Holistic meditation tour of Thailand

country:	Thailand
departures:	The itinerary runs throughout the year at a time to suit you and departs with a minimum of two people
price:	From £1150 (14 days) excluding flights, based on twin share. We can offer advice on flights from the UK

Holidays to Thailand

Relaxing escapes

the amazing things you'll be doing

An unusual combination with a spiritual bias but hopefully a little something to appeal to anyone who is interested in exploring a different side to Thailand. Learn about meditation with the Buddhists monks at the Thai Wisdom Centre before boarding a rice barge for a gentle meander down the river, stopping off the enjoy the wildlife in Khao Yao National Park before time to relax on the lovely island of Koh Chang.

Highlights
Explore the unforgettable sights of Bangkok - Study Meditation at the Thai Wisdom Centre - Visit the ancient capital of Ayuthaya and enjoy a Thai Massage - Take a cruise on a rice barge visiting local villages along the river - Wildlife safari in Khao Yai National Park - Chill out on the beautiful beaches of Koh Chang.

The Meditation Course
The program is a method for Vipassana Meditation Practice Course and follows the FOUNDATIONS OF MINDFULNESS (Satipatthana 4):
1) Kayanupassana: Contemplation of the body, Mindfulness as regards the body
2) Vedananupassana: Contemplation of feelings, Mindfulness as regards feelings
3) Cittanupassana: Contemplation of mind, Mindfulness as regards thoughts
4) Dhammanupassana: Contemplation of mind-objects, Mindfulness as regards ideas

You will learn about: What is Life? - What is the Nature of Mind? - How to learn and understand your Mind? - How to develop your Mind? - How to use the power of Mind in daily life?

