Arrival at Suvarnabhumi airport where you will be met by your private driver to take you to your hotel, The Sukhothai. This five star hotel embodies Thai elegance and serenity. Set on six acres in the middle of Bangkok’s business district, you will feel worlds away from the city’s hustle and bustle. Tranquil lotus pools and celadon ceramics define public spaces while rooms feature luxurious silk fabrics, teak woods, and large bathrooms. A world class spa completes the Thai experience.
 This morning meet your private English speaking guide for a half day tour of Bangkok’s fabulous temples and fascinating neighborhoods. Thailand has over 26,000 wats or temples. Today you will see three of the most famous in Bangkok.
Afternoon free to enjoy the Sukhothai’s spa or to explore Bangkok on your own. Optional cooking lesson is also available.
Tonight a special treat! Enjoy an evening of traditional Thai food and dances at the famous Sala Rim Naam, located in the Oriental hotel.
 Morning check out and transfer by long-tailed boat to begin your Bangkok cooking adventure. You will travel to a private home which offers market visits and cooking lessons to chefs of all abilities. First you’ll take a short tour around the farm then head for the open air kitchen to concentrate on your cooking lesson. The lesson will feature instruction on Thai herbs and spices along with several traditional dishes which may include Larb Moo (spicy Thai pork salad), Tom Yam Kung (hot and sour prawn soup), Phad Thai, Kaeng Ka-Ri Kai (yellow chicken curry), Paneang Nua (coconut beef curry).
Dinner and overnight at the home.
Morning visit of the open air market to buy ingredients and learn about Thai produce. Return to the house for breakfast.
Transfer to Bangkok airport for flight to Chiang Mai.
Arrival in Chiang Mai, where you will be met and driven to your hotel, the luxurious Rachamankha. Located on a quiet lane near Wat Pra Singh, the Rachamankha almost looks as if it is a part of the temple grounds. Rooms are decorated with Lanna antiques and are set amongst green lawns with fragrant flowers and palm trees.
Afternoon and evening on your own. May we suggest a “monk chat”? After visiting Thai temples and getting a taste of its culture you are sure to have many unanswered questions. Several monks offer that opportunity. We will give you suggestions on which wats to visit and when. Also be sure to see Chiang Mai’s night bazaar, one of Thailand’s most exciting.
Overnight Rachamankha.
Breakfast at hotel. Meet your English speaking guide for a morning tour of the city’s temples and the amazing Doi Suthep Wat, located on a hill above Chiang Mai. It is considered the most sacred temple in Northern Thailand, containing a holy relic of Lord Buddha. To get there, you must walk up a challenging flight of over 300 steps flanked by enormous mythological Nagas. But the walk is well worth it when you see the panoramic view of the city below.
Afternoon visit to the Sankampaeng district for both shopping and sightseeing. Here, you can see local artisans creating their handicrafts, from silks and papers, to celadon kilns and teakwood carvings.
Overnight Rachamankha.
Breakfast at hotel. Today you will enjoy a full day cooking course at one of Chiang Mai’s most prestigious cooking schools. With your own individual cooking station you will learn to prepare five courses, which change daily according to season and ingredients available. Lunch is included.
Overnight Rachamankha.
 Today you will experience something not to be missed in Northern Thailand…an elephant safari. Travel through the hilly, wooded area north of the city to the Mae Taman elephant camp where you can see how these gentle giants are trained. Trek through the jungle by elephant to a Lisu village, and then take an ox-cart to learn about the life of the hill tribe people. The day ends with bamboo rafting down a gentle stretch of the Mae Taeng River.
Return to Chiang Mai.
Overnight Rachamankha.
Transfer from hotel to Chiang Mai airport for flight to Bangkok. (For those participants opting to take Chiang Rai extension, they will travel by road to Chiang Rai.) Others will check-in at Novotel Suvarnabhumi airport hotel. Overnight Bangkok.
Day Nine
Check out and transfer by airport shuttle to air terminal for international departure.
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The art of food has a special place in Thailand’s culture. For thousands of years, families have sat on rice mats around a low table, sharing dishes which represent the history and culture of their country. Thai cuisine offers the food traveler a taste of history…stir fried dishes are the result of the introduction of the Chinese wok; curries have their start in India; spices were introduced by the Arabs. The cuisine also offers an insight into Thai culture; here, eating is a celebration. Lunches can be long affairs, in which multiple dishes are shared and enjoyed. In fact, unlike in the West, all the dishes are served at once so that diners can choose what they like. In Thailand, it is unlucky to eat alone. 
