Begin in the city of Chiang Mai before heading out into the countryside to discover Northern Thailand in this 8 day journey through the heart of Thai culture. Begin in Chiang Mai where you can marvel at the temples and spend a day riding elephants in the jungle.
Head to Mae Hong Son in the stunningly beautiful countryside in Northern Thailand. You will see amazing landscapes, meet fascinating hill tribes, explore caves, and visit a tea plantation.
Continue on to Chiang Rai and enjoy the remarkable experience of visiting 3 countries in one day as you explore the Golden Triangle. Come for an adventure in Northern Thailand!
Day 1 Chiang Mai: Arrival, Doi Suthep Temple with Wat Suan Dok Sunset
Catch your flight – Bangkok Airways PG217 departing Bangkok at 12:10 & arriving in Chiang Mai at 13:25. You will be met by your guide at Chiang Mai Airport and transferred to your hotel.
In the afternoon, you will drive up to visit Doi Suthep, the most important Wat in Chiang Mai. Perched high above the city, it offers wonderful views of the city and countryside below.
From here head west of the city walls on to one of the most beautiful viewpoints for sunset – Wat Suan Dok. Literally translated as ‘’field of flowers’’, this temple was built by King Keu Na of Lanna, and is a prime example of Lanna architecture. Here at this fourteenth century temple you will witness evening prayer as the monks and local people come together at the end of the day.
Meals Included: None
Overnight at Yaang Come Village – Superior Room
(For Families): Family Room
Day 2 Chiang Mai: Elephant Owner for a Day at Patara Elephant Farm
You will be met in the lobby of your hotel at 7:30am and transferred to the Patara Elephant Farm, located not far from Chiang Mai. At the farm you will be given your training outfit and a brief talk on working with elephants before heading into the bush to find them. You will learn about the management of the elephant farm and the how the breeding program has been developed and maintained. You will of course be introduced to the stars of the show, and slowly will learn how to work with them on the ground. After you’ve made friends, you can then lead them down to the river for their morning bath, followed by a short ride to a local temple where you can learn about elephants in Buddhism and the Thai’s ancient relationship with these traditional beasts of burden. Around midday you will set off on a ride through the jungle to visit some lovely waterfalls where you can enjoy a picnic lunch as well as a swim in the falls with your elephant. Return to the camp in the afternoon and say goodbye to your new friends before being transferred back to your hotel.
Please note: Today you will get wet when you help with the elephants’ bath. Please bring appropriate clothing for this, as well as a towel and change of clothes.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Yaang Come Village – Superior Room
(For Families): Family Room
Day 3 Chiang Mai: Mae Hong Son
You will be met by your guide at your hotel and transferred to Chiang Mai airport for your flight. (Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son flight included)
Upon arrival at Mae Hong Son stop for lunch at a local restaurant; after lunch visit the beautiful Burmese style temples at Wat Jongcome, Wat Jongklang, Wat Phrathad Doi Kong Moo and Wat Hao Wieng.
After checking into the delightful, eco-friendly Fern Resort, choose to have dinner right there overlooking the rice paddies or arrange with your guide to go back into town where you can eat at a restaurant of your choice.
Meals included Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Fern Resort – Deluxe Room
(For Families): 1 Double & 1 Twin Deluxe Room
Day 4 Mae Hong Son: The Pai River
This morning you will start with an exciting boat trip on the Pai River to visit the mysterious Padong Long-Neck Tribe at Baan Nam Peing Din. Enjoy a walk around their village as you learn about their history and their culture from your guide. Return by boat to Mae Hong Son for lunch at a local restaurant, before returning to Fern Resort where you will have the afternoon free to relax, swim in their pool or go for a walk in the surrounding forests.
Enjoy dinner on the Richfield Terrace at your hotel.
Meals included Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Fern Resort – Deluxe Room
(For Families): 1 Double & 1 Twin Deluxe Room
Day 5 Mae Hong Son: Pai
Wake up early to see and participate in the giving of alms to local monks. Return to the resort for breakfast. After breakfast visit the unique fish caves and continue to the huge cave complex of “Tham Lod” (Lod Cave). View the pre-historic cave with its impressive stalagmites and stalactites, before continuing on to Pai. Have lunch at a local restaurant. Once you arrive in Pai you will into your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Pura Vida Hotel – Standard Room
(For Families): 1 Double & 1 Twin Standard Room
Day 6 Pai to Thaton: Araksa Tea Plantation
This morning you will leave from Pai around 8am to head to Thaton to visit the Araksa Tea Plantation. The plantation is located on a scenic, evergreen hill in Mae Tang District. Araksa Tea Plantation specializes in producing high quality Assam tea – a black tea named after India’s largest tea growing region.
As visitors, you can enjoy beauty of the lush tea plantation and learn all about the tea growing process. You will be invited to join resident tea pickers, watch how the leaves are processed according to age-old tradition. Enjoy a cup of tea and traditional Thai snack. You will have lunch at a local restaurant before heading to explore the Chiang Dao caves before checking into your hotel in Thaton.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Mae Kok River Village – Standard Room
(For Families): Family Villa
Day 7 Thaton to Chiang Rai: Visiting Hill Tribes
Depart from the resort and take a one hour boat ride on the Kok River to Baan Mai, visiting hill tribe villages along the way. Your van will meet you and you can continue on to visit the Yao and Akha Hill Tribe villages. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant on your way to Chiang Rai where you will check into your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at The Imperial River House Resort – Deluxe Room
(For Families): 1 Double & 1 Twin Deluxe Room
Day 8 Chiang Rai: Golden Triangle Tour
After breakfast, visit Mae Sai – the Northern most point of Thailand on the border with Myanmar. Continue from there to the world famous Golden Triangle, the land where three countries meet (Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand). You will have lunch at a local restaurant before visiting the outstanding Opium Museum. Continue on to the ancient city of Chiang Saen, the first capital of the Lanna Kingdom. In the early evening, you will be transferred back to your hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at The Imperial River House Resort – Deluxe Room
(For Families): 1 Double & 1 Twin Deluxe Room
Day 9 Chiang Rai: Departure
You will be transferred from your hotel to Chiang Rai Airport for your onward flight – Bangkok Airways PG232 departing Chiang Rai at 09:45 & arriving in Bangkok at 11:05
Meals included: Breakfast