This is a great way to visit Thailand for the first time, with amazing guides, and fabulous hotels. I toured this in March 2023 and it was a great tour, fast paced, but with that you get a lot of bang for the buck.
Escorted Package Includes
- 8 nights accommodations
- 3 nights Bangkok
- 2 nights Kanchanaburi
- 1 night Ayutthaya
- 2 nights Pattaya
- Hotel taxes, fees & service charges
- Hotel porterage
- All transfers included only with airfare purchase on package arrival & departure dates†
- 12 meals: 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 3 dinners
- Sightseeing per itinerary in modern air-conditioned motor coach
- Services of English-speaking tour manager throughout
- Entrance fees per itinerary
- Comfortable wireless earphones for enhanced touring
Special Features
- In Bangkok, visit serene Wat Po, home of the astonishing giant Reclining Buddha, over 150 feet long
- Visit the buzzing and vividly colorful Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
- Walk the Bridge over the River Kwai & explore the War Museum
- Visit Bang Pa-In Royal Palace, used as a summer palace by the Siamese royalty
- Marvel at Chai Wattanaram Temple, one of Ayutthaya’s most impressive remaining monuments
- Pattaya, a seaside resort town with beautiful beaches and sparkling azure waters
Tour Dates and Prices [click to open]
Pricing is for Land content starting in Bangkok. This special is only available for Twin Share bookings, price is per person for 2 people booked sharing a room.
| TOUR DATE | ED’S SPECIAL Book Before 15-Apr-23; | REGULAR PRICE after 15 April; |
| Wed, Aug 16 | $ 1,599 | $ 1,776 |
| Wed, Aug 23 | $ 1,299 | $ 1,476 |
| Wed, Sep 20 | $ 1,299 | $ 1,476 |
| Wed, Oct 4 | $ 1,299 | $ 1,476 |
| Wed, Oct 11 | $ 1,299 | $ 1,476 |
| Wed, Oct 25 | $ 1,449 | $ 1,626 |
| Tue, Oct 31 | $ 1,449 | $ 1,626 |
| Wed, Oct 32 | $ 1,299 | $ 1,476 |
| Wed, Nov 8 | $ 1,749 | $ 1,926 |
| Tue, Nov 14 | $ 1,499 | $ 1,676 |
| Wed, Nov 15 | $ 1,399 | $ 1,576 |
| Tue, Nov 21 | $ 1,349 | $ 1,526 |
| Wed, Nov 22 | $ 1,349 | $ 1,526 |
| Mon, Dec 11 | $ 1,299 | $ 1,476 |
| Wed, Dec 13 | $ 1,299 | $ 1,476 |
| Also available Tuesday to Wednesday with similar hotels. |
DAY 1, Wednesday – Arrive in Bangkok
Welcome to Thailand! Arrive in exotic Bangkok and transfer to your hotel; Time to rest, relax and acclimate to your new time zone. Your hotel is located near the victory monument, with easy walk to a night market and plenty of great food options depending on your arrival flight.
Overnight: Bangkok
DAY 2, Thursday – Bangkok City Tour
This morning, take a tour that introduces you to Bangkok, the “City of Angels”. Drive through Indian Market with hundreds of market stalls, street-side restaurants, and gold shops. On to colorful “Little India” with its bright hanging walls of glistening fabrics and the fragrant wholesale Flower Market. Visit serene Wat Po, (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) the oldest and largest temple in the city, with its astonishing giant Reclining Buddha, over 150 feet long and almost 40 feet high. Drive via Royal Avenue where most of the Government offices are located and the King’s Palace. The rest of the day is at leisure before tonight’s orientation meeting with your Tour Manager at approximately 5:00 PM, followed by dinner at the hotel
Overnight: Bangkok
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 3, Friday – Grand Palace & Emerald Buddha and Bangkok Canal Tour with Dinner
Today take the optional tour to the elaborate 18th century Grand Palace, symbol and ceremonial heart of the kingdom, and to Wat Phra Kaew, (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), with its brightly colored buildings, golden spires and gorgeous mosaics. You’ll see the distinct contrast in style between the Thai-inspired Wat Phra Kaew and the European design of the Grand Palace. In the afternoon, embark on the optional canal tour along the Chao Phraya River passing by Wat Arun and other iconic landmarks as well as a scenic view of local life along the river. Then travel on a tuk-tuk to dinner at a local restaurant before returning to your hotel
Optional Tour Included: Half Day Grand Palace & Emerald Buddha (AM)
Optional Tour Included: Bangkok Canal Tour with Dinner (PM)
Or, today is yours to explore Bangkok independently – ask about reduced total package cost if you opt out of the tours on day 3.
Overnight: Bangkok
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 4, Saturday – Travel to Kanchanaburi, Visit Bridge over River Kwai & War Museum
Travel southwest this morning to the vibrant Damnoen Saduak Floating Market; observe how the ancient trading of wares is conducted between hundreds of local farmers and villagers aboard small sampan boats. The boats are fully loaded with all kinds of products including fruits, vegetables, dry goods, and freshly cooked food. From the Floating market, continue to the quiet provincial capital of Kanchanaburi, with its stunning natural beauty and beautiful rivers. Walk over the steel bridge at the River Kwai, one of the most famous rivers in the world, which gained international fame in the book and film, “Bridge on the River Kwai”. The bridge, several museums, and cemeteries have respectfully preserved the history and memorialized the dead. Tonight, enjoy dinner at a hotel restaurant
Overnight: Kanchanaburi
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 5, Sunday – Hellfire Pass and Death Railway tour.
