This full day visit to Wiang Kum Kam and Wat Prathat Doi Suthep will take you to some of the most interesting locations outside Chiang Mai. We start at the visitor centre of Wiang Kum Kam, where bikes will be waiting for you. After a brief introduction we will visit some of the most interesting ruins of this fascinating city. This settlement was restored recently having being abandoned more than 700 years ago.
We will continue to McKean Rehabilitation Centre, once the first leprosy centre in Thailand and a well-known hospital today. We cycle through the tree shaded lanes of this beautiful complex that now is home to disabled people and houses a hospital and numerous other buildings. We will also stop at a small handicraft shop.
Our journey continues along the Ping River. The region we will pass through is a very fertile area due to the proximity of the river. Virtually everything grows here. We will see lots of fruit trees and taste some of the seasonal fruit. Longan plantations, or Lamay in Thai, are typical in this area.
Your guide will explain about the many fruit that grow around here. Saraphi has also got an abundance of beautiful Buddhist temples and we will visit the most striking one. We then continue to Ban Tawai where we will have lunch at a local restaurant.
The bicycle part of our tour ends here. Ban Tawai is the best place for buying souvenirs in Chiang Mai. After lunch we will spend some time shopping in Ban Tawai, if you wish, or just having a look around. Lots of interesting items may be found.
After this, we will drive by minivan to Wat Doi Suthep. Wat Doi Suthep is a temple perched on Doi Suthep, a mountain of about 1600 metres high that dominates the skyline of Chiang Mai. ‘Doi’ means mountain in Northern Thai language. The temple is the most venerated of Chiang Mai and a visit to Wat Doi Suthep is really a must. From the temple you have a commanding view over Chiang Mai.
Experienced bicycle guide, good quality 24 gear Trek mountain bikes, helmet, transportation per songtaew, drinking water, snacks, lunch, insurance, entrance fees and light poncho in rainy season included.
Our tour starts in Ban Khanomtom in Saraphi, a district about 12 kms outside of Chiang Mai where your bike will be waiting. We will brief you on the upcoming tour whilst you enjoy refreshment. Then it’s time to start cycling!¡
The area we will pass through is a very fertile area due to its proximity to the river. Virtually everything grows here. You will see lots of fruit trees and taste some of the fruit in season. Longan plantations, in Thai called Lamyai, dominate this area. We will cycle through endless plantations.
We will stop several times along the way and meet local people. We will stop at local temples and markets. Before noon we reach Lamphun, the former capital of the Haripunchai kingdom where we make a stop at Ku Chang, the burial site of Queen Chamathewi’s favorite war elephant. Next stop will be an interesting textile museum. We will have a wonderful Khao Soi lunch opposite the museum before continuing to Wat Pra That Haripunchai, Lamphun’s most famous temple.
We also stop at the Doll Museum in San Patong, a very particular museum where you will find handmade dolls in traditional costumes from all around Thailand.
From here we make our way back to Saraphi. We cycle through extensive rice fields until we meet the Ping River. Via a different route we cycle back to Ban Khanomtom where you can enjoy refreshment and sit down for a moment before heading back to the hotel in Chiang Mai.
This cycling tour starts at the Chiang Mai railway station where we board the local train to Lamphun. It is a short but very scenic train ride.
At Lamphun railway station our bicycles will be waiting for us. We start our ride cycling along the Mae Nam Khuang. We will climb the old city wall before we continue to Wat Haripunchai, the most venerated temple in this town. From here we walk to the interesting ‘OTOP’ market where many local products are for sale. Then it’s time for lunch which will consist of ‘khao soi’, a tasty noodle dish.
After lunch we will visit a museum with exquisite Tai Yong textiles. Most of Lamphun’s inhabitants descend from the Tai Yong, an ethnic group from Northern Myanmar. Your guide will explain how they settled in Lamphun.
Next your guide will take you to the local fresh food market of Lamphun where you will be able to taste some delicacies.
Through small streets and alleys we leave Lamphun. We will cycle along paved and unpaved roads through Longan (Lamyai) plantations and ricefields to the Ping River. We will visit some rural temples, markets and shops along the way.
We follow the Ping River back to Ban Khanomtom where the tour ends. Enjoy refreshment before we head back to the hotel.
