Tour Detail

NORTH - 8 DAYS 7 NIGHTS - CHIANG MAI (2) - LAMPANG - CHIANG RAI (1) - THA TON (1) - PAI (1) MAE HONG SON (1) - MAE CHAEM (1)

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

DAY 4 - CHIANG RAI - THATON. Doi Tung, Mae Fah Luang Garden, Mae Salong. (B.L.)
DAY 5 - TATHON - CHIANG DAO - PAI. Chiang Dao Caves, Pong Duet Geyser, Historic Bridge and Pai Canyon. (B. L.)
DAY 6 - PAI - MAE HONG SON. Chinese village of Santichon, Lod Caves, Fish Cave, Surin Namthok National Park. (B. L.)
DAY 7 - MAE HONG SON - MAE CHAEN. Local market, Giraffe women, Mae Surin Waterfall (B.L.)
DAY 8 - MAE CHAEM - DOI INTHANON - CHIANG MAI. (B.L.)

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

CHIANG MAI - Trekking, The Path of the Monks, Wat Palad & Wat Pratat Doi Suthep. (B.L.)
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 - LAMPANG - PHAYAO - CHIANG RAI. Wat Chaloem Prakiet, Lake Phayao, (B.L.)

Breakfast at the hotel.

At 07:00 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 4

CHIANG RAI - THATON. Doi Tung, Mae Fah Luang Garden, 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 Golden Triangle, it is known, was once a notorious area, where it was very dangerous to venture, today we will travel through those areas, finally pacified and dedicated to leicte cultivation.
The day begins with a visit to Doi Tung, where the Mae Fah Luang Gardens and the Queen Mother's Teak house are located.
The spectacular Doi Tung range in Chiang Rai stretches from Mae Fah Luang in the south to the Mae Sai district in the north, with the Burmese border demarcating the western slopes of the mountains. These rugged peaks reach 1,500 meters and, until recently, it was a wild and inaccessible place. In these days the area is crowded with convoys of tourists in minibuses, (being the streets too steep and narrow for buses) when still 30 years ago you would have seen trains of opium mules, KMT soldiers, the Shan United army and Akha of Khun Sa, the women who harvest the poppy pistils. The hill tribe peoples are still there, but Shan fighters now continue their struggle across the border; Khun Sa has long been gone, while retired KMT soldier families now run tea tasting shops in Mae Salong.
An important project that has brought peace to the area is that of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation and the Doi Tung Royal Project, also taken by the UN as an example for the development of degraded areas in other countries. Northern Thailand is blessed with a cooler climate than the rest of the country. This makes it conducive to the growth of "exotic" western flowers (temperate breeds) that are typically found outside of Thailand. 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,
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. Some elements of the 93rd division - the so-called "Lost Army" - under General Tuan set up the camp in what is now Mae Salong. A few years ago, to mark the reconciliation of the area, the town was renamed Santhikir, the hill of peace. Today, Mae Salong is famous for its tea plantations, heats of fruit and vegetables, which can easily grow thanks to its cool and temperate climate.
Our day ends in Thaton, where we will spend the night. The small and picturesque town is located on the banks of the Kok River where the river emerges in Thailand from the nearby hills of the Shan State of Burma. From the summit of Wat Tha Ton, you can admire a beautiful panorama of the valley of the Kok river and you can see the Burmese border nearby.

 

Day 5

TATHON - CHIANG DAO - PAI. Chiang Dao Caves, Pong Duet Geyser, Historic Bridge and Pai Canyon. (B. L.)
Breakfast at the hotel.
At about 07:30, in the morning meeting with the guide, departure in the direction of Pai, with a first stop in Chiang Dao, the complex of the Chiang Dao caves is supposed to consist of over 100 caves that extend for about 10-12 kilometers within the mountain range, but there are only five main caves that are currently open to the public.
Go up the steps leading to the entrance of the cave, then go down to a large cave where there are numerous images of the Buddha. A little further on is the guide station. From here you can freely explore two caves which are illuminated by electric lights; they are ThamSeuaDao (540 m) and ThamPhraNawn (360 m). Both of these caves contain many shrines, statues and Buddha images.
Continue to the PongDuet Geysers, This is a geyser hot spring which emits hot water all year round, sometimes up to 4 meters. This place also offers bathing in hot thermal water with excellent facilities located between the picturesque views of the mountain forest.
A walkway with steps preserves the path from degradation and protects the environment. It leads through the heavily wooded area to scattered hot springs and geysers; 550 meters from the geyser and another 560 meters to the thermal pools where visitors can dive. We continue our route and as we approach Pai, we stop to visit the historic bridge and the Pai Canyon from which you can admire a beautiful panorama.

