Luxury Glamping in North Thailand

📍 Chiang Mai Airport – 137 Pillars House (6.3 km): approx. 20 min

Arrive in Chiang Mai, greeted by an EXO Travel guide, you will be transferred by a private vehicle from Chiang Mai Airport. Check in at luxury 137 Pillars House Chiang Mai.

Relax with massage to recuperate from jetlag at the hotel.

Overnight at 137 Pillars House, Chiang Mai.

Inclusions:

Today’s tour begins at 09:00. Uncover the secrets behind Thailand’s famous dishes at the Pantawan Cooking School. Travel south of the city centre to a traditional teakwood house to meet with a local chef. After a short introduction on the day’s activities, head out to a nearby fresh market.

Browse the stalls of this colourful and lively market. See exotic herbs and spices and learn about their uses. During the visit, the chef will introduce local vendors and explain about Thailand’s food culture.

Armed with a basic knowledge of Thai cuisine and its ingredients, return to Pantawan and start cooking! Chop vegetables, stir spicy sauces and fry up sizzling dishes. Throughout the course the chef will share his personal story and offer tips and hints for preparing these dishes at home. When everything is ready, sit down and enjoy the delicious fresh dishes. Savour the delicate flavours of home-cooked Thai cuisine, enjoying the results of the day’s activities. Receive a nice apron embroidered with your name on it as a memorable souvenir.

In the afternoon, step into one of the city’s most revered pagodas, Wat Suan Dok. Witness local devotees deep in prayer or paying homage to the mausoleum where the ashes of the former Royal Family are interred. Learn about the beliefs and traditions of Thailand’s Buddhists. Continue on the spiritual trail, leaving the city centre, and taking a winding drive into the hills. Climb up the staircase of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, admiring the intricate naga carvings along the way. Upon reaching the top, explore the 14th-century pagoda and hear about its origins. Wander around the towering gilded stupa and take a moment to enjoy the views of Chiang Mai in the distance.

Then take a leisurely stroll down the Doi Suthep and enjoy the serenity of mountainous view mingled with graceful color blooms and Lanna umbrellas. Breathe in the clean air while savouring some exquisite English afternoon tea alongside scones, finger sandwiches, cookies and cakes. Before the sun sets, visit one of Doi Suthep’s monks and receive a blessing of good health and good fortune.  Then witness the magical evening chanting of the monks, a serene way to end the day’s spiritual tour.

Overnight at 137 Pillars House, Chiang Mai.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

Breakfast at the hotel.

Today’s tour will begin at 08:00. Be introduced to the culture and history of the city on this Chiang Mai temple tour. Head to the centre of town with a local guide and visit Tapae Gate, the main entrance to the old walled city. See the crumbling walls and hear about Chiang Mai’s rich past.

Then hop on a pedal-powered trishaw to explore the old town. Visit the Three Kings Monument on the way to Wat Phra Singh, one of the city’s most revered temples. See the various buildings in the compound, admire its ancient Buddha image and hear about its 700-year history. Then continue foot to Wat Chedi Luang, an impressive monument that once housed the country’s famed Emerald Buddha.

Continue onwards to Chiang Mai’s silver making district, one of the city’s traditional crafts neighbourhoods. Observe silversmiths at work on impressive murals unique to Northern Thailand and admire their skilled craftsmanship. Then take a short drive to Wat Sri Suphan, a unique temple made from ornate silver.

Following this introduction to Chiang Mai’s heritage, culture and temples, return to the hotel.

Free at leisure in the afternoon.

Overnight at 137 Pillars House, Chiang Mai.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 137 Pillars House - Chiang Mai Airport (6.3 km): approx. 20 min Chiang Rai – Four Seasons Tented Camp (76 km): 1.30 hr

After breakfast at the hotel, check-out and transfer to the airport in a private, air-conditioned luxury vehicle for boarding a private helicopter to Chiang Rai.

Upon arrive in Chiang Rai, be transferred to Four Season’s camp pier and continue on a traditional long-tail boat to the luxury tented camp.

