THE HILL TRIBES OF NORTH THAILAND - PRE

Pick-up from Chiang Mai Airport or your hotel and transfer to the stunning Rachamankha Hotel for a 1-night stay on a bed and breakfast basis. Explore Chiang Mai, visiting Suan Buak Hat, a lovely park full of flowers, a local rickshaw to Wat Pan Tao and Wat Phra Sing, the most famous temple in the old city centre.

Drive to the Burmese border stopping at Chiang Dao Caves and arriving at Thaton. Visit Wat Thatorn with stunning views over the gorge-like valley of the Kok River. Lunch at a local restaurant. Visit the village of Ban Lorcha, an Akha hilltribe community centre and take a long-tail boat down the Kok River, through jungle scenery and past tiny hilltribe villages to the wonderful "My Dream" Guest House. Included dinner at the Guest House.

Discover the hilltribe world on a walking tour with your guide is Mr. Nan. Take a bamboo raft down the Kok River to a hot springs and an elephant camp. You then continue on elephant’s back and arrive at a Lahu Village where you will enjoy picnic lunch. After lunch, an easy walk of approximately 1 hour brings you to the scenic Huay Mae Sai Waterfall. Continue to the Phu Chaisai Resort & Spa, a most charming and romantic resort sitting atop a forested hill and overlooking the rolling mountains north of Chiang Rai where we spend the night.

Explore Doi Mae Salong the Chinese village on top of the mountain founded by members of the former Kuo Min Tang Army (KMT) who specialized in the refinery of opium cultivated by the local hilltribe people. They now produce mainly tea, which you can taste at the 101 Tea Tasting Shop. Explore the history of the area known as ‘The Land of Opium’ where Muang Thai Army led by Khun Sa invaded from neighbouring Burma to avoid the Burmese Army. Return to Phu Chaisai Resort in the mid-afternoon so that you may enjoy the resort and relax or use the lovely spa.

Drive to Doi Tung, and visit the Doi Tung Development project, which aims to protect the natural forest environment. We continue up the mountain and visit the Mae Fah Luang Garden, Doi Tung Royal Villa and some ethnic hill-tribe communities nearby. Then, drive down the backside of Doi Tung on a narrow, steep and hugely scenic mountain road straddling the Thai-Burmese border to Mae Sai, Thailand’s northernmost city. After an included lunch at a local restaurant continue to Chiang Saen through scenic countryside and embark the Laos Pandaw for your 10-night Mekong River cruise.