Destinations: Chiang Rai – Chiang Saen – Chiang Mai.
Duration: 8 Days
Overview: This 8-day Northern Thailand tour takes you from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai, exploring local markets, iconic temples, and unique attractions like Baan Dam (Black House). You’ll cruise the Mae Kok River to visit a Karen village, journey through the tea plantations of Mae Salong, and experience the cultural richness of the Golden Triangle. In Chiang Mai, highlights include a walking tour of the old town, a Thai cooking class, a Mae Ping River cruise, and a trek in Doi Inthanon National Park with visits to waterfalls and hill tribe villages.
Arrival in Chiang Rai, you’ll be met and taken to the hotel. You’ll have time to relax after your journey. You’ll spend the night in Chiang Rai.
After breakfast, you’ll visit the local market to discover the local products. Next, you’ll visit the world-famous Wat Phra Kaew, where the Emerald Buddha image was once enshrined. You’ll then move on to Wat Phra Singh, where one of Thailand’s most beautiful Buddha images is now enshrined. Afterward, you’ll take a short drive from Chiang Rai City to Baan Dam (Black House), the unique creation of national artist Thawan Duchanee. Part art studio, part museum, part home, Baan Dam is an eclectic mix of traditional northern Thai buildings interspersed with some outlandish modern designs. In the afternoon, you’ll take a boat cruise on the Mae Kok River from Chiang Rai to a Karen village, where you can watch elephants or feed them. Afterward, you’ll be transferred back to Chiang Rai for overnight accommodation.
After breakfast, you’ll depart for northern Thailand, a wooded, mountainous, and beautiful area. This morning, you’ll explore the surroundings, starting with the road that leads to Mae Salong. You’ll climb up and down the green hills covered with tea plantations, where you’ll taste the delicious tea produced by one of the many plantations in the region. From Doi Mae Salong, you’ll visit two villages of ethnic minorities: the Akha village of Loyo and the Lisu village of Ban Hanygo. You’ll also visit the Grand Royal Palace and the Mae Fah Luang Botanical Garden. Upon arrival in the Golden Triangle, you’ll take a boat trip on the Mekong River to see the point where Thailand, Burma, and Laos meet. You’ll stay overnight in Chiang Saen.
After breakfast, you’ll leave the hotel for Thaton. On the way, you’ll stop in the village of Patai to meet the Padong Karen tribe, famous for its ‘giraffe’ women who wear copper rings around their necks to lengthen them. You’ll then visit a traditional Chinese medicine pharmacy, where an expert will explain the use of herbs, roots, plants, and ointments. In the afternoon, you’ll head to Chiang Mai, the capital of the North, with a stop to explore the maze of underground galleries in Chiang Dao. You’ll stay overnight in Chiang Mai.
The morning will be mainly devoted to a walking tour of the old town, with stops at the old wall, the moat, and a gate of the old town. You’ll visit the most beautiful temples of Chiang Mai, including Wat Phra Singh, Wat Phan Tao, and Wat Chedi Luang. Then, you’ll stroll along small streets lined with traditional houses and enjoy a rickshaw tour. After that, you’ll walk through the central market of Warorot. In the afternoon, you’ll visit Doi Suthep hill. To brighten up your evening, you’ll browse the Night Market on your own. You’ll stay overnight in Chiang Mai.
After breakfast, you’ll join the Thai Farm cooking class from 08.30 until 14.00.
You’ll be picked up by the school team and join the Thai Farm Cooking School for Thai cooking classes in English. It will be a great experience for you to learn the recipes and tips of this succulent Thai cuisine.
– Visit a local market
– Explaining and learning about herbs and ingredients at our organic farm
– Cooking jasmine rice and sticky rice
– Pound and make a curry paste from scratch
– Choose and make one curry paste, one curry and one soup
– Cook a noodle dish and sweet dessert according to the day
In the afternoon, you’ll take a two-hour boat trip along the Mae Ping River, which is an excellent way to spend your time. You’ll watch as the scenery along the river changes and see many beautiful traditional teak houses as well as rural greenery along the way. Afterward, you’ll be transferred back to the hotel for your free time. You’ll stay overnight in Chiang Mai.
Your tour today starts with a transfer to Doi Inthanon National Park. It will take approximately 2 hours to reach the highest peak of Thailand. Upon arrival, you’ll spend 2-3 hours trekking through the jungle along a narrow mountain trail that leads to a stunning hidden waterfall in the middle of the lush jungle. Along the way, before reaching the Pagagayaw Karen hill tribe village, you’ll pass through farmland where you’ll see coffee plantations, flower farms, and beautiful rice terraces. You’ll discover the Pagagayaw Karen hill tribe village and taste a cup of locally grown coffee before moving on to Vachiratharn Waterfall, a 70-meter-high thunderous waterfall. You’ll enjoy the cool fresh air at the waterfall before continuing back down. Afterward, you’ll visit the beautiful architecture of Napamaytanidol Chidi and Phra Mahathat Napaphon Bhumisiri, which were built to honor the 60th birthdays of King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit. Finally, you’ll be transferred back to Chiang Mai for overnight accommodation.
Your time will be free until its time for transfer to the airport for flight return to Bangkok and your onward connecting flight.
Pricing depends on your group size and requested services, such as hotel type. Please fill out the form below, and we'll respond within 24 hours.