Best of the North Thailand 11 Days

Upon arrival at the airport and after clearing immigration and customs, meet with your Asia Tour Advisor guide and transfer to your hotel for check in. The remainder of the day is free at your own leisure.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be collected from your hotel in Bangkok and taken to the Floating Market. You will take a longtail boat to the edge of the Floating Market and ride in a paddleboat through the Floating Market. You’ll then walk around and observe the sale and exchange of various goods between parties in their longtail boats as has been traditionally taking place for years.

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be collected from your hotel in Bangkok and taken to the Floating Market. You will take a longtail boat to the edge of the Floating Market and ride in a paddleboat through the Floating Market. You’ll then walk around and observe the sale and exchange of various goods between parties in their longtail boats as has been traditionally taking place for years.Back to Bangkok for the visit to some highlights including the Grand Palace which is the official of King Siam since 1782 made up of numerous buildings, halls, pavilions set around open lawns, gardens and courtyards.

It is located on the bank of Chao Phraya River. Inside the Grand Palace complex is Wat Phra Kaeo or Temple of the Emerald Buddha – the most beautiful and sacred Buddhist temple in Thailand. The following visit is Wat Arun which is known as Temple of Dawn – one of the best well-known sites in Bangkok. It is best seen from the opposite side of the river.

Fly to Chiang Rai - the main commercial centre serving the Golden Triangle border region of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. Fly to Chiang Rai - the main commercial centre serving the Golden Triangle border region of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. On arrival, spend your time to visit Wat Rong Khun (also known as White Temple) – the unique northern art temple with the beautiful painting and the chapel of this temple is in pure white and adorned with exquisite traditional Thai style stuccowork, aiming to represent heaven.

If time permits, continue with the visit to other main attractions in Chiang Rai such as Wat Phra Kaew where the Emerald Buddha; 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).

Depart from your hotel in the morning to Mae Sai Border - the Northern most point of Thailand, where you can also experience the local lifestyle of people at the border point.

Then continue your trip to the Golden Triangle, where the Ruak River and the Mekong River meets forming the border of three countries, and the opium museum. Thereafter, you will take a boat trip on the river to view the splendor of mighty Mekong River. Back to the hotel for rest.

Leave Chiang Rai for Chiang Mai. Stop en route at Sankampang District which is famous for Thai Northern Handicraft Villages, such as silk weaving, umbrella making, wood carving and silvers ware. Upon arrival, check in your hotel and free at leisure rest of the day.

You have an opportunity to enjoy a cooking class in Chiang Mai. Our tour guide will pick you up at hotel and go to the local market with chef. Learn more about ingredients, learn to cook the first three courses you choose and have lunch with what you have prepared.

You have an opportunity to enjoy a cooking class in Chiang Mai. Our tour guide will pick you up at hotel and go to the local market with chef. Learn more about ingredients, learn to cook the first three courses you choose and have lunch with what you have prepared. Continue the day with the visit to some main temples, such as Wat Suan Dok, Wat Chiang Mun, Wat Chediluang and Wat Phrasing.

This day aims to explore Elephant Nature Park - a natural home and sanctuary for elephants, buffalos, dogs, cats, birds and many other rescued animals. Your visit starts with a picturesque drive through rural countryside. You will hear the personal stories of rescued and orphaned elephants. See how they became a proud herd and free from abuse for the first time in their lives. Many find their visit to Elephant Nature Park rewarding and very relaxing. Observe free roaming elephants (no riding), and other rescued animals enjoying the natural surroundings of our sanctuary. Your visit helps support our regional projects and offers an invaluable opportunity of helping elephant conservation. You will join various activities to cherish the elephants (unload, distribute fruit treats and feed the elephants from the viewing platform.

Enjoy a sumptuous and varied vegetarian buffet of Asian and International dishes in the beautiful nature of the park

Walk with our staff and the elephants to the river that skirts the park. Watch these gentle giants as they splash around and play while you stay dry on the river bank. After the visit, it`s time for goodbyes to the elephants and to Elephant Nature Park before the hour-long drive back to Chiang Mai where you will be dropped off at your accommodations.

*Park visits are all about spending quality time observing, being with the herd and be their friends (RIDING IS NOT ALLOWED). We do not adhere to a strict schedule; the best way to make the most of your visit is to relax, watch and learn from the elephants.

Drive on to Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep which was built in 1383. It is located 1,050 meters 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. Then visit Orchid Nursery to see a large collection of more than 50 different types of colorful exotic year-round-bloom orchids.

Continue drive to Pai, a tiny town halfway between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son with some steep and winding roads through the mountains and valleys via Mok Fah Waterfall one of the highest waterfalls in Doi Suthep - Doi Pui National Park. Stop at World War II Memorial Bridge, This Bridge was built in 1942, at that time the Japanese troops chose Pai to be their military base. Overnight in Pai.

After breakfast, drive for Mae Hong Son. Visit Lod Cave where a huge cave system is once a dwelling place of pre-historic man. Experience with take the Bamboo raft reach into the cave; explore the 1 kilometer-long cave along which can be found beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. After breakfast, drive for Mae Hong Son. Visit Lod Cave where a huge cave system is once a dwelling place of pre-historic man.

Experience with take the Bamboo raft reach into the cave; explore the 1 kilometer-long cave along which can be found beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Continue to visit Fish Cave, a special feature is the hollow cave filled with numerous freshwater fish, which is of the same family as the carp.

The fish are quite safe from being caught as they are believed to belong to the gods. In the afternoon, visit Wat Doi Klong Moo located on a hill to the west of town, is a major provincial landmark. There are two Burmese-style Chedis. The larger one was built in 1860 while the smaller one was erected in 1874. A panoramic view of Mae Hong Son can be enjoyed from the site.

Get up early morning to visit the morning market to observe a traditional mode of living of the local Shan people selling foods, vegetables. It will be the great chance to taste the local food here that different from local Thai.

After that, drive to the boat landing for a picturesque boat trip through exciting rapid of Pai River to visit the village of the long –necked Karen or Padong to witness the elongated – neck girls wearing numerous brass rings around their necks. Take the boat riding back to Mae Hong Son and have lunch at the local restaurant before driving back to Chiang Mai.

Today is free at your leisure for last minute shopping or sight-seeing before driving to the airport for flight home or to the next destination.

Note: We are flexible to adjust if you like to shorten or extend your trip, please do share your thoughts as much as you can. Good bye & see you in the next time! We can arrange additional customized trips for you if the above itinerary does not match your expectations.