North Thailand Overland 8 Nights / 9 Days

Destination : Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hongson.
Activities : Visit temples, historic places, museums, elephant rides, bamboo rafting, hill tribe village, scenic river cruise by long rail boat, and scenic excursions.

Best Season : September to March is the cool and dry weather best season. However, north Thailand can be visited year round.
Trip Grade : Easy

This eco tour brings you closer to nature and culture of north Thailand.
North Thailand Overland eco tour program gives visitors the opportunity to explore the golden triangle area's scenic places, close experience of hill-tribe villages and their way of life, cruise by long tail boat in the rural rivers, trek through the villages and visit some of the most famous landmarks in north Thailand.

Highlights of Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Mae Hongson :
Chiang Mai, the northern province of Thailand, founded by King Mengrai in 1296. This region of Thailand was known as the Lan Na Thai kingdom in the 13th to 14th centuries. Chiang Mai City is the second biggest in Thailand, the most active trading post and popular tour destination in the north and a vibrant university center. Visitors will be amazed by the well over 300 temples and its scenic landscape. Thailand's highest peak, Doi Inthanon (2595 meters above sea level), crowns the north. Here, travelers can enjoy scenic trekking, elephant riding, hiking through hill tribe villages, bamboo rafting and magnificent vistas at sun set and sun rise. The province is home to many hill tribes with distinct cultures. Extraordinary woodcarvings, silverware and the artworks, beautiful flower festival parades and diverse cultures are some of the attractions here.

Chiang Rai, another northern province in the Golden Triangle area, was founded by King Mengrai in 1262 and incorporated as part of the Lan Na kingdom. Chiang Rai can cater its visitors with luxury five star hotels and resorts and is accessible both by air and road. Historic monuments, temples, hill tribe villages, scenic river trips, trekking and local cultural artifacts are among the key attractions here.

Mae Hongson, a northwestern province bordering with Myanmar (Burma), is the home of diverse ethnic minority groups as well as refugees from neighboring Burma. The province is very remote, mountainous and far less developed than neighboring Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, and fewer tourists visit here. Thus, people looking to explore pure ethnic cultures and wanting to experience natural forest covered landscapes, should consider to travel here. Scenic trekking, rafting, mountain biking and hill tribe village excursions are a few of the leisure to adventure tours here. Join us and explore the scenery and the cultures of northern Thailand with Discover Asia Travel.

Itinerary: North Thailand Overland 9 Days :

Day 1 Chiang Mai Tour.
Pick up from hotel and drive to visit Wat Prathad Doi Sutep, which has a holy relic of Lord Buddha, the most celebrated temple in Chiang Mai located on a scenic hilltop inside the Doi-Pui National Park. To reach the temple, we drive up Doi Suthep-Pui National park, and climb up 300 steps to get to the temple courtyard. Both sides of the steps is flanked by enormous mythological Nagas (snakes). Those of you who do not wish to climb the steps can ride a tram. The tram is also equipped to wheelchair users. A panoramic view of the city can be seen from here at 3,500 feet above sea level. Then, return to Chiang Mai city area to visit Wat Phra Singh, one of the ancient royal temples still well preserved. Its beautiful mural and other majestic decors are worth seeing.
Lunch en-route tour.

Chiang Mai Handicraft Center Tour in the afternoon :
In the afternoon, we visit local handicraft centers on Sankampaeng Road to see Thai silk and cotton loom industries, Bo-sang the paper and umbrella-making village; lacquer-ware, teak-wood carving, jewelry, and silverware artworks. This particular street in Chiang Mai is set aside for small and medium handicraft as well as cottage industries to show case and make their products. Thus, visitors can see how the local handicrafts are made, a first hand experience. Then, return to hotel and at leisure until departure for Khantoke Dinner.

Evening-we enjoy Kantoke Dinner, traditional northern Thai welcome dinner, and observe Northern Thai folk song and dance performed by different hill-tribes in their colorful costumes. Each tribe is different in costumes, dialects, and culture. Overnight at hotel in Chiang Mai. Meals. LD.

