Best of North Thailand Local Life (Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai) in Budget 7 days

Morning

The tour guide and driver will welcome you at the airport, then take 3 hours to drive from Chiang Mai Airport to Mae Hong Son. 

Afternoon

Start the sightseeing tour with a visit to the Long Neck Karen Village by taking a boat along the Pai River. After this, continue visiting The Phrathat Doi Kong Mu Temple in Mae Hong Son, located on the top of Kong Mu Mountain.

From here, we go on to visit Jong Kahm and Jong Klang Temples, then drive back to the low-price hotel, where you are free at leisure for the rest of the evening.

NOTE: Please kindly note that your international flight should arrive NO later than 08:00.

Morning

Today we will travel to Chiang Mai. Let’s begin the day’s journey with a visit to the well-known and very beautiful Fish Cave.

Then we head to the Lahu Tribe Village. Lahu is the second largest ethnic population in Mae Hong Son. Many years ago, the Lahu were famous for hunting, while the Lisu ethnic population were known for their colorful, attractive dresses and clothing.

After this, reach the Lod Cave to see one of the most important archaeological sites in the area, which has a stream known as “Laang” that flows from one end of the cave to the other.

Afternoon

Transfer to the hotel in Chiang Mai for check-in, after that, you are free at leisure.

Morning

Visit the Karen village in the misty mountains of Northern Thailand, where a local guide will lead a workshop teaching every step of the coffee production process.

Learn how to roast, winnow, and grind the hand-picked coffee beans, then sit down to taste the fresh creations. Over a cup of hot, strongly caffeinated goodness, the Karen hosts can explain how the coffee project was founded to replace the opium trade, allowing villagers to make a living while reducing drug use and death. 

Then we embark on a two-hour trek along nature trails flanked by stretches of emerald paddy fields and verdant rice terraces. We take a pit stop at Pha Dok Seaw Waterfall to relax before the next fabulous destination.

After that, we come to the Royal Project, established for the same reason as the coffee plantations. Here, Hmong people grow fruits and flowers, which makes the Royal Project the perfect place to stop for a hearty lunch complete with fresh vegetables and fish and rest after the hike. 

Afternoon

It’s time to visit Mae Ya Waterfall. With soft curves like frothing hilltops, it’s described as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the park. We take pictures at the waterfall and spend some time getting to know nature and water here before heading back to Chiang Mai in the afternoon. 

This cost-saving trip offers a glimpse at a side of Thailand most people never see and the opportunity to support ethical tourism.

NOTE: No swimming in the waterfall, just stop by to take photos and dip your feet in.

Morning

We will spend a day exploring the highlights of Chiang Mai, including a stop at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Waroros Market, Wat Srisuphan, and Wat Chedi Luang, while reducing your carbon footprint by traveling aboard a traditional Thai rickshaw.

Around 08:30, start your day with a drive from your hotel to Doi Suthep, home to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, which is considered the holiest shrine in northern Thailand.

We can either brave the climb or opt for a gentler funicular train adjacent to the stair pathway. The views from the top of the mountain are nothing short of stunning. After the visit to Doi Suthep, head back down by car to Sala Lanna, a charming riverside restaurant. 

Enjoy lunch in a supremely relaxing atmosphere.

Afternoon

Swap our car for a traditional Thai rickshaw, used in Thailand for over six decades, and glide to Waroros Market. We weave through stalls brimming with anything from flowers to silks to handicrafts.

The rickshaw then brings us to the last stop of the day at Wat Srisuphan and Wat Chedi Luang. Both places are both considered two of the most stunning and significant temples in Chiang Mai and the whole of Thailand.

From here, we sit aboard the rickshaw and head back to your hotel.

Morning

Today we leave Chiang Mai at around 08:30 to reach Chiang Rai. On the way, you can visit some of the most famous local industries in the Sankampang District. Upon arrival in Chiang Rai, check in at the hotel and relax.

Morning

This full-day trip would bring you to some of the greatest sites of northern Thailand, like Doi Tung, Golden Triangle, and Mae Sai.

Around 08:30, the tour guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel in Chiang Rai, then drive through the narrow and scenic roads to Doi Tung mountain, giving you the chance to visit traditional Lahu and Akha villages along the way.

Continue on to arrive at the Golden Triangle viewpoint, with incredible views over where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet.

Board a boat to cruise down the scenic Mekong River, complete with beautiful mountain scenery and distant views of several temples, until you reach the Laos-Burmese border, where you might be able to step foot on Don Island in Laos. 

Head to Mae Sai, the northernmost point of Thailand and an important trading city on the border of Thailand and Myanmar (Burma). Spend some time exploring the local market, which provides a glorious insight into the trading heritage of Mae Sai.

You can pick up some beautiful but affordable jewels imported from Myanmar (Burma), or some delicious local food to enjoy on our ride back to Chiang Rai.

Morning

Have breakfast at your hotel. Free time until the driver picks you up at your hotel, then transfer to Chiang Rai airport to catch your next flight. The tour will end after dropping off your group at the airport.

Please kindly note that the check-out time at the hotel is 12:00.