Itinerary
- Day 1
Chiang Rai
You'll arrive in Chiang Rai and meet your guide for the hotel transfer. Depending on when you land, there's time to visit the Blue Temple with its distinctive blue architecture, walk through the Black House's 25+ buildings that showcase local art and artifacts, and see Wat Huay Pla Kang where a 79-meter Guan Im statue stands out. In the evening, you can wander through authentic Chiang Rai by the King Mengrai Monument and Golden Clock Tower (light shows run at 20:00 and 21:00), browse the night market, then head back to rest.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Khamthana Colonial Hotel Chiang Rai), Hotel (The Heritage Hotel – Deluxe Room)
Optional Activities
- Visit Wat Rong Suea Ten (Blue Temple) - temple with unique blue architecture and stucco artwork
- Visit Baan Dam Museum (Black House) - 25+ buildings showcasing local Northern Thai architecture and folk art
- Visit Wat Huay Pla Kang - nine-storey chedi and white wihan with 79-meter Guan Im Bodhisattva statue
- Explore King Mengrai Monument - commemorates founder of Chiang Rai
- View Golden Clock Tower light-and-sound display (20:00 and 21:00)
- Browse Chiang Rai night market
- Watch classical dance performance at night market (own expenses)
Landmarks Wat Rong Suea Ten (Blue Temple) Baan Dam Museum (Black House) Wat Huay Pla Kang King Mengrai Monument Golden Clock Tower Chiang Rai Night Market 
- Day 2
Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai
After breakfast, you'll drive south to the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) known for its intricate silver mirror work and detailed murals. From there, head to the Golden Triangle where the Ruak and Mekong Rivers meet at Thailand's borders with Myanmar and Laos. The House of Opium Museum fills in the opium trade's history, and you'll check out the ancient city of Chiang Saen with temples like Wat Phrathat Pha Ngao. Following lunch locally, the drive to Chiang Mai takes about 3 hours with a stop at Mae Kha Chan Hot Spring along the way, getting you there by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel), Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel M Chiang Mai), Hotel (Aruntara Riverside Boutique Hotel )
Included Activities
- Visit Wat Rong Khun (White Temple) - temple with silver mirror decorations and master artist murals
- Visit Golden Triangle viewpoint - where three countries meet (Thailand, Myanmar, Laos)
- Visit House of Opium Museum - privately owned museum displaying opium trade history in Golden Triangle
- Visit Wat Phrathat Pha Ngao in Chiang Saen - ancient temple with 700-1,300 year old Buddha image
- Visit Phra Borommathat Phuttha Nimit Chedi - mountain location with scenic views
Landmarks Wat Rong Khun (White Temple) Golden Triangle House of Opium Museum Chiang Saen Wat Phrathat Pha Ngao Phra Borommathat Phuttha Nimit Chedi Mae Kha Chan Hot Spring 
- Day 3
Chiang Mai
Start with breakfast, then head up to Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep at 1,056 meters, northern Thailand's most sacred temple with city views all around. Sankampaeng's craft industries let you watch artisans at work with Thai silk, paper umbrellas, celadon ceramics, carved teakwood, lacquered ware, and silverware. After lunch back in the city, you'll visit Wat Phrasing with its beautiful woodcarvings, Wat Chedi Luang and its enormous pagoda, and the quiet Wat U-Mong meditation center from 1296. If interested, an optional evening tuk-tuk food tour or Thai cultural dinner show can be arranged.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel), Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant in Chiang Mai)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel M Chiang Mai), Hotel (Aruntara Riverside Boutique Hotel )
Included Activities
- Visit Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep - most sacred temple in northern Thailand at 1,056 meters with Naga Serpent Staircase
- Visit Sankampaeng craft industries - observe Thai silk production, paper umbrella making, celadon ceramics, teakwood carving, lacquerware, and silverware
- Visit Wat Phrasing - temple with Lai Kham chapel, exquisite woodcarving, and northern style murals
- Visit Wat Chedi Luang - temple with enormous pagoda (partially destroyed in 1545 earthquake)
- Visit Wat U-Mong - meditation center established in 1296 with historical artifacts, Asok Pillar, and ancient tunnel architecture
Optional Activities
- Chiang Mai Street Eats by Tuk Tuk (16:30-20:30) - local tuk-tuk transport, street food tasting, religious sites visit, beverage at Xanadu Restaurant with scenic views
- Visit Wat Lok Molee - one of city's older temples with one of the largest and most impressive chedis in Chiang Mai
- Browse Chang Puak Gate (North Gate) night market
- Try stewed pork leg from famous cowboy-hat vendor
- Taste Bua Loi (floating lotus) - warm coconut milk broth with glutinous rice flour balls
- Visit 3-Kings Monument
- Enjoy beverage at Xanadu Restaurant
Landmarks Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep Sankampaeng Wat Phrasing Wat Chedi Luang Wat U-Mong Asok Pillar Wat Lok Molee Chang Puak Gate Night Market 3-Kings Monument Xanadu Restaurant - Day 4
Chiang Mai
After breakfast, you'll head out for a half-day visit to Kanta Elephant Sanctuary about 50 minutes north through countryside and forest. There you'll meet the elephants, help prepare their food, interact with them in natural surroundings, learn about their behavior and background, watch them cool off in a water pond, then have tea and fresh fruit before returning around 12:30 PM. Your afternoon is free. For the evening, consider a Thai cooking class (15:00-21:00) visiting local markets and making curry pastes and five dishes, or a Khantoke Dinner (18:00-21:00) with traditional Lanna performances and northern food.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at hotel)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel M Chiang Mai), Hotel (Aruntara Riverside Boutique Hotel )
Included Activities
- Half-day visit to Kanta Elephant Sanctuary - includes driving north of Chiang Mai, meeting elephants, feeding and interacting with elephants, learning about elephant behavior and history, observing them at water pond, tea and fruit
Optional Activities
- Evening Cooking Class by Thai Farm Cooking School (15:00-21:00) - visit local Thai market, learn about herbs and ingredients at organic farm, make curry paste from scratch, prepare one curry paste, one curry, one soup, noodle dish, and sweet dessert (5 categories total)
- Evening Khantoke Dinner with Thai Cultural Shows (18:00-21:00) - traditional Lanna performances with live folk music, northern cuisine dinner, refillable water and herbal drinks, welcome drink and snack
Landmarks Kanta Elephant Sanctuary Thai Farm Cooking School Old Chiangmai Cultural Center - Day 5
Departure from Chiang Mai
Have breakfast at the hotel and check out. Your Thailand Journeys guide will meet you for a private transfer to Chiang Mai Airport for your flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast at the hotel)
