5-Day Golden Triangle Tour

Bangkok, Thailand

Tuesday:
Depart Bangkok by flight (airfare is not included).
Arrive Chiang Mai Airport. Drive to Chiang Rai and lunch at local restaurant. Continue to Chiang Saen, former capital of the first Thai Kingdom, situated directly on Mekong River at border between Thailand and Laos. Visit Wat Phra Dhat Jom Kitti by climbing 383 steps to top of hill. Also visit Wat Chedi Luang and small museum nearby. Continue by longtail speedboat upriver on the Mekong toward Golden Triangle where borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet. Check in at imperial golden triangle or similar hotel.

Wednesday:
Depart from Chiang Saen to visit Lisu Village at Ban Mae Kaotom and continue to Yao and Akha hilltribe village. Proceed to Doi Mae Salong, passing through beautiful mountain scenery. View takes in a stunning view of Thailand, Myanmar and the Mekong Valley. Lunch at Mae Salong Villa in Doi Mae Salong. Depart Doi Mae Salong to Mae Sai, the northernmost Thai town on the Myanmar border. Walk around local market with opportunity for shopping. Before returning to Chiang Rai, short stop at fish cave. Check in at the legend chiang rai boutique river resort & spa or similar hotel.

Thursday:
Leave hotel for boat landing. Board simple longtail motorboats for three-hour journey up Kok River, passing tiny hilltribe villages, bamboo huts and jungle scenery. Disembark at Ban Pha Tai and continue by bus to visit Ban Lorcha, a Phami Akha hilltribe community center. This community-based tourism development project promotes sustainable, self-reliant development to improve the quality of life of villagers of this Akha Community, and is a model for tourism in Hilltribe villages. Lunch at local restaurant. Proceed to Mae Rim via Fang and Chiang Dao. Continue to Hmong Hilltribe Lodge. Dinner followed by presentation of Meo dances and overnight stay.

Friday:
Visit to orchid farm. Then, drive to Elephant POOPOO PAPER Park and continue to The Dara Pirom Palace Museum. Lunch at local restaurant. Afternoon visit to Handicraft Villages to see manufacture of lacquer-ware, spinning and weaving of Thai Silk and watch how paper umbrellas are made. Visit a well-known Thai wood-carving factory, with possibility of buying Burmese antiques. Check in at Furama Chiang Mai hotel or similar hotel.

Saturday:
City Tour. Visit the most interesting temples in Chiang Mai, like Wat Phra Singh with its famous Buddha image, Wat Chiang Man, oldest temple in Chiang Mai and built by King Mangrai, and Wat Suan Dok, housing remains of many generations of the old Chiang Mai Royal Family. Visit Wat Doi Suthep, tucked away in the mountains at 1,056 meters above sea level. Lunch at local restaurant.
Transfer to Chiang Mai Airport. Depart Chiang Mai by flight TG-111 (air ticket is not included).