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1:	Arrival in Bangkok.You’ll be given a warm welcome at the airport by our team leader or local guide and transferred to your hotel to check-in. The rest of the day is free to relax and chill out after your flight.
Day 2:	Exploring Bangkok. After breakfast your guide will pick you up for a transfer to the Grand Palace. The Grand Palace is one of the most beautiful samples of an ancient Siamese court. It used to be the residence of the Kings of Bangkok. Here you will see Palaces which were used for different occasions; the Funeral Palace, the Reception Palace, the Throne Hall, the Coronation Hall, the Royal Guest House, and the beautiful Emerald Buddha Temple. Lunch will be at a local restaurant. After lunch, continue to visit Vimanmek Palace. This Palace was instructed to be dismantled and taken to Bangkok by King Rama VI during his last trip to the seaboard provinces on the eastern coasts. The beautiful golden teak-wood building which was built in the shape of the roman letter "L: with its two wings one running westward and the other northward. Continue to Wat Rajabopit which can be easily recognized by its distinctive doors, carved in relief with jaunty-looking soldiers wearing European-type uniforms. Western art with Thai traditional and blended with Italian Gothic to reflect King Chulalongkorn's interest. In the late afternoon return to the hotel for overnight. Dinner is on your own. (B, L)
Day 3:	Bangkok - Damnoen Saduak Floating Market – Kanchanaburi – Bridge over River Kwai – War Museum – Thai Wisdom Center - Kanchanaburi. After breakfast, check out of your hotel and drive to Ratchaburi, about 101 km to the west of Bangkok. Thailand's floating markets are among the most-photographed destinations in the country. The river and 'klong' markets give a realistic glance of how daily life must have been in earlier times. The floating markets are where the sellers, their boats laden with a wide variety of tropical fruits, flowers, vegetables and fresh produce, come to meet and barter their products with other traders. These days, modern supermarkets and department stores have largely replaced the traditional floating markets, but a few still survive. Continue your journey to Kanchanaburi and have lunch in a local restaurant After lunch, visit the world famous bridge is located near the town of Kanchanaburi. You will visit the well-kept cemetery which contains the graves of an estimated 9,000 alien soldiers who lost their lives while building the bridge and constructing the notorious "Death Railway" which the Japanese had hoped to stretch all the way to the Burmese border. In the late afternoon continue to your hotel for check-in and dinner. Getting to this magical place is half the fun. An exhilarating forty-minute boat trip from Pakseng through spectacular gorges, beckoning beaches and clusters of brilliantly colored birds, delight the senses as one ventures deeper into the wild heart of the jungle. (B, L, D)
Day 4-6:	Meditation Program. After breakfast transfer to the Wisdom Centre for a 3 day Meditation Program. (B, L, D)
Day 7:	Kanchanaburi - Ayutthaya - Traditional Thai Massage. After early breakfast, continue drive to the former capital city of Siam, Ayuthaya, and have lunch. The glory of the Ayuthaya Empire (1350-1767 AD) is evident in the remains of temples such as Wat Phra Sri Sanphet and Wat Chai Wattanaram, which we will visit in the afternoon. A further visit includes Wat Yai Chai Mongkol. This well-tended temple was founded by King U-Thong in 1357 as a center for monks returning from study in Sri Lanka. The white reclining Buddha near the entrance was built by King Naresuan. The massive pagoda was also built by King Naresuan to celebrate his defeat of the Burmese at Suphanburi in 1593 by killing their crown prince in single-handed combat on elephants. Enjoy a traditional Thai Massage and continue to your hotel for overnight. Dinner is on your own. (B, L)
Day 8:	Ayutthaya - River Barge Cruise: Wat Putthai Sawan - Maenam Noi. After breakfast spend some time at leisure exploring Ayutthaya on your self and have lunch on your own. Then continue to board the Thanatharee Rice Barge at Ayutthaya railway station pier at 13.30 hrs and cruise to Wat Phutthai Sawan. Start biking through the neighbouring villages, seeing how coconut palm juice is produced as well as other agricultural activities. Visit the Portuguese Village (dated back to Ayudhaya period), its cemetery, archaeological structures and objects. Rejoin the barge and head on to Maenam Noi. If time permits, visit Wat Niwet Thammaprawat, a Buddhist monastery built by King Rama V in gothic architectural style. Proceed to cruise to a village of Maenam Noi for overnight stay with dinner on board. Note: Boat departure every Thursday year around. (B, D)
Day 9:	Maenam Noi - Samkok - Ko Kred - Bangkok - Khao Yao National Park. Time for breakfast and the opportunity to give food to the monks on their morning alms round, cruise along Maenam Noi and back to the main Chao Phraya River and make a short stop at Wat Pailom, well known as a winter nesting ground of the Asian Openbill Stork which migrates from Northern India and Siberia. Afterwards depart for Pathum Thani with lunch on board. Arrive at the lively Pathum Thani market where varieties of fresh meats, vegetables and various local goods are sold. Continue the cruise to Ko Kred, an island in the middle of the Chao Phraya River. Explore the Mon pottery-making village on the island. Rejoin the barge and cruise to Bangkok. Disembark at Pinklao Pier at approximately 17.00 hrs. Upon your arrival transfer to Khao Yai National Park for overnight and dinner. (B, L, D)
Day 10:	Khao Yai National Park - All day wildlife watching. After an early breakfast, check out of your hotel and drive to Khao Yai National Park. Then set out on a day nature trek with your naturalist leader. Our group will break up to walk along the park trails near some strangler fig trees. When fruiting, these trees have a huge variety of life in and around them, including Hornbills, Gibbons, Macaques, and Langurs. Porters will be carrying essentials for snacks and a delicious lunch in the forest. After some relaxing time, continue walking the trails, and visit a waterfall and the park HQ. At dusk visit a cave which is home to perhaps millions of bats. The bats swarm out together every night in search of insects. Return to the resort for a western dinner on the balcony of the pub. After dinner return to the park for a night Safari drive through the spectacular forest on the look out for Deer, Civets and others. The vehicles are open with tiered seats and good all round views. This area has some of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Khao Yai NP and the drive is usually very productive, enabling your guide to give you an overview of the animals. Return to your resort for overnight. (B, L, D)
Day 11:	Khao Yai Park – Koh Chiang. After breakfast, check-out of your hotel and drive to Trad and the ferry boat pier. Take the ferry boat to Koh Chiang and continue to your resort for check-in. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Lunch and dinner on your own. (B)
Day 12-13:	Koh Chiang at leisure. After breakfast, you are free at leisure. Lunch and Dinner is on your own. (B)
Day 14:	Return Bangkok. After breakfast, check out your resort for transfer to Trat airport for your flight back to Bangkok with connection flight back home.

how this holiday makes a difference

We try to ensure that all our trips not only minimise the negative effects of tourism but actually have a positive impact on the communities who welcome us into their villages and often their homes. Using local guides, local transport and local accommodation and paying fair wages, ensures that not only do our clients gain a unique insight into the culture they are visiting but also that as much of their money as possible stays in the local community. Wherever possible we also contribute to community projects (helping to preserve traditional ways of life, providing education and supporting environmental initiatives) and encourage our clients to visit or even lend a helping hand. Running this trip as a small group or tailor-made and using local guides who help our clients to understand and respect the cultural differences means that our clients are often treated as welcomed guests rather than intruding foreigners. We travel at a leisurely pace to allow you the time to fully appreciate the charm of this fascinating country. On this particular trip, you will also be able to spend some time learning more about the peaceful principles of Buddhist meditation… surely another step along the way to helping make the world a better place, regardless of your personal religious beliefs…

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