Ultimate Thailand: Chiang Mai & The Golden Triangle

Welcome to Thailand! You will quickly learn why Thailand is known as “the land of smiles” when you are picked up from the airport by our wonderful local guides. You will be transferred to your hotel, then invited to enjoy dinner with your guides. 

Your Thai guides will be with you for the duration of your trip and will teach you about the rich culture and history of Southeast Asia. Head back to the hotel to get a good night’s rest after a long day of travel.

Start your day with a delicious fresh fruit smoothie or some famous Thai iced coffee. You will spend the day exploring the ancient capital city of Chiang Mai. Marvel at the breathtaking temples throughout the city as your guides teach you about Buddhism, and learn about Chiang Mai’s history as you tour the old city. 

Today you will also explore one of Southeast Asia’s largest markets. Be prepared to taste unique local fruit and other delicacies, and try not to spend all of your Bhat (the Thai currency) on elephant pants!

Today we will wake up early to see one of Thailand’s most famous temples, Doi Suthep. Choose between taking a tuk tuk to the top, or hike your way up the mountain on the Monk’s Trail. This trail takes about two hours to get to the temple at the top, but you can take a rest at the temple Wat Pha Lat about half way up. 

Once you make it to the top, bask in the breathtaking view of Chiang Mai and climb the final 300 steps to the temple guarded by the giant Naga. Take a tour of golden temple, chat with the temple’s Monks to learn about their practice of Buddhism, and participate in a sacred Buddhist prayer.

Have you ever dreamed of climbing up a waterfall? Well, today you can! We will take a Songthaew (a local truck used to get around) through the gorgeous Thai countryside up to Bua Thong Falls, locally known as Sticky Falls. Thanks to the natural mineral deposits in these rocks, they aren’t slippery at all, and you are able to climb the rocks up the cascading falls.

After the climbing and splashing round, we will take you to a local shop where you can grab an afternoon snack. Try some dried mango, or if you’re brave, some roasted crickets!

Today we will embark to a hill tribe village of the Long Neck people. There is a true mystery and beauty about this village and the brass rings women and girls wear around their necks as jewelry. Throughout the morning you will learn about the history of the village and the Karen people. 

Spend the afternoon getting to know your host family and walking through their daily routine. Help your host family tend to their daily chores such as caring for their animals, working in the rice fields, or chores around their home. Perhaps if you are lucky, your host mom will teach you the techniques to cooking a delicious traditional meal!

After you share breakfast with and say goodbye to your host-families, get ready to interact with one of the world’s largest and smartest animals, the Asian Elephant! We will take a bus to an elephant conservation, where elephants find sanctuary. 

Learn about the hardships Asian elephants have faced for hundreds of years between poachers, trainers and deforestation; and the efforts underway to save these amazing creatures. You will also learn about the importance and significance of these animals in Thai culture and Buddhism. After a tasty lunch, trade out your clothes for a Mahout’s outfit and feed, bathe and interact with the conservation’s elephants. If you are lucky, maybe you’ll even learn a command or two!

Spend the morning at the Hill Tribes Museum to learn other Hill Tribe groups and their rich culture and long history. 

You will then head to what some consider to be one of Thailand’s most eccentric temples, Wat Rong Khun. You will have no trouble understanding why it is often referred to as The White Temple, as it is completely white, apart from a few of the interior paintings. We will then head to a completely contrasting temple, Baan Dam, also known as Black House. Notice both the literal and figurative contrast between the White and Black temple.

Wake up in the morning to breakfast with a breathtaking view of the Mekong River. Your guides will tell you about the importance of this river in the history of the area, and they may even share with you local legends of the river dragon Phaya Naga and the mysterious fireballs. 

After breakfast, we will walk across an international border and enter Myanmar. Here we will spend the morning exploring the market and hiking to a pagoda overlooking the area. 

We will then hop on a longboat along the Mekong and take the short journey to Laos. Here we will take some time to explore the area and take a rest after our busy day. We suggest indulging in a Lao favorite, Mango Sticky Rice!

Wake up to a final breakfast with your group and take a stroll down San Kamphaeng Road, also known as Handicraft Highway. Here you can buy last minute gifts for yourself and your friends and family back home. With a deeper understanding of another culture and religion, we hope you enjoyed your journey in the land of smiles. Safe travels home!