Travel with Gina New Year's in Thailand - Gina Henry Travel

Travel with Gina

             New Year’s in Thailand
                Dec 30, 2021 - Jan 7, 2022 (9 days)
Land Price: $1695 + Int’l Air Starting at $900 (single room supplement $295)

OUR ITINERARY:
DAY 1 Dec 30 (W)         Arrive CHIANG MAI (2N CM hotel). Arrive Chiang Mai by noon
on Dec 30 (or fly to Chiang Mai earlier-Gina can help with your hotel & sightseeing
arrangements). Depending on what USA city you depart from you will need a flight
leaving the USA on Dec 28 or 29 in order to arrive to Chiang Mai by noon on Dec 30.
Remember our flight crosses the international date line so we lose 12 hours flying to
Thailand. We gain this time back on our return!

At 1pm meet in the hotel lobby for a walking tour with Gina of the local neighborhood,
Warorot Chinese Market & the Chiang Mai Night Market. Early evening monk chant at
the local temple! Enjoy a Thai massage ($8/hour). Optional group
dinner at 6pm (get to know the other people in the group).

DAY 2 Dec 31 (TH) NEW YEAR’S EVE in Chiang Mai. Morning
tour with our local English-speaking guide to visit the Old Walled
City, Buddhist temples & the sacred Doi Sutep Mountain Monastery
(a spiritual destination all Thai’s make a pilgrimage at least once in
their life). Lunch at a traditional Thai noodle shop. Afternoon “Thai-
style Siesta” (remember we are staying up to midnight & you are jet-
lagged!) New Year’s Eve Group Dinner & celebration on the hotel
rooftop restaurant overlooking all of Chiang Mai with fireworks and sky lanterns.
(Meals: B, D).

DAY 3 Jan 1 (F)        CHIANG MAI to LAMPANG (1N Lampang). Two hour drive in our
private air-conditioned van to the Elephant Conservation Camp to learn about Thai
elephant life and see elephant bathing. Elephants were a major part of Thai life in the
lumbering business which was outlawed in the 1990’s. The elephants and their mahout
drivers have had to learn new ways to support their elephants since elephants eat 10%

of their body weight each day. These smart creatures have learned how to paint art with
their trunks, play sports & entertain tourists with their individual personalities.
Opportunity to ride elephants for $10pp. Lunch in Lampang. Free evening to relax by
the hotel pool and enjoy the natural setting along the river (Meal: B).

DAY 4 Jan 2 (SAT) LAMPANG to SUKHOTHAI (2N Sukhothai). Morning drive to
Sukhothai, the first capital of the Kingdom of Siam and Thailand’s most impress World
Heritage Site. Free afternoon to relax by the hotel pool, have a Thai massage at the
hotel, or stroll to the nearby Chang Elephant temple. Enjoy live traditional Thai dance at
the hotel restaurant. (Meal: B).

DAY 5 Jan 3 (SUN)        SUKHOTHAI. Morning tour of historical Old Sukhothai with 5
acres of giant ancient Buddhas with our local English-speaking guide. There are 21
historical temples and four large ponds within the old city, with an additional 70 temples
beyond the city walls. We’ll visit the most impressive temples including Wat Mahathat ,
the largest temple in Sukhothai with its impressive sitting Buddha. Its famous moat is
believed to represent the universe and the cosmic ocean. Next we’ll visit Wat Si Chum,
with it’s Buddha elegant, tapered figures. After lunch we’ll visit the Ramkhamhaeng
National Museum where we will learn more about the kingdom history. Free evening to
enjoy the lovely hotel pool and have a Thai massage. (Meal: B).

DAY 6 Jan 4 (M) SUKHOTHAI to AYUTHAYA (2N Ayutthaya). Morning departure
for our five hour drive to Ayuttaya, the second capital of the Kingdom of Siam. (Meal: B).
Optional evening dinner boat trip to see the temple all light ($35pp.)

DAY 7 Jan 5 (T) AYUTHAYA to BANGKOK. Morning tour with our English speaking
guide of the ancient city of Ayuthaya where we will see the most important temple in the
Ayuthaya Kingdom, Wat Phra Sri Sanpetch, also known as “The Royal Temple of Phra
Sri Sanpetch Buddha Image”. At 16 meters tall covered with over 340 kilos of gold take
in this breathtaking temple complex as your local host shares with you the history
behind it. Next we will visit Wat Maha That, “ the Monastery of the Great Relic”. This is
an impressive temple hosting the famous “Buddha head” entwined within the roots of a
tree. (Meal: B).

DAY 8 Jan 6 (W) AYUTHAYA to BANGKOK. Morning one hour drive to Bangkok.
After we check into our hotel we’ll take the “Hop-on Hop-off Boat” adventure with
panorama views of the Chao Phraya River. We will see the most photographed
Buddhist temple in the world - “Wat Arun”, the colorful flower market, Chinatown, views
of the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, home of Thailand’s longest reclining Buddha.
Afternoon to wander around the local area shopping and having massage. Evening
“Farewell Group Dinner” overlooking the lovely Chao Phraya River. (Meals: B, D).

DAY 9 Jan 7 (TH) BANGKOK to USA. (Meal: B). Flight back to the USA. Or add a
trip extension. See recommended trip extensions below and at www.GinaHenry.com/.

LAND PRICE INCLUDES:
8 nights hotel (based on dbl. room occ), 10 meals including New Year’s Eve Dinner, all
ground transportation, sightseeing & English-speaking guides per the itinerary. A single
room supplement is available for $295pp.

