’ll also take you on a jungle hike and visit one of Khao Yai’s most picturesque waterfalls.
Overnight: Pak Chong Transport: Minibus, Walk, Meals: B, L,
Day 4 - Phanom Rung - atop an extinct volcano
Heading east to Buriram Province our first stop will be the charming 11th-century site of Muang Tam, a well-preserved Angkor-period temple set amid picturesque lily ponds. Following a local-style, partly cook-your-own, lunch, we’ll climb up to Phanom Rung, another spectacular ancient temple, (now on UNESCO’s tentative list), set atop an extinct volcano. An evening tour of Surin Town’s night food market completes the day.
Overnight: Surin Transport: Minibus, Walk, Meals: B, L,
Day 5 - East to Khong Chiam
This morning’s stops include the small town of Sikorapum location of another beautifully restored Angkor site, as well as a picturesque Buddhist wat, set on an island in the Mun River. Afternoon arrival at the small town of Khong Chiam on the banks of the Mekong River, overlooking Laos, with some time at leisure to take in the scenery from our well-placed riverside resort.
Overnight: Khong Chiam Transport: Minibus, Walk, Meals: B, L,
Day 6 - Pha Taem National Park
Our day trip to nearby Pha Taem National Park includes a forest hike to discover the spectacular cliff paintings and unusual mushroom rock features for which the park is famous. Take in the magnificent Mekong vistas from the clifftops before a later afternoon boat trip along the Mun and Mekong rivers.
Overnight: Khong Chiam Transport: Minibus, Boat, Walk, Meals: B, L, D,
Day 7 - Ubon Ratchathani and departure
Our tour ends with a transfer to nearby Ubon Ratchathani Airport for either a return to Bangkok or flight to Trat for a few days’ extension on an island in the Gulf of Thailand. (We recommend Koh Mak for the November to April period and Koh Chang any time of the year.) Alternatively, if you have more days to spare you could perhaps have a morning at leisure before transferring over the nearby border to Pakse Town to link up with our south Laos tour.
Transport: Minibus, Meals: B,
Details
Further details, background info and answers to your burning questions.
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Highlights
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Map
Departures
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Hotels
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Visa Info & Notes
Just a few of the many highlights
Bangkok street life, ancient cities, lush jungle and exotic wildlife. National parks, an Angkor temple on the summit of an extinct volcano and 2 of Thailand's World Heritage sites.
- Explore the ancient, now UNESCO-listed, Siamese capital of Ayutthaya on foot and by boat
- The spectacular and well-preserved Angkor-period temples of Phanom Rung and Muang Tam
- 2-night stay in a garden resort on the banks of the Mekong River
- Jungle hike and wildlife safari in World Heritage Khao Yai National Park
- Hike in Pha Taem National Park to discover the curious rock formations, cliff paintings and awe-inspiring views
- ...and of course the delicious, varied and world-renowned Thai cuisine
Air Departures (UK) *From
- 16 October 26 1,735 GBP
- 13 November 26 1,785 GBP
- 10 December 26 1,985 GBP
- 6 January 27 1,785 GBP
- 9 February 27 1,785 GBP
- 18 May 27 1,735 GBP
- 20 June 27 1,735 GBP
- 25 July 27 1,735 GBP
- 29 August 27 1,735 GBP
- 17 October 27 1,735 GBP
- 21 November 27 1,785 GBP
- 26 December 27 1,885 GBP
Land Departures
- 17 October 26 975 GBP
- 14 November 26 1,025 GBP
- 11 December 26 1,025 GBP
- 7 January 27 1,025 GBP
- 10 February 27 1,025 GBP
- 19 May 27 975 GBP
- 21 June 27 975 GBP
- 26 July 27 975 GBP
- 30 August 27 975 GBP
- 18 October 27 975 GBP
- 22 November 27 1,025 GBP
- 27 December 27 1,025 GBP
Guaranteed Places Left Special Price Contact Us Closed
*As fares are fluctuating wildly at present all ‘with flight’ prices are approximate.
*Air departures are from the UK. Land departures start from Bangkok.
*Land departure dates correspond to the FIRST day of the itinerary.
We choose our hotels based on a combination of location, comfort and convenience. Here is a *selection of the types of hotel/rooms you can expect to stay at on this tour...
Centara Life Phra Nakhon view
- Excellent central albeit quiet location
- Well-appointed with pool, restaurant, bar and coffee shop
- Comofrtable, well-equipped rooms and helpful staff
Khao Yai Cottage view
- Small, low-key but comfortable resort
- Quiet garden setting with plentiful birdlife
- Excellent location a short walk from shops and restaurants
The Wood Surin view
- Excellent, small, comfortable boutique-style hotel
- Central location, 5 minutes walk from the night market
- Well-appointed and lovingly decorated
Peerada River View Resort, Kong Chiam view
- Chalet-style accommodation in a garden setting
- Situated on the banks of the Mekong River itself
- Excellent in-house restaurant, bar and coffee shop
*This list should be considered a guide only, hotels/rooms may change (without notice) depending on availability.
Visa Info & Notes
Visas: Visitors holding passports of Australia, Canada, UK, US, certain EU countries plus citizens of other ASEAN member states receive an automatic 30-day entry stamp on arrival. Note this is a visa waiver rather than a tourist visa however obtaining a visa in advance or visa or arrival is consequently not necessary and there is no advantage in applying for an e-visa. (Rules may vary for stays over 30 days or multiple entries.)
Not all European countries are covered by this scheme so passport holders from eastern European EU or non-EU nations are advised to check conditions with your consulate or embassy beforehand. You can also check current information on the Thai immigration website.
6 months passport validity is required and while we can’t find any specifications regarding the number of blank pages, as usual in these parts, you’re better off with at least 2 available. Note that the standard entry and exit point for this tour is Suvarnabhumi International Airport, (Bangkok) International Airport.
Tipping: we recommend a kitty system for smaller, daily tips such as hotel/restaurant staff and local drivers. Amounts inevitably vary with group size but would generally be in the region of 100 baht ($3-$4) per person per day. For your guide/tour-leader tip – who will accompany you for the duration of your tour – we’d recommend approximately $25-30 per person total for the former though of course, this is always discretionary and performance-related. (Local currency or USD are fine.)
Meals: Although Thailand’s world-renowned cuisine needs no introduction its highly varied regional cooking – firey southern-style, Chiang Mai and northern specialities, Bangkok and central Thai fare plus the ubiquitous I-san (northeastern) cuisine – is far less known. Also bear in mind that authentic local food in Thailand may be considerably different from your neighbourhood Thai restaurant at home. Our emphasis will be on local-style food – including market and street food – including aforementioned regional specialities while chilli tolerance levels will, of course, be taken into account by your tour leader.
Breakfasts are either buffets or a la carte in smaller hotels; lunches on the road are typically simpler dishes such as variations on noodles or fried rice while your tour leader will generally order more elaborate-style dinners consisting of a selection of local fare. Both vegetarians and vegans are very easily catered for. For any other likes and dislikes please remind your tour leader at the start of the tour. A number of meals are not included, which allows you to ‘do your own thing’ or take a break if you’re feeling ‘riced out’.
Accommodation: All choices fall into the comfortable 3* range, with an emphasis where possible on the smaller, ‘boutique-style’, and are en-suite and air-conditioned with, where possible, pools. We have posted a selection of sample accommodation on the lefthand hotel tab but please note that as we try and avoid the larger hotels, availability, in high season particularly, means we use several options in each destination.
Activities: Note that no activities are compulsory and that any offered, including trekking, can be tailored for any fitness level or alternatives suggested.
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