Chiang Mai and Mae Hongson
5 Nights / 6 Days

Trip Grade: Easy and relaxing
Activities: Visit temples, historic places, museums, elephant rides, bamboo rafting, hill tribe villages, schools, scenic river trip by long rail boat, and scenic excursions.

Best Season: September to March is the cool and dry weather best season. However, Chiang Mai and Mae Hongson can be visited year round.

Highlights of Chiang Mai and Mae Hongson:
Chiang Mai is the northern province of Thailand, founded by King Mengrai in 1296. The northernmost region of Thailand was known as the Lan Na Thai kingdom in the 13th to 14th centuries. Chiang Mai is the second most popular tourism gateway in the north as well as active trading post in north Thailand. Chiang Mai is also home to its vibrant university center and mosaic of cultures. Visitors will be amazed by the well over 300 temples and its scenic landscape which also include the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Thailand's highest peak, Doi Inthanon (2595 meters above sea level), crowns the north. Here, adventure seeking travelers can enjoy scenic trekking, elephant riding, hiking through hill tribe villages and national park forest trails, bamboo rafting and magnificent vistas at sunset and sunrise. 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. Discover Asia Travel operates finely designed nature and culture tours with the emphasis of ecologically friendly tourism.

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 available here. Join us and explore the scenery and the cultures of northern Thailand with Discover Asia Travel.

Itinerary: Chiang Mai and Mae Hongson 6 Days:
Day 1 Doi Suthep Temple and Handicrafts

Pick up from hotel or port of arrival and transfer to visit Chiang Mai National Museum and the Hill-Tribe Museum. After the museum visits, we drive to visit Wat Prathad Doi Sutep, which proclaims to have 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 the base of Doi Suthep, and climb up 300 steps to get to the temple courtyard. Both sides of the steps are flanked by enormous mythological Nagas (snakes). A panoramic view of the city can be seen from here at 3,500 feet above sea level. Those of you do not wish to walk up the stairs can take the tram both ways. Then, we will return to Chiang Mai town for lunch break.

Chiang Mai Handicraft and cottage industry 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. BLD.

Day 2 Elephant trekking and Bamboo Rafting

Early breakfast at the hotel, at 07.30AM travel about 50 kilometers from the city to Chiang Dao elephant camp. Watch the elephants taking their morning bath in the running stream before starting their day training and work. See demonstration of elephants at work. Then, go on a hour elephant ride through the semi-jungle vegetation to visit a Lisu hill tribe village, a wonderful experience. Return trek to the elephant camp, take refreshments along the riverfront café before next activity.

Then, take an exciting bamboo rafting (traditional transportation in the river) down the scenic Mae Ping River for about an hour. Along the river, you can see various species of birds and squirrels. On the way back to hotel in Chiang Mai, visit an orchid nursery and butterfly farm. Evening at leisure. You may wish to visit the Chiang Mai night market. Meals: BL.

Day 3 Chiang Mai to Maehongson flight and tour

After breakfast, we'll transfer to Chiang Mai airport for a flight to Mae Hong Son. Upon arrival, we'll check into our eco resort in the ambience of nature and have lunch. In the afternoon, we'll take a leisurely tour of the ancient Burmese-style temples such as Wat Jong Kham, Wat Jong Klang near the city and then walk to Wat Phra Thart Doi Kong Moo, situated atop a hill with panoramic view of Mae Hongson Valley. We'll overnight at resort. Meals: BLD.

Day 4 Nature and Culture of Maehongson

Early morning, we'll visit the Mae Hong Son morning market, return to hotel to eat breakfast, and drive to a local pier on the Pai River. We'll then board a long-tail boat and ride downstream to visit the long-necked Padong hill tribe people at the Karen village and its school. Then, We'll long-tail boat upriver to eat lunch at a local restaurant and return to resort to relax at the pool remaining part of the day. We'll overnight at the resort again. Meals: BLD.

Day 5 Mae Hongson morning hike and at leisure

Breakfast at the resort and hike in the Nam Tok Mae Surin National Park nature trails in cool morning temperature. Be in hiking boots or comfortable ankle supporting shoes, wear comfortable clothes for walking, and take plenty of water and some snacks. It is a nice hike along the stream to the waterfall. We can hear some birds and possibly sight some wildlife. You can choose to participate in the hike or simply relax at the resort. Lunch served at the resort restaurant. Meals: BL.

Day 6 Maehongson-Chiang Mai flight

Breakfast at hotel and transfer to airport for a flight to Chiang Mai.
End of tour service.
Meals: B.

Hotel Group A (quality 3-4 star and boutique resorts)
Chiang Mai and Mae Hongson 6 Days:
TOUR COSTS PER PERSON IN US DOLLARS:

Hotel Group B (quality 3 star and boutique resorts)
Chiang Mai and Mae Hongson 6 Days:
TOUR COST PER PERSON IN US DOLLARS:

Bangkok-Chiang Mai airfare roundtrip US$177 per person Airfares are current and subject to change.

Tour Cost Includes:
Five nights accommodation in quality hotels and resorts in Chiang Mai and Mae Hongson on twin sharing with breakfast,
tour activities as mentioned in the itinerary,
English and hill-tribe language speaking local tour guide service on the tour,
Entrance fees to monuments and parks visited,
Transfers by air-conditioned tour van or coach on arrival, departure, and during tour,
Chiang Mai-Mae Hongson roundtrip airfare, and insurance for the duration of the tour.

Tour Cost Excludes:
Bangkok-Chiang Mai roundtrip airfare and departure tax, train fares, bus fares, lunch & dinner on stated in tour program, any items of personal nature including personal insurance, beverages, telephone, laundry, charges for delays caused by situations beyond our control including bad weather, natural disasters, political unrest, and emergencies.

Package Price Changes and Alternation of Itineraries:
All package prices are net per person in US Dollars. Package prices are subject to change should there be major changes in government tax policies, Thai currency exchange rates and/or major changes in US Dollar exchange rates. We reserve the right to alternate an itinerary in the event of natural disasters, bad weather, civil unrest or other unforeseen factors that pose threat to our clients and crew. Alteration of an itinerary is made for the safety of our clients and the crew. Please treat the above program as guideline for your trip planning. We will provide you with fine tuned itinerary with specific details before departure.