THE HILL TRIBES OF NORTH THAILAND PRE TOUR

A local representative will greet you at Chiang Mai Airport, and you will be transferred to the Rachamankha Hotel, a journey of approximately ten minutes by vehicle. Upon arrival, you will check in to your Superior room, where you will be accommodated for two nights, with breakfast provided each morning. The Rachamankha Hotel is highly regarded for its beautiful Lanna architectural design and its peaceful courtyard ambiance, creating a serene and relaxing environment within the bustling city of Chiang Mai.

Overnight at Rachamankha
Meals: none

Following breakfast, please meet in the hotel lobby for your excursion to Doi Inthanon National Park, which is roughly a one hour and thirty-minute drive. The day will be dedicated to exploring the scenic landscapes, traditional practices, and cultural heritage of the local Hill Tribe people. Our journey begins at Mae Klang Luang Village, where you will have the opportunity to observe the picturesque terraced rice fields. You will then have the chance to interact with the residents and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. In the late afternoon, we will return to the hotel. Doi Inthanon National Park is renowned for being home to Thailand's highest peak, displaying lush forests, spectacular waterfalls, and a wide variety of plant and animal life. Mae Klang Luang Village provides a glimpse into the traditional agricultural methods of the area's hill tribes.

Overnight at The Rachamankha
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, you will check out of your hotel and embark on a three-hour drive to Fang. Upon arrival, check in at the Phumanee Lahu Hotel. After Lunch, you will receive a briefing on the historical significance of the forgotten city and then visit Doi Phu Muen, which is situated within the Doi Pha Hom National Park. Subsequently, we will venture into the mountainous terrain by 4WD to visit a Lahu Village. Here, you will have the opportunity to witness the daily routines of the villagers and learn about their traditional methods of tea and coffee cultivation. In the evening, we will return to the hotel. Doi Phu Muen is known for its stunning mountain scenery and provides valuable insights into the traditional lifestyle of the Lahu people, particularly their cultivation of tea and coffee.

Overnight at Phumanee Lahu Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Following breakfast, we will depart for Chiang Rai. The drive will take us higher into the hills of Doi Mae Salong, towards the Santikhiri Kuomintang village, a journey of approximately one hour and twenty minutes. Here, you will learn about the village’s establishment in the 1960s as a refuge for Chinese soldiers who were expelled from Myanmar. You will see how they have maintained their cultural traditions and observe their current way of life. We will then have lunch at a local restaurant before transferring to the hotel, a drive of approximately 50 minutes, where you will have free time in the afternoon.

Doi Mae Salong is famous for its unique fusion of Chinese and Thai cultures, its tea plantations, and its historical role as a former settlement for Kuomintang soldiers.

Overnight at Katiliya Mountain Resort & Spa
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, check out and meet in the lobby for your transfer to the Golden Triangle. You will learn about the area's history related to the opium trade, followed by lunch at Banrai Sabaidee. We will then visit the site of the former Thai Kingdom and explore its riverside towns and ancient ruins. Subsequently, you will be transferred to your Pandaw ship in Chiang Saen or Chiang Khong, with arrival scheduled for approximately 16:00. The Golden Triangle is historically significant as the meeting point of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar, and is known for its past opium trade and beautiful views of the Mekong River. The ancient ruins near Chiang Saen provide a window into the kingdoms of the past.

Lunch will be provided at Baan Rai Sabai Dee (or similar). Continue to Chiang Khong to embarkation to Pandaw Cruise.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch (dinner aboard your Pandaw)