(Note: It is recommended to arrive in Chiang Rai either in the morning or in the early afternoon, otherwise it is highly possible to miss the boat trip which runs no later than 17:00. But should it occur, the trip to the camp will be provided by the land transfer. Also, during the dry season when the tide level is low, the trip to the camp will also be by land.) 

In the evening, enjoy ‘Sundowners’, in true camp tradition, all activities recess to savour the magnificent sunset of another day in the Golden Triangle. Wherever the adventure – elephant trekking, river excursion or at the camp – the next 30 minutes are spent with a casual drink and relaxation while watching the sky turn golden. Beverages of choice are served, accompanied by local and western snack items.

Dinner served at Nong Yao Restaurant, an open-air thatched-roof pavilion by the riverbank, with rustic hardwood floors, Nong Yao Restaurant offers Thai, Laotian, Burmese and western cuisine. In keeping with the camp's atmosphere, guests have the option to dine together at a long family-style table, seated in suede chairs, or privately, at separate tables. A bar area, complete with a double-sided fireplace in the middle, is perfect for pre-dinner drinks.

Overnight at the luxury Four Seasons Tented Camp, Chiang Rai.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🍗 Dinner

Wake-up call and morning beverage and breakfast at Nongyao Restaurant, then meet with the professional mahouts who will provide training in how to care for and lead an elephant. With the moves mastered, guide the elephant on a full jungle trek ahead (with the guidance of the professional mahouts). The experience takes place in an on-site bamboo jungle where there is a chance to show-off newly acquired skills completed with a one-of-a-kind elephant shower experience! Then late morning at leisure.

Lunch at Nongyao Restaurant followed by some leisure time.

Suggested activity: lounge around the pool.

Sundowners in the jungle or at the Burma Bar before dinner time. Dinner served at Nong Yao Restaurant.

Optional with applicable extra fee

A special dinner can be arranged at Elephant camp by the campfire, with torches for lighting and glimpses of elephant silhouettes nearby, guests are served a formal dinner of regional Thai, Laotian and Burmese cuisines. In true safari style, tables are arranged in a semi-circle around the campfire. After-dinner drinks and stargazing follow.

Note: Due to the unique nature of this outdoor venue, alternative dining arrangements may be necessary as a result of seasonal weather changes.

Overnight at the luxury Four Seasons Tented Camp, Chiang Rai.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

Wake-up call followed by breakfast at Nong Yao Restaurant.

After breakfast, go on experiencing a cruise down the majestic Mekong river on-board a traditional longboat - James Bond 007 style en-route to the Golden Triangle where Thailand, Myanmar (Burma) and Laos come together. Then, board a Songtaew followed by a Skylab to visit a local market and an ancient temple called Chedi Luang.

Back to the camp for lunch at Nongyao Restaurant.

After the afternoon tea, enjoy a relaxing massage at the Spa. At the spa at Four Seasons Tented Camp, wonder-working treatments rejuvenate the body and spirit in perfect serenity. Amidst the bamboo forests of the Golden Triangle are two open-air salas featuring double treatment rooms, spa beds and a bathtub/shower area. With their rustic design and use of natural materials, the salas blend in with the environment.

In this environment of simple luxury, traditional Thai massages and innovative rituals assisted by the healing power of mountain botanicals and warming spices on a restorative journey. Followed by Sundowners at the Burma bar, an open-air thatched-roof lounge within sight of Elephant Camp and overlooking the Ruak River and Burma, Burma Bar enjoys perfect views of the sunset. The bar is decorated with trekking and navigation equipment – maps, books, tribal antiques and tripod-mounted binoculars, where guests can read a book while curled up in one of the overstuffed leather couches. Its home-like, informal atmosphere makes it the spot for a quiet, contemplative moment in which to enjoy the tranquillity of the environment.

Dinner served at Nong Yao Restaurant.

Overnight at the luxury Four Seasons Tented Camp, Chiang Rai.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Four Seasons Tented Camp – Chiang Rai Airport (76 km): 1.30 hr

Wake-up call followed by breakfast at Nong Yao Restaurant. After saying farewell to the camp, transfer to Chiang Rai Airport for the onward flight to Bangkok.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast