Thaton Bon Voyage. The road along the Burmese border, the female temple, Phumuen waterfall, Wat Thaton.

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Jeffrey Osborne
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1 The road along the Burmese border, the female temple, Phumuen waterfall, Wat Thaton. Begin your day of discovery by a walk of half an hour that will enable you to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding landscape. You will cross a village of Lahu ethnic group. We will then take the winding road along the Burmese border, lined with tribal villages. Stop and visit a poor Chan temple (Burmese refugees) to explain the involvement of Buddhism in everyday life. We will then have a lunch in floating bamboo huts on a large pond. Typical meal, very Thai. After lunch we will take the road to Fang to visit a magnificent temple of remarkable architecture where female monks are living. Then we will take again a mountainous little road through the orange groves that will lead us to a beautiful waterfall. Then it will be time to return to Thaton to visit before sunset the famous Wat Thaton and the impressive views it offers on the whole valley especially at this time of the day. Baht Repas non compris

2 The Kuomintang Chinese village and the tea plantations Doi Mae Salong is located at about 50 km from Thaton. Starting from Thaton about 10 am, we will take the road to Chiang Rai till the police check point. (About 30 km away from Thaton). Then we will turn left to the Chinese village of Mae Salong. You will enjoy the beautiful landscape all the way up. Hill tribes are living there especially Akha and Lissu. The village stretches along the top of a hill. Our first stop will be the market place where you will find local tea, all kind of Chinese delicatessen and some Akha handcraft. Then we will climb up to the Wat (temple) overhanging the village,. Back to the village, we shall have a stop in a very nice coffee shop. Enjoy the friendly atmosphere there and the unforgettable view from the terrace. Excellent local coffee and Thai food is available. Further on, in the village, we shall visit tea plantations and have a stop in an amazing place. Chinese will always surprise us! We should be back in Thaton at about 5 pm Baht

The Mae Fah Luang Garden - Doi Tung Royal Villa Doi Tung is located at about 80 km from Thaton.

Then we will turn left on the highway leading to the Burmese border and finally get up to the 1389 m high Doi Tung Mountain.

Shan, Akha and Lahu tribal villages are located on the mountain sides.

3 The Mae Fah Luang Garden - Doi Tung Royal Villa Doi Tung is located at about 80 km from Thaton. Starting from Thaton about 10 am, we will take the road to Chiang Rai till Mae Chan. Then we will turn left on the highway leading to the Burmese border and finally get up to the 1389 m high Doi Tung Mountain. There are spectacular views of both Burma and Thailand from the top of this mountain. Shan, Akha and Lahu tribal villages are located on the mountain sides. The royal Villa was originally built as a summer residence for the Late Princess Mother and now houses a museum and displaying her work to improve the life quality of local tribal people The Mae Fah Luang Gardens are a botanical park located on the slopes below the royal villa. Flowers and plants grow among rock formations. We should be back in Thaton around 5 pm Baht Lunch, museum and garden tickets not included

4 Doi Mae Salong and Doi Tung can easily be visited in a full day trip. Starting from Thaton about 9 am, we will first go to the Chinese village of Mae Salong (see Mae Salong Tour). After visiting it all, we shall continue the mountain road down to the highway and then turn left to reach Doi Tung (see Doi Tung Tour). We should be back in Thaton around 6 pm Baht Lunch, museum and garden tickets not included

The border crossing between Thailand and Burma and its amazing market. Mae Sai is the most northern village of Thailand and is located at about 90 km from Thaton.

Then we will turn left on the highway leading to the Burmese border We will first stop at Wat Tham Pla, about 13km south of Mae Sai.

5 The border crossing between Thailand and Burma and its amazing market. Mae Sai is the most northern village of Thailand and is located at about 90 km from Thaton. Starting from Thaton about 10 am, we will take the road to Chiang Rai till Mae Chan. Then we will turn left on the highway leading to the Burmese border We will first stop at Wat Tham Pla, about 13km south of Mae Sai. The temple is famous for its fish pound and also known as the Monkey Cave Temple after the macaques that live here. Then in Mae Sai you will have plenty of time to discover the amazing market of goods imported from Burma and China. If you wish to, you can cross the border bridge and visit the Burmese side of the town called Tachilek. You will have to pay 500 baht to the Burmese customs and re-entering Thailand your passport will be stamped with an 14 days visa. Do not do it if you need more time in Thailand. We should be back in Thaton around 5 pm Baht

6 The mythical river and the border town Departure to 9am. We begin with Chiang Saen, a small town that owes its dynamism to barges from China alongside Lao transport ships. Always along the Mekong 4km south of Chiang Saen we visit a beautiful temple where the view is breathtaking on the Mekong From there, we follow the banks of the Mekong through the Golden Triangle; we recommend that you visit the house of opium, a small museum very well designed and full of interest. We then rejoin Mae Sai, land crossing with Burma, creating a known commercial momentum up to Bangkok. (You can find absolutely everything that is done in China in a huge covered market and much cheaper than elsewhere and a Burmese quality craftsmanship) Meals: At the heart of the shopping aisles of Mae Sai. Then you take the time you want to make your desired purchases. On the way back we stop at Wat Tham Pla about 13 km south of Mae Sai. The temple is famous for its fish pond and also known as the Temple of the cave monkeys. Back to Thaton at 18h Baht

7 Mae Sai and Doi Tung can easily be visited in a full day trip. Starting from Thaton about 9 am, we will first go to the border town of Mae Sai. ( see Mae Sai tour ) In the early afternoon ( about 3 pm ), we shall leave and take the road back and then turn right to the mountain road leading to Doi Tung. (see Doi Tung tour ) We should be back in Thaton around 6 pm Baht Lunch, museum and garden tickets not included

Black House, White Temple, Kun Kon Waterfall, Night Bazaar Chiang Rai City lies in the flat alluvial plain of the Mae Kok River and is located at about 90 km from Thaton.

