PHITSANULOK / SUKHOTHAI

Day 01

 

The tour of Phitsanulok begins at the Phitsanulok airport. Depart for Wat Phra Sri Rattana Mahathat. This temple houses one of Thailand’s most beautiful and significant Buddha images; Phra Phudth Chinnaraj. The museum in the temple compound houses a collection of Sukhothai art. Depart for Sukhothai (1 hour drive).

 

Lunch is at a local Thai restaurant in Sukhothai.

 

In the afternoon, visit Sukhothai Historical Park; the first truly independent Thai Kingdom. Visit the ruins of the Royal Palaces, Buddhist temples, the city gates, walls, moats, dams, ditches, ponds canals and the water dyke control system which was the magical and spiritual center of the Kingdom are now preserved and restored by the Fine Arts Department with the cooperation of UNESCO, not only with a view of fostering Thailand’s national identity but of safeguarding in fine example of mankind’s cultural heritage.

 

Transfer to the hotel for your overnight stay.

 

Overnight: Sukhothai

 

Meals: Lunch

 

SRI SATCHANALAI HISTORICAL PARK  /  LAMPANG  /  CHIANG MAI

Day 02

 

After breakfast at the hotel, proceed to Srisatchanalai Historical Park, whose ruins lie on the right bank of the Yom River. One of the best examples of a Thai Muang, it was laid out along fixed cosmological lines. Temple complexes lay at its heart, surrounded by city walls, rivers and forest. It is considered by many historians to be the apogee of Thai city planning.

 

Then proceed to Lampang, a unique town that still uses a colorful horse carriage as a mean of transport. Lunch will be at a restaurant in Lampang.

 

13:30 Hrs: Take a horse drawn carriage around the city center, visit Wat Phra Kaew Don Tao, where the famous Emerald Buddha was enshrined for 32 years (from A.D. 1436 to 1468). Drive on to visit Wat Phrathat Lampang Luang, one of the North’s finest temples and the best presentation of Lanna style architecture.

 

Continue to Chiang Mai in the late afternoon.

 

Overnight: Chiang Mai

 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

 

CHIANG MAI CITY TEMPLE & DOI SUTHEP  /  KHANTOKE DINNER

Day 03

 

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.

 

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: Breakfast, Dinner

 

DOI INTHANON - THE HIGHEST PEAK IN THAILAND

Day 04

 

08:30 Hrs: Visit Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s highest mountain (2565 meters above sea level), which offers beautiful scenery, evergreen mountain forests, and impressive waterfalls. On this tour, stops are made at the summit, containing the shrine of Chao Inthawitchayanon, the former prince of Chiang Mai. A short trek along Michael’s Trail offers a beautiful and unforgettable experience. The next visit is to the great twin royal pagodas, which were built for their highnesses the King and the Queen. The place provides a marvelous view of surrounding.

 

Lunch is at a local restaurant.

 

13:00 Hrs: Visit Doi Inthanon Royal Project, one of many royal-sponsored reeducation projects initiated to familiarize hill tribe people with new agricultural techniques. Visitors can view the flower nurseries and cultivation areas. Continue to visit Karen hill tribe village for an insight into their still primitive lifestyle. They are peace loving warriors, very industrious and faithful people. On the way back see picturesque Vachirathan waterfall.

 

Overnight: Chiang Mai

 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

 

ELEPHANT SAFARI / PAI

Day 05

 

07:30 hrs: Travel north of Chiang Mai to Mae Taman Elephant Camp, which is 56 km northwards of Chiang Mai. Enjoy the spectacular scenery along the way. On arrival at the camp and take some time to ride elephants through the jungle. For the truly adventurous, continue an ox-cart riding back to the camp to see the demonstration of how trained elephants are used as working animals in teak forests includes elephant bathing in the river, working in the jungle, dragging and pushing logs, and responding to commands. Then experience trip by taking a Bamboo Raft along Mae Taeng River for 40 minutes.

 

Lunch is at a local restaurant.

 

13:00 hrs: Visit the Orchid Nursery to see a large collection of more than 50 different types of colorful exotic year-round blooming orchids. After the Orchid Nursery tour continue on your journey to Pai, a tiny town halfway between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son with some steep and winding roads through the mountains with various stops on the way, such as Mok Fha Waterfall, Pong Dued hot spring where the steam from the spring permeates the site in the morning creating fascinating sights. The area is also rich in teak woods.

 

Arrive at Pai in the late afternoon.

