Tour Detail

6 Days-5 Nights NORTH PKG

DAY 1 CHIANG MAI ARRIVAL TRANSFER.

DAY 2 CHIANG MAI Trekking, The Monks' Trail, Wat Palad & Wat Pratat Doi Suthep. (B.L.)

DAY 3 CHIANG MAI LAMPUN LAMPANG Wat Haripunchai, Elephant Hospital, Tung Kwaing Market. (B.L.)

DAY 4 LAMPANG PHAYAO CHIANG RAI. Wat Chaloem Prakiet, Phayao Lake, (B.L.)

DAY 5 CHIANG RAI Golden Triangle, Opium Museum, Doi Tung, Mae Fah Luang Garden. (B.L.)

DAY 6 - CHIANG RAI. TRANSFER. (B.)

Day 1

DAY 1 – CHIANG MAI – ARRIVAL – TRANSFER.

Arrival in Chiang Mai. Meet with the guide and transfer to the hotel. Check-in and assignment of reserved rooms. Rest of the day free for individual activities.

CHIANG MAI

The province of Chiang Mai is in northern Thailand. Chiang Mai's climate is cooler than the rest of the country, with an average temperature of 25°C year-round. The city offers a myriad of sights and activities. The beauty of the mountains, hill tribe villages, and botanical gardens attract millions of tourists every year. You can also enjoy the zoo, with its aquarium and pandas, a night safari zoo, classic temples, and northern Thai architecture that is a blend of Lanna, Mon, and Burmese styles. Chiang Mai has a long history. It was once the capital of the Lanna Kingdom. Nowadays, it is a modern city, but the center lends itself to beautiful walks.

Day 2

DAY 2 – CHIANG MAI – Trekking, The Monks' Trail, Wat Palad & Wat Pratat Doi Suthep. (B.L.) Breakfast at the hotel. At 8:00 AM, meet with the guide and transfer to the starting point of this beautiful trekking path, often used by monks to reach the temples... The trail has a slight slope of medium difficulty and takes about 45 minutes from this point to Wat Pha Lat. Once on the trail, follow the trees wrapped in the orange cloth worn by monks. There are points where the trail itself becomes a picturesque scene filled with trees wrapped in orange. It's beautiful on its own, but when you encounter some of the monks using the trail, the scene becomes something completely surreal and even enchanting. After about 45 minutes, you reach Wat Palad. Once at the temple, you'll see that a 45-minute hike is nothing compared to what awaits you. It’s hard not to be amazed by the view of the staircase adorned by two dragons that abruptly ends at the edge of the waterfall and by the serenity this place exudes. Dragons, elephants, and mystical creatures form an intrinsic part of the environment created by this temple. They blend the earthly with the otherworldly in a beautiful way. The temple is well maintained, yet you can see how nature creeps in and overflows in certain areas, making you feel almost like you are in a forgotten land or time, surrounded only by the modesty and tranquility of the monks. True peace exists in this temple. Wat Pha Lat, meaning "Monastery on the sloping rock," was originally used as a resting place for people approaching the worship at Doi Suthep. But once the road was built in 1935, making Doi Suthep much more accessible, Wat Pha Lat became a monk's residence. From here, continue the trekking for another 90 minutes to the top of Doi Suthep, undoubtedly Chiang Mai's most famous temple. This part of the route is more challenging as it is steeper and longer. Here, you won't feel the serenity and peace of Wat Pha Lat, but this temple is worth seeing. Built in the early 19th Buddhist century, the beauty of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is marked by seven-headed serpent statues flanking the steps to the temple, where a golden pagoda in Chiang Saen style and all its exquisite Lanna architecture stand. The view of Chiang Mai from here is simply phenomenal. Lunch is served at a local restaurant, and return to the hotel is expected around 2:00 PM. Time to relax by the hotel pool or take a walk in the town center among the countless temples it hosts.

