Visit Wat Prathat Doi Suthep, a Buddhist temple atop a mountain just nine miles from central Chiang Mai. Meet with the temple’s monks and receive a private blessing. On your descent, your guide will alert you to any beautiful tropical birds that are sometimes present at Doi Suthep Mountain.
Spend your time with a scholar of Lanna culture and architecture. Your expert will explain the principles of Lanna design and the adoption of this aesthetic at the Rachamankha, a luxurious boutique hotel whose grounds reflect the architectural history of this diverse region and whose design is based on the viharn (chapel) of one of Thailand’s most beautiful temples, Wat Phra That Lampang Luang in Lampang province.
Visit the Tiger Kingdom, where you can interact with felines ranging from six-week-old babies to full-grown cats in a completely unrestrained environment.
Visit to village of Mae Kampong, which is situated at more than 4,200 feet above sea level and thrives on the hydro-electric energy that its waterfalls produce. Walk through the forest where villagers grow tea and coffee. You will be introduced to locals; chat with them to learn about the preservation efforts of the nearby Gibbon Project and how these initiatives are shaping their daily lives. Go on a spectacular trek beside the beautiful Mae Gompong Falls, followed by an al fresco picnic lunch in a scenic spot.
Wander through the Night Bazaar, the modern version of the old traders’ caravansaries where you can choose from a vast array of handicrafts of other locally made items to bring home as gifts.
Enjoy a day with elephants, Thailand’s most loved animal. You have a chance to watch a herd of elephants taking their morning bath in a mountain stream, a demonstration shows how elephants work in the jungle nearby and what kind of tasks they undertake, enjoy a one and a half hour elephant ride through the jungle to visit a local ethnic minority village of the Lisu tribe, learn about the fascinating lifestyle and customs of the local people and finish your day with a one-hour bamboo raft trip downstream. Float down the river and take in the tranquility and beauty of the area.
Cycling over quiet country roads and through small villages, observe farmers working in the rice fields while their wives fill the day by making terracotta. See women from a local village making rice crackers, banana chips, soya bean paste and many more products, and taste some of these delicacies.