 

Overnight: Pai

 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

 

PAI / MAE HONG SON / CITY TEMPLES TOUR

Day 06

 

08:00 Hrs: Drive to visit Lod Cave where a huge cave system was once a dwelling place of pre-historic man. Experience the site by taking a bamboo raft into the cave. Explore the 1 kilometer-long cave along which can be found beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Also discovered in this cave were 2,000 year old remains of utensils and coffins. Then continue to visit Fish Cave. A special feature is the hollow cave filled with numerous freshwater fish, which is of the same family as the carp. The fish are quite safe from being caught as they are believed to belong to the gods.

 

Lunch is at a local restaurant in Mae Hong Son.

 

15:00 Hrs: Visit Wat Doi Klong Moo located on a hill to the west of the town and is a major provincial landmark. There are two Burmese-style Chedis. The larger one was built in 1860 while the smaller one was erected in 1874. A panoramic view of Mae Hong Son can be enjoyed from the site. Continue to Wat Jong Klang and Wat Jong Kum, magnificent Burmese style temples. There are several interesting items such as wooden figurines of humans and animals depicted which were created by Burmese craftsmen.

 

Transfer to the hotel in the late afternoon.

 

Overnight: Mae Hong Son

 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

 

MAE HONG SON / LONG NECK KAREN VILLAGE / CHIANG MAI

Day 07

 

09:00 Hrs: Experience Mae Hong Son by taking a boat trip along Pai River to visit the world famous Long Neck Karen Village where the women wear several brass rings around their long, slender necks. This distorts the growth of their collarbones and makes them look as if they have long necks - which they don’t. This row of brass rings does not actually stretch their necks but in fact squash the vertebrae and collar bones. A woman generally has about twenty or more rings around her neck. This neck ring adornment starts when the girls are 5 or 6 years old.

 

Lunch is served at a local restaurant.

 

Return to Chiang Mai by road with your guide & driver. [349 kms/4 hours drive - non stop]

 

Upon arrival in Chiang Mai, check in to your hotel.

 

Overnight: Chiang Mai

 

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

 

CHIANG MAI / HANDICRAFTS VILLAGE / CHIANG RAI CITY TEMPLES

Day 08

 

08:30 Hrs: Visit the Handicrafts Village at San Kampaeng district, the highlight is to see local people hand making handicrafts including silverware, hand-woven textiles by silk and hand-painted cotton umbrellas or paper parasols which are hand-painted in a variety designs.

 

Lunch will take place at a local restaurant.

 

13:00 Hrs: Drive through a scenic route to Chiang Rai [200 kms]. You will pass several beautiful northern mountains and valleys via the Hot Spring at Mae Ka Chan district. Then visit the world famous Wat Phra Kaew, where the Emerald Buddha was once enshrined. Continue to Wat Phra Singha where one of Thailand’s most beautiful Buddha images is now enshrined.

 

Arrive to your hotel in the late afternoon.

 

Overnight: Chiang Rai

 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

 

CHIANG RAI / AKHA HILLTRIBE / GOLDEN TRIANGLE / MAE SAI

Day 09

 

08:30 Hrs: Drive to Mae Chan district to visit Akha hill tribe villages and explore these simple villages. The Akha people have their own unique costumes and their own dialect as well.

 

The trip continues to the archeological remains at Chiang Sean city, the first capital city of northern Thailand.

 

Lunch is at a local restaurant on the banks of the Mae Khong River.

 

13:00 Hrs:  Visit the world famous Golden Triangle where the borders of three countries (Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar) meet. See the panoramic view of the Mae Khong River and Opium Museum and take a boat trip along the Mae Khong River. You will make a stop at Don Sao Village, Laos. Then continue to Mae Sai town on the Thailand-Myanmar border and the northernmost point of Thailand. Enjoy buying Myanmar products at the local market.

 

Return to your hotel.

 

Overnight: Chiang Rai

 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

 

CHIANG RAI / DOI TUNG ROYAL PALACE / ONWARD DESINATION

Day 10

 

08:30 Hrs: Drive up to the highest mountain peak on the Thai/Burmese border; Doi Tung, 2,000 meters above sea level. In the past, shifting slash-and-burn cultivation destroyed the forest around Doi Tung, until 1987 when the Doi Tung Development Project was established in accordance to the King’s Mother initiative. Visit the Mae Fah Luang Garden and Doi Tung Royal villa.

 

Return to your hotel for check out and transfer to Chiang Rai Airport.

 

Meals: Breakfast