Departure from the hotel at 08.00 a.m. with your guide on a morning's exploration of Bangkok's waterways: the Chao Praya River and the 'klongs'. You will walk to the Chao Praya River where you'll board a public express boat to the suburb Nonthaburi. You'll visit the fresh food market before continuing by long tail boat to Wat Sao Thong Hin, a temple with interesting statues. You'll continue your exploration of Bangkok's backwaters by rocket boat. Return to the hustle and bustle of Bangkok by another long tail boat and have lunch at the Deck.

Afterwards spend the afternoon exploring one of the most beautiful examples of Thai architecture is the Grand Palace, the former residence of Thai monarchs, is known for its magnificent murals, colorful figures and impressive architecture. The palace is used by the king only for certain ceremonial occasions. Adjacent to the Grand Palace is Wat Pra Keaw, where Thailand most revered Buddha statue, the Emerald Buddha, is kept.

Afterwards visit the Wat Po, Temple of the Reclining Buddha, an impressive statue of 46 meters long and 15 meters high. This temple is also the headquarters of Thai traditional medicine and Thai Massage.
Return back to your hotel by boat.

This morning meet your guide and transfer to the airport by private vehicle in time for your flight to Chiang Rai.

Fly from Bangkok to Chiang Rai on Thai Airways
Economy Class

Upon arrival in Chiang Rai, meet your private guide and drive on the hour-long transfer to the historic, old city of Chiang Saen, with its ancient walls, interesting museum and numerous temples. You'll have a chance to view the mighty Mekong River from Wat Chom Kitti and peer far into bucolic Laos before transferring to your lovely resort.

Once in Chiang Saen, check in to your wonderful resort, settle in and enjoy a relaxing evening.

This morning you'll take part in a mahout training program at the Anantara's working Elephant Camp and conservation center, operated in conjunction with the Thai Elephant Recovery center in Lampang.

Your day starts early this morning, and the first task is to meet your elephant. Introduce yourself with a snack or two to ensure your friendship gets off on the right foot. The mahout will then ride her back into camp while you get used to being up close and personal with your elephant.

Back at camp, you will feed your elephant once again before helping to wash the night's mud away and check her skin. After the bath, it's time for coffee as your new friend dries off. Then, the mahout will demonstrate the basics of climbing up and driving your elephant. Then it is your turn.

Over the next hour or so, gain confidence as you perform a series of driving exercises in camp, always accompanied by sugarcane for the elephant and plenty of photo opportunities for you, before riding Your elephant back up to the hotel in time for breakfast.

During the day you will have a chance to take part in one of the many other activities that Anantara can arrange for you at the resort or beyond. Alternatively, you are welcome to spend the day in camp helping the mahouts with their daily jobs-the ones that are not part of the course.

In the early afternoon, from 1330 until 1530, you'll return to the elephant camp to practice what you learned in the morning and proceed to learn some of the more complicated commands. At the end of the day you will bathe your elephant again.

When your mahout is satisfied that your elephant is clean, you will drive her back into the forest, bid her goodnight and head back to the hotel for dinner, cocktails, or you may feel you need to indulge in a spa treatment.

Depart for the second day to Luang Prabang. In this early morning thereีs the option to visit Pak Beng market where minorities from the surrounding villages converge to trade their goods. Lunch on board. Before you arrive in Luang Prabang, stop to visit the Pak Ou caves at the confluence of the Mekong River and Ou River. There are two caves: Tham Ting, the lower cave and Tham Phum, which can be reached by a long stair case. They are full of Buddha images of varying styles, ages and size.
On the way to Luang Prabang a brief stop is made to observe the traditional process of manufacturing local rice alcohol.
Upon arrival in Luang Prabang, late in the afternoon you will be transferred to your accommodations in Luang Prabang.

After breakfast, you will visit the Traditional Arts and Ethnology Centre, a private, non-profit entity located in a historic building in Luang Prabang (note: the museum is closed on Monday). You will be given a 30-minute guided tour through the centre, where you will receive an in-depth overview of Laos' many diverse ethnic minorities.
 
Next, you will drive into the peaceful countryside of Luang Prabang, stopping to explore several villages on foot along the way.
 
The first village you will see is Ban Na, which is inhabited by Yuan, an ethnic minority people who migrated to Laos from the Chiang Rai area in northern Thailand. The main activity in the village is rice farming.
 
Passing rice fields, you will next arrive at Ban Kok Wan, an idyllic Khmu hamlet. The Khmu were the original inhabitants of Northern Laos. They are animists and speak a language belonging to the Austro-Asiatic group of languages. Being careful not to disrupt the serenity of this isolated area, you can observe the locals as they carry out their daily tasks. As you wander around the small village, your guide will be happy to translate your questions.
 
Your guide will then prepare a Lao style picnic lunch while you enjoy the beautiful landscape.
 
Next, you will follow the Nam Pa River, one of the most scenic river valleys in Laos, for a visit to the small Hmong settlements of Ban Bo Hae and Ban Long Lan. (note: only accessible during the dry season) The Hmong settlers were the most recent to come to Laos. They built their villages on the mountain tops and practice slash and burn cultivation of corn and other crops.

This morning you will be met and transferred back to the airport for your international flight.