North Thailand Tours

15 days North Thailand - Individual Program.
Tour code: 1053

Departure possible every day. No minimum required.

We've designed this program for clients who like to have the basics of their trip arranged
while filling out the days on own. Accommodations, long distance transport and the trek
are all arranged, while transfers and most meals (other than breakfast) are on own.
Accommodation is selected on the best location for exploration on own. This particular
program is designed with an eye on the price, so transport is by train, hotels are moderate and
tours and the hill tribe trek are on join-in basis.

Day 01 Meals: none
Meet upon arrival Bangkok Airport & transfer to hotel. Overnight Viengtai Hotel standard room

Day 02 Meals: B
ABF. Day free at leisure. The Wat Pra Keo, Wat Po, Chao Praya river the Golden Mount and
other famous sights are within walking distance of your hotel. Overnight Viengtai Hotel standard room

Day 03 Meals: BL
ABF. Early morning pick up for full day tour of the Bang Pa-in Summer Palace and the temples and ruins of the former capital of Siam, Ayuthaya. Lunch included. Overnight Viengtai Hotel standard room

Day 04 Meals: BLD
ABF. Early pick up for a three days excursion in a small international group to Kanchanaburi
province. Visit The Bridge over The River Kwai, the JEATH Museum and the War Cemetery.
Boattrip over the Kwai Noi river into the jungle skirting the border with Burma. Overnight Jungle Rafts.

Day 05 Meals: BLD
Explore a nearby village of the Mon, a minority people with origins in Burma. Optional possibility to ride an elephant. Visit by boat to the Sai Yok Yai Waterfall and the Kaeng Lawa Cave. Overnight Jungle Rafts.

Day 06 Meals: BL
Morning free at leisure. After lunch return to Bangkok and drop off at the Hua Lampong Railway Station. This evening board the overnight train with sleeper to Chiang Mai.

Day 07 Meals: none
Early morning arrival in Chiang Mai. Meet upon arrival at the station and transfer to your Hotel of choice. The rest of the day is free at leisure. Visit for example the handicraft villages or the famous temple Doi Suthep, high on a mountain just outside the city. Between 18.00 - 19.00 your trekking guide will visit you at the hotel for a briefing. Overnight Pornping Hotel

Day 08 Meals: BLD
Start of a three day/two night join in trekking as part of a small international group. Overnights will be at hill tribe villages. Meals will be prepared by your guide. A one-hour rides on an elephant and bamboo rafting (if the water level allows) are included.

Day 09 Meals: BLD
Second day of trekking. Overnight at tribal village

Day 10 Meals: BL
After lunch transfer out of the jungle back to Chiang Mai and drop off at your hotel The rest of the afternoon and evening is free to relax. A Thai traditional massage is recommended! Overnight Pornping Hotel.

Day 11 Meals: B
Full day free at leisure or explore Chiang Mai and surrounding on own. Late afternoon departure by night train, with sleeper to Bangkok. Transfer to the Railway station is on own.

Day 12 Meals: none
Arrival in Bangkok. Meet upon arrival and transfer to Ban Pe, a drive of about three hours. From here there are regular boats across to Koh Samet. Overnight at a fan bungalow of the Vong Deuan Resort, Koh Samet.

Day 13 Meals: B
ABF. Day free to relax at the beach, snorkeling and boat trips may be organized locally. Overnight at a fan bungalow of the Vong Deuan Resort, Koh Samet

Day 14 Meals: B
ABF. Day free to relax at the beach, snorkeling and boat trips may be organized locally.Overnight at a fan bungalow of the Vong Deaun Resort, Koh Samet

Day 15 Meals: B
ABF. Private transfer to either a Bangkok hotel or Bangkok Airport.

End of program.

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4 days Northeastern Thailand - On the Khmer Trail
Tour code: 1501

Much less well known to than North and South Thailand is the Northeast. However Esaan, as the Thai call this part of the country, has a lot to offer: spectacular Khmer temples, deep rain forest, Neolithic sites, handicrafts villages, rural life and none of these places overrun by tourists! There are roughly two routes possible, one skirting the Cambodian border ending in Ubon Ratchathani and the other cutting Northeast ending in Nong Khai. A sample routing of the first route follows here.

Day 01 Bangkok - Khao Yai National Park Meals: LD
Early morning pick up from your hotel for drive to Khao Yai National Park, covering 542,000 acres of jungle, grassland and forested hills. Visit the imposing Heaw Narok Waterfall and have lunch. In the afternoon make a hike over one of the jungle trails. There are trails suitable for everyone: from an easy 2 kilometer walk to a 8 kilometer jungle trek. Dinner and overnight in your good hotel just outside the park. Overnight Khao Yai Grand Thani Resort.

