DAY 01: CHIANG MAI / DOI SUTHEP TEMPLE + ANCIENT TEMPLES / KHANTOKE NORTHERN DINNER
Arrive to Chiang Mai Airport, meet and greet with Local English speaking guide. Depart to Chiang Mai city moat and ruined walls. Start the temples tour with Chedi Luang Temple was built in the end of 14th century. The great chedi was to remain the tallest structure in Chiang Mai and was once the home of the Emerald Buddha image, Thailand's most sacred religious relic. Visit to Phra Singh Temple, was built in the year 1345. This temple contains marvelous examples of Lanna art, including a Lanna style viharn and the finest scripture repository of its type in the north.
Proceed to Phrathat Doi Suthep Temple, one of northern Thailand's most sacred temples built in the year 1383. It is located 1,050 meters above sea level. See the marvelous golden chedi, which is containing the holy relics of Lord Buddha. Enjoy the panoramic view of Chiang Mai City and Ping valley from the summit of Suthep Mountain.
Then transfer to the hotel for check in and free at leisure.
19:00 Hrs. Pick up from hotel lobby and depart to Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center. Enjoy a Dinner the traditional northern Thailand form of dining. The food is served on a wooden pedestal tray, called Khantoke. While guest enjoy the meal there are usually performances of traditional northern Thai dances and music.
Overnight: Chiang Mai
Meal: Dinner (1)
DAY 02: CHIANG MAI / ELEPHANT EXPERIENCES / ORCHID FARM / HANDICRAFTS CENTER
08:30 Hrs. Pick up from hotel lobby and depart to Maesa Elephant Camp; home to one of the largest assembly of elephants in the north of Thailand. The camp’s philosophy is to create a natural and healthy environment for the elephants while working to conserve and breed them, due to the dwindling number of Asian elephants left in the wild. Watch the elephants enjoy complete freedom of movement, no longer chained; they can roam wherever they choose in the sanctuary. The mahouts do not ride the elephants, nor do they use the hook for control. New dust and mud bath areas have been created, and the elephants can spend time cooling off in the stream. Experiences with their daily basis activities and enjoy feeding, touching, playing, and photograph with elephants.
Visit to Orchid Nursery; see a large collection of different types of colorful exotic year-round-bloom orchids.
Lunch served at the local restaurant.
Continue to the Chiang Mai Handicrafts Center. Learn and see the local people making handicraft including Hand-woven Textiles by Silk, Silverware, and Umbrellas or paper parasols which are hand-painted in a variety designs.
The artisans produce an extraordinary range of quality products, which are invariably the first choice among shoppers. This tour shows you how Chiang Mai craftsmen produce their crafts by hand from the first stage until finish, and gives you an idea that Chiang Mai is the major center for quality handicrafts in Thailand.
Then transfer back to the hotel.
Overnight: Chiang Mai
Meal: Lunch (1)
DAY 03: CHIANG MAI - CHIANG RAI / WHITE TEMPLE + CITY TEMPLES
07:00 Hrs. Pick up from hotel lobby and depart to Chiang Rai (03 hours drive) by road along picturesque scenic routes passes the several beautiful northern mountains.
Arrive to Chiang Rai, visit to White Temple (Rong Khun Temple); designed by the famous national artist. The main temple building is a distinctive white color, decorated with fragments of reflective glass which can be seen from afar.
Lunch served at the local restaurant.
Continue to Blue Temple (Rong Sued Ten Temple); designed by the local Chiang Rai artist who used to the team work of White Temple before. The main temple building is a distinctive blue color with the new philosophy of Buddhist art
Then visit to Black House, (Baandum Museum); belongs to the national artist who is celebrated for his eerie sculptures made from horns and bones, reptile skins, traditional African sculptures, old boats, Lanna-style woodcrafts and art installations housed across 32 buildings, most of which are Lanna-style pavilions made from black wood.
Depart to Emerald Buddha Temple (Phra Kaew Temple); where the Emerald Buddha image was once enshrined. Now it is replaced with a jade Buddha image which was made to commemorate the 90th birthday of the late Princess Mother. Then transfer to the hotel for check in and free at leisure.
Overnight: Chiang Rai
Meal: Lunch (2)
DAY 04: CHIANG RAI / LONG NECK TRIBE / MAE SAI BORDER / GOLDEN TRIANGLE / CHIANG SAEN
08:00 Hrs. Pick up from hotel lobby and depart to visit the Long Neck Tribe Village; the woman wears several brass rings around their long, slender necks. A woman generally has about twenty or more rings around her neck. They are originated from Shan state, The Union of Myanmar
Then visit Mae Sai Town, the Thailand-Myanmar border and the northernmost point of Thailand. Enjoy shopping Myanmar products at the local market.
Lunch served at the local restaurant
Continue to visit the Golden Triangle where the borders of three countries; Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar are met. See the Golden Buddha Statue and the panoramic view of Mekong River. Then visit the Opium Museum, displaying all the stories about the opium and the Golden Triangle.
Depart to Chiang Saen Town, which ancient city originated around 1328; visit the multitude of sites including ancient ruins of temples, stupas, and ancient city wall and moat. Then transfer back to the hotel
Overnight: Chiang Rai
Meal: Lunch (3)
DAY 05: CHIANG RAI / DEPARTURE
Check out from the hotel and transfer to Chiang Rai Airport for flight to next destination.
Overnight: x
Meal: x