Day 3

DAY 3 – CHIANG MAI – LAMPUN – LAMPANG Wat Haripunchai, Elephant Hospital, Tung Kwaing Market. (B.L.) Breakfast at the hotel. At around 7:30 AM, meet with the guide and depart for Lampang, with stops along the way to visit the beautiful Wat Haripunchai in Lamphun. Located in the heart of the city, Wat Phra That Hariphunchai was built during the reign of King Arthitayarat, a descendant of Queen Chamthewi, about 800 years ago. One of its most important landmarks is the 46-meter golden chedi or Buddhist stupa, whose current features are the result of careful restoration in 1443 by a king of Chiang Mai. The temple has long been considered an important place of Buddhist worship. Other architectural works include the temple's ancient brick arch, adorned with fine designs, and the pair of sculpted lions at the gate. There is also a square-shaped chedi and a Khmer-style Buddha statue. Passing through the Doi Khuntan Pass, we descend towards Lampang, where the Thai Elephant Conservation Center is located, one of the first centers created to safeguard and care for these pachyderms. In the hospital of this center, the legs of several elephants destroyed by anti-personnel mines scattered in some areas on the border with Cambodia during the Khmer period have been reconstructed. Arriving in Lampang, home to some temples and traditional wooden houses. The city is bordered by the Khun Tan range to the west and the Phi Pan Nam range to the east. The charming city of horse-drawn carriages and the province with the King's white elephant stable at the Thai Elephant Conservation Center. Most visitors come to Lampang to see the Thai Elephant Conservation Center; however, while the elephant center is certainly a must-see attraction, those with some time to visit the provincial capital are generally surprised by Lampang city and province, charming and somewhat unusual. Famous for its horse-drawn carriages and sporting a rooster on its provincial emblem (the bird is also honored with a large statue in the city center), Lampang boasts a long history of human settlements within the Wang River basin, some of which date back more than 1,000 years. Lampang is rich in archaeological evidence from the Hariphunchai, Lanna, and Burmese kingdoms. After visiting the town with one of the carriages that make it famous, we visit Wat Pratat Lampang Luang. Located about 20 kilometers southwest of the city in Ko Kha district, the temple is a paradigm of Lanna-style temple construction. The temple itself is prominently located on a knoll surrounded by walls. The entrance arches, called Pratu Khong, are decorated with refined plaster designs. The main vihan without walls (ordination hall) houses a bronze Buddha statue called Phra Chao Lan Thong. At the end of the vihan (ordination hall) is the golden chedi in Lanna architectural style, containing a sacred relic. Also, at the back of the temple is another vihan (ordination hall) with beautiful murals on wooden walls, said to be the oldest of the first. The temple also has a large collection of ancient wooden utensils. Lunch is served at a local restaurant. Overnight in Lampang.

Day 4

DAY 4 – LAMPANG – PHAYAO – CHIANG RAI. Wat Chaloem Prakiet, Phayao Lake, (B.L.) At 8:00 AM, meet with the guide and depart to visit the famous Wat Chalerm Phrakiat Phrachomklao Rachanuson temple (its full name), unique in Thailand in its style. Naturally, there are many temples in the country built on mountain tops, but none like this with its elements installed on several nearby peaks. The site is truly exceptional, and the view from there is superb. The temple is situated on the top of a rocky hill in the countryside about sixty kilometers from the city of Lampang. The current complex was updated in 2004 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of King Rama IV. Climbing with your car is prohibited. To reach the top, we will have to take one of the pickups that go up and down between the parking lot at the bottom of the mountain and the café (with a terrace with a beautiful view and very reasonable prices despite the lack of competition and the exceptional environment) 3.5 kilometers higher. Then we will have to walk a long way to reach the temple at the top. Better to have good shoes and be fit. Take water before starting the climb because no one sells drinks there. If you go with small children (not recommended), you must watch them constantly. Half an hour walk. Time available to take beautiful photos, then return with one of the pickups that will bring us back to the parking lot. Lunch is served at a local restaurant. After lunch, we proceed to Phayao, where we make a stop by the lake that characterizes the town. Phayao Lake is a very popular place among local tourists and is also an important fishing resource. Early in the morning, the fishermen go out and return mid-morning to supply the lake's restaurants that will prepare for another day of catering, with lake fish grilled as a standout on the menu. The lakeside is a popular recreational area with afternoon aerobics classes, families picnicking, couples strolling in the evening along the walkway among adjacent cafés and restaurants. Various activities are available here (not included in the quote, to be paid directly on site), including renting a boat to navigate the waters to Wat Tilokarum or renting a bicycle to wander around the lake. Departure for Chiang Rai, arriving in about 90 minutes. Time to relax. Evening free.

Day 5

DAY 5 – CHIANG RAI – Golden Triangle, Opium Museum, Doi Tung, Mae Fah Luang Garden. (B.L.) Meet with the guide. Today, we start exploring this province, the northernmost in Thailand, beginning with the famous Golden Triangle, the point where the borders of Myanmar (formerly Burma), Thailand, and Laos meet. It is located 9 kilometers north of Chiang Saen along the Mekong River road. Sop Ruak is where the Mekong River (border with Laos) meets the Ruak River (border with Myanmar). In the past, the Golden Triangle was the world's main source of drug trafficking due to its prime location, connected to the opiate-producing countries. Today, it is a renowned tourist attraction. The visit includes Wat Phra That Pu Khao, offering a wonderful view of the Golden Triangle, the Mekong River, and the wooded mountains. Two large multi-headed Naga snakes at the bottom of the staircase protect the temple. The visit continues with the Opium Museum. The museum exhibits and educates visitors about the production of opium and its use in the lives of hill tribe populations. From the visit, we can learn a lot about the history of opium since it developed in this notorious location. Lunch is served at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, visit Doi Tung, home to the Mae Fah Luang Gardens and the teak house of the Queen Mother. The Mae Fah Luang Garden is dotted with roses, dahlias, and tulips arranged in European-style flower beds. Scattered throughout the garden are fountains, rock art, wooden structures, and a small evergreen maze. Some areas of the park are also dedicated to traditional tropical plants and flowers, including a fern house, an orchid house, and a night garden. There is also a special cactus house. Return to the city in the late afternoon. Overnight in a hotel in Chiang Rai.

Day 6

DAY 6 - CHIANG RAI. TRANSFER. (B.) Breakfast at the hotel. Room available until 12:00. Two hours before the flight, meet with our driver and transfer to Chiang Rai airport.