Tour Type: Private tour
Duration: 5 Days
Destinations: Chiang Rai, Sop Ruak, Chiang Dao, Chiang Mai
Featured Highlights:
The Golden Triangle: the region where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet once infamous as Asia’s largest producer of opium. Nowadays it is a melting pot of indigenous hill tribes, a land of fertile rice fields and lush mountains, and one of the finest getaways for an authentic Thai experience.
Day 1: Arrival in Chiang Rai
Day 2: Golden Triangle Discovery Tour
Day 3: White Temple -Chiang Dao Cave -Chiang Mai
Day 4: Chiang Mai's Elephant Camp
Day 5: Chiang Mai Departure
Welcome to the mountains and fertile river valleys of Chiang Rai, your gateway to an authentic Thai experience in the country’s northernmost region. Upon your arrival at the airport, your friendly local guide will be waiting to meet you and take you to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is yours to relax, and if jet lag permits, do a little exploring of this totally walkable city.
Today’s tour begins with an adventure to the heart of the Golden Triangle, Sop Ruak, where the Thai, Myanmar and Laos borders meet. Gaze into each of these ancient kingdoms from Wat Phra That Phu Khao Temple, a temple that has watched over the region from its hilltop vantage point for over a thousand years. Next you’ll get a chance to learn about the fascinating culture in the curious village of Mae Salong, a hilltop of ramshackle housing and tea plantations settled by Chinese hilltribes yet officially remains part of Thailand. After lunch, you will spend the afternoon in a village of Karen Long-necked women, your knowledgeable guide explaining their unusual yet ancient traditions. After driving back to Chiang Rai, the evening is yours to relax in your hotel.
After breakfast at your hotel, your guide awaits to drive you to the extravagant yet highly unusual ‘White Temple’ of Wat Rong Khun. While much of Thailand’s temples have centuries of history, this is a modern take on a classic design, a brilliant-white temple encrusted with clear-mirrored chips that make for a dazzling sight in the morning sun. It’s quite unlike any other temple in Thailand, or elsewhere for that matter. Next, you’ll wind through the lush forests and limestone mountains of Chiang Dao, where you will visit a sacred cave extending some 10km into the mighty Doi Chiang Dao Mountain, Thailand’s third tallest peak stretching some 2,175 metres into the heavens from the fertile plains below. After lunch, you’ll continue towards Chiang Mai, taking in the breathtaking scenery as you drive, as well as making stops at rural villages to see unique hilltribes. Once in Chiang Mai, the evening is your own to relax.
After breakfast, you’ll visit the nearby Maetaman Elephant Camp. Here, you’ll have the chance to trek through the forest and across shallow rivers on the back of one of the Camp’s gentle giants. After a local lunch, you’ll spend some time up close with the animals, aiding in the feeding and bathing process, during which the young elephants are especially playful. Later in the afternoon you’ll try your hand at bamboo rafting along a relaxing stretch of the river, and take a leisurely oxcart ride through the countryside before your driver returns you to Chiang Mai. The rest of the day is yours to relax.
Enjoy one final morning in Thailand’s enchanting second city, perhaps signing up for a local cooking course so you can take a little of this spectacular country home with you. When it’s time to leave, your guide will take you the airport for your onward flight, having seen the authentic side to this Southeast Asian gem.
Inclusions:
Entrance and sightseeing fees as listed;
All meals as listed;
Transportation as listed;
Accommodations as listed;
Domestic flights, car transfers as listed;
Professional licensed English-speaking guide.
Exclusions:
Passion Indochina Travel will provide you with a dynamic professional local private tour guide, a private chauffeur and a transportation that suits your style and gives you pleasure, comfort and security through every points of your destination. All our tour guides in our company are registered English Speaking Guides, they are passionate about their city and they take pride in sharing it with others.With our private local tour guide, you’d get the chance to see and learn more among the historic places in the world and their cultures. Be amazed with the breathtaking scenery of Asia and enjoy some once in a lifetime adventure!
Private Tour Guide
The tour guide is always punctual on every destination he/she is needed. You will be picked up at the airport and will be escorted to your hotel and tend to your stuff til their services is needed again. They will also assist you at the airport at every departure, seeing to it that you have checked in and passed through the security checkpoint. All the tour guides in all your choices of destination are Locals. Since they know all the areas of the tours you're taking, they make sure that they share to you all the information may it be historical facts, dates and anecdotes or tell stories about the tour sites to make it more interesting and entertaining. They would also suggest the best spots for picture taking.Our tour guides are also flexible when it comes to the itinerary changes if there's any unexpected reason and will be more than accommodating to any alternative suggestions just to ensure that you will have an incredible experience.
Arrive in the comfort of your style. Depending on the group size, and the tour packages of your choice, we would accommodate you with the best transportation and a professional Chauffeur to assist you wherever and whenever you need. They would be happy to transport you.