Thailand has a distinguished reputation for its fine arts, crafts, ceramics and food. On this 13 day tour you can enjoy all of these. You will be traveling with only a small group of like minded people, all with the same interests that you have. A private charter coach will be used in both Bangkok and Chiangmai for touring, with ample numbers of seats deliberately left vacant for you to be able to move around in comfort. Impromptu stops can be made for photography and for you to more closely observe unexpected sights of interest along the way.
If you want to see the ' must see ' attractions of Thailand as well as the hard to find artists on a relaxing, all pre arranged tour this is it! Exclusive arrangements have been made for members of this tour to meet artists in their workshops, galleries and homes, on location, where they can answer any questions you may have. Traveling with you throughout Thailand as your specialist guide will be Thai ceramic artist, Vipoo Shrivels.
Vipoo was born in Thailand and lived there until recently migrating to Australia. On this tour you will be personally introduced to some of Vipoo`s artistic friends and associates.
All your accommodation is in two first class hotels, one in central Bangkok and the other in the far northern city of Chiangmai. This means that you are not packing up and moving every day.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1 - For those guests who have bought the ' Land Only ' portion of this journey you will meet the other members of your group tonight at the Century Plaza Hotel, located in the heart of Bangkok. Guests who have joined our group departure from Australia, your flight will be met by your local tour guide then you will be transferred by coach to our hotel. Included: (D).
Day 2 - By private air-conditioned coach we visit the Grand Palace (1783) and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, a Jade sculpture from 15th century. Also visit the Royal Thai Decoration and Coin Pavilion featuring medals and coins used in Thailand since 11th century.
Walk to the nearby National Museum, created by King Rama V in 1874, then visit the Silapakorn Bookshop an excellent source of English books on Thai Arts and Crafts.
Welcome to Bangkok lunch, overlooking the Chao Phraya River at Sala Rim Naam Restaurant, a richly decorated traditional Thai pavilion noted for its excellent cuisine.
Visit the studio of Panchalee Sathirasas, a famous Thai pottery influenced by Japanese tradition. Panchalee fires here wheel thrown pots to 1300 degrees in a top loading electric kiln but the result is a very unique look or reduction glaze firing. Exclusive invitation for afternoon tea and demonstration. Included: (B), (D).
Day 3 - Visit Suan Pakkad Palace, former residence of Princess Chumbhot, one of Thailand’s leading art collectors. Now a museum, this complex of five traditional houses and beautiful landscaped garden features a 300-year old lacquered pavilion decorated with 17th century gold leaf murals and fine woodcarvings. Here we find a magnificent collection of 4000 year old Ban Chiang cord-marked pottery on display.
At Srinakharinwirot University Ceramics Department meet Ceramic Art instructor Mr. Avivat Phanyatrakul and exchange ideas with the students and ceramics teachers.
Lunch at Jim Thompson’s House. This remarkable Thai-style house was the work of an American who came to Thailand at the end of the Second World War and revived the Thai Silk Industry. The house displays his valuable collection of Thai and other Asian art such as Benjarong multicoloured porcelain.
Dinner tonight is at Ban Chiang, a delightful Thai restaurant in a traditional teakwood Thai house. Entering the restaurant you feel as though you were entering a private house, stepping back in time, to Bangkok 50 years ago. This tranquil sanctuary with its historic memorabilia, features traditional Thai dishes that are rarely found elsewhere. Included: (B), (D).
Day 4 - Boat trip to Kho Kread Island. Visit Baan Khanom, the House of Thai Sweets, to observe the traditional art of preparing delicate Thai desserts. On the way, stop at Wat Yai Sawang-Arom for fish feeding and visit the first brick factory in Thailand.
Visit a Mon pottery village to see an ancient Mon Pottery House and wood fired kiln. Here residents have maintained their culture and simple way of life. See the traditional method of throwing large terracotta pots, piercing and carving technique.
Dinner tonight is at Supatra River Restaurant, a gracious old Thai home. The interior of the house has been divided into several dining areas. The décor is contemporary, blending perfectly with the traditional architecture. There will be a performance of traditional folk plays and music. Included: (B), (D).
Day 5 - Attend the Chatuchak Weekend Market which covers an area of 35 acres containing more than 15,000 shops and stalls. This is a good place to buy Thai handicrafts, religious artifacts, art, antiques, ceramic, home ware, books, music, clothes, food and flowers. Lunch at an artistic style local restaurant near the market.
Special studio meeting with Ms. Surojana Sethabutra, award-winning contemporary ceramic artist who has exhibited her work around the country as well as India, Philippines, Israel, Malaysia and U.S.A. Specializing in the hand building technique, Surojana produces works that range from teapots to installations.
Remainder of your afternoon is at leisure to relax by your hotel pool or go shopping for bargains. Dinner tonight is not included so that you have a chance to experience some Bangkok nightlife. Included: (B), (L).
