Thailand

CHIANG MAI - CHIANG RAI EXPLORER HIGHLIGHTS (AP3)
6 Days & 5 Nights Tour Package

Trip Description: Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai have many historical and natural attractions for visitors to enjoy and explore. The packages offer a selection of 'must see' places in both destinations. Spend the day relaxing in the land of warm hospitality, mist-shrouded mountain scenery and fertile valleys, religion, Thai art and handicrafts. Explore the Highlights of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai with Complete India and Asia !
ITINERARY

DAY 1: CHIANG MAI / CITY TEMPLE & DOI SUTHEP TEMPLE / KHANTOKE DINNER

 Arrive to Chiang Mai airport, meet and greet with local guide. Then transfer to the hotel for check in and give some more information about your trip in Chiang Mai.

13:00 Hrs Visit Chiang Mai most sacred temples, drive around the Old City to see city's moats and ruined city's walls. Start the temples tours with Wat Chiang Man, the oldest temple and probably dates from 1296. The temple was residence of King Mengrai, who founded Chiang Mai. Continue this tour with visit Wat Phra Singh; the temple contains marvelous examples of Lanna art including a Lanna style viharn. Then drive on to Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, This temple was built in 1383. It is located 15 kms from the city and 3,500 feet above sea level. See the marvelous golden pagoda, which is containing the holy relics of Lord Buddha. You can enjoy the panoramic view of Chiang Mai City and Ping valley from the summit of Doi Suthep.

19:30 Hrs Enjoy Welcome Khantoke Dinner, which is the traditional northern Thai (Lanna) form of dining. The food is served on a wooden pedestal tray, called Khantoke. The diners sit on the floor around the Khantoke, supported by triangular cushions. The dishes are all northern Thai delicacies. While guest enjoy the meal there are usually performances of traditional northern Thai (Lanna dances and music). Additionally there are also hill tribe shows.

Overnight: Chiang Mai
Meal: Dinner


DAY 2: CHIANG MAI / ELEPHANT SAFARI / HANDICRAFTS VILLAGE

 08:30 Hrs Travel north of Chiang Mai route to Mae Taman Elephant Camp, which is 56 km northwards of Chiang Mai. Enjoy the spectacular scenery along the way. The idea of this trip is to see the demonstration of how trained elephants are used as working animals in teak forests includes elephant bathing in the river, working in the jungle, dragging and pushing logs, and responding commands. Then take a special time to riding on elephant for 1 hour through the jungle, made a stop at Lisu Hill tribe Village. For the truly adventurous! Continue an ox-cart riding back to the camp.

Lunch serve at the Camp

13:00 Hrs Experience trip by take Bamboo Rafting along Mae Taeng River for 45 minutes. Then, visit Orchid Nursery to see a large collection of more than 50 different types of colorful exotic year-round-bloom orchids. After taking great pleasure at the Orchid Nursery, continue to visit the handicraft center at San Kampaeng district. The highlight is to see the local people making the handicraft including Silverware, Hand-woven Textiles by silk and hand-painted cotton and Umbrellas or paper parasols which are hand-painted in a variety designs. Return to the hotel.

Overnight: Chiang Mai
Meal: Lunch

DAY 3: CHIANG MAI / DOI INTHANON - THE HIGHEST PARK OF THAILAND

08:30 Hrs Visit Doi Inthanon, the Thailand's highest mountain (2565 meters above sea level), which offers beautiful scenery, evergreen mountain forests, and impressive waterfalls. On this tour stops are made at: the summit, containing the shrine of Chao Inthawitchayanon, the former prince of Chiang Mai. A short trek along Michael’s Trail offers a beautiful and unforgettable experience. The next visit is the great twin royal pagodas, which were built for the highness Majesties of the King and the Queen. The place provides a marvelous view of surrounding.

Lunch serve at a local restaurant.

13:00 Hrs Afternoon visit Doi Inthanon Royal Project, one of many royal-sponsored reeducation projects initiated to familiarize hill tribe people with new agricultural techniques. Visitors can view the flower nurseries and cultivation areas. Continue to visit Karen hill tribe village for an insight into their still primitive lifestyle. They are peaces loving warriors, very industrious and faithful people. On the way back see picturesque Vachirathan waterfall

Overnight: Chiang Mai
Meal:  Lunch


DAY 4: CHIANG MAI - CHIANG RAI / GOLDEN TRIANGLE / MAE SAI

08:00 Hrs Check out from the hotel and drive through scenery from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai (200 Km) by road along picturesque scenic routes pass the several beautiful northern mountains and valleys via the Hot Spring at Mae Ka Chan district and visit to Rong Khun Temple (White’s Temple) It is designed by the famous national artist. The main temple building or U-Bosot is a distinctive white color and decorated with fragments of reflective glass and can be seen from afar. Painting and murals inside the temple are also very magnificent. Continue to archeological remains at Chiang Sean, original capital of the Lanna kingdom, which originated around 1328, visit the multitude of sites including ancient ruins of temples, stupas, and ancient city wall and moat

Lunch Serve at a local restaurant beside Mae Khong River.

13:30 Hrs Visit to the world famous Golden Triangle where the borders of three countries; Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar are met. See the panoramic view of Mekong River, the Golden Buddha Statue beside the Mae Khong River. Then visit Opium Museum, a small museum with historical displays pertaining to opium culture include all the various implements used in the planting, harvest and all information about how dangerous of opium. Experience with Long tail Boat Trip along the Mae Khong River, made a stop at Don Sao Village, Laos. Then continue to Mae Sai town, the Thailand-Myanmar border and the northernmost point of Thailand. Enjoy shopping the Myanmar products at the local market. Then transfer to the hotel in Chiang Rai

Overnight: Chiang Rai
Meal: Lunch

DAY 5: CHIANG RAI / DOI TUNG ROYAL PALACE / DOI MAE SALONG [KMT] CHINESE COMMUNITY

08:30 Hrs Drive to Doi Mae Salong Mountain, on the way stops at various hill tribe villages including visit Yao & Akha Hill tribe Villages. Continue to Santi Kiri KMT (Kuo Min Tung Chinese) Yunan Chinese Refugee settlement, with its tea & coffee plantations and also co-op store where home made wines, medical herbs and other locally grown products are sold. The villagers are ethnic Chinese, descendents of KMT Nationalist Chinese army regiment that took refuge in Thailand almost 50 years ago when Communist Forces won the civil war in mainland China.

Lunch Serve at a local restaurant

13.00 Hrs Drive up to the highest mountain peak on the Thai/Burma border; Doi Tung, 2,000 meters above sea level. In the past, shifting slash-and-burn cultivation destroyed the forest around Doi Tung area. Until 1987 when the Doi Tung Development. Project was established in accordance to the King’s Mother initiative. Then visit to Mae Fah Luang Garden and Doi Tung Royal villa. Return back to the hotel

Overnight: Chiang Rai
Meal: Lunch

 DAY 6: CHIANG RAI / CITY TEMPLES TOUR / NEXT DESTINATION
08:30 Hrs Drive to visit the world famous Wat Phra Kaew where the Emerald Buddha image was once enshrined, now the temple houses a jade Buddha image which was made to commemorate the 90th birthday of the late Princess Mother. Continue this tour with Wat Phra Singha where the famous Buddha image housed here is believed to be built in 157 A.D. in Sri Lanka or Ceylon and was brought to Thailand in the Sukhothai period (1238-1438). Transfer to Chiang Rai Airport for next destination. You may also extend your stay in Chiang Rai and enjoy one of the many other exciting tours available.

Overnight: Chiang Rai