THE
TRIBES OF THE NORTH
A3
Day 1: Departure from your country.
Day 2: Welcome to the CHIANGRAI airport and transfert to Ban Khun Yom Hotel. City tour and dinner, introducing your guide and check the program tour.
Day 3:
Departure for the trekking. The tour begin with a 25km trip along the banks of
the KOK RIVER. On our way we pass through villages of Karen and Lahu set in a
land of intense greenery and vivid red soil. We enjoy sensational views afforded
by the jutting mountains and the flowing river as we continue out journey. Lunch
at the Forest Station of Pakwang.We go trekking on the mountain heading for a
Lahu village located some 2000m up the mountain. Later; we spend the night with
the AKKHA village folk who rarely visited.
Dinner with the hilltribe. (Total: 60km).
Day 4: We have a morning descent and continue our trek. On our trip we pass a Lahu and Akkha village before returning to MAE CHAN road by jeep. We arrive at MAE SALONG, outpost of the Chinese nationalist people . We then proceed to DOI MAE SALONG and visit a rare Islamic community of Chineses villagers where we take a leisurely lunch. The town of THATON is our next destination, sadled over the bridge on the KOK RIVER wich flows from BURMA 2km upstream. Dinner and overnight at Ban Suan Riverside. (Total: 115 km).
Day 5:
Leaving THATON we head for MAE SALAK along steep terraced rice fields. We enter
a village which is inhabited by rare mix of ethnic AKKHA and Chinese people.
Lunch in strange and remarkable WAWEE. It might appear that we are in
China and not Thailand. We
leave the village by a new road and make a jungle trek to a YAO village. We see
the infamous opium fields ( Dec to Feb.) Return to CHIANGRAI via LAHU village
and MAE KOK river. Dinner
in town, overnight in Ban Khun Yom Hotel. (Total: 130 km).
Day 6: You'll have first a boat trip along the MAE KOK river ( 1h) till the KAREN village of RUAMIT. Then you'll enjoy an elephant trip in the jungle, to a Yao village ( about 2 hours). Visit the village and walk about 40 mn to a waterfall where you can refresh. Return in CHIANGRAI by local taxi, crossing traditional Thai villages. Dinner in town, overnight in Ban Khun Yom Hotel.
Day 7:
Our journey begins with travelling out of CHIANGRAI. The picturesque houses
fronted by vibrantly coloured flowers and greenery are delightful to see. We
proceed to the small town of Thoeng for lunch. During the afternoon, we find
ourselves in a MEO village situated on the border of LAOS. There will be an
opportunity to meet the people and later to enjoy tea with the village headman.
Before enjoying a sumptuous dinner in
CHIANGKHONG we are treated to a memorable view as the sun slowly sets in the
MEKHONG river and merges with the purple dramatic backdrop of the mountains. (Total:
210km).
Day 8: We arise at the break of dawn, so that we can experience the market at its best as the sunrise creates magical images in the melting early morning mists. After breakfast we visit the check point border with LAOS, and then go for a 45 km drive along the MEKHONG river. We'll enjoy the view from the pagoda, WAT PRATHAT PHRA NGAO. Lunch at CHIANG SAEN and boat trip ( speed boat) on the MEKHONG to the very point of the 3 borders ( GOLDEN TRIANGLE) and see the life in LAOS. Return to CHIANGRAI. Dinner in town, overnight in Ban Khun Yom Hotel. (Total: 135 km).
Day 9: In the
morning we head south along the road to CHIANGMAI . After climbing through two
mountain ranges we have a lunch stop experiencing the rich cuisine of CHIANGMAI.
Then it's up the mountain that forms the backdrop to CHIANGMAI and to the DOI
SUTHEP temple at the top. After we have taken in the exilarating view from the
top of the mountain we return to a pleasant break at the Chiang Mai Gate Hotel.
There is a photo-session and the option to indulge in traditional Thai massage
before dinner on a floating restaurant.
Day 10: We spend a delightful day touring in SAN KAMPHAENG which is the handicraft city on the outskirts of CHIANGMAI. This is an ideal opportunity to pick up Thai handicrafts and souvenirs before the evening transfer to BANGKOK from CHIANGMAI airport and the flight home.
Day 11: Arrival in your country.
