Bangkok - Chiang Mai - Lamphun - Lampang - Phrae - Nan - Phayao - Chiang Mai

Fly to Chiang Mai, visit Mae Sa Valley, where you will watch elephants at work in the forest, an Orchid Farm. Afterwards, visit Lamphun and visit Wat Haripoonchai, an incredibly beautiful temple dating back to 1157. Continue towards Phrae with a visit of Nam Tum weaving village, 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.

ITINERARY : (Min. 2 persons)

Pick up from various hotels in Bangkok and transfer to Bangkok domestic airport. Departure by TG 100 to Chiang Mai. At Chiang Mai airport you will be met by our local guide and start the day with a drive to Mae Sa Valley, where you will watch elephants at work in the forest.

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

Continue to an Orchid Farm. After lunch at a local restaurant you will receive an introduction to the various handicrafts produced around Chiang Mai with the opportunity to watch the production of lacquer-ware, weaving of Thai Silk and the painting of paper umbrellas. A visit of a reputable Gems cutting workshop and a well-known Thai wood carving factory with the possibility to buy Burmese antiques are included in the afternoon program as well.

In the evening enjoy a typical Northern Thai Dinner with a presentation of Thai traditional dances from Northern Thailand at a Kantoke restaurant.

Accommodation at CHIANG MAI PLAZA Hotel or similar.

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. 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, 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.