Tour Detail

NORTH - 7 DAYS 6 NIGHTS - CHIANG MAI (2) - LAMPANG (1) - CHIANG RAI (3)

DAY 1 - CHIANG MAI - ARRIVAL - TRANSFER.
DAY 2 - CHIANG MAI - Trekking, The Path of the Monks, 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, Lake Phayao, (B.L.)
DAY 5 - CHIANG RAI - Golden Triangle, Opium Museum, Doi Tung, Mae Fah Luang Garden. (B.L.)

DAY 6 - CHIANG RAI. Long Tail Kok River, Ethnic Minorities, Mae Salong. (B.L.)

DAY 7 - CHIANG RAI. TRANSFER. (B.)

Day 1

CHIANG MAI - ARRIVAL - TRANSFER.
Arrival in Chiang Mai. Meeting with the guide and transfer to the hotel. Check In, assignment of reserved rooms.
Rest of the day available for individual activities
CHIANG MAI
The Chiang Mai province is in northern Thailand. Chiang Mai's climate is always cooler than the rest of the country, with an average temperature of 25 ° C throughout the year. The city has a myriad of things to see and things to do. The beauty of the mountains, hill tribe villages and botanical gardens attract millions of tourists every year. You can also enjoy the zoo, with the aquarium and the pandas, a night safari zoo, classic North Thai temples and architecture which are a fusion 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

Breakfast at the hotel.
At 08:00 meeting with the guide and transfer to the starting point of this beautiful trekking, often used by monks to reach the temples ...
The path has a slight slope of medium difficulty and takes about 45 minutes from this point to Wat Pha Lat. Once you enter the path, you follow the trees wrapped in the orange cloth that the monks use to dress.
There are places where the path itself becomes a picturesque scene full of trees wrapped in orange. It's nice on its own, but once you meet some of the monks who use the path, the scene becomes something completely surreal and even enchanting. After about 45 minutes you reach Wat Palad
Once in the temple, you will see that a 45 minute hike is nothing compared to what awaits you. It is difficult not to be amazed by the sight of the staircase adorned with two dragons that ends abruptly on the edge of the waterfall, not to be enraptured by the serenity that this place exudes. Dragons, elephants and mystical creatures form an intrinsic part of the environment created by this temple. They mix the world with the afterlife in a beautiful way.
The temple is well maintained, yet you can see how nature creeps and overflows in certain areas, making you feel almost 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, which means "Monastery on the sloping rock", was originally used as a resting place for people approaching the Doi Suthep worship. But once the road was built in 1935, making Doi Suthep much more accessible; Wat Pha Lat, in turn, became the residence of a monk.
From here the trek continues for another 90 minutes to the top of Doi Suthep, undoubtedly the most famous temple in Chiang Mai. This part of the route is more demanding, however, as it is steeper and longer.
Here you will not feel the serenity and peace of Wat Pha Lat, but this temple deserves to be seen. Built in the early 19th century Buddhist, the beauty of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep is marked by seven-headed snake statues flanking the stairs to the temple where there is a golden Chiang Saen-style pagoda and all its exquisite Lanna architecture . The view of Chiang Mai from here is simply phenomenal.
Lunch is served in a local restaurant, the return to the hotel is expected around 14:00. Time to relax in the hotel pool or for a walk in the center of the town, among the countless temples it houses.

Day 3

CHIANG MAI - LAMPUN - LAMPANG Wat Haripunchai, Elephant Hospital, Tung Kwaing Market. (B.L.)
Breakfast at the hotel.
At about 07:30 meeting with the guide and departure for Lampang, along the way stop to visit the beautiful Wat Haripunchai of Lamphun, located in the heart of the city, WatPhra 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 the Buddhist stupa, whose current features are the result of careful restoration work in 1443 by a king from Chiang Mai. The temple has long been considered an important Buddhist place of worship. Other architectural works include the ancient-style brick arch of the temple, which is adorned with refined designs, and the pair of lions carved on the door. There is also a square-shaped Chedi and a Khmer-style Buddha statue

Passing through the Doi Khuntan pass, we descend towards Lampang, here is the Thai Elephant Conservation Center, one of the first centers created to safeguard and treat these pachyderms. In the hospital of this center, the legs of several elephants were rebuilt, destroyed by anti-personnel mines scattered in some areas on the border with Cambodia during the Khmer period.
You arrive in Lampang, home to some temples and traditional wooden houses. The city is bordered by the Khun Tan chain in the west and the Phi Pan Nam chain in the east.
The fascinating city of horse-drawn carriages and the province with the stables of the king of white elephants at the elephant conservation center of Thailand. Most visitors visit Lampang to see Thailand's Elephant Conservation Center, however, while the elephant center is definitely an attraction not to be missed, those who have some time to visit the provincial capital are generally surprised. from the city and the province of Lampang, fascinating 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 kingdoms of Hariphunchai, Lanna and Burma.
After visiting the town with one of the carriages that make it famous, we go to visit Wat Pratat Lampang Luang. It is located about 20 kilometers southwest of the city, in the Ko Kha district, the temple is a paradigm for the construction of a Lanna-style temple. The temple itself is prominently located on a knoll surrounded by walls. The entrance arches, called Pratu Khong, are decorated with refined chalk drawings. The main wallless vihan (ordination hall) houses a bronze Buddha statue called Phra Chao Lan Thong. At the end of the vihan (ordination hall) is the Lanna architectural style golden chedi, which contains a sacred relic. Also at the rear of the temple, there is another vihan (ordination room) with beautiful murals on wooden walls, which is said to be the oldest of the first. The temple also has a large collection of ancient wooden utensils.
Lunch is served in a local restaurant. Overnight in the city.
 