The tour includes, good quality 24 gear Trek mountain bikes, helmet, transportation per songtaew, drinking water, snacks, lunch, insurance, entrance fees, light poncho in the rainy season and the company of an experienced bicycle guide
Get ready for an early start on this five hour tour to the sites of San Kampaeng and Wiang Kum Kam . San Kamphaeng district is located about 15 kms outside of Chiang Mai. Whilst you enjoy refreshment we will brief you on the upcoming tour. Then it’s time to start cycling!
Visit a local market before cycling through quiet back roads and rice fields to Wat Patung, a teakwood temple over 100 years old. Continue through picturesque countryside with stunning views in all directions. We pass through various villages on our way to Ban Thi where we rest for a while before continuing through typical Northern Thai rural scenery.
We cycle only through small back roads on our way to Wiang Kum Kam, the “underground city”. Wiang Kum Kam was an influential city in the 13th century but was finally abandoned because of continuous flooding. The Fine Arts Department started excavating and restoring the ruins in the mid 80’s and it’s amazing to be able to visit them. We will see some of the ‘hidden’ ruins of Wiang Kum Kam such as Wat Ku Padom and Wat Huanong, our favorite site.
The tour ends at beautiful Chedi Liam where your car is waiting to take you back to Chiang Mai.
The tour includes good quality 24 gear Trek mountain bikes, helmet, transportation per songtaew, drinking water, snacks, insurance, entrance fees, light poncho in the rainy season and the company of an experienced bicycle guide
Join us on this one day tour around Lamphun. It all begins at Chiang Mai railway station where we board the 9.30 train. It is a very scenic ride which will take about 30 mins.
Our driver will be waiting in Lamphun where we head to our first stop in the itinerary, the Wat Phra Yuen, a quiet temple with fantastic palm trees and one of the oldest ones in Northern Thailand. The next stop is Ku Chang, a chedi that contains the relic of the war elephant of Chamathewi. We climb the old city wall before we continue to Wat Haripunchai, the most venerated temple in this town.
The following stop is the ‘OTOP’ market where many local products can be found.
Lunch which will consist of ‘khao soi’, a very tasty noodle dish. After lunch, we visit a museum with exquisite Tai Yong textiles. Most of lamphun’s inhabitants descend from the Tai Yong, an ethnic group from Northern Myanmar. Your guide will tell you everything about them.
We will continue to the local fresh food market of Lamphun where you will be able to taste some delicacies and chat with the vendors. We will leave the market to burn some incense and candles at the statue of Queen Chamathewi before we visit Wat Ku Kut, one of the oldest religious structures in Lamphun.
We will then drive back to Chiang Mai following the railway line to Ban Umong. Here we stop at a shop for a taste of the famous Umong Longan wine. Longan (Lamyai) is the dominant fruit of this area. We will visit a longan processing factory and a longan plantation before we head back to Chiang Mai.
Time permitting; we will also stop briefly at a lively local market before we follow the Ping River back to Chiang Mai.
You will be picked up from the hotel at 0800 and transfered to Ban Khanomtom in Saraphi, a district about 12 kms south of Chiang Mai. Here your bikes will be waiting for you. While you enjoy a refreshment we will brief you on the upcoming tour. We will start cycling through an area with fruit orchards and beautiful temples until we reach McKean Rehabilitation Centre, a former leprosy colony, now dedicated to the help of disadvantaged and needy people. We cycle over the McKean compound and admire the centuries old trees.
From here we make our way to Wiang Kum Kam, the “underground city”. Wiang Kum Kam was an influential city in the 13th century but was finally abandoned because of continuous flooding. The Fine Arts Department started excavating and restoring the ruins in the mid 80’s and it’s delightful to visit them. We will visit some of the ‘hidden’ ruins of Wiang Kum Kam such as Wat Ku Padom and Wat Huanong, our favorite site.
By this time of day it will start to become hot. The tour ends at beautiful Chedi Liam where your car is waiting to bring you back to Chiang Mai.
Inclusion : Experienced bicycle guide, Good quality 24 gear Trek mountain bikes, Helmet, Transportation per songtaew, Drinking water, Snacks,Insurance, Entrance fees, Light poncho in the rainy season.
This day tour takes you through the wonders of Lampang, the third largest town in northern Thailand situated in the valley of the Wang River. Lampang used to be part of the Haripunchai kingdom and was a major centre for teak industry during the last century.
Drive to Wat Prathat Lampang Luang, considered to be the most magnificent temple of Northern Thailand. Continue to Lampang where we will visit the magnificent Wat Phra Keow Don Tao, the most interesting temple inside Lampang City. We will also visit one of the old city gates, Pratu Maa.
