Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai packages

Lanna Unique Cultural & Life Style: : 4 nights / 5 days

(Private Tour) daily departures from Bangkok

The kingdom of Lanna, covering much of Northern Thailand, was a thriving state long before the rise of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya. Chiang Mai traces its history back more than 700 years, making it one of the most historic cities in Thailand.

In 1296 King Mengrai founded Nophaburi Sri Nakorn Ping Chiang Mai as the new capital of his thriving Kingdom known as Lanna (million rice fields). Previously he had ruled from Chiang Saen, then a important trading town on the banks of the Mekhong river, as well as at Fang and Chiang Rai. Later he moved south, eventually overrunning the older state of Haripunchai (presently known as Lamphun, 50kms to the south of Chiang Mai). However, the first attempt to found a new city in the Ping valley was thwarted by the flooding of the river and the site was abandoned. Seven centuries later these ruins to the southeast of the city were uncovered and today form an important tourist history attraction in Chiang Mai, known as Wiang Khum Kham.

ITINERARY

DAY1 : CHIANG MAI / WIANG KUMKAM ANCIEANT CITY / KHANTOKE DINNER
Arrive to Chiang Mai airport, meet and greet with local guide. Then transfer to the hotel for check in and give some more information about your trip in Chiang Mai.

13:00 Hrs Visit Wiang Kum Kam; The Underground Empire, Following a massive flood, the city of Wiang Kum Kam vanished without a trace. For over 200 years, Wiang Kum Kam became a lost civilization buried under layers of earth at depths of 1 to 4-metres. The best way to discovery is by Local Tram: Visit more than 10 ancient ruins temples in Wiang Kum Kam such as Wat Kan Thom, located at the heart of city. The temple has a Lanna style chedi and a spirit of King Mangrai who founded Chiang Mai, Wat Chedi Liam, the main feature of interest is the Haripunchai style. It is a square stepped chedi with Buddha images in niches at each level. Return back to the hotel.

19:30 Hrs Enjoy Welcome Khantoke Dinner, which is the traditional northern Thai (Lanna) form of dining. The food is served on a wooden pedestal tray, called Khantoke. The diners sit on the floor around the Khantoke, supported by triangular cushions. The dishes are all northern Thai delicacies. While guest enjoy the meal there are usually performances of traditional northern Thai (Lanna dances and music). Additionally there are also hill tribe shows.
Overnight : Chiang Mai
Meal : Dinner

DAY2 : CHIANG MAI / CITY WALKING EXPERIENCES / BOAT TRIP / THAI MASSAGE
09:00 Hrs The great way to see the colorful, ancient history of Chiang Mai, Start your trip in the old city area at Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Center, then walking along beautiful roads to Tha Pae Gate, continue to eastern side of old city; they are old, solid timber built houses many of which are well over 100 years old. Visit to the biggest local Market in Chiang Mai, Warorote Market. Then Walk across the Mae Ping River for cruising through rural river by long-tail boat for 40 minutes. Slowly moving along the river, enjoy seeing wooden houses and modern residences with colorful scenery and lifestyle of the local people.

Lunch served at local farmer’s house: 'Kaow Soi', typical Chiang Mai egg noodle with Thai curry.

13:30 Hrs Return back by boat to Wat Chai Mongkol where local people bring a live fish, bird, and turtle to let them free right by the river. Then relax with two hours session Traditional Thai Massage at Chiang Mai Massage Center. Thai Massage is an interactive manipulation of the body using passive stretching and gentle pressure along energy lines. These movements help to adjust the skeletal structure, increase flexibility, relieve muscular and joint tension, stimulate internal organs and balance the body's energy system. Return back to the hotel.
Overnight : Chiang Mai
Meal : Breakfast (Hotel) + Lunch

DAY3 : CHIANG MAI / BUDDHISM EXPERIENCES / LANNA THAI HOME COOKING
09:00 Hrs Visit to Chiang Mai most sacred temple, 'Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep'. This temple was built in 1383. It is located 15 kms from the city and 3,500 feet 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. Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is approached on foot by climbing a steep 306 stairway flanked by tremendous mythical Nagas, which symbolize humanity's progress from earth into nirvana. Continue to Visit the most unique temple in many respects, 'Wat Umong'. The temple and its tunnels were built in the late 14th century, built in the foothills of Suthep mountain and is still heavily forested.

