Truly Northern Thailand - 10 days

Arrival in Chiang Rai, the tour guide and driver will pick you up and then transfer to your hotel.

Accommodation: Hotel in Chiang Rai
Meals: None
Private car & tour guide

After breakfast, depart to visit Doi Tung Palace or “King’s Mother Garden,” located in a large beautiful valley with a vast garden showcasing a variety of flowers. Visit the main hall, where people can pay respect to the photos of the Princess Mother (the King’s mother). You will also see silk embroidery named after flowers starting with each letter of the English alphabet, and beautiful paintings that change color and light as you walk past them from different angles.

Enjoy the lovely viewpoint from the palace balcony overlooking the gardens and mountains. You can stroll through the garden and take photos of the statue called “The Continuity” in the center of the garden.
Continue to Mae Sai, the northernmost point of Thailand, where you can see the border between Thailand and Myanmar at “Tha Khee Lek,” a trading place for Thai, Burmese, and Chinese people with a wide variety of products.

Lunch at your own expense, then visit the Golden Triangle area, once the center of the opium trade. Enjoy a boat ride on the Mekong River to Laos, taking in the beautiful scenery along the giant river that divides the three countries, before returning to Chiang Rai.

Accommodation: Hotel in Chiang Rai
Meals: Breakfast
Private car & tour guide

Breakfast at the hotel. In Chiang Rai, you are in the northern reaches of Thailand — a wooded, mountainous, and beautiful region.

This morning, visit the city of Chiang Rai, starting with a walk in the heart of the local market, where locals buy and sell fresh vegetables and fruit in the morning. Then visit Wat Phra Kaew Temple and the superb Rai Mae Fah Luang Museum.

Continue to the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun). Although recent, it is the most visited monument in the region, created by Thai artist Chalermchai Kositpipat in 1997. The artist himself has said it will only be completed 60–90 years after his death. Its unique whiteness makes it one of a kind. Inside the wihaan, a fresco blends Buddhist themes with images from pop culture such as The Matrix, Star Wars, the bombing of the Twin Towers, and Kung Fu Panda, which stand out from the usual temple decorations.

Lunch at a local restaurant (own expense). In the afternoon, head to the Thaton area and visit Thaton Temple on the mountain, offering a beautiful overview of the Kok River from Myanmar into Thailand over a 78 km stretch.

Accommodation: Hotel in Thaton
Meals: Breakfast
Private car & tour guide

Check out from the hotel and travel to the Chiang Dao area to visit Chiang Dao Cave Temple, which was once used as a resting place by Myanmar soldiers before attacking Chiang Mai in the 1500s. See the stalactites and stalagmites formed from limestone in various shapes and sizes inside the cave.

After lunch (own expense), continue to Pai, a small town in Mae Hong Son province. Stop at Mae Malai Village, known for its market with featured products from all over Thailand. Drive through Mork Fah Waterfall, which drops 60 meters and flows year-round. Walk through the shaded forest trail to the falls and see the mist floating around, giving the waterfall its name.

Stop at Pong Dueid Hot Springs, one of the most beautiful hot springs in Chiang Mai province. This spa is little exploited commercially and is located in a picturesque wooded valley within a well-maintained park. Downstream from the bubbling geysers, rock formations create shallow pools where you can take a refreshing swim. Arrive in Pai in the evening.

Accommodation: Hotel in Pai
Meals: Breakfast
Private car & tour guide

Pick up from your hotel and embark on a cruise along the Pai River to observe the beautiful scenery and simple lifestyle of the locals. Visit a Long-Neck Karen Village, where women wear brass rings around their necks, preserving a unique cultural tradition.

In the afternoon, visit Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu, located on the outskirts of Mae Hong Son at the top of Kong Mu Hill. It is accessible by road or a long staircase for the adventurous. From the hilltop, enjoy panoramic views of the town surrounded by mountains and valleys.

Continue to Jong Kham and Jong Klang temples, which share the same grounds next to a large swamp. These old temples feature beautiful Burmese-style architecture and house sacred Buddha images.

Accommodation: Hotel in Mae Hong Son
Meals: Breakfast
Private car & tour guide

After breakfast, visit Tham Lod Cave by bamboo raft, home to large numbers of bats and swifts, and filled with stalactites and stalagmites. Upon arrival, meet the raft guide who will take you into the cave.

In the afternoon, visit the Lahu Hill Tribe Village, where the main occupations are agriculture such as rice farming, corn planting, and animal husbandry. The Lahu are also known for their hunting skills. Next, visit the Lisu Hill Tribe Village, famous for sewing, embroidery, and silverware. The women’s dresses are renowned for their bright colors, making them stand out among all the hill tribes in Mae Hong Son province.

Return to your hotel for overnight.

Accommodation: Hotel in Mae Hong Son
Meals: Breakfast
Private car & tour guide

After breakfast, around 7 a.m., visit the local market and depart for Chiang Mai via Mae Chaem. Along the way, pass through Doi Inthanon National Park, rich in plant and animal species, especially birds, and home to ethnic minorities. Stop to visit some of the most beautiful waterfalls in Chiang Mai province. Arrive in Chiang Mai in the evening.

Accommodation: Hotel in Chiang Mai
Meals: Breakfast
Private car & tour guide

After breakfast, take a walking tour of the old town to visit Chiang Mai’s most beautiful temples: Wat Phra Singh, Wat Phan Tao, and Wat Chedi Luang.

Wat Phra Singh is one of the most sacred temples in Chiang Mai, featuring Lanna-style architecture, and is well-known as “The Temple of the Lion Buddha.” Continue to Wat Phan Tao, an ancient temple with a beautiful garden located next to the sacred Wat Chedi Luang. Wat Chedi Luang itself is notable for its tall chedi and for hosting many important Buddhist holidays.

Stroll along small streets lined with traditional houses, take a rickshaw tour, and walk through Warorot Market, a great spot to experience authentic Thai culture and daily life. In the afternoon, visit Doi Suthep Temple, one of Thailand’s most historically and spiritually significant sites. Drive up the scenic mountain road, then climb over 300 steps or take the elevator to the top for panoramic views of Chiang Mai.

Return to the hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure or visit the night market on your own.

Accommodation: Hotel in Chiang Mai
Meals: Breakfast
Private car & tour guide

Today, free time until your transfer to the airport for your departure flight. End of services. Thank you for travelling with us!

Accommodation: None
Meals: Breakfast
Private car