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An ideal trip for family members! Spend a week in the northern province of Thailand, Chiang Mai with a choice of various activities ranging from shopping, soft adventure to golf.
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Chiang Mai by air or train and commence your holiday with a transfer to the delightful Suan Bua Resort. The property is on the Samoeng loop, in the foothills to the west of, and just outside the city. Relax around the beautiful and spacious grounds, or enjoy a swim before attending an evening BBQ dinner & campfire hosted by the tour leader Overnight : at Suan Bua Hotel & Resort or similar Meal : D
Day 2
After breakfast, set off on your choice of any of the following 3 tours:Option 1. An easy ‘day walk’ through stunning scenery to a delightful waterfall (6km walk).
Option 2. 18 holes of golf at the Royal Chiang Mai Golf Club (Green fees included – but golf club hire, caddy fees at guest expense).
Option 3. A collector’s shopping outing to Ban Hang Dong, and Ban Thawai to explore the small back road factories dealing in teak furniture, antiques etc. (not normally frequented by tourists but known to those in the import/export trade).
In the early evening, choose to either:
Option 2.1. Take an early set dinner in the hotel’s pavilion restaurant, followed by a campfire.
Option 2.2. Take a minibus trip into Chiang Mai to visit the Night Bazaar, dine at your own expense. The minibuses depart at 18:30hrs and there are two return trips, at 21:00 and 24:00hrs respectively. Overnight : at Suan Bua Hotel & Resort or similar Meal : B/D
Day 3
After Breakfast, take a direct transfer from Chiang Mai to Ban Tha Ton. En route visit the Orchid and Butterfly Farm and the Chiang Mai Snake Farm.An additional two rest stops are made. One at the Chiang Dao Hill Resort, and another just outside Chaiprakarn, before continuing on to the Thai-Burma border village of Ban Thaton where you check into the Maekok River Village Resort.
On arrival, enjoy a buffet lunch (at guest expense) in the ‘Spice Garden’ restaurant. The afternoon is spent at leisure, and the full facilities of the resort are available to you. Overnight : at Suan Bua Hotel & Resort or similar Meal : B
Day 4
After breakfast, there are two options available to you: Option 1. For those who just wish to relax, stay at the resort enjoying our facilities including breakfast, lunch, and dinner on this day, as well as breakfast and lunch on the second day.(Note* during this time you can take (at your own expense) any of the numerous soft adventure ‘Excursion Tours’ available from Maekok River Village Resort)
Option 2. For the more adventurous, the 2 day and 1 night river trip with an overnight stop in our river base camp.
Depart Ban Tha Ton by vehicle accompanied by an English speaking guide to visit Shan & Akha villages. Board customized river barges in the Pha Tai Black Lahu Village and raft down river through stunning scenery.
Enjoy a picnic lunch at a shaded river bank spot, then continue down river through a couple of ‘light’ rapids. Canoes are carried on board for those who wish to use them.
On arriving at the forestry research station of Ban Pha Kwang you begin an (optional) short walk of about 1.5 hrs to a Musur village, then on to the Track of the Tiger -River Base Camp for an overnight stop.
Accommodation is in basic bamboo bungalows overlooking the river. Proper mattresses, bedding, pillows, mosquito nets, towels and soap are provided. Toilets, in a separate block are European style and there are electric hot water showers.
Dinner is a BBQ served on linen clad trestle tables. Then relax around the campfire. Meal : B/L/D
Day 5
After a full American breakfast, continue rafting down river through gorges and past isolated hill tribe villages. The children in the villages are always keen to wave and excitedly call ‘hello!’ from the banks. The canoes are again available for use if requested. A stop is then made at the hot springs.Take a 1.5 hrs Elephant Safari from a point on the river bank that takes you through surrounding jungle, followed by lunch in a local restaurant.
After lunch you may choose either of the following two options: Option 4.1. Board a minibus for a trip up to Mae Sai, the Thai-Burma border market town. Spend a while browsing the market before travelling on to the infamous Golden Triangle. Enjoy a tea or a soft drink at a restaurant overlooking the river and then return to Maekok River Village resort via Chiang Saen. You arrive back at app. 20:00hrs.
Option 4.2. Board a minibus for a whistle stop tour of Chiang Rai itself, before heading off to the ex-Kuomintong stronghold village on the top of Doi Mae Salong (a prominent mountain). Explore the ‘exotic market’ that sells all manner of potions (e.g. centipedes in whiskey, bottled snakes, and a wide range of items smuggled in from China). Descend the opposite side of the mountain to the Fang valley to Ban Tha Ton, and Maekok River Village Resort, arriving at app. 18:00hrs. Overnight : at Mae Kok River Village Resort or similar Meal : B/L
Day 6
After breakfast, there are 3 options for you to choose from: Option 5.1. A 4 hrs mountain bike ride through the surrounding farmland.Option 5.2. A trip by vehicle to visit to a rare Palong village, and to a remote Shaleh Lahu village. (Picnic lunchbox, if requested, is available at guest expense).
Option 5.3. A morning of Thai cooking lessons where you will learn to cook 3 popular Thai food dishes. Take lunch (at guest expense) in the resort’s ‘Spice Garden’ restaurant overlooking the river, alternatively enjoy the 3 dishes you have just cooked. All groups – Depart by minibus to Chiang Mai at 14:00hrs, check into the Suan Bua Resort on the outskirts of the city.
In the early evening, choose to either: Option 1. Take an early set dinner (included in tour price)in the hotel’s pavilion restaurant, followed by a campfire.
Option 2. Take a minibus trip into Chiang Mai to visit the Night Bazaar, dine at your own expense. The minibuses depart at 18:30hrs and there are two return trips, at 21:00 and 24:00hrs respectively. Overnight : at Suan Bua Hotel & Resort or similar Meal : B
Day 7
After breakfast, transfer to airport for flight out or transfer to railway station for train out. Meal : B
