CHIANG MAI/WIANG KUMKAM ANCIENT CITY/KHANTOKE DINNER

Day  01

On arrival at Chiang Mai’s airport, you will be met by our local representative and transferred to your hotel. After check in formalities are completed, you can relax till the time your tour commences in the afternoon.

13:00 Hrs: Visit Wiang Kum Kam; The Underground Empire. Following a massive flood, the city of Wiang Kum Kam vanished without a trace. For over 200 years, Wiang Kum Kam became a lost civilization buried under layers of earth at depths of 1 to 4 metres. The best way to discover this lost city is by local tram: visit more than 10 ancient temple ruins in Wiang Kum Kam such as Wat Kan Thom, located at the heart of city. The temple has a Lanna style chedi and a spirit of King Mangrai who founded Chiang Mai. Wat Chedi Liam is the main feature of interest because of the Haripunchai style. It is a square stepped chedi with Buddha images in niches at each level.

Return back to the hotel.

19:30 Hrs: Enjoy a welcome Khantoke Dinner, which is the traditional northern Thai (Lanna) form of dining. The food is served on a wooden pedestal tray, called Khantoke. Diners sit on the floor around the Khantoke, supported by triangular cushions. The dishes are all northern Thai delicacies. While guests are enjoying their meals, there are usually performances of traditional northern Thai culture (Lanna dances and music). Additionally there are also hill tribe shows.

Overnight: Chiang Mai

Meals: Dinner

Chiang Mai  /  City Walking Experience /  Boat  Trip / Thai Massage

Day  02

09:00 Hrs: A great way to see the colorful, ancient history of Chiang Mai is to start your trip in the old city area at Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Center, then take a walk along beautiful road to Tha Pae Gate. Continue on to the eastern side of the old city; there are old, solid timber built houses many of which are well over 100 years old. Visit the biggest local Market in Chiang Mai, Warorote Market. Then walk across the Mae Ping River and cruise through the rural river by long-tail boat for 40

minutes. Softly moving along the river, enjoy splendid views of wooden houses and modern residences with colorful scenery and lifestyle of the local people.

Lunch will be served at a local farmer’s house: ’Kaow Soi’, typical Chiang Mai egg noodle with Thai curry is on the menu for today.

13:30 Hrs: Return back by boat to Wat Chai Mongkol where local people bring live fish, birds, and turtles to set them free right by the river. Then relax with a two hour session of Traditional Thai Massage at the Chiang Mai Massage Center. Thai Massage is an interactive manipulation of the body

using passive stretching and gentle pressure along energy lines. These movements help to adjust the skeletal structure, increase flexibility, relieve muscular and joint tension, stimulate internal

organs and balance the body’s energy system.

Return back to the hotel.

Overnight: Chiang Mai

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Chiang Mai / Buddhism Experience / Lanna Thai Home Cooking

Day  03

09:00 Hrs: Visit Chiang Mai’s most sacred temple, ’Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep’. This temple was built in 1383. It is located 15 kms from the city and 3,500 feet above sea level. See the marvelous golden pagoda, which icontains the holy relics of Lord Buddha. You can enjoy the panoramic view of Chiang Mai City and Ping valley from the summit of Doi Suthep. Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is approached on foot by climbing a steep 306 stairway flanked by tremendous mythical Nagas, which symbolize humanity’s progress from earth into nirvana.

Continue to visit the most unique temple in many respects, ’Wat Umong’. The temple and its tunnels were built in the late 14th century, built in the foothills of Suthep mountain and is still heavily forested.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.

13:00 Hrs: Visit MCU Buddhist University Chiang Mai Campus at Wat Suan Dok; Proceed to meet the monk who will explain the tenets of Buddhism, Lord Buddha, the Buddhist way of life and how to perform meditation. The Monk Chat Session gives an opportunity to foreigners to have an interactive communication with Thai monks via talking in formal Buddhism and Thai Culture as well as general topics about Thai ways of living are discussed at the session.

Return to the hotel in the late afternoon.

16:30 Hrs: You will be picked up from your hotel and will head to the local afternoon market, where you will learn about Thai vegetables, herbs and spices.

Transfer to the Baan Hong Nual a Lanna style cookery school located in a country-side village which offers lessons in how to cook delicious Thai food, Thai sweets and presentation. Enjoy cooking your own dinner, which includes some of the most popular Thai dishes.

Overnight: Chiang Mai

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (at the cooking school)

Free Day For Optional Activities

Day  04

After breakfast at hotel, the day is free for you to relax at the hotel, do some shopping, get a traditional massage or check with your guide for recommendations as to what activities to pursue.

Overnight: Chiang Mai

Meals: Breakfast

Chiang Mai / Onward Destination

Day  05

06:00 Hrs: Rise early before breakfast to take part in a daily Buddhist ceremony, ’Tak Bat’ or merit making at the foothills of Doi Suthep Temple. This ceremony involves giving offerings of food and other daily items to the monks.

Return to the hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast the remainder of your time is at leisure until your departure to Bangkok or other destinations. You may also extend your stay in Chiang Mai and enjoy one of the many other exciting tours available.

Meals: Breakfast