Day 2 Elephant trekking, Bamboo rafting and Thaton River
Breakfast at the hotel, and travel about 50 kilometers from the city for a full day's tour of Chiang Dao elephant camp. Start one-hour elephant ride through the semi-jungle vegetation, a wonderful experience. Return to the camp, watch the elephants taking their morning bath in the running stream. See demonstration of elephants at work if we arrive during the show time. Next, we bamboo raft for 45 minutes down the river. At the end of bamboo rafting, drive to Thaton and take long tail boat to our eco resort where we will have dinner with Lisu folk song and dance show. Overnight at Huai Khum Resort in the river valley. Meals: BLD.

Remarks : Elephant activities, we will visit the conservation project where we learn about elephants, feed them and bath them, but do not ride them. Please note that elephant camps and venues cannot be stationary in one mentioned location permanently because Government regulations in relation with reforestation, land management, private property regulation, and environmental factors could force the camp to move elsewhere. This information will be updated close to trip departure.

Day 3 Leisure day to relax
Breakfast at the riverside restaurant, swim and relax at the pool or go for a leisurely walk along the river valley to visit local villages and farms.
The Huai Khum Resort, the only boutique as well as eco resort in the Mae Kok River valley, is truly a paradise. Overnight at Huai Khum Resort. Meals: BLD.

Day 4 Thaton and Chiang Rai
Early morning breakfast and travel by long tail boat down the Nam Mae Kok River. Along the way, we will visit hill-tribes where possible. At the end of boat trip, we drive to Chiang Rai town and visit some of the attractive temples and visit local markets. Lunch served en-route at local restaurant.
Overnight at hotel in Chiang Rai. Meals: BLD.

Remark : If the Nam Mae Kok River is too high from late monsoon rainstorm, we will not take the long tail boat, but drive by road and visit the Ban Lorcha village of Akha people's way of life and drive to Baan Ruamit from where we will take the boat to Chiang Rai town.

Day 5 Chiang Rai (Golden Triangle)
Breakfast at hotel, and drive to Mae Fa Luang hills to visit the hills Queen Mother's palace for scenic views and visit local handicraft project funded by Thailand's Royal family for the hill tribe people to make a living through cottage industry. Then, continue journey to Mae Sai, Thai-Myanmar border town for a brief visit, and continue journey to Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Myanmar and Lao PDR borders meet. We enjoy the scenic views of the Mekong River and triangular border area from the Thai side. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. Next, we visit the Chiang Saen National Museum and overnight in Chiang Rai. Meals: BLD.

Day 6 Scenic Drive to Pai
Early breakfast, and drive to Pai in Mae Hongson. Drive to Pai is very scenic and we will make several stops at viewpoints. Lunch served en-route at local restaurant.
On arrival in Pai, check in and remaining time at leisure.
Dinner and overnight at resort in Pai.
Meals: BLD

Day 7 Lod Cave and Mae Hongson
Breakfast at resort, and drive to visit Lisu museum and see how the local people make their way of living. Then, continue journey to Lod Cave and to Mae Hongson for overnight. Today's drive is a bit windy, but very scenic. Upon arrival, check into hotel and have lunch. Afternoon, do a leisurely tour to explore ancient temples, such as Wat Jong Kham and Wat Jong Klang, Burmese-style ancient temples, visit hill-tribe people and other attractions of Mae Hongsorn.
Overnight at the hotel. Meals: BLD.

Day 8 Mae Hongson Culture and Nature Tour
06:00 Early morning, visit to the Mae Hong Sorn morning market
07:00 have American breakfast, then, drive to a local pier on Pai River, get on long tailed boat and ride down stream along the scenic Pai river to visit the Long-Neck Padong Hill-Tribe people. Return to Mae Hongsorn for lunch. After lunch, drive uphill to Wat Phra Thart Doi Kong Moo for a panoramic view of Mae Hongson valley. Overnight at hotel. Meals: BLD.

Day 9 Mae Hongson to Chiangmai flight
Breakfast at the hotel, and at leisure until transfer to airport for a flight to Chiang Mai. Upon arrival at Chiang Mai Airport, transfer to hotel or connect flight to your next destination. Meals: B.

North Thailand Overland 8 Nights / 9 Days. Minimum 2 persons
TOUR COSTS PER PERSON IN US DOLLARS :