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The Best of Siam - 7 Days Holiday in Thailand |
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- Take a trip back in time to when Siam was the strongest nation in South East Asia. The Chinese merchants at one point dominated South East Asia’s seaborne trade, particularly after the collapse of the Dutch East India Company. In fact, it wasn’t until Field Marshall Phibun Songgram became premier in 1939 that Thailand became Thailand, and ceased being called Siam. This holiday will give you the opportunity to really explore what Siam was about, and re-experience first hand some of the unique cultural aspects of the era.
Day 1 - Arrive in Bangkok and on the first evening you will visit the Siam Niramit show, which is a world-class performance of Thailand’s arts and cultural heritage. This must-see spectacular is performed on the gigantic stage now listed in the Guinness World Records, featuring over 150 performers with as many as 500 costumes.
Day 2- A trip to the ancient capital of Siam, Ayutthaya, where you will see the ancient ruins. You will be taken in a private limo with your own driver and personal host, and spend the entire day enjoying the sights. Ayutthaya is about two hours drive from Bangkok. You can also enjoy a short elephant ride on top of an elephant.
Day 3 - The morning starts with a trip to the Museum of Siam. The Museum of Siam is an old government building that has been converted into a museum, and there are antique tile floors and wooden stairs that give it that old fashioned feel. Here you can find out about the background to Siam and learn more about the culture, and your personal host will take you through the museum and then in the afternoon take you shopping. You will have the opportunity to visit MBK and Siam Discovery Centre, and have your photographs taken wearing traditional Siam costumes. This is a great opportunity to dress back in time, and a fabulous souvenir to take back with you.
Day 4 – No Siam experience to Thailand is complete without a visit to the Grand Palace in Bangkok, where you can enjoy some of the greatest wonders of Thailand all in one place. The Grand Palace was built in 1782 to establish Bangkok as the new capital, and much of the compound recreates the most important buildings from the former capital city Ayutthaya, which was invaded by the Burmese. Your day will also include a visit to the Wat Phra Kaeo, which is the name given to any temple in which the Emerald Buddha has been housed. The Emerald Buddha is made of jade, and is a sight to behold.
Days 5 and 6 - It’s time to travel further afield and head to Cambodia and see the town of Siam Reap, and the famous Angkor Wat. The name Siam Reap means ‘defeat of Siam’ and the town draws visitors to its famous monuments. It is one of most fascinating places in the world, and was made by the Khmer kings over four centuries. Angkor Wat was hidden by jungle until about 150 years ago, and has become a famous tourist attraction that many consider to display aspects of Siam. You can fly from Bangkok to Angkor Wat, or if you take a 12 days or longer holiday we can drive you there instead (it’s about three hours to the Cambodian border, and another four hours deeper into Cambodia, so it’s a long trip). If you’re travelling by car, you can also visit the famous Angkor temples in Thailand along the way. Please allow two additional days for this journey by car rather than flying (four days in total).
Day 7 – You return to Bangkok and do some last minute shopping and collect your photos from your Siam photo session a few days earlier. We’ll also take you for a traditional Siam dining experience, which your host will accompany you to if you so desire, and help you to select traditional Siam cuisine. For those that are still adventurous towards the end of this holiday, we can book you into a traditional Thai Teak House where you can dine in the old Siam style, and sleep in a traditional Siam manner. The property sits on the outskirts of Bangkok and will take you back in time. The house and grounds are beautiful, and this is an amazing experience worth considering to conclude your Siam holiday.
Day 8 – We will take you back to the airport in your private limo.
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