Day 02 Khao Yai - Buriram - Surin Meals: BLD
Continue East to visit the spectacular located Khmer temple Prasart Phanom Rung. From this temple, dating back to the early 10th century, one has a commanding view over the surrounding country side. Continue visiting the overgrown Muang Tham Khmer sanctuary. Proceed to Surin, well known for its annual Elephant Round up (held in November). Overnight Thong Tarin Hotel, Surin.

Day 03 Surin - Ubon Meals: BLD
Travel on to Ubon for visit to Prasat Sikhoraphum, a Khmer period monument consisting of five pagodas. Also visit the village of Ban Pa Ao, where brass is made into pots and utensils following an centuries old method. Nearby we also visit a silk weaving project under Royal Patronage. After lunch we continue to Ubon where we visit Wat Supatnaram, an ancient temple on the bank of the Moon River and if time allows the National Museum. Dinner of Vietnamese specialties at the Indochina Restaurant. Overnight Lai Thong Hotel, Ubon

Day 04 Ubon & the Lao border Meals: BL
Travel further east, in the border area with Laos and Cambodia, known as the Emerald
Triangle. Visit to Pha Taem, a imposing cliff overlooking the Mekong river and the jungles of
Laos across. Pha Taem is also the site of interesting petroglyphes. Lunch at a restaurant
overlooking the Mekong River. The afternoon we visit the border market of Chong Mek,
where many goods from Laos and Vietnam are traded. Return to Ubon Ratchathani to board
the night train back to Bangkok, board a flight to Bangkok (it's possible to connect to Chiang
Mai) of another overnight. Alternatively it's possible to continue to Laos (for example, to join
the Vat Phou Cruise)

End of program

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Chiang Mai day trips

Chiang Mai Historical Temples - half day
Tour code 1401
incl. lunch

Pick up from your hotel followed by a visit of Wat Phra Singh, Wat Chedi Luang, Wat U Mong and Doi Suthep. Visit the Tribal Research Institute before lunch of Chiang Mai's local delicacy: Khao Soi. Return to your hotel, end of tour.

Explorer Chiang Mai by bicycle - half day tour
Tour code 1402
incl. lunch

This morning you will be picked up from the hotel and transfer to a quiet rural area outside of the city where you will start a half day bicycle tour of Chiang Mai. First, you will ride along the Ping River over narrow roads through fruit orchards and vegetable gardens, and passing local temples, markets and traditional northern Thai-style houses. Your first stop will be a small village where 'khao laam', a local delicacy made of glutinous rice, beans and coconut, is produced. You will continue through rice paddies and lam yai orchards to the hidden and seldom visited ruins of Viang Khum Kaam, which some consider to be the ancient city on which Chiang Mai was built. After visiting a local village where earthen pots are hand made you'll have lunch at a small local restaurant and return to the hotel. End of tour.

Doi Inthanon bird watching program - full day
Tour code 1403
incl. lunch

Morning departure from Chiang Mai to Doi Inthanon, Thailand's highest mountain, stopping en route for photo opportunities based on your interests. The area around Doi Inthanon is a spectacular national park and is home to much unusual flora and fauna, especially birdlife where over 300 of Thailand indigenous bird species make their home. Spend the day exploring the trails of the park then continue to the Mae Ya Waterfall to cool off. Late afternoon back to the hotel. End of tour.

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Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son Overland
Tour code: 1410
4 days/ 3 nights

This program brings you through one of the most beautiful areas of Northern Thailand. Overnights will be in comfortable resorts and days are packed with a variety of attractions. Thundering waterfalls, hot springs, evergreen rainforest, impressive limestone mountains, mysterious caves and many different and colorful tribes.

Day 1 Chiang Mai - Pai Meals: LD
Early departure from your hotel in Chiang Mai. Drive to Mae Malai and stop at the colorful Local market, where Lisu tribes women will try to sell you their embroideries. Continue to the Hmong village Chum Yen. Visit Mork Fah Waterfall and have a refreshing swim. After that we continue our road trip, visiting the Pong Deuad Hot Springs en route (if weather conditions allow). Simple, hearty lunch at Mae Sae. Continue to Pai along a winding and very scenic road which leads through Huay Nam Dang National Park. Late afternoon arrival in Pai. Dinner and overnight in Muang Pai Resort.

Day 2 Pai - Mae Hong Son Meals: BLD
After breakfast leave for Soppong. Visit the Lisu Village Nam Rin along the way and stop at an impressive view point. From Soppong drive to Tham Lot, an enormous and cave. Walk through this beautiful cave and make a short trip on a bamboo raft on an underground river. After lunch stop at the Black Lahu village of Bokrai. Continue to Mae Hong Son. View the sunset from Wat Doi Kong Mu from where you have a beautiful view over this charming little town. Dinner at the excellent Bai Fern Restaurant in town. Overnight at Fern Resort.

