Rubies and Sapphires
Programme Overview
Duration: 6 days
A bespoke programme for those travellers with an interest in the history and production of gems in Thailand.
Highlights: Bangkok, Chantaburi
Arrive Bangkok
Upon arrival a representative will be there to breeze you through immigration and customs through a special channel. After clearing immigration and customs, you will be transferred to the legendary Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok.
Enjoy a light meal and a warm bath in the privacy of your hotel room with some light reading about the history of rubies in Thailand.
Overnight: Mandarin Oriental
Meal Plan: D
Bangkok
Begin your day experiencing an important part of Thai culture by partaking in the solemn Buddhist ceremony of food offering. You do not need to be a Buddhist to join in the ceremony but an open mind is recommended.
Continue to the magnificent Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha.
The Grand Palace is the royal palace of the kings of the Chakri dynasty and is the current ruling house. Although the present royal family no longer resides in the Grand Palace, the structure is still the official seat of the King's power and ceremonial occasions are celebrated here.
This afternoon you will have lunch with Dr. Laurent Massi, Director of the Gemstone Identification, Grading and Research Laboratory at the Asian Institute of Gemological Science. Next visit the Institute where you will learn about the different coloured stones, how the stone is graded and also a quick course on rubies in the region.
The evening is at leisure.
Overnight: Mandarin Oriental
Meal Plan: B,L
Bangkok - Chanthaburi
This morning you will have breakfast with Mie Mie Tin Htut, a descendent of the famous “Ruby King” of Myanmar. She will share with you her heritage, and her passion and wealth of knowledge of these gems.
After breakfast, together with Ms. Tin Htut, you will be flown by private helicopter to Chantaburi, also known as Southeast Asia's City of Gems. Ruby mining in the Chanthaburi Province centres around Aranyaprathet, along the Chanthaburi Aranyaprathet - Poipet Cambodian border, 280 kilometres east of Bangkok.
The Chanthaburi region is known primarily for rubies (Siam Ruby), and secondarily for yellow and black star-sapphire. Mining is conducted along ancient river-bank clay and gravel alluvial deposits, using both mechanised mining, and small scale hand-dug pit mining.
In Chanthaburi you will learn the trade of buying and selling of gemstones.
Return to Bangkok where evening is at leisure.
Overnight: Mandarin Oriental
Meal Plan: B,L
Bangkok
This morning visit the local market with our hotel chef to pick up the ingredients for your cooking lesson at the hotel. The highlight of this class is learning to make the Thai dessert of red ruby chestnut morsels in sweet coconut.
After lunch another surprise awaits you at the office of Ms. Mie Mie Tin Htut. Go behind closed doors where the master cutter will show you the art of faceting, or cutting, gemstones that has existed for over a thousand years.
The evening is at leisure.
Overnight: Mandarin Oriental
Meal Plan: B,L
Bangkok
Today is at leisure to do some final sightseeing or shopping in Bangkok.
This evening, cruise along the Chao Phraya River and have dinner on your own private rice barge with Dr. Laurent Massi, Director of AIGS, and Ms. Mie Mie Tin Htut to talk about your “ruby trip” in Thailand.
The Chao Phraya is a major river in Thailand, with its low alluvial river plain marking the mainland of the country. The name Chao Phraya is a Thai feudal title, which can be translated as General or Lord.
Overnight: Mandarin Oriental
Meal Plan: B,D
Depart Bangkok
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home.
Meal Plan: B