Paradise in the Hills of Chiang Rai
4 Nights / 5 Days

Trip Grade: Easy and relaxing
Activities: Visit temples, historic places, museums, hill tribe villages, scenic river trip by long rail boat, Doi Wawi and Doi Mae Salong Tea Estate and scenic tour.

Best Season: September to March is the cool and dry weather best season. Chiang Rai can be visited year round. However, Doi Wawi is not operated during June to September for safety reasons.

Itinerary:
Day 1 Bangkok to Chiang Rai and Golden Triangle

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 better living through cottage industry. Then, continue journey to Mae Sai, Thai-Myanmar border town for a brief visit (optional), and continue journey to Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Myanmar and Lao borders meet. We will visit the Opium Museum, the big Buddha image overlooking the river valley, and enjoy the scenic view of the Mekong River at the triangular border area from the Thai side. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. Next, we will visit the Chiang Saen National Museum and overnight at hotel in Chiang Rai. Meals: BLD.

Day 2 Mae Kok River Excursion

Early morning breakfast and travel by long tail boat upstream on Mae Kok River. Along the way, we will visit hill-tribe village at Baan Ruamit and further upstream ban Jakku. Afternoon, arrive at Huai Khum Village Resort, the only boutique as well as eco resort in the Mae Kok River valley, is truly a paradise.
We will have hot lunch at the riverside cafeteria.
Remaining time, swim and relax at the pool or go for a leisurely walk along the river valley to visit local villages and farms.
Evening, dinner with Lisu folk song and dance show.
Overnight at Huai Khum Village Resort. Meals: BLD.

Day 3 Doi Wawi Tea Estate Excursion

Breakfast and drive to Doi Wawi valley, a Yunan Chinese Village, formed some four decades ago by migrant Chinese from Yunan. Doi Wawi's naturally beautiful valleys and hills are enhanced by tea, coffee and orchard plantation making it lush green throughout the year. We will pay a visit to the huge Buddha Statue on a hilltop, observe the rural way of life in the northern hills of the golden triangle and enjoy the spectacular scenery from various viewpoints. Then, drive to a tea estate to have fresh lunch and taste the fresh cut tea before driving back to your resort. If you enjoy tea, this is one of the best places to get your favorite pack.
Overnight at Huai Khum Village Resort. Meals: BLD.

Day 4 Doi Mae Salong and to Scenery

Early morning breakfast and travel by long tail boat upstream, and drive to visit Ban Lorcha village of Akha people to see their way of life. We will see their sacred area for spirits, blacksmith, welcome dance, house, weaving and display of their artifacts. Then, continue journey to Doi Mae Salong, also a Yunan Chinese Village, formed some four decades ago by migrant Chinese from Yunan, who have turned Doi Mae Salong of northern Thailand into a famous tea estate, where some of the finest tea is produced for the local and international markets. In addition to the tea plantation, various fruits and farming makes these beautiful hills truly a paradise to visit to enjoy scenery, taste the fresh cut tea and experience the rural way of life in the Golden Triangle of north Thailand. Along, the way we will also visit the viewpoint and the temples of the village. Lunch served en-route at local restaurant. Overnight hotel in Chiang Rai. Meals: BLD.

Day 5 Chiang Rai to Bangkok flight

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

Remark: Return to Bangkok on day 4 in the evening can be arranged at the time of booking as per your schedule and cost can be adjusted.

Hotel Group A (quality 3-4 star and boutique resorts)
Paradise in the Hills of Chiang Rai 4 Nights / 5 Days
TOUR COSTS PER PERSON IN US DOLLARS:

Hotel Group B (quality 3 star and boutique resorts)
Paradise in the Hills of Chiang Rai 4 Nights / 5 Days
TOUR COST PER PERSON IN US DOLLARS:

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

Tour Cost Includes:
Four nights accommodation in quality hotels in 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,
Pick up truck with cabin seating in the hills,
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 Rai 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.

Bangkok to Chiang Rai Flight Connections:
Thai Airways, Orient Thai Airlines (One-Two-Go), and Thai Air Asia have flights to Chiang Rai. The latter two airlines are budget carriers.
Booking far in advance is necessary to secure good deals.