Bangkok - Chiang Mai - Chiang Rai - Chiang Saen - Doi Mae Salong - Mae Sai - Chiang Rai - Chiang Mai - Lamphun - Lampang - Phrae - Nan - Phayao - Chiang Mai

Departure from Bangkok for Kanchanaburi to visit the cemetery of the allied prisoners of World War II and the famous bridge over the River Kwai. Arrive Hua Hin, visit the renovated Summer Palace, Marukatayawan which is made of Golden teak wood. Proceed to Ranong, take a short boat trip to Victoria Point, the southern-most place in Myanmar. Depart for Krabi, boat trip to the idyllic island of Koh Poda and Pranang Cave for swimming and snorkelling. Drive to Phang-Nga Bay and end route at Phuket, a favoured tropical vacation island.

ITINERARY : (Min. 2 persons)

Pick up passengers from various major Bangkok hotels and transfer to Bangkok domestic airport. Depart Bangkok by TG-100 (0630-0740) to Chiang Mai, where your guide well meet and greet you. Drive to Chiang Rai via Wiang Pa Pao with an en route stop at a Karen village and the Hot Springs. Lunch at a local restaurant in Chiang Rai. Continue to Chiang Saen, the former capital of the first Thai Lanna Kingdom, situated on the Mekong River on the border between Thailand and Laos. Visit Wat Phra Dhat Jom Kitti by climbing 383 steps to the top of the hill. Continue by long-tailed speedboat on the Mekong River towards the Golden Triangle, where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos converge.

Dinner and accommodation at IMPERIAL GOLDEN TRIANGLE RESORT.

After Breakfast, depart from Chiang Saen to Mae Sai, the northern-most point of Thailand on the Thai - Burmese border. In the border town of Mae Sai visit a Jade Cutting Factory and the colorful market, where handicrafts and souvenirs are on sale. The next stop will be made at the Fish and Monkey Cave. Proceed to Doi Mae Salong, passing through mountain scenery. The view from the top takes in a large part of Thailand, Burma and the Mekong Valley, which makes this trip very worthwhile. Lunch at Doi Mae Salong Villa. Continue to visit Akha, Yao and Lisu Tribes before returning to your hotel in Chiang Rai.

Dinner and accommodation at WIANG INN HOTEL.

After Breakfast, transfer to the boat pier. Board simple long-tailed motorboats for a three-hour journey on the Kok River, passing tiny hill tribe villages, bamboo huts and jungle scenery. Further upriver, visit to a Lahu hill tribe village. The last stop before arriving at Thatorn is made at the village of Ban Pha Tai. Lunch at Maekok River Village Resort. Proceed by bus to Mae Rim via Fang and Chiang Dao. Continue by pick-up truck to the Hmong Hilltribe Lodge. BBQ dinner followed by a presentation of Meo dances and songs.

Accommodation at HMONG HILLTRIBE LODGE.

After Breakfast, visit the elephant camp in Mae Saa and watch the elephants at work. Their strength and clever teamwork will amaze you.

Optiona : A one-hour elephant ride into the jungle surroundings. Cost per person : Baht 700

Continue to visit an Orchid Farm. After lunch at a local restaurant, you will visit various Handicraft Villages, where you can watch the artisans at work: See, how lacquer-ware is made, the spinning and weaving of Thai Silk and how paper umbrellas are painted. You will also visit a well-known Thai wood carving factory with possibility to buy Burmese antiques and the reputable Gems Gallery.

In the evening enjoy a typical Kantoke dinner with a presentation of traditional dances from Northern Thailand.

Accommodation at CHIANG MAI PLAZA HOTEL.

After breakfast visit the most interesting places in Chiang Mai such as Wat Phra Singh with its famous Buddha image, the Hill-tribe museum and Wat Doi Suthep, tucked away in the mountains at 1,056 meters above sea level. The temple is reached by a staircase with 290 steps, flanked by a Naga balustrade on either side. The monastery was built by King Gue-Na in 1383.

After lunch at a local restaurant depart for Lamphun and visit Wat Haripoonchai, an incredibly beautiful temple dating back to 1157.The golden Chedi is a postcard favorite and a spectacular site. We continue towards Lampang with a stopover at Tung Kwian Market, where ceramics, handicrafts, fruit, vegetables, preserved foods and live animals are sold.

Shortly before arriving to Lampang, we visit Wat Phra Tat Luang with its huge golden Chedi and beautiful Lanna style architecture.

Dinner and accommodation at WIENGLAKOR HOTEL or LAMPANG RIVER LODGE, Lampang.

After breakfast visit the local market, which offers a colorful display of flowers, fruit, vegetables, spices and herbs. Watch out for the 2 symbols, which Lampang is famous for: The cock, which can be found on street signs and ceramic bowls, and the horse carriages, which can only be seen in this town in Thailand.

During a leisurely ride in a horse carriage one can still admire wooden houses built along the river. You will also visit Wat Chedi Sao, a temple with 20 stupas. Monks at this temple prepare medicines from medicinal herbs and plants, which promise to cure a large number of remedies.

Continue towards Phrae with a visit of Nam Tum weaving village, where you can observe the local women weaving nicely patterned cloths on wooden looms. Another stop will be made at Ban Tung Takra, where woven baskets and household goods are sold along the street.

After lunch in Phrae visit the exquisite Vongburi House, a wooden mansion built in 1907 with fine wood carvings. Phrae is also famous for producing “Mo-Hom”, the blue shirts worn by villagers all over Northern Thailand. You will visit the home of a family, where the process of dying the shirts will be explained to you. Continue through rural villages to Muang Phi, which depicts strange eroded rock formations, sandstone canyons and creeks. In old times villagers often got lost in the shrubs, which inspired them to name the place Phae Muang Phi, or “Ghost City”. Shortly before arriving to Nan you will also have the opportunity to see, how Sa-paper is produced.

Dinner and accommodation at DHEVARAJ HOTEL in Nan.

Breakfast. Visit Wat Phumin, famous for its mural wall paintings, Wat Phratat Changkam Boravihan, Wat Hua Khuang and the National Museum. A scenic drive over winding mountain roads brings you to Phayao, where the Giant Cat Fish is bred. The Kwan Phayao is one of Thailand’s largest natural lakes and locals come here often for picnics or to watch fishermen throwing their nets. After lunch at a local restaurant, we continue to Chiang Mai airport. Return flight to Bangkok and transfer to your hotel in Bangkok.