On arrival at Chiang Mai International Airport, your English speaking guide will meet you in the arrivals area of the airport, with an ASEV Travel Thailand welcome board with your name on it. You will then transfer to your hotel by airconditioned vehicle (transfer time approximately 30 minutes).

Overnight in Chiang Mai

Accommodation : (or similar)

- Reference Hotel Pictures

After breakfast at your hotel, your English speaking guide will meet you in the reception of your hotel, and transfer with you in a private air conditioned vehicle for the day’s activities.

We will transfer to Nong Hoi local market. This fascinating colourful local fresh market is popular with locals who purchase their daily food and goods from here. Sample local snacks introduced by your guide, and learn h0w to pick the freshest ingrediants for your cooking class later today. (market tour is approximately 60 minutes). After exploring the market, we head to Baan Hongnual (transfer time approximiately 15 minutes), where you will be welcome into a typical Lanna style kitchen.

Meet your chef host who will go through the menu for the day and ensure you have your apron and cooking station all set up ready to start cooking! Be prepared for a fun cooking class, learning Thai methods of cooking. Learn how to make not only tasty dishes but also how to present beautiful dishes. During this activity you will take a short break, where hot drinks and herbal teas are provided, before heading back to the kitchen to finish your dishes. (a total of four dishes will be prepared). After you have completed your menu, you will be invited into the home to eat the dishes you have made.

In the afternoon we drive by air-conditioend vehicle to Bua Thong Waterfall (transfer approximately 1 hour). This waterfall is known locally as ‘Sticky Waterfalls’, because of its unique limestone formation that combined with water, allows you to not slip. Ropes are attached to the waterfall, allowing for you to try climbing up the waterfall, whilst water rushes past you downwards. Experience walking along 5 levels within the waterfall. We spend approximately 3 hours at the waterfall, before driving north to the town of Thaton, where you will check into your hotel for the night.

In the evening, you will learn more about the tradition of releasing sky lanterns in Thailand, a tradition that usually happens in November during the full moon of the Thai Lunar calendar. Candles are placed inside the lanterns and as peole light their crafts they make a wish. You will have the opportunity to prepare your lantern with the help of your guide and then you will release it in the sky. Don’t forget to make a wish!

Accommodation : (or similar)

Meal : Breakfast; Lunch; Supper (Hotel Restaurant)

- Reference Hotel Pictures

After an early brekfast at your hotel, your English speaking guide will meet you in the reception of your hotel, where you will transfer in a private air-conditioned vehicle to Baan Phatai pier (about 30 minutes transfer time aproximately). You will climb into a traditonal Thai longtail boat, where life vests will be provided for safety reasons, before you set off down the Mae Kok River, on route to to Baan Ruammit (river boat transfer time will be approximately 2hours), a Karen indigenous hill-tribe village. As the boat glides down river, you will have the opportunity to see everyday life along the riverrside, viewing tradtional hill-tribe houses built on stilts along the rivers edge and locals, fishing in the river. As the river enters into a smaller rivelet, you will arrive at a small pier, from here we leave the boat behind and transfer by private air-conditoned vehicle to Baan Yafu, a traditonal Lahu indigenous hill-tribe village. (We do not include visiting the elephants at this village).

The Lahu are one of the smallest and most ethnically diverse inidigvneous hilltribes in northern Thailand. Originating in China, this ethnic hill-tribe are fiercly independent subsistence farmers, who belong to one of six different Lahu sub-tribes. Your guide will discuss the history and unique culture of this indigenous group, as you take a walk for a soft trekking activity, (soft trekking will last around 45 minutes approximately), around the village, interacting with the families within the village, upto the view point of Doi Bo View Point, where we will stop for a tasty picnic lunch (lunch will be set up ready for when we arrive). Relax on the roof of the world with stunning panoramic views of the mountains below.

We then make our way back to our vehicle waiting point, where an air conditioned vehicle will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel for the night (transfer to the hotel will be approximately 1.5 hours). On arrival at the hotel, your guide will assist with the check in process. Dinner will be at the hotel this evening.

Accommodation : (or similar)

Meal : Breakfast; Lunch (Picnic); Supper (Hotel Restaurant)

Trekking Time : 1-2 hours

Altitude Gains & Losses : 350 meters

- Reference Hotel Pictures

After breakfast this morning your guide will meet you at the reception of your hotel, where an air conditioned vehicle will transfer you to the first activity on our itinerary, the Jinnaluck Mulberry Saa paper farm in Mae Sai. Explore the Mulberry Farm in a walk and talk experience, learning how the mulberry plant is harvested and used.

