Northern Thai Culture Discovery

Arrive at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, where a representative greets you at the arrival gate inside Immigration, holding a sign with your name. Receive assistance with carry-on luggage and move quickly through exclusive fast-track immigration counters, aiding with immigration document details to prevent any delays. After retrieving your luggage from the Bangkok Airport baggage claim area, you are escorted through customs to a vehicle located in front of the Arrival Hall of the airport for your hotel transfer. 

After breakfast, explore Bangkok using a variety of local transport. Cross the Chao Phraya River by ferry, continue by MRT and Skytrain, and ride a tuk-tuk through the busy streets. Stop for Thai iced coffee and street food before visiting small temples, local markets, and neighborhoods known for their street art.

From the riverfront, take the Chao Phraya Express Boat to Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn) to see its riverside grounds, intricate porcelain decoration, and panoramic views from the central prang. Continue by traditional longtail boat through the city’s canals, passing stilt houses and waterside temples. Disembark at Baan Silapin (Artist’s House) to meet local artists, view their work, and enjoy a short coffee break. Conclude the day with an MRT ride to Sanam Chai Station, then relax with a drink at a riverside restaurant while watching the sunset over the Chao Phraya River.

After breakfast, depart Bangkok for Ayutthaya, Thailand’s historic second capital. Begin at Bang Pa-In Palace, learning about its royal heritage, then cross the river by cable car to Wat Niwet Thammaprawat, a distinctive Gothic-style Buddhist temple where monks may be seen in training. Continue to explore Ayutthaya’s UNESCO-listed sites, including Wat Yai Chaimongkhon, Wat Phra Mahathat with its famous Buddha head entwined in tree roots, Wat Phra Si Sanphet, and the reclining Buddha at Wat Lokayasutharam. Pause for a lunch of home-style Thai dishes.

In the afternoon, visit the Million Toy Museum to view a private collection of vintage toys, cartoon figures, and Thai cultural artifacts. End your sightseeing with a scenic boat ride around Ayutthaya’s island. In the evening, board the overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai directly from Ayutthaya Station, avoiding the need to return to Bangkok.

Play with Elephants in Chiang Mai (Join-in)

Arrive at Chiang Mai Railway Station and transfer to your hotel. After settling in, travel to an ethical elephant sanctuary for an interactive and educational experience. Change into traditional clothing and receive an orientation on the sanctuary’s conservation efforts and guidelines for safe, respectful interaction. Feed the elephants, walk alongside them through their natural habitat, and help bathe them in the river.

Afterwards, change into fresh clothes and enjoy a Thai lunch made with locally sourced ingredients. Spend some time relaxing at the sanctuary before returning to Chiang Mai.

*Note: This program includes a two-hour easy walk on mostly flat terrain, suitable for children.

 

Depart Chiang Mai in the early morning for approximately 4-hour scenic drive toward Pai. Stop at Mork Fa Waterfall to enjoy the cool forest surroundings and, if you wish, take a refreshing swim. An optional stop can be made at Pong Duet Hot Springs (entrance fee not included) to see natural geysers and mineral pools in a forest setting.

Continue to a local restaurant for lunch before arriving in Pai in the early afternoon. Visit the local market, then check into your hotel. In the surrounding area, explore Ban Santichon, a Yunnanese village known for its traditional architecture and cultural heritage, and Nam Hu Temple, home to a 500-year-old Buddha image.

Spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure before heading to Pai’s night market in the evening to enjoy dinner and browse local stalls at your own pace.

After breakfast, set out on a 4-hour guided trek through the Pai Valley, combining cultural encounters with scenic nature. Travel about 20 minutes from Pai to a Lisu village, the starting point of your hike. Walk through open fields into the shaded forest of a wildlife sanctuary, arriving at the first Lahu village, where you will enjoy a basket lunch in a peaceful setting.

Continue along forest trails for about an hour to reach a second Lahu village, located beside a three-tiered waterfall. Spend time swimming or relaxing before returning to Pai by vehicle in the afternoon.

Duration: 6 hours, Average walking time 3 hours 30 minutes
Distance: 5.5 miles / 9 kilometers,
Elevation Gain: 98,4251 feet / 300 meters.
Suitable for participants in good physical condition (no heart or lung conditions), ages 7 and above.
 

Travel from Pai to Mae Hong Son with scenic stops along the way. Visit Tham Lod Cave, where the Nam Lod Creek runs through a 500-meter limestone tunnel. Explore the cave’s chambers and travel part of the route by bamboo raft.

Continue to Ban Jabo, a Black Lahu hill tribe village set in the mountain ranges of Mae Hong Son. Learn about the community’s traditions, including bamboo weaving, sewing, music, and distinctive dress, while enjoying panoramic views of the surrounding valleys.

Arrive in Mae Hong Son and visit Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu, a hilltop temple offering sweeping views over the city and surrounding mountains.

After breakfast and check-out, depart Mae Hong Son for the return journey to Chiang Mai by private transfer. The trip takes approximately five hours, with mountain landscapes along the route before arriving in Chiang Mai for the next stage of your trip.

Depart Chiang Mai for Chiang Rai with sightseeing along the way. Begin at Wat Sri Mung Mueang, a Tai Lue community temple with Burmese-inspired architecture. Participate in a hands-on activity to create your own Tung Lanna flag and learn about the traditions, cotton spinning, and weaving techniques of the Tai Lue people.

Continue to an organic coffee farm for a fresh brew in a peaceful natural setting. Lunch will be arranged to suit your preference—either at a restaurant overlooking rice fields or at a lakeside eatery near Chiang Rai’s dams.

In the afternoon, visit Wat Rong Khun (The White Temple), a contemporary architectural masterpiece known for its intricate white façade and mirrored details. Conclude the journey in Chiang Rai.

After breakfast, set out for Chiang Saen to explore its historic old city. Visit Wat Chedi Luang, a 13th-century temple built by the third ruler of the Lanna Kingdom, showcasing the region’s classical architectural style and rich heritage. Continue to the Hall of Opium Museum in the Golden Triangle Park, an expansive 5,600-square-meter exhibition built into the hillside. Here, you’ll gain a deep understanding of opium’s 5,000-year history, from its traditional uses to its impact on global trade and the Opium Wars.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before heading to Mae Sai, Thailand’s northernmost point. Take in views of the border bridge to Myanmar and browse the bustling market for unique handicrafts, gems, and jade items, many crafted across the border.

On the final day, transfer from your Chiang Rai hotel to the airport by guided private vehicle. Connect with your international flight home or extend your travels within Thailand. Contact your trip planner to arrange additional experiences.