Bangkok’s famous Chatachak Weekend Market is now open on Friday evenings till midnight, allowing shoppers to peruse the thousands of stalls without the intense day time heat. However, not all shops will open on Friday. The market is open as usual on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am to 6pm.
This private cooking class introduces students to Thai cuisine under the expert guidance of Angsana Anderson, a Thai homemaker with years of experience teaching Thai cooking in her kitchen. Starting with a visit to the market, guests will be accompanied by Angsana in shopping for the ingredients. Returning to her residence, they will then take part in a hands-on session that consists of cooking three Thai dishes and one dessert. The menu is pre-selected by guests before the class. Contact thailand@exotissimo.com for more details. Click here to view all day trips in Thailand.
Please remind your clients that there is a limit on the amount of alcohol and cigarettes that can be purchased in the airport’s duty free shops when entering Thailand. Each person is only allowed to buy a maximum of 1 litre of alcohol and 1 carton (or 10 packs) of cigarettes. The duty free shops often do not warn travelers of the limit. Recently, the Thai customs officers have been very strict in enforcing this restriction and will impose very heavy fines (more than 1000 USD) if incoming travelers are found to be carrying more than the permissible amounts of alcohol and cigarettes.
Bangkok Airways (PG) will operate two daily return flights between Bangkok and Luang Prabang from 29 March – 10 May 2009:
* PG941 BKK 09.30 – LPQ 11.30
* PG943 BKK 11.40 – LPQ 13.40
* PG942 LPQ 12.10 – BKK 14.15
* PG944 LPQ 14.20 – BKK 16.25
During the low season from 11 May – 24 October 2009, the daily return flight frequency will be reduced to one:
* PG 943 BKK 11.40 – LPQ 13.40
* PG 944 LPQ 14.20 – BKK 16.25
The winter schedule will be released later this year.
An interesting local market in Ayutthaya, the Gong Kong Market is now available from Thursday through Sunday. It is a small market where locals sell produce such as tropical fruits, vegetables, local sweets and handicrafts. The vendors dress in traditional Thai trousers and shoppers have to bend down to browse through the items which are laid on the ground. Capturing the old way of life in Ayuthaya, this unique style of marketing can hardly be found anywhere else!
The Tha Ka Market, located in Samut Songkram province, is one of the most authentic floating markets in Thailand. It used to be open only 5-6 times a month according to the lunar calendar, but is now available on Saturdays and Sundays as well. Exotissimo Thailand offers visits to this charming market in our signature tours such as ‘Tha Kha Market & Amphawa Tour‘ and ‘A Pleasant Day in the Countryside‘. For more trip ideas in and around Bangkok, view our Bangkok Excursions or contact thailand@exotissimo.com.
Guy Van der Schoot has taken on the role of Sales Manager for Exotissimo Travel Group. Born and raised in Belgium, Guy has been working in the Asian travel industry for the past five years and his passion for Asia has seen him picking up regional languages such as Mandarin and Thai. In his new role, Guy will promote the services of Exotissimo Travel Group by developing new business partnerships and strengthening relationships with existing partners. He is based in Exotissimo’s Bangkok office and can be contacted at guy@exotissimo.com.
In Bangkok, Le Meridien Bangkok is a new five-star luxury hotel that has opened its doors in the city’s central business district. Set across 24 levels, the hotel’s 282 guestrooms and suites are fitted with floor-to-ceiling windows that open to the bustling streets of Silom below. The hotel also boasts of five-star business facilities, including meeting rooms, VIP boardrooms and a foyer for private functions. The entire sixth floor is devoted to the guest’s unique lifestyle pleasures.
On the outskirts of Chiang Mai, The Granary Resort is a charming guesthouse with Lanna-style teak huts surrounded by lush greenery. The interiors are fitted with antique teak furniture and bathrooms are open-air with rain showers. The swimming pool offers a fantastic view of the Ping River. Surrounded by verdant mountains and the Ping River, the Granary is an ideal accommodation choice for a relaxing holiday.
Down south in Phuket, Sri Panwa Phuket is an exciting addition to the island’s resort scene. Perched atop Cape Panwa, the luxurious estate commands stunning panoramic views of the Andaman Sea. All villas are enclosed by infinity-edge swimming pools and are just a short walk to an exclusive private beach. Sri Panwa’s Baba Dining Lounge specializes in authentic Andaman Thai and Continental European cuisine while Sai Spa features a wide selection of ancient techniques and modern treatments.
In Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket, we have hand-picked a selection of sightseeing tours and excursions that bring guests off the typical tourist paths to discover the hidden charms of these cities. These unique tours are compiled into an exclusive ‘Optional Tour Booklet’ for each destination city. To request for a copy of these booklets, please contact thailand@exotissimo.com.
Our City and Jungle by Bike day trip starts with a visit to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Chiang Mai’s landmark hilltop temple where participants can chat with the monks and enjoy a panoramic view of the city. The biking journey begins from the hilltop with a ride through the lush jungle of Doi Suthep and Doi Pui National Park combined with visits to a Hmong hill tribe coffee plantation development project and the man-made lake Huay Taeng Taew. After lunch, cycle along the meandering Mae Ping River filled with sights of local markets, temples and friendly locals.
Memorable Morning Merit is a half-day excursion in Chiang Mai. At dawn, participants enjoy a 30-minute trishaw ride through Chiang Mai and watch the town waking up. At the local market, they can make purchases of food and flowers to be used as offerings later. Continue by trishaw to Wat Ket, a picturesque temple seldom visited by tourists. Guests can observe monks in their morning prayers before presenting the offerings to the monks and receiving blessings in return, capping off an authentic Buddhist experience.
Scenic Day Trip to the Golden Triangle by SGA Flight is a delightful full-day excursion through the fabled Golden Triangle. Taking off from Chiang Mai on a SGA craft, clients enjoy a bird’s eye view of the scenic mountains along the way to Chiang Rai. In Chiang Rai, they will visit the Karen, Yao, Lahu and Akha hill tribe villages followed by a scenic drive through the Doi Tung mountain ridge (straddling Thailand and Myanmar) en route to the beautiful Mae Fah Luang flower gardens. Lunch is served at the splendid restaurant of the Anantara Resort. Cruise along the Mekong on a long-tailed boat into the heart of the Golden Triangle before returning to Chiang Mai on the SGA flight.
Exotissimo’s Phuket Heritage excursion uncovers the island’s rich and colourful cultural heritage. The downtown fruit market tantalises all palates with its wide array of tropical fruits. In the historic quarters, the oldest Chinese shrine and Sino-Portuguese architecture are standing testimonies to the tin mining days of the 19th century. Guests then head to the summit of Rang Hill to savour refreshing cocktails and a sweeping panorama of Phuket town. In the evening, a delightful meal of Phuket cuisine completes the day.
For more information about the excursions, please contact thailand@exotissimo.com.
In our recently launched Super Special Thailand Package, the 14D/13N itinerary features some of our best-loved signature excursions in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket. This luxurious tour promises to take clients to lesser known and undiscovered parts of Thailand, such as a railway country market in Bangkok’s outskirts, biking through the lush forests of Chiang Mai and secluded beaches and lagoons in Phuket. The top hotels in each city are selected, including Peninsula Bangkok Hotel, Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi and Anantara Resort Phuket. This promotion runs from January to May 2009. For more information, please contact thailand@exotissimo.com.