HOW TO EARN A FREE (almost) AIR TICKET TO THAILAND?
You will need 80,000 points to fly free coach class to Thailand. Gina recommends applying for a
Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card which offers a 80,000 sign-up bonus when you spend $4000 in the
first 3 months of getting the card. It does have an annual fee of $95, even in the first year. However, this is
still a pretty inexpensive airline ticket as you only need 80,000 points to fly coach RT roundtrip to
Thailand. If you already have some United reward points and just need to gain a few points to reach
80,000 points for a free RT ticket, get a Chase United Explorer reward credit card (www.united.com or
www.chase.com) which offers a 40,000 sign-up bonus when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months of
getting the card. No annual fee the first year ($95 year 2).

              Your $300pp TRIP DEPOSIT holds your spot on this trip
                and is fully refundable up to 120 days before the trip.
               TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT or for more information:
                            contact Gina Henry / Go Global
  512-751-5096    GinaHenryTravelinfo@gmail.com    www.GinaHenry.com
________________________________________________________________________

TRIP EXTENSIONS: Join Gina Dec 30-Jan 29 for all her trips!
1. Join Gina on her 5-day CAMBODIA & ANGKOR WAT Buddhist Temple Tour
   Jan 8-12, 2022 (Land cost $695, plus Bangkok- Siem Reap, Cambodia air on Air
   Asia is approx. $125).

2. Join Gina on her 15-day VOLUNTEER TEACH ENGLISH PROGRAM
   Jan 15-29, 2022 (Cost $595 plus Siem Reap, Cambodia-Chiang Mai air on Thai Air
   is approx. $200). You will have two free days in between the Cambodia trip & the
   start of the volunteering on Jan 13 & 14. Your options are to stay longer in Siem
   Reap, Cambodia (hotel cost is $50/night) or arrive early to Chiang Mai (volunteer
   hotel is $30/night). Gina can book your extra Chiang Mai hotel nights.

3. Arrive early to Chiang Mai:
A. Gina can book your extra Chiang Mai hotel nights for $60 per night (single or double
   room). Gina can help you book the following activities.
B. Arrive Chiang Mai on Dec 26. On Monday, Dec 27 enjoy a full day Buddhist
   Meditation retreat at the temple Wat Suan Dok in Chiang Mai. 930pm-5pm. Cost:
   Free (donation suggested). Learn about Monk life, Buddhism & mediation. This free
   meditation retreat is only available on Monday & Friday. The group last year arriving
   early loved it!
C. Visit the Hill Tribe Museum (open M-F), Lanna Thai History Museum, Three Kings
   Monument or Art in Paradise 3D Art Museum.

D. Hike Doi Inthanon (the highest mountain in Thailand, waterfalls, Twin Pagodas)
   $75pp (includes guide, transportation & entrance fee).
E. Morning Monks Alms Giving: On your own at 6am - take a tuk tuk to Three Kings
   Monument in the Old City or to Kru Ba Srivichai Shrine at the base of Doi Sutep to
   see many monks doing their morning alms giving.
F. Monk chat at Wat Suan Dok - Informally talk with the monk. Get to know about
   monk’s life, Thai culture and tradition, Buddhism, meditation etc. Every Monday,
   Wed, Friday 4pm – 7pm.
G. See more Buddhist Temples: Wat Phra Singh (reclining Buddha), Wat Chedi Luang
   (tallest Buddha temple in Chiang Mai) (monk chat 9am-6pm), Wat Phra That Doi
   Kham (huge seated Buddha), Wat Chiang Mon (oldest temple in Chiang Mai), Wat
   Phra That Doi Kham (Temple of the Golden Mountain), Wat Phra That Doi Suthep &
   Wiang Kum Kam, Wat Suan Dok (500 year old Buddha bronze image).
H. Saturday Walking Street (Wui Lai Market) south of the Old City, starts 4pm (very
   crowded after 6pm) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
I. Sunday Walking Street (inside the Old City at Thaphae Gate), starts 4pm (very
   crowded after 6pm) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
J. Traditional Thai Dance - Kantoke Dinner at the Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center. Cost
   570 baht = $20.
K. Thai Cooking Classes: half day 1000-1500 baht ($30-$45 including transportation &
   tour of the local farmers market).
L. Mae Ping River cruise - Enjoy river scenery, teak houses, numerous bridges,
   temples. Stop at a farmer’s house to learn about local herbs, fruits, rice planing and
   fishing techniques (2 hours). Departs every hour from 9am-5pm
   www.maepingrivercruise.com Cost: 580 baht = $20pp.
M. Shop in the Night Bazaar
N. Enjoy a Thai massage ($8/hour),salt body scrub ($25-a
   wow!), manicure ($6), and/or pedicure ($6).

4. Stay longer in Bangkok (Post-trip extensions):
A. Gina can book your extra Bangkok hotel nights for $80 or
    $35 per night (hotel options; single or double room).
B. See more of Bangkok: Grand Palace, Wat Pho, many
    museums, the weekend market, and more.
C. Fly to Krabi in the south of Thailand and visit Koh Lanta or
    Koh Lipi islands.
D. Visit Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Bali and more.

                        Your $300pp TRIP DEPOSIT
     holds your spot and is fully refundable up to 120 days before the trip.
            TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT or for more information:
                       contact Gina Henry / Go Global
  512-751-5096        GinaHenryTravelinfo@gmail.com            www.GinaHenry.com