A Touch of Thai Lifestyle

3 days -- from USD 617 per person

Step into various aspects of Thai culture. A cultural trip that lets you learn about Thai arts from culinary and Thai puppet shows. In this program, you will stay in a traditional Thai house and have an authentic Thai massage.

Day 1- Bangkok - The Grand Palace - Massage at Wat Pho - Meditation at Wat Mahathat (Lunch, Dinner)

Pick up at the hotel in Bangkok and proceed to the City Pillar or Lak Muang Shrine, then proceed to Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Admire buildings and halls, which are currently used for royal and religious ceremonies such as the Funeral Palace, the Reception Palace, the Throne Hall, the Coronation Hall, the Royal Guest house and the beautiful Emerald Buddha Temple.

Afterwards, visit Wat Pho, Bangkok's oldest and largest temple. The temple compound features a large reclining Buddha, demon figures and numerous ancient stupas. This is where you will experience a Thai massage - Wat Pho is known as Thailand's most recognized traditional Thai massage school.

Lunch at a local restaurant; then continue to Wat Mahathat for a meditation course. Afterwards, go to Thai House, a group of conventional Thai houses located by the Chao Phraya River, as this is your accommodation.

Day 2 - Thai Cooking Class at Thai House (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Breakfast at Thai House. Then, take a short tour around the farm and, afterwards, head to the 'Open Air Kitchen'. The cooking lesson begins with your hands on participation in preparing various Thai recipes. Discussions on Thai cooking as well as food tasting will be part of the lesson. The course includes the introduction of herbs and spices, spicy Thai Pork Salad (appetizer), Hot and Sour Prawn Soup (soup), Thai Fried Noodles (luncheon dish), Yellow Chicken Curry (main dish) and Coconut Beef Curry (main dish). Lunch at Thai House.

In the afternoon, depart by road to Jim Thompson Museum, a magnificent Thai-style house that contains an extensive collection of Thai silk ware, art objects and antiques. In the evening, depart for Supatra River House for Thai set dinner. Return to Thai House for overnight stay.

Day 3 - Thai House - Koh Kret - Bangkok (Breakfast, Lunch)

Breakfast at Thai House.

Drive to the pier for public ferry across the river to Koh Kret, a tiny island in the Chao Phraya River, located in Nonthaburi Province. On this island lives a community of craftsmen famous for their distinctive style of pottery, which dates back many centuries. The potteries are known for their fine, red-black glazed surface and folk design. They are all hand-made piece-by-piece and you can see the process. People live on Koh Kret and nearby are the descendants of the ethnic Mon people who managed to retain the skills of their forefathers. This small community is also famed for making traditional Thai sweets. Lunch at Suan Thip Restaurant.

Transfer to the hotel in Bangkok or Bangkok International Airport.