Day 3 Mae Hong Son Meals: BLD
After breakfast drive to the village Ban Mai Nai Soi. The inhabitants of this village belong to the Padaung tribe, a subgroup of the large Karen tribe, of which the majority lives in Burma. The women of this tribe wear brass rings around their necks , hence, they're also known as 'Long Neck Karen'. After lunch we take a trip by longtail boat over the Pai river to an elephant camp. An elephant ride of two hours will be made before going back to Fern Resort. Dinner at Fern Resort.

Day 4 Mae Hong Son - Chiang Mai Meals B
Morning visit the market and explore town before the transfer to the airport for flight TG 191 (10.40 - 11.15) to Chiang Mai.

End of the program.

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NorthHill Tribe Experience
Tour code: 1411
4 days/ 3 nights

This vehicle based program enables you to visit villages of many of the hill tribes present in Thailand. This trip includes a visit to a village of the Palong tribe, recent arrivals from Burma, as well as some Chinese Haw villages along the Thai/Burmese border. Accommodation on this trip is comfortable and located very beautiful. Driving times are limited so there is enough time for in-depth visits to villages and plenty of photo-stops along the way. We strongly suggest a visit to the Tribal Research Institute in Chiang Mai prior to this program.

Day 1 Meals Provided: LD
Pick-up from your hotel in Chiang Mai. Drive to Doi Angkhang stopping along the way at the Chiang Dao elephant camp and Chiang Dao Cave. Before lunch we visit the Lisu village Arunothai. After lunch continue on to Doi Angkhang along a very beautiful, narrow road along the Thai-Burmese border. Pass through some Chinese Haw villages and stop at Tham Mgob, the former headquarters of Kuomintang General Li. This afternoon we arrive at Angkhang Nature Resort located on Doi Ankhang. This mountain is 1300 meters high and Temperature are refreshingly cool all year round. Overnight in Doi Angkhang Resort.

Day 2 Meals Provided: BLD
After an early breakfast visit the Lahu village Kob Dong and Palong village No Lae. This village is located right on the Thai-Burmese border. After lunch visit the Doi Ankhang Agricultural station. This interesting agricultural station is one of the biggest of many Royal Projects in Northern Thailand. Afterwards depart for Chiang Dao stopping along the way at the H'mong village Ping Kong. Overnight at Chiang Dao Resort

Day 3 Meals Provided: BLD
Early departure after breakfast. In the area around Phrao walk for 2 1/2 hours from a Karen village Pa Lai to the Lahu village Ban Long. After lunch we make a trip on a bamboo raft on the river followed by an elephant ride. After the elephant ride we visit the Akha village Huay Kok and the Palong village Ban Pa Dang. Late this afternoon transfer to a 4-wheel drive vehicle and drive to H'mong Lodge. Enjoy a dinner followed by a short cultural show put on by the H'mong. Overnight at the H'mong Lodge.

Day 4 Meals Provided: BL
After breakfast we walk to some H'mong villages in the area. Drive back by 4 wheel drive along a dirt road with beautiful views or rice fields, vegetable gardens and H'mong villages. Enjoy lunch at an Orchid Farm in the Mae Sa Valley. Afternoon return to Chiang Mai with the rest of the day free at leisure.

Note: Alternatively this program may be done in opposite direction. This would be Particularly ideal for clients wanting to end the trip in Chiang Rai.

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Hill Tribe Trekking in the Phrao area
Tour code: 1450
3 days/ 2 nights

We can offer an enormous variation in different hill tribe trekking in Northern Thailand. The more popular treks are three to four days in length and include bamboo rafting and elephant riding. While most areas are regularly visited by hikers from all over the world, it is still possible to avoid the really over trekked areas.

Our guides are knowledgeable about the customs of each of the tribes, excellent cooks and good travel companions. More often than not the tribal trekking in Northern Thailand is the high light of holiday time in Thailand. We strongly suggest a visit to the Tribal research institute prior to any trek.

Our local agent will provide sleeping bags, sheet bags, torch, slippers, life vests for rafting and
portage. All material is of high quality. A reasonable physical condition and good shoes are
essential for every multiple day trekking. We recommend clients stay in Chiang Mai both the
nights before and after the trekking.

This particular trekking is one of the lighter multiple day treks we offer. For the more serious
hikers we refer to the four days Huay Nam Dang trekking.