Created by Thailand national artist Thawan Duchanee, the grounds include nearly 40 small black houses made of wood, glass, concrete, bricks, or terracotta in various unique styles and design.

8 Black House, White Temple, Kun Kon Waterfall, Night Bazaar Chiang Rai City lies in the flat alluvial plain of the Mae Kok River and is located at about 90 km from Thaton. Starting from Thaton about 11:30 am, we will take the road to Chiang Rai We will first stop at Baan Si Dam (black House), about 10 km north of Chiang Rai. Created by Thailand national artist Thawan Duchanee, the grounds include nearly 40 small black houses made of wood, glass, concrete, bricks, or terracotta in various unique styles and design. We will then drive 15 km south of Chiang Rai to visit the famous White Temple. This unique modern temple was designed and built by artist Chaloemchai Khositphiphat starting in Leaving the white temple we shall follow for 20km a nice cool, shady little road leading thru Kun Kon National Park to the highest and most scenic waterfall in Chiang Rai : Khun Kon Waterfall is some 70 m in height. You will have to walk about 30mm to get to it. As the sun set, we shall take the way back to the city of Chiang Rai where we shall have dinner at le local Night Bazaar which is less touristic than the one in Chiang Mai : You will enjoy the food court and hill tribes handcraft. We should be back in Thaton around 11pm. Baht Lunch, and dinner not included

9 Private long-tail boats on the Kok River: full day trip to an Elephant camp, Hot springs and back to Thaton The boat and its driver are hired for the whole day. So you start whenever you want. We recommend starting before 10 am because it takes about 2 and a half hour to get to the elephant camp. We recommend also a stop at the hot springs ( a little before the elephant camp ) where you can relax, have a bath in the pool and have lunch. You will enjoy the beauty of the banks and see many hill tribe villages all the way long. We should be back in Thaton around 5 or 6 pm Baht up to 6 persons.

10 With stops at the Elephant camp and Hot springs. The boat and its driver are hired for the whole day. So you start whenever you want. We recommend starting before 10 am because it takes about 2 and a half hour to get to the elephant camp. We recommend also a stop at the hot springs ( a little before the elephant camp ) where you can relax, have a bath in the pool and have lunch. You will enjoy the beauty of the banks and see many hill tribe villages all the way long. You should be in Chiang Rai around 4 pm Baht up to 6 persons.

11 An unforgettable experience that will immerse you in nature and will allow you to see the real life of tribal villages in all simplicity. Starting from Thaton about 9 am, we will drive you by car to the Karen village where your guide Renato lives ( about 15 km ). A sporty trek or calm walk according to your will, Renato and his Karen friends will lead you thought the bamboo forest and introduce you to hill tribe s villagers and their way to live. Renato is a very friendly and passionate person who knows the forest and the way to live with it. This is a great opportunity to approach the people without the tour guide aspect. Picnic in the forest or in a village. Local food and drinks provided. At the end of the day ( 4 or 5 pm ), we will come to pick you up and drive you back to Thaton Baht per person. Lunch included Longer treks ( 2 or 3 days ) are possible on demand : home stay in Renato s bamboo house, rafting down the Mae Kok river. Ask for prices

12 Thailand's 'Little Switzerland'. Doi Ang Khang is located at about 70 km from Thaton. It is known as Thailand s 'Little Switzerland' for its cool climate and mountain scenery. Doi Ang Khang Royal Agricultural project is an amazing park supporting the cultivation of many species of temperate flowers, fruits and vegetables that were introduced as substitutes for opium. Starting from Thaton about 9 am, we will take the road to Fang, pass the city, heading south to Chiang mai. After 20km we will turn right and proceed to Doi Ang Khang for another 25 km. on a steep zigzagging asphalt road. You will enjoy some scenic spots on the way before we have a stop in Moo Ban No Lae on the Thai-Burmese border. The people of No Lae migrated from Myanmar about 15 years ago. No Lae village offers a magnificent view of natural scenery of the Thai-Burmese border and you will find some beautiful local handcraft there. Entering Doi Ang Khang Royal Agricultural project, we will first have lunch before you will spend time wandering around the gardens ( bonzai, flowers, vegetables, trees and green houses ). We should be back in Thaton at about 5 pm. Baht

13 Tea & Coffee Doi Wawee is a very remote village in the mountains of Northern Thailand, located about 45 km of Thaton at an altitude of about 1500m. The resident community of the Chinese Kuomintang village of Doi Wawee grows tea. Doi Chang is located in Wawee sub-district on the highest hills of Wawee Mountains (1,800 m) and distant from Wawee within a 1.5 hour drive. There are very beautiful scenic spots all along the way. Hill tribes live in the villages. Doi Chang is well known for the largest Coffee planting in northern Thailand. This trip is a long day drive on quite difficult mountain roads, so we will have to start from Thaton before 9 am in order to be back by sunset time. Baht

THAILAND EXPERIENCE PROGRAM

THAILAND EXPERIENCE PROGRAM Arrival Bangkok airport, meet our guide and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, experience an exhilarating boat ride along the bustling Chao Phraya River and the quiet