North Thailand Overland
5 Nights / 6 Days

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

Activities: Visit temples, historic places, museums, elephant rides, bamboo rafting, scenic river trip by long rail boat, hill tribe village and scenery excursions.

This eco tour brings you close to nature and culture of north Thailand.
North Thailand Overland eco tour program gives visitors the opportunity to explore the scenic places of golden triangle area, close experience of hill-tribe villages and 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, Mae Hongson and Chiang Rai:
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 Lanna 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.
Join us and explore the scenery and the cultures of northern Thailand.

Itinerary: North Thailand Overland 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. LD.

Day 2 Elephant trekking, Bamboo rafting and to Thaton

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 elephant skills. Then, go for an elephant back safari for an hour through the semi-jungle vegetation and return trek to the elephant camp.

Next, we will 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.

At the end of bamboo raft, we will drive to Thaton and take a long tail boat to our eco resort where we will have dinner with Lahu folk song and dance show. Overnight at Huai Khum Village Resort in the river valley. Meals: BLD.

Remarks: 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. Ban Jakku is within easy walking distance for a short excursion.
The Huai Khum Village Resort, the only boutique as well as eco resort in the Mae Kok River valley, is truly a paradise. Overnight at Huai Khum Village Resort. Meals: BLD.

Day 4 Chiang Rai- scenic hills, rivers and hill tribe people

Early morning breakfast and travel by long tail boat down the Nam Mae Kok River. Along the way, we will visit hill-tribes village of Ban Jakku if not visited on leisure day; otherwise, visit ban Ruamit at the end of boat ride, drive to Chiang Rai town and visit some to the attractive temples and local market.
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 to see their way of life and drive to Chiang Rai town.

Day 5 Golden Triangle of Chiang Rai

Breakfast at hotel, and drive to Mae Fa Luang hills to visit the 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 Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Myanmar and Lao 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 Depart from Chiang Rai

Breakfast and transfer to Chiang Rai Airport for your next destination flight or to Bangkok. Meals: B.

Hotel Group A (quality 3-4 star and boutique resorts)
North Thailand Overland 5 Nights / 6 Days
TOUR COSTS PER PERSON IN US DOLLARS:

Hotel Group B (quality 3 star and boutique resorts)
North Thailand Overland 5 Nights / 6 Days
TOUR COST PER PERSON IN US DOLLARS:

Bangkok-Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai roundtrip fare is about US$189 per person Airfare includes departure tax and insurance and subject to change.

Tour Cost Includes:
Five nights accommodation in quality hotels in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai on twin sharing and breakfast,
Meals are mostly half board to full board as indicated in the program,
Transfers by air-conditioned tour van on arrival, departure and during tour,
Long tail boat when traveling in the river,
tour activities as mentioned in the itinerary,
English and hill tribe language speaking tour guide service,
entrance fees to monuments and parks visited, and insurance against accidents for the duration of the tour.

Tour Cost Excludes:
Bangkok-Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai-Bangkok 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.