Day 1 Meals provided: LD
Early departure from Chiang Mai. Drive to Chiang Dao. Visit the Chiang Dao Elephant Camp and witness the elephant show. Continue in the direction of Phrao. Lunch on the way. Today start walking after lunch. Walk appr. 2 ½ hours, pass by the Lahu village Pang Thong. Arrive in the Karen village Pha Lai late in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight in the village.

Day 2 Meals provided: BLD
After breakfast start trekking through beautiful scenery. Pass by the Akha and Lisu villages of Huay Ikow. Arrive around noon at the Palong village Mae Chon. Lunch. After lunch ride the elephant for about 1 ½ hours to another Palong village Pang Daeng. The colourful Palong tribe originate from Burma. Dinner and overnight in the Palong village Pang Daeng.

Day 3 Meals provided: BL
After breakfast start trekking for about 2 hours to the Mae Taeng River. Board your bamboo raft for an exciting trip on the river of about 1 ½ hours. After the rafttrip lunch and drive back to Chiang Mai. Stop at Mae Ram Orchid Farm on the way back. Arrive at your hotel in the late afternoon.

Umphang Nature Tour
Tour code: 1250

The small town of Umphang lies at the end of an only recently finished road, in the middle of beautiful mountainous jungle. Even by powerful pickup truck, the journey from Mae Sot to Umphang takes about four hours: no wonder this area has yet to be put o the tourist-map. Umphang and surroundings are mainly inhabited by hill tribes like H'mong, Lisu and Karen. The comfortable, The Trek Cottage is beautifully located in a gorge, on the banks of a jungle stream. Without doubt, one of the highlights of a visit to Umphang is the Thilor Zu, Thailand's largest and most impressive waterfall.

Itinerary of the 5 days program

Day 1
Pick up from your hotel, visiting The Thai - Burmese Border Market & Mae Sot Market where you enjoy bargaining a precious of stones and several woodcraft products. After lunch, departure for Umphang. The 164 kilometers long trip by pickup truck will take all morning, but there will be several interesting breaks. About halfway there's an H'mong (Meo) hill tribe village, where you can stretch your legs and maybe see some of the woman busy with their intricate needlework. Before reaching the valley of Umphang, you can enjoy the marvelous view from the 'Karieng Loy Fah - Pass'. Arrival in the Trek Cottage around noon, checks in and lunch. This resort is beautifully located on the banks of the Mae Klong River and the perfect place to take a rest after the long journey at the simple, but cosy and comfortable rooms.

Day 2
Breakfast. The bamboo rafts, each seating two people,, are ready to go. Rafting is a perfect way to enjoy the dense jungle of Umphang. Ti's a leisurely trip, with only a few minor rapids. It's also a good way to spot wildlife, so keep your camera ready for possible encounters with Hornbills, Gibbons or other species of the extensive fauna living here. On the way we will stop at the Tilor Chor Waterfalls, hot water springs and the Takubi Rapids. After having a picnic lunch on the way, the raft will take you along the majestic limestone cliffs of Pha Peung and Pha Leuad. In the afternoon we will camp out along the riverbank. You can prepare dinner for yourself, with assistance of the experienced guide and have a good time at the campfire. To sleep in a tent in the jungle will be an unforgettable experience.

Day 3
Early in the morning the fire is poled up to prepare breakfast, followed by a trek to one of the highlights of the area, the Tilor Zu Waterfalls, the largest in Southeast Asia. This beautiful National Park has been declared 'World Heritage' by the World Wildlife Fund. A simple picnic lunches in the forest, then time to leave for Kota, a Karen Village on the banks of the Mae Klong River. Walking is mainly downhill and will not be too strenuous. Dinner and overnight at the village.

Day 4
After breakfast, start elephant riding through the trek forest to Ban Mar la Mong where you will have a simple lunch. In Ban Mar la Mong a pickup truck is waiting to transfer you to the Trek Cottage, Umphang. Arrival late in the afternoon. After three days in the jungle the comfort of a bed and a bathroom will be welcome! The Trek Cottage will prepare you an excellent Thai dinner.

Day 5
One of the attractions of Umphang is the observing of the Talay Mork, Sea of Clouds, at sunrise from the Hua Mot Mountain. The view from the mountaintop on the fading clouds hanging over the jungle is a sight not to be missed indeed. Breakfast and the rest of the morning at leisure at the Trek Cottage. After lunch departure for Mae Sot. On the way we will visit Ban Romklao 2, a cluster of several hill tribe villages. The H'mong have some small silverware factories here, where you might find something of your liking. Late in the afternoon arrival in Mae Sot, transfer to your hotel.

This itinerary might have to be adapted due to unforeseen natural circumstances, like heavy rain, water level or following advice of the local Border Patrol Police. However, the intention of the trek will always be maintained.

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