Northern Cultures

Thailand, 9 Nights

Day 1 - London/Bangkok
Board your British Airways flight from Heathrow to Bangkok. You will be met on arrival and transferred to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel for two nights.

Day 2 - Bangkok
Meet your private guide this morning for a visit to the spectacular Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to further explore this colourful city.

Day 3 - Bangkok/Mae Hong Son
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Mae Hong Son via Chiang Mai. On arrival, check-in to the Imperial Tara Mae Hong Son Hotel for two nights. This area is often called 'the Switzerland of Thailand' because of its beautiful scenery and cooler climate.    

Day 4 - Mae Hong Son
Rise early to enjoy some river-rafting before returning to the hotel for breakfast. Later this morning visit the hilltribe village at Baan. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit the twin 19th century Burmese-style temples, Wat Jong Kham and Wat Jong Klang. Finish with a drive uphill to Wat Doi Kong Mu for scenic views over the surrounding area.

Day 5 - Mae Hong Son/Chiang Mai                
Enjoy an early-morning visit to the local market - a magnet for hilltribe traders. You may also have the chance to offer food to the Buddhist monks. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Later this morning, fly to Chiang Mai and check-in to the Four Seasons hotel for two nights. This afternoon, explore the city of Chiang Mai. You will also head up to Wat Doi Suthep, the north's most holy shrine, which dominates the hillside in the west of the city.

Day 6 - Chiang Mai
Visit the Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden, a centre for research into Thai flora. Afterwards, continue to the Elephant Camp Training Centre. Here you will experience an exclusive private mahout (elephant trainer) training course and become an honorary mahout to these gentle giants. Have lunch at a local restaurant before heading back to the hotel for the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 7 - Chiang Mai/Angkhang                           
After breakfast, drive uphill to Angkhang, passing through picturesque mountains and valleys (approximately 3 hours drive). Check-in to the Amari Angkhang Nature Resort. Enjoy lunch at the resort before visiting the Royal Project, with its huge and wonderful garden of flowers and fruit orchards. Dinner is included at the resort.

Day 8 - Angkhang/Chiang Rai
After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, drive from Angkhang to Chiang Rai (approximately 3 hours) and check-in to the Anantara Resort & Spa Golden Triangle. En route visit a hilltribe village and stop for a local restaurant lunch. Settle into your room before an afternoon visit to the riverside town of Chiang Saen, the Opium Museum and a boat trip on the Khong River.

Day 9 - Chiang Rai
This morning, drive to Mae Sai - the most northerly town in Thailand - on the border with Myanmar. Proceed to Doi Mae Salong, driving through beautiful mountain scenery. Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant before continuing to explore one of the hilltribe villages.          

Day 10 - Chiang Rai/Bangkok/London
Transfer to the airport for your flight back to Bangkok. Connect to your homeward flight or extend your stay in Phuket or Koh Samui.