Back in the studio the art of paper making from traditional mulberry leaves, and get creative with natural dyes, as you make your own uniquer paper. (activity lasts approximiately 1 hr).

After this activity, we transfer by air conditioned vehicle to the Golden Triangle. North east of Chiang Rai lies the border town of Chiang Saen, where the infamous Golden Triangle, once the centre of opium production and trade in South East Asia.

The opium trade has long died in the region, and been replaced by stunning coffee and various agricultural crop plantations under Royal Patronage projects of the former Thai King H.M Bumibol Adulydej. In an effort to provide sustainable agriculture and livelihoods to the hilltribes of the area, the former King set up many projects aimed at improving living conditons and local infrastructure, whilst maintaining the natural beauty and landscapre of the region. Explore the stunning scenary, learn about the Kings Royal projects and view stunning panoramic views from the temple of Wat Phra That Phu Kao.

We then switch to a traditional private boat, where we take part in a river cruise along the Mekong (river boat ride is approximately 25 minutes’ duration). On arrival at Wat Pasak, we transfer from the boat to a traditional form of local transport (the E-Tan), where we continue on to the restaurant La Valle, for lunch (transfer time approximately 45 minutes).

After lunch, we depart the Golden Triangle and drive to Chui Fong Tea, the high quality tea manufacturer for half a century. With plantation area of over 1,000 rais in high mountain, all teas are grown under optimal conditions then hand picked at the perfect time.

The scenery around Choui Fong Tea Plantation is really beautiful. You will see millions of tea plants being grown in descending lots. And you will also see valleys from a great distance.

Freetimes for taking the pictures.

Transfer you to your hotel for the night

Accommodation : (or similar)

Meal : Breakfast; Lunch; Supper

- Reference Hotel Pictures

After breakfast your English speaking guide will meet you in the reception of your hotel and we depart to the Elephant Valley (transfer time approximately 1.5 hours).

Spend either the morning with the elephants. Enjoy following, photographing and even feeding these majestic creatures as they get to enjoy being elephants again. You will have the opportunity to learn more about elephant ant the Elephant valley projects of reinserting these wonderful animals in their natural habitats. The aim of this Elephant camp is to make you discover the real life and real behaviours of elephants.

Lunch at Elephant Valley.

Then, we depart through a stop at the famous marble temple of Wat Rong Khun (White Temple), still unfinished after being rebuilt following an earthquake, by local Thai architect Chalermchai Kositpipat. Explore this stunning temple which is very different architecturally from nearly every other Thai temple in Thailand. Its uniqueness externally and internally, is likened to Barcelona’s still unfinished Sagrada Famillia, and is a must explore activity whilst in Chiang Rai.

Afternoon, road to Mae Khachan Hot Springs (transfer time is approximately 1.5 hours). This poular natural thermal spring, is popular with locals who beelive the waters natural heat provides health benefits for those that bath in it. Watch with amazement at the popular area within the springs, used to boil eggs. Sample the eggs boiled within the water, farmed at a local organic farm, before we continue our drive onto Chiang Mai and check into your hotel; (transfer time approximately 1.5hours). On arrival at your hotel, your time is free to explore the local area.

Although there are no activities planned this evening andf no meals provided, we advise you explore the local night baazar to sample the amazing range of Thai street food, or try a delicious Chiang Mai specialist Khao Soi, at Kats Kitchen in the Old City. If you are interested in watching a classical Thai dance performance, we recommend you take part in a special Kantoke dinner and dance event. Please ask if you would like us to book the Kantoke dinner and dance event for you.

Accommodation : (or similar)

Meal : Breakfast; Lunch

- Reference Hotel Pictures

Breakfast at your hotel.

Free day at your own leisure.

Depending on your international flight, your guide will meet you at the reception of your hotel and will transfer with you to Chiang Mai International Airport.

Meals: Breakfast

English-speaking Guide: included

Transfer time depends on your international flight time. Please allow at least 3 hours before you’re your flight departure time to arrive at the airport and procced with check in and security procedures.

Accommodation : Own arrangement

Meal : Breakfast