| Duration: | 5 Day(s) - 4 Night(s) |
| Tour Category: | Classic Tours |
DAY 1 BANGKOK—CHIANG MAI—CHIANG RAI—CHIANG SAEN [-/L/D]
Pick up passengers from major Bangkok hotels and transfer to Bangkok domestic airport. Depart Bangkok by TG-102 (air ticket is not included).
Arrive at Chiang Mai Airport. Drive to Chiang Rai for lunch at a local restaurant. Continue to Chiang Saen, the former capital of the first Thai Kingdom, situated directly on the Mekong River at the border between Thailand and Laos.
Visit Wat Phra Dhat Jom Kitti by climbing 383 steps to the top of the hill. Also, visit Wat Chedi Luang and the small museum nearby. Continue by longtail speedboat upriver on the Mekong toward the Golden Triangle where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos meet. Check-in at IMPERIAL GOLDEN TRIANGLE or a similar hotel.
Dinner and accommodations.
DAY 2 CHIANG SAEN—DOI MAE SALONG—MAE SAI—CHIANG RAI [B/L/D]
Breakfast at the hotel
Depart from Chiang Saen to visit Lisu Village at Ban Mae Kaotom and continue uphill via Mae Chan to visit Yao and Akha hill-tribe villages. Proceed to Doi Mae Salong, passing through beautiful mountain scenery. The view takes in a stunning view of Thailand, Myanmar, and the Mekong Valley.
Lunch at Mae Salong Villa in Doi Mae Salong. Depart Doi Mae Salong to Mae Sai, the northernmost Thai town on the Myanmar border. Walk around the local market with opportunities for shopping. Before returning to Chiang Rai, a short stop at the fish cave. Check-in at THE LEGEND CHIANG RAI BOUTIQUE RIVER & SPA or a similar hotel.
Dinner and accommodations.
DAY 3 CHIANG RAI—THATORN—HMONG HILLTRIBE LODGE [B/L/D]
Breakfast at the hotel
Leave the hotel for the boat landing. Board simple longtail motorboats for a three-hour journey up Kok River, passing tiny hill-tribe villages, bamboo huts, and jungle scenery. Disembark at Ban Pha Tai and continue by bus to visit Ban Lorcha, a Phami Akha hill tribe community center.
This community-based tourism development project promotes sustainable, self-reliant development to improve the quality of life of villagers of this Akha Community, and is a model for tourism in Hilltribe villages. Drive to Mae Kok River Lodge for lunch. Proceed to Mae Rim via Fang and Chiang Dao. Continue by landrover to HMONG HILLTRIBE LODGE, for BBQ dinner followed by the presentation of Meo dances and overnight stay.
DAY 4 HMONG HILLTRIBE LODGE—CHIANG MAI [B/L/D]
Breakfast at the hotel
Drive to the elephant camp and watch elephants taking timber in the forest. Their strength and strategic
teamwork will amaze you.
Recommended Option:
Take a one-hour elephant safari into the surrounding countryside.
Extra: Baht 600.- per person. (two people per elephant)
Continue with a visit to the orchid farm and lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon visits to Handicraft Villages to see the manufacture of lacquerware, spinning, and weaving of Thai Silk, and to watch how paper umbrellas are made.
Also visit a well-known Thai wood-carving factory, with the possibility of buying Burmese antiques. Check-in at AMARI RINCOME HOTEL or a similar hotel. Kantoke Dinner. Enjoy a typical Thai dinner with ancient dances from northern Thailand followed by a performance of dances and songs by various hill tribes.
Optional: Opportunity to visit the city’s night market in search of bargains.
Accommodations.
DAY 5 CHIANG MAI—BANGKOK [B/L/-]
Breakfast at the hotel.
City Tour. Visit the most interesting temples in Chiang Mai, like Wat Phra Singh with its famous Buddha image, Wat Chiang Man, the oldest temple in Chiang Mai and built by King Mangrai, and Wat Suan Dok, housing remains of many generations of the old Chiang Mai Royal Family. Also visit Wat Doi Suthep, tucked away in the mountains at 1,056 meters above sea level. Lunch at a local restaurant.
Transfer to Chiang Mai Airport.
Depart Chiang Mai by TG-111 (air ticket is not included).
Arrive in Bangkok with transfers to your Bangkok hotel