Day 6

PAI - MAE HONG SON. Chinese village of Santichon, Lod Caves, Fish Cave, Surin Namthok National Park.   (B. L.)
Breakfast at the hotel.
At around 07:30, meeting with the guide, visit of Pai and departure for Mae Hong Son, not before visiting the Chinese village of Santichon, or Chinese cultural center of Yunnan, which was colonized by Chinese who fled the Chinese revolution by Mao Tse Tung. After all these years, the descendants who still live here and adhering to traditional ways of life have managed to profit from Pai's economic recovery. The village of Santichon has a population of 2000 souls from Yunnan, populations of Thai hill tribes and former Chinese soldiers. When opium was still the cornerstone of the village and old Chinese soldiers roamed the streets in their old republican uniforms, automatic rifles in hand. Today it is quite popular with Thai tourists, with a large tea tasting area, which has replaced opium as an important crop, and a souvenir market at the entrance of the village.
Along the way we will make stops at the Lod caves, Tham Lod is a cave system with a length of 1,666 meters. Geological formations that sprout from the floor and ceiling and form flowing stone columns in which stalactites and stalagmites grow. The ThamLod Cave is a natural limestone cave system, its main feature is the flow of fresh water that runs through the center of the cave for about 200-300 meters. Inside the walls are covered with massive formations and columns over 20 meters high. The cave is also home to a large number of bats and swifts. The internal walls of the cave are covered with gigantic formations and columns (some more than 20 meters high) but there are many steps to climb to get a really nice view of the stalagmites and stalactites. When we advance even deeper into the cave, there is no light to explore the caves, you need to have a good guide with a good torch that makes exploring the cave an even more mysterious atmosphere.
The Fish Cave or ThamPla, which is home to thousands of carp.
Arrival in the afternoon in Mae Hong Son, visit of the 2 city pagodas, Wat Chong Kham, Wat Chong Klang, followed by Wat Phrathat Doi Kong Mu. Check in at the selected hotel and overnight.
 

Day 7

MAE HONG SON - MAE CHAEN. Local market, Giraffe women, Mae Surin Waterfall (B.L.)
Breakfast at the hotel.
At about 07:00, meeting with the guide, visit the morning market and a Karen village with the so-called Giraffe Women, Kayan long-necked women have worn rings since childhood, starting with four or five, and adding them every year . Coils weighing up to 25 pounds depress the chest and shoulders. This creates the illusion of a disembodied head hovering above a gleaming pedestal of gold rings. Contrary to popular belief, the coils do not lengthen the neck itself and therefore can be removed without snapping the neck. Still, women still wear these coils all year round with few exceptions, even while they sleep.
The origin of the tradition mystifies even the kayani. An ancient legend claims that villagers protect the rings from tiger attacks, since cats attack victims on the neck. Another theory says that the rings helped drive men out of rival tribes by diminishing the beauty of women. Today people believe the opposite - the longer the neck, the more beautiful the woman is - and the Kayans wear golden coils as accessories. According to the Silent Hopes documentary, some women enjoy this tradition, but others feel pressured to endure the painful habit of making a living. Human rights groups say refugee status exploits women who cannot find other jobs.

Then Departure for MaeChaem, a small center in the Doi Inthanon National Park, where we will spend the night in a lovely guest house.

On the way stop at the waterfalls of Namtok Mae Surin National Park, this spectacular waterfall is the main feature of the national park of the same name, and at over 80 meters it is considered the highest waterfall in Thailand. The waterfall is located in the far southeast of this long, thin park, which extends to the Pai River north of Mae Hong Son and includes numerous smaller waterfalls and a hornbill reserve among its steep wooded hills.

The mountains reach more than 1,700 meters and the forests of the park include dry diptera on the lower slopes, bamboo in the protected areas and teak, deciduous and mountain broad-leaved trees at medium altitude plus pine on the peaks. Some of the valleys and slopes around the edge of the park also have attractive rice terraces. The inhabitants are mainly Karenni (Red Karen) together with some Hmong villages. The waterfall itself is located on the opposite side of a ravine to the parking lot of the headquarters, so you can take a photo from the best point of view.

Arrival in the evening in Mae Chaem and overnight.

Day 8

MAE CHAEM - DOI INTHANON - CHIANG MAI. (B.L.)

Breakfast.

Also known as "The roof of Thailand", Doi Inthanon National Park covers an area of ​​482 km² in the province of Chiang Mai, north of Thailand. The park is part of the Himalaya mountain range, with altitudes between 800 and 2565 meters with the highest peak Doi Inthanon is the highest mountain in Thailand. Due to the high altitude, the park has high humidity and cold weather all year round. Average daily temperatures are normally around 10-12 ° C. It is recommended to always have a sweatshirt or jacket with you.

At 08:00 Pick up at the hotel and departure for the visit. We climb to the highest point of the mountain, where we can take a walk in the evergreen forest, following the Angka Trail. We go down to visit the 2 pagodas, dedicated to the King and Queen.

We begin the descent, with a stop at the local market of ethnic villages, to arrive at the local restaurant at about 12:30, where we will have lunch. We then start the trek that will take us to a Karen village, the Mae Klang Luang dedicated to the cultivation of coffee. Following the Pha Dok Siew path, you descend towards the village, passing waterfalls, Tea and Coffee plantations

Arriving at the village, tasting and organic coffee, prepared with the traditional Karen method.

The visits continue with the Wachirathan falls, where we have time for the visit and short walks in the surroundings.

At 16:00 departure for Chiang Mai, with scheduled arrival between 17:00 and 17:30, book flight after 19:30