Lunch served at local restaurant.

13:00 Hrs Visit to MCU. Buddhist University Chiang Mai Campus at Wat Suan Dok; Proceed to meet the monk who will explain about Buddhism, Lord Buddha, Buddhist way of life and how to do meditation. The Monk Chat Session gives an opportunity for foreigners to have an interactive communication with Thai monks via talking in formally Buddhism and Thai Culture as well as general topics about Thai ways of living are discussed at the session. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon.

16:30 Hrs Pick up from your hotel and first tour the Local Afternoon Market, where you learn more about Thai vegetables, herbs and spices. Transfer to the Baan Hong Nual a Lanna style cookery school located in a country-side village, offers lessons on how to cook delicious Thai food, Thai sweets and presentation. Enjoy to cook your dinner, which includes some of the most popular Thai dishes, and you will enjoy the meal you have prepared.
Overnight : Chiang Mai
Meal : Breakfast (Hotel) + Lunch + Dinner (Cooking School)

DAY4 : FREE DAY
Breakfast at hotel. This day is you’re free at leisure. Enjoy own shopping, Thai massage and spa, relax at the hotel or check with your guide for recommendations.
Overnight : Chiang Mai
Meal : Breakfast (Hotel)

DAY5 : CHIANG MAI / TRADITIONAL BUDDHISM / NEXT DESTINATION
06:00 Hrs Rise early before breakfast to take part in a daily Buddhist ceremony 'Tak Bat' or merit making at the foot hill of Doi Suthep Temple. This ceremony involves giving offerings of food and other daily items to the monks. Return to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast the remainder of your time is at leisure until your departure to Bangkok or other destination. You may also extend your stay in Chiang Mai and enjoy one of the many other exciting tours available.
Overnight : End of services
Meal : Breakfast (Hotel)

Services:

Inclusions:
>> 4 Nights Accommodation @ Chiang Mai Plaza Hotel Chiang Mai, daily breakfasts
>> A roundtrip transfer from Chiang Mai Airport to hotel and return
>> A local English-speaking guide during joined day tours
>> Transportation service by air-conditioned vehicles with experienced driver
>> All admission fees & meals as mentioned in the program
>> Domestic flights (Bangkok / ChiangMai / Bangkok)

Exclusions:
>> International air ticket
>> Items of a personal nature
>> Meals not specified in the itinerary
>> Soft drinks or other refreshments during local tours
>> Tips or Gratuities to guides or driver
>> Other services not mentioned in the program

Hotel Reservation Terms & Conditions:
>> Rates are inclusive of Breakfast, 10% service charge and 7% VAT
>> Hotel surcharge apply during peak tourist-season in some hotels (example: X'Mas & New Year Holiday, Songkarn, Thai New Year)
>> Reservations are on prepayment basis and subject to availability
>> Any special requests are not guaranteed and subject to availability upon arrival only

Cost per person twin share:

     

$553.00 US / $595.00 AU / £345.00    per person twin share 

Include booking code with your enquiry:  CNXPKG5D   Enquire Now!

Chiang Mai Experience: 6 nights / 7 days

(Join in Tours) daily departures from Bangkok

But finally, King Taksin (1767-1782 A.D.), the king of Siam of the Thonburi period, won it back from the Burmese, and the Lanna Thai Kingdom became a dependency of Siam (former name of Thailand). And Chiang Rai was ruled as a frontier town until 1933 when it became a province of Siam.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Bangkok / Chiang Mai (-/-/D)
Transfer from Bangkok hotel to airport Domestic flight to Chiang Mai, departing Bangkok at 12.50 pm.           Meet and greet and transfer to hotel. Free at own leisure. Hotel pick-up at 07:00 pm  and enjoy an authentic Thai Kantoke dinner with cultural show. Return to hotel. Overnight Centara Dungtawan hotel, ChiangMai.

On this tour stops are made at: The Summit, visit the great Twin Royal Pagodas, which were built for the highness Majesties of the King and the Queen. The place provides a marvellous view of surrounding area. Lunch served at local restaurant.

