Arrive in Kunming.Transfer to the hotel.

Visit the Stone Forest, the Green lake, the Flowers and Birds Market.

Transfer to Jinghong,visit Mojiang County on the way.

Visit Ganlanba morning market and Menglun Botanical Garden; transfer to Mengla and visit Wangtianshu Air Coridoor. 

Cross the China-Laos border from Mohan, drive 4 hours to Chiang Khong and cross the Laos-Thailand border,transfer to Chiang Saen.

After breakfast, board a van for an exciting day trip to visit several hill tribe villages for which northern Thailand is famous. Enjoy scenic mountain views on the narrow climb, stopping in the Chinese settlement of Doi Mae Salong (Santikhiri) on the way. When you reach the Akha and Yao hill tribes, where villagers continue to wear traditional garments, learn about some of the customs of rural village life.

Returning to the valley for lunch, your guide will take your group to Mae Sai, Thailand’s northernmost town near the Myanmar (Burma) border. Here, browse for Burmese handicrafts, and watch Thai and Burmese locals walking across the bridge that separates the two countries.

Depending on conditions at the Thailand-Myanmar border, your group may have the option to cross the bridge into Myanmar on an approximate one-hour exploratory walk with your guide. (Two photocopies of your passport are required along with a border pass fee.) If you want to explore the marketplace in a different way, hop onto a rickshaw and be taken through its winding alleways aboard this local transport (own expense).

From Mae Sai, drive to the heart of the renowned Golden Triangle where the Ruak and Mekong Rivers meet. Stand on a hilltop and enjoy views of Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and the mighty rivers below. An optional boat trip (own expense) is available for those who want to get closer to Laos, where you may spend approximately 30 minutes exploring the market area here. Afterward, visit Chiang Saen, where evidence of the original 13th-century city can still be seen; enjoy views of lovely old temples and finely carved figures from a tranquil spot on the banks of the Mekong River before your drive back to Chiang Rai.

After breakfast, depart for Chiang Mai with your guide, stopping first in Mae Ka Chan, famous for its hot spring – a favorite bathing spot for the locals who soak there to relieve aches and pains.

After lunch at a local restaurant, drive through more mountain scenery and tropical jungle to visit the hilltop temple of Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. Climb 290 steps (or ride the cable car) up the hill for outstanding views of Chiang Mai, referred to as the “Rose of the North.”

In the evening, after checking in at your hotel, enjoy a kantoke – a ceremonial dinner where traditional northern Thai dishes are served as you watch elegant dancers perform a series of folk stories. After dinner, the show continues with northern hill tribes performing traditional dances in colorful costumes.

Enjoy breakfast with your group in preparation for a full day touring the Chiang Mai region. In the morning, visit an elephant camp where skilled mahouts (trainers) demonstrate how elephants have worked in the jungles for centuries. Watch in amazement as the elephants reveal their intelligence and strength, and be amused by their play as the elephants relax and bathe in the river afterward.

After lunch at a local restaurant, your guide will take your group to the district of Sankampaeng, where Chiang Mai’s cottage industries flourish. Watch artisans create beautiful crafts as you browse for the perfect gift or souvenir. See how they weave intricate patterns of silk with their handlooms, carve elegant teakwood ornaments and furniture, and make distinctive Thai ceramics and lacquer ware – using eggshells to create unusual designs. Marvel at the transformation of bamboo, silk and paper into colorful hand-painted umbrellas. 

When you return to your hotel, enjoy a relaxing evening with free time to explore Chiang Mai on your own.

Chiang Mai - Ayutthaya

Nakhong Sawan-Ayutthaya-Bangkok

Bangkok

Bangkok

Departure from Bangkok