Day 6 - Visit the Ceramics Department at Silapakorn University, Nakorn Pathom campus. Originally established as the School of fine Arts it owes much to an almost life-time devotion of Italian sculptor and artist Corrado Feroci who adopted Thai nationality and the Thai name of Silpa Bhirasri.
Next we visit O-Clay Ceramics Studio, to meet artist Sorrarin Tantiwatyanont, who produces work of contemporary designs.
Traditional ceramics will be seen at Ratanakosin Pottery, established in 1972, producing outstanding stoneware, ceramic garden pots, dragon jars and terra-cotta figurines and see the making of traditional ‘Benjarong’ five colors porcelain ware.
Cruise down Chao Phraya ‘The River of Kings’, aboard a beautifully restored rice barge boat. Enjoy the exotic sights of Bangkok’s river life while sampling the subtle flavors and spices of Thai cuisine during the Dinner Cruise. Included: (B), (L), (D).
Day 7 - All members of our group have an early transfer to the airport for our short flight to Chiang Mai in far northern Thailand. (Land Only Guests, who have made their own flight arrangements, must also have purchased their own tickets for this flight).
Our private charter coach will be waiting at Chiang Mai airport to take us to a silverware village where fine Thai silverware is made and families have passed their skills down from generation to generation. Then visit Ban Thawai, a village renowned for reproduction of ancient wood products.
At Chiang Mai Cultural Centre and Museum we find Lanna Thai arts and culture. A hill tribe village and a Thai style house have been erected and display each tribe’s collections of handicrafts, costumes, ornaments, household utensils, musical instruments, agricultural tools and ceremonial paraphernalia.
Visit Mung Kung Pottery Village to see the local people making cooking pots, water jugs, vases and plant pots with ancient technique, hand-driven wheel and woodfiring.
For the next 5 nights your accommodation is at the Chiang Mai Plaza Hotel. Evening dinner tonight is at Rim Ping Riverside Restaurant. Included: (B), (L), (D).
Day 8 - Visit Bosang Umbrella Village where for over 200 years, families have been making brightly coloured silk and cotton umbrellas. Highly decorative ‘Sa Paper’ parasols are also made here.
Siam Celadon Factory is our next stop where high-fired stoneware is finished with a natural wood ash glaze. Celadon production has developed for 700 years to its present position as one of three types of ceramics in Thailand.
This afternoon visit Ban Phor Lian Meun’s 'Terracotta Arts' to see Bas-relief and full round figures based on the iconography of the ancient Indian civilisations. This new work looks aged and cracked and appears thousands of years old.
Tonight you can buy your dinner at the Night Bazaar then go shopping for hand thrown pottery and hand loomed fabric. Included: (B).
Day 9 - After breakfast visit an Elephant Training Centre. Here you will see how elephants work in the Thai logging camps and are used for trekking through the jungle.
After lunch visit a decorative candle factory, Meo Jaidee Studio (Kind Cat Candle).
From here we go to Tita Gallery to see a collection of ceramics, fabrics and original art on display, then visit Ekarit Pradistsuwana, a practicing architect and the owner of the 'Earth and Fire' kiln.
Special Khantoke Dinner tonight where, at a big carved teakwood table, five different dishes and steamed rice are served whilst you enjoy the entertainment of a traditional folk dance performance . This is an ancient Lanna Thai tradition of northern Thailand. Included: (B), (L), (D).
Day 10 - Visit the contemporary pottery studio of “Nai Din” whose humorous hand-built terracotta figures are seen in many of Bangkok’s public parks and gardens. Nai Din will demonstrate his hand building technique.
Then visit Baan Celadon factory, to see how they bring the ancient Thai celadon glaze back to life again. The name Celadon derives from two Sanskrit works, ‘Sila’, which means stone, and ‘Dhara’, green.
Back to the hotel and free time for shopping and to explore Chiang Mai nightlife. (Dinner is not included tonight). Included: (B), (L).
Day 11 - Morning visit to Doi Suthep mountain where we visit Phra That Doi Suthep monastery at 1080 metres above sea level.
Continue to visit Studio Naenna to see a fine display of textile arts of south east Asia. Studio Naenna is the marketing arm for women’s weaving group which was founded in 1986 in the north of Thailand. This group, known as the Weavers for the Environment was initiated by Patricia Cheesman Naenna, an expert in antique, Lao and Thai textiles and a lecturer in Thai textiles, ceramics and contemporary design at Chiang Mai University.
Lunch at a local restaurant then visit Chiang Mai Sangkhalok, to see ceramic wares that were produced by a number of kilns during the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods (from early 14th to 16th centuries).
Farewell Dinner at the Gallery Restaurant to enjoy a combination of exquisite Lanna architecture, fine Thai cuisine and exhibits of Northern Thai Art, set in a 100 year-old teak wood house on the bank of the river Ping. Included: (B), (L), (D).
Day 12 - Depart from Thailand. Included: (B).
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price will change with currency fluctuation.
Also see tour packages in:
Asia
Thailand
Crafts Tours
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