Day 4

LAMPANG - PHAYAO - CHIANG RAI. Wat Chaloem Prakiet, Lake Phayao, (B.L.)
At 08:00 meeting with the guide and departure for the visit of the famous temple Wat Chalerm Phrakiat Phrachomklao Rachanuson (his full name), unique in Thailand in its style. Of course, there are many temples in the country built on top of a mountain 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 located 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.
Getting in your car is forbidden. To reach the top, we will have to take a seat in one of the pickups that go up and down between the parking lot at the bottom of the mountain and the coffee (with a terrace with beautiful views and very reasonable prices despite the lack of competition and the exceptional environment) 3 , 5 kilometers higher. Then we will have to travel a long road to reach the top temple. Better to have good shoes and be in shape. Get the water before starting the climb because nobody sells drinks there. If you go with young children (not recommended), you need to watch them constantly. Half an hour's walk. Time at your disposal to take some beautiful photographs, then return with one of the pickups that will take us back to the parking lot.
Lunch is served in a local restaurant.
After lunch we continue to Phayao, where we stop by the lake which characterizes the town.
Lake Phayao is a very popular place with local tourists and is also an important fishing resource. Early in the morning, the fishermen leave and come back in the middle of the morning, to supply the restaurants on the lake that will prepare themselves for another day of catering, whose menu, of course, features grilled lake fish.
The lakeside promenade is a popular recreation area with afternoon aerobics classes, families picnicking, couples strolling in the evenings and walking along the promenade between the adjacent cafes and restaurants. Various activities are available here (not included in the price, to be paid directly on site) including the rental of a boat to coast the waters to Wat Tilokarum, or the rental of a bicycle to wander around the lake

Departure for Chiang Rai, where you will arrive in about 90 minutes. Time at leisure to relax
Evening available

Day 5

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

Meeting with the Guide, today we begin the exploration of this province, the northernmost of Thailand, starting from the famous Golden Triangle, the point where the borders of Myanmar (ancient Burma), Thailand and Laos meet. It is located 9 kilometers north of Chiang Saen, along the road along the Mekong River. Sop Ruak is the place where the Mekong River (border with Laos) meets the Ruak River (border with Burma). In the past, the Golden Triangle was the world's leading source of drug trafficking due to its privileged position linked to the opioid-producing countries. Today it is a popular tourist attraction.

The visit includes Wat Phra That Pu Khao which offers a wonderful view of the Golden Triangle, the Mekong River and the forested mountains. Two large multi-headed Naga snakes at the bottom of the staircase protect the temple. It continues with the Opium Museum. The museum exhibits and educates visitors on the production of opium and its use in the life of the tribal people of the hills, from the visit we can learn a lot about the history of opium since it developed in this notorious location.

Lunch is served in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon visit Doi Tung, where the Mae Fah Luang Gardens and the Queen Mother's Teak house are located.

The Mae Fah Luang Garden is dotted with roses, dahlias and tulips, arranged in European-style flower beds. Scattered around the garden are fountains, rock art, wooden structures and a small evergreen labyrinth. 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, returning to the city in the late afternoon. Overnight at the hotel in Chiang Rai.

Day 6

CHIANG RAI. Long Tail Kok River, Ethnic Minorities, Mae Salong. (B.L.)

Breakfast at the hotel.

At about 07:30, in the morning meeting with the guide, departure for another beautiful, intense beautiful day of visits.

The day begins with the transfer to the pier for boarding a motorboat that will take us to Ruam Mitr along the Kok River, with a visit to the ethnic minorities Karen and Lahu. The Karen village of Ruammit which is located on the banks of the Nam Mae Kok (Mae Kok river) is famous for its elephants, with a long tradition of training and deforestation and remains distinctly of the Karen ethnic group, preserving its culture and traditions.

It continues with the visit of Doi Mae Salong, which is not a typical Thai city, but feels more like it belongs to the south of China. This is because it was founded as a Yunnanese factory in the 1960s, from the remains of the Kuomintang army (KMT) who fled Yunnan after the defeat of Mao Tse Tung's forces in the Chinese civil war.

Most of the elements of the Republican army took refuge in the then Formosa, now Taiwan, while some units fled through Burma and Laos, from where they continued to raid the Chinese border, before settling in the anti-communist Kingdom of Thailand.

return to the city in the late afternoon. Overnight at the hotel in Chiang Rai

Day 7

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.