Today take the optional full day Hellfire Pass and Death Railway tour. Hellfire Pass derives its name from Allied POWs forced to work day and night in the jungle to complete the bridge and rail line using only simple tools; more than 12,000 soldiers and 80,000 Asian laborers perished during the construction. Lunch en route before returning to the hotel- The day tour is approx 8 hours.
Optional Tour Included: Full Day Hellfire Pass & Death Railway with lunch
Or, today is yours to relax at the hotel – ask about reduced total package cost if you opt out of the tours on day 3.
** Today is a good Day to ask your guide about an Elephant Sanctuary – This type of excursion is only booked locally by your guide, and the perfect place to make their food, feed them and then bath them in the Kwai Noi River.
Overnight: Kanchanaburi
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 6, Monday – Travel to Ayutthaya, Ayutthaya City Tour
Depart Kanchanaburi and travel to Ayutthaya, the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai for over 400 years, once glorified as the largest city in Southeast Asia. In the center of the city lies Ayutthaya Historical Park, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, you can see the ruins of the former capital and its remaining palaces, monasteries, and towers – one can envision the grandeur and splendor that was once the Kingdom of Ayutthaya. After lunch, continue to the Chai Wattanaram Temple, built by King Prasat Thong, a commoner who overthrew the previous king and took his throne. Here, you can enjoy the peaceful and tranquil surroundings of Siam before dinner
Overnight: Ayutthaya
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7, Tuesday – Travel to Pattaya
Start your morning with a visit to Bang Pa-In Palace, a collection of beautiful buildings in various architectural styles, surrounded by a lake. Originally built by King Prasat Thong in 1632, this served as the Royal Summer Palace for the Thai Kings. Continue to Pattaya, a seaside resort on the East Coast of the Gulf of Thailand, with its beautiful beaches and sparkling azure waters. En route stop at a gem gallery to watch jewelry being made and learn more about the gems used. Arrive at the hotel and spend the remainder of the day at leisure
Overnight: Pattaya
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 8, Wednesday – Full Day in Pattaya
Today is at leisure to relax, rejuvenate and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Perhaps, escape by speedboat to the stunning Coral Island, Koh Larn, brimming with an abundance of coral formations and underwater life. Unwind at the beach or, try out some water sports, including waterskiing, parasailing, and windsurfing. Choose to visit the Pattaya Floating market, one of the biggest in the world. Separated into four sections, with each offering and representing items from the four major regions of Thailand. Here, you will find food and fruit stalls as well as souvenir shops. Tonight, time on your own to savor a delicious dinner at a seaside restaurant or enjoy the vibrant nightlife that the town is known for. Ask your guide about a drink and dinner at the Executive Rooftop Bar nearby, a great place to spend the last evening with your fellow travellers.
Overnight: Pattaya
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 9, Thursday – Depart Thailand
Transfer to the airport in Bangkok for your departure flight. The ride from your hotel to the airport will take about 2 hours
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation (Wednesday Start)
Optional Tours included in this pricing
Ed @ Go West Travel has been working with this US based company since 2014. Before Covid hit they even had an Australian based office and a fabulous team. I have personally visited their Head Office in Fort Washington, Philadelphia. I have also done many of their trips, in Europe, Asia and South America. With a motto, ‘More of the World, for less’ and as it is a family run business the team runs a very tight ship for service and quality. When I met Danny in his office and heard about the history that led them to being a multi country, multi level and multi offering business I realised their driver is actually just an organic growth in customer experience that drives repeat business.
This means the company didn’t set out to be big with a corporate goal, rather it set out to be be good at what they do. It is a winning formula and resulted in great tours, amazing guides and great prices. The catalog of tours is extensive after 40 years.
Booking with Ed @ Go West Travel leans into the great deals, some super discounts on offer, but most importantly a mature company that is a host, hosts that excel in great value touring of the entire world.
As a USA company their product is all priced in USD, what I do is advertise prices in AUD, (and also NZD) for my customers, I hold the price in our currency as a guaranteed price. Many Aussies and Kiwis don’t factor in banks credit card fees of 2.1-3.0 % on top of intl conversions, and for bank transfers there are fees too, so let me secure great value, in AUD, and for no extra have an Australian based agent in your court to help in this topsy turvey world of travel
Travel Insurance General
You must be insured for the duration of your trip. You need comprehensive travel insurance to cover cancellation, health requirements, luggage and additional expenses. Insurance policies rarely cover for loss of cash. If you choose to activate a policy as part of your credit card, it is important to confirm that the policy is activated and understand what is covered and what is not covered. I always recommend you contact your credit card provider and get the current policy wording and ensure that the policy meets your needs. If you choose to travel without insurance, you cannot claim losses against Edward Law trading as Go West Travel except to the extent of Australian consumer law.
Travel Insurance General
You must be insured for the duration of your trip. You need comprehensive travel insurance to cover cancellation, health requirements, luggage and additional expenses. Insurance policies rarely cover for loss of cash. If you choose to activate a policy as part of your credit card, it is important to confirm that the policy is activated and understand what is covered and what is not covered. I always recommend you contact your credit card provider and get the current policy wording and ensure that the policy meets your needs. If you choose to travel without insurance, you cannot claim losses against Edward Law trading as Go West Travel except to the extent of Australian consumer law.
Entry into Thailand
It is your responsibility to review border requirements for entry into Thailand. Generally, an Australian travelling for tourism, will not require a visa to enter Thailand for this tour.
With a passport from Australia, New Zealand or United Kingdom; A visa is not required for Thailand Allowed stay: 90 days