Continue to visit Doi Inthanon Royal Project, one of many royal-sponsored re-education projects initiated to familiarize hill tribe people with new agricultural techniques. Visitors can view the flower nurseries and cultivation areas. Continue to visit Karen Hill Tribe Village for an insight into their still primitive lifestyle. They are peaces loving warriors, very industrious and faithful people. On the way back see picturesque Vachirathan waterfall one of the highest waterfall in Northern Thailand. Overnight Centara Dungtawan hotel, ChiangMai.

Lunch served at the local restaurant on the bank of Mae Khong River.

Afternoon visit the world famous Golden Triangle where the borders of three countries;  Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar) are met. See the panoramic view of Mekong River, the Golden Buddha Statue beside the Mae Khong River.


The trip continues to Mae Sai, the Thailand-Myanmar border and the northernmost point of Thailand. Enjoy shopping for local products from China and Myanmar. Return to the hotel early evening. Overnight Centara Dungtawan hotel, ChiangMai.

Day 4 & 5: Hill tribe trekking (B/L/-)  (Full board during trek)                                                                      Breakfast at the hotel. Pick-up for an adventurous 1 night / 2 day hill tribe trekking tour. During the next 2 days you will travel by elephant, bamboo rafting, hiking and pick-up truck. Experience hill tribe villages and their people, learn local customs. Accommodation is basic with no electricity, witness beautiful scenery, waterfall and a hot spring. A meeting will be arranged for all members of the group at an office or hotel to present information that you need to prepare and what activities you will do on the trip. Arrive late afternoon at your hotel. Accommodation October, 16 at hill tribe village, October, 17. 2009. Overnight Centara Dungtawan hotel, ChiangMai.

Day 6: Flight of the Gibbon (B/L/-)                                                                                                       Breakfast at the hotel. Early morning hotel pick-up to visit the pristine village of Mae Kampong lies just one hour from Chiang Mai and is widely recognized as a hotspot of biodiversity. Consisting of a two kilometers journey up in the treetop canopy using zip lines and sky bridges to see the rainforest normally reserved for a select group of scientists. So named because of the way one negotiates thru the canopy - just like a gibbon.The flight of the Gibbon offers an exhilarating opportunity to sore though the 1,500 year old rainforest, high above the forest floor. This new unique activity able you to view jungle life from a perspective previously, this canopy adventure are the highest of its kind in the world and probably the longest. The ride in the canopy takes 3 hours and lunch provided, also visiting the spectacular waterfall and exploring the village. The staffs are highly trained in safety and also very knowledgeable on the local flora and fauna. 14:00 transfer back to hotel.

Hotel pick-up at 19:30 for of the best ways to explore Chiang Mai’s night time and be with local people after your day tours. Drive around the Old City to see city’s moats, city’s gates and ruined city’s walls via Chiang Mai Gate; on the southern part of the city moat, where local people enjoy dinner at open-air restaurants and food stalls.Continue city-sightseeing tour along the old city. En route you can see many magnificent temples and architectural buildings with beautiful light, including the Three King Monument; King Mengrai, the founder of Chiang Mai; his contemporary and reportedly good friend King Ramkamhaeng of Sukothai; and King Ngam Muang of Payao. Chiang Mai City Art and Cultural Centre, The former Provincial Hall of Chiang Mai is a beautiful old building with high architectural value, built in 1924. Wat Phra Singh, The temple contains marvellous examples of Lanna art including a Lanna style Viharn and the finest small scripture repository of its type in the north. Wat Chedi Luang, where the five hundred-year-old Chedi was built at the end of 14th century, even though it was destroyed in an earthquake in 1545, it was to remain the tallest structure in Chiang Mai. Tapae Gate, the main entrance to the old walled city and the main centre of Chiang Mai’s public city activities and festivals.

Visit the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar; enjoy walking along the shopping street where handmade products and souvenirs from many Chiang Mai villages and hill tribes, Local cloths and fabrics are reasonable priced for purchasing. Continue to the local night street market called Kad Luang or Warorot Market, the biggest local Market in Chiang Mai which selling everything from clothes and textiles to fruit, herbs, flowers, vegetables, and even insect.Then walking over a small bridge across Mae Ping River to enjoy and celebrate your nightlife trip at Chiang Mai Riverside Pub and Restaurant; one of the best night entertainment in town. (Dinner or drinks not included) Overnight Centara Dungtawan hotel, ChiangMai.