The North Loop

📍 Chiang Rai Airport – Chiang Rai Hotel (1.3 km): 16 min

Upon arrival at Chiang Rai Airport, you will receive a warm welcome from your guide and driver, followed by a transfer to your hotel in Chiang Rai.

The rest of the evening is free for leisure. Relax at the hotel or venture out for some independent exploration.

Overnight in Chiang Rai

Inclusions:

📍 Chiang Rai – Chiang Saen (89.3 km): 1.39 hr Chiang Saen – Chiang Khong Teak Garden Riverfront Hotel (66 km): 1.10 hr

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a half-day sightseeing tour of Chiang Rai City. Transfer from the hotel to the Hilltribe Education Center and Museum to gain insights into the history and culture of the hilltribe people who have called the area home for centuries.

From there, board a samlor (rickshaw) and ride to the main market area to experience local life in town. Continue to Wat Phra Kaew, featuring its beautiful brass and copper Buddha image. End the half-day Chiang Rai tour with a visit to Wat Rong Khun to admire its unique Kanok-style architecture.

At midday, enjoy lunch at Chivit Thammada Coffee Shop and Restaurant.

Afterwards, visit the ancient Kingdom of Chiang Saen on the banks of the Mekong River to see the magnificent ruins of Wat Pasak. From there, embark on a longtail boat trip to the Golden Triangle area and visit the Hall of Opium (Note: the Hall of Opium is closed on Mondays). The museum is dedicated to educating visitors about the history of opium in the region and the problems caused by narcotics.

Overnight in the Golden Triangle

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Golden Triangle –Doi Mae Salong (66.6 km): 1.16 hr Doi Mae Salong – Thaton (30.9 km): 43 min

Depart from the hotel after breakfast and head to Doi Mae Salong to visit the Akha hilltribe at Hloyo Village. Upon arrival, receive a warm welcome from the village headman and other villagers. The local host will provide insights into the Akha people, including their beliefs, religions, traditions, and ways of life. Visit the Akha Museum, uniquely built in a mud house with recycled bottles as windows.

Afterwards, take a tour of the community to witness the charming and peaceful Akha lifestyle. See traditional bamboo houses built in Akha style, where locals use their wisdom to construct their homes by hand. Enjoy a hands-on tribal crafts session with the villagers, followed by a cooking class for signature Akha dishes. Participate in the kitchen and learn local cooking methods, then enjoy a home-cooked lunch with the host family while exchanging stories. After lunch, say goodbye to the host family, the community, and your new friends.

From the Akha village, head for the town of Mae Salong, which was founded in the 1960s by former Kuo Mintang soldiers who had been expelled from Myanmar. Visit their tea and coffee plantations, which give amazing photo opportunities, before continuing to Thaton.

Overnight in Thaton

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Thaton – Chiang Dao (131 km): 2.21 hr Chiang Dao – Pai (134 km): 2.53 hr

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before departing for the mountainous area of Chiang Dao. Visit the astounding Chiang Dao Caves for an easy exploration of its caverns and natural limestone formations. A picnic lunch will be taken along the way. Afterwards, continue toward Pai, with stops en route at Mok Fah Waterfall and Pong Duad Hot Spring.

Overnight in Pai

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Pai – Tham Lod (48.9 km): 1.10 hr Tham Lod – Tham Pla (61.4 km): 1.31 hr Tham Pla – Mae Hong Son town (28.6 km): 39 min

After breakfast, continue toward Soppong. The area is home to limestone caves said to be among the largest in Southeast Asia. Follow a series of walkways and cross small creeks by bamboo raft to reach the cavern. Inside the dark cave, listen to and smell the bats buzzing overhead. After the cave experience, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before continuing by car to Tham Pla, a splendid natural area centered around a cave with creeks flowing out of it, filled with unusually large fish. After exploring this unique area, continue to Mae Hong Son.

Upon arrival, drive around the central lake to visit the Burmese-style temples Wat Chong Klang and Wat Chong Kham.

Overnight in Mae Hong Son

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

Enjoy an early breakfast at the hotel before heading on a scenic drive up the nearby mountains to visit Pang Oung, located in Ban Ruam Thai. Part of the Pang Tong Royal Development Project, Pang Oung—also known as the “Switzerland of Thailand”—is a beautiful destination that can be visited year-round. It offers stunning views of a scenic lake nestled in a valley, sparkling in the morning sunlight. After the visit, transfer to Ban Rak Thai Village (Love Thailand Village), a small village where Yunnan Chinese culture remains strong, despite its inhabitants having immigrated to Thailand centuries ago. Here, sip tea and mingle with locals before enjoying lunch.

After lunch, drive back to Mae Hong Son.

Overnight in Mae Hong Son

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Mae Hong Son – Khun Yuam (85 km): 1.41 hr Khun Yuam – Mae Sarieng (84.9 km): 1.37 hr

After breakfast, start the day with a short transfer to Baan Huai Dua Boat Landing and take a 30-minute longtail boat ride along a scenic route with marvelous views of the Pai River. Return to the boat pier and continue to Khun Yuam for lunch, followed by a visit to a World War II museum, which houses an assortment of weapons, uniforms, military equipment, and personal belongings left behind by Japanese soldiers who occupied the town during the closing weeks of the war in neighboring Myanmar.

In the late afternoon, arrive in Mae Sariang and enjoy a short cycling trip through this charming city.

Overnight in Mae Sariang

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Mae Sarieng – Doi Inthanon National Park (154 km): 3 hr Doi Inthanon National Park – Chiang Mai (88 km): 1.27 hr

After breakfast, depart for Doi Inthanon National Park, home to Thailand’s highest peak, Doi Inthanon. The park is especially popular among bird watchers, with more than 300 species reported in the area. Visit the mountain’s summit to see the shrine of Chao Inthawitchayanon, the former prince of Chiang Mai, before stopping at Wat Phra That Chom Thong, which houses a holy relic and ancient treasures. A short trek along Michael’s Trail offers a beautiful and unforgettable experience. Lunch is served at a local restaurant. Afterwards, proceed to Chiang Mai for the conclusion of the tour.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch