Expert: G.W. "Sandy" Ferguson, Asia Desk
Length: Two weeks
Highlights: Ancient temples,
elephant rides, night bazaars, and white sand beaches
DAY 1 & 2: IN TRANSIT TO BANGKOK, THAILAND
Once you've arrived in
Bangkok, check into the
new Novotel Suvarnabhumi
Airport Hote
located within the new
airport complex; because
of the US/Bangkok time
difference (12 hours), you'll
likely sleep only a few
hours.... Wake up early
the next morning for your
connecting flight.
DAY 3: ARRIVE IN CHIANG MAI
Take a short (one-hour)
flight north and check into
the Mandarin Oriental Dhara
Dhevi, and relax and enjoy
the hotel's pool and gorgeous
grounds.... Spend a few hours
strolling through the Night
Bazaar in the center of the
city, where you can sample
some of the best Thai street
food available.
DAYS 4 & 5: CHIANG MAI
Take a pre-dawn walk to the
nearby wat (temple), where
you'll be able to observe the
monks preparing for the
day.... After breakfast at the
hotel, visit Wat Phra Singh,
a large 14th-century temple
located in the heart of the old
walled city.... Visit Chiang Mai National Museum, which has
an impressive collection of
bronze and gold jewelry,
among other artifacts.... Grab
lunch and take in Thai-style
street entertainment from
musicians and dancers along
Ratchadamnoen Road.... Visit
Wat Phra Borommathat Doi
Suthep, a temple at the base
of a 4,900-foot mountain that
looks over the Chiang Mai valley....
Return to the hotel for
some downtime and dinner.
The next day, hire a local
trekking guide to accompany
you on a hike into the
mountains of the Chiang
Mai Province. Along the way
you'll be able to visit some
of the region's small tribal
villages, like Akha, Lahu,
and Lisu. Get to know the
wonderful people in this part
of Thailand—you'll be in great
hands.... Return to the hotel
and relax at the spa. Try the
traditional Thai massage—
a 2,500-year-old treatment
that combines stretching
and pressing techniques.
DAY 6: LUANG PRABANG, LAOS
Fly into the royal
Laos city (and Unesco
World Heritage site) Luang
Prabang.... Check into the
Maison Souvannaphoum
Hotel, a small
but posh inn that was once
home to a Laotian prince....
Explore the ancient palaces,
temples, and French colonial
architecture of the city....
Have a leisurely dinner
poolside at the hotel's
French-Laotian-Indochinese
restaurant, Elephant Blanc.
DAY 7: LUANG PRABANG, LAOS
Spend the morning on
a boat ride up the Mekong
River. You'll see the caves
at Pak Ou, where locals and
visiting Buddhists have been
worshipping for thousands of
years. The result: more than
4,000 images of Buddha that
have been placed or drawn
there over the years.... Also,
stop at the village of Ban Xang
Hai, known for its production
of lao-Lao, a clear, moonshine-like
whiskey brewed from rice
that will knock your socks
off.... You can also shop for
handicrafts and souvenirs in
the village of the Leu tribe....
At night, visit the Old Palace
to enjoy traditional Lao
dancing and music. Then
stroll through the city's
historic section and end
the day with a three-course
dinner at French-Lao
restaurant L'Elephant.