Walk along the remains of the old city wall and visit Khu Chao Ya Su Ta, a temple which is being reconstructed. Continue to Ban Sao Nak, a remarkable teak wooden house built in 1895 and supported by 116 teak wooden pillars.
Admire the beauty of the Wat Pong Sanuk Tai temple and stop briefly at the Horse Cart Centre where you will learn about the different types of horse carriages.
Lunch will be by the Wang River in the Riverside Restaurant.
After lunch, we continue are tour by foot and visit some of the most remarkable colonial style houses in Talad Gao Street: the beautifully renovated Moungngwezin House, now a gallery and a coffee shop. We admire the old teak wooden viharn at Wat Koh.
Next up is a horse cart ride through the old streets of Lampang. Visit the Burmese style temple Wat Si Rong Muang. On the way back we can make a last stop at the colorful Thung Kwian Market.
After meeting at the hotel at 8.00am we drive to Lampang. Lampang used to be part of the Haripunchai kingdom and was a major centre of the teak industry last century. First stop will be the Elephant Conservation Centre along the way. Witness the show at 10 AM. Elephants will demonstrate how they used to work in the teak industry in former times. After the show you have the opportunity for an elephant ride (not included in the price).
Before driving to Wat Lampang Luang we will stop at the hospital of the Friends of the Asian Elephant Foundation which is really a wonderful place. You will see a short and touching video about Motala, the elephant that lost a leg because of a landmine. We will continue to Wat Prathat Lampang Luang, considered by many to be the most magnificent temple of Northern Thailand. Lunch will be in a local restaurant.
After lunch continue to Lampang. Here you will enjoy a horsecart ride through the old streets of Lampang. We will visit the Burmese style temple Wat Si Rong Muang. Before we drive back to Chiang Mai we will stop at the magnificent Wat Phra Keow Don Tao. Along the way back we can make a last stop at the colorful Thung Kwian Market.
Our first stop today will be at the local market at Mae Malai. Your guide with take you around and explain you about the herbs and vegetables, used in Thai cooking as well as the strange kinds of food and the other local products you can find here.
After that, we will continue to Chiang Dao. Here we will leave the main road and proceed further into the countryside where we will stop at a Karen hilltribe village. The Karen tribe is the biggest of all the tribes living in Thailand. We will walk around the village and you will see some of the villagers with their traditional dress.
After this interesting visit, we hike to a nearby Lisu village. For many generations the economic livelihood of the Lisu people has been based upon the cultivation of the opium poppy. Some of these people have given up this trade, and are now seeking to supplement their income through the sale of skillfully produced crafts.
We then continue for about ten minutes to an Akha village. Every Akha village is distinguished by their carved wooden gates, presided over by guardian spirits.
Afterwards, walk through the jungle for about one hour to Pang Dang Nai, a Palong village. Your guide will show you around the village. He will explain about the village shrine and about the ‘huja rawl’, the ‘village heart’ as well as about the Royal Project.
After this walk, we will get back into our truck and transfer to the rafting camp. Don’t worry, this is not wild water rafting, this is bamboo rafting, you’ll see it’s a relaxing experience. While the helmsman maneuvers your raft down the stream, you have time to look around and enjoy the scenery, the sun, and the sounds of the birds. After this rafting trip has finished it’s time to head back to Chiang Mai where we will arrive late in the afternoon. We can make a stop at an orchid nursery on the way back. We will arrive back in Chiang Mai in the late afternoon.
Our day starts with a drive to Suthep Mountain. First we will visit Wat Doi Suthep before the crowds arrive. Walk up the 300 steps up to the temple from where you have a majestic view over Chiang Mai. We continue to Doi Pui Village, a Hmong community, close to top of Doi Pui.
Your guide will tell you about the turbulent history of this community. In the past the village was involved in opium cultivation. Nowadays the village is a major tourist attraction on Doi Suthep. We walk around the village before we meet our local Hmong guide who will accompany us on our hike to the Hmong village Ban Mae Sa Mai in the Mae Sa Valley. This hike will take about four hours including stops.
We start hiking through the forest. The local Hmong guide will tell about the flora and about the history of opium cultivation on this mountain. You will also be stimulated to recognize certain plants and trees in the forest with the tree and plant leaflet we will provide you with. After a walk uphill we will arrive at an open area with fantastic views on both sides of the mountain. We will stop briefly to look at a footprint of Buddha before enjoying a picnic lunch at a scenic spot.
We will continue through the forest to the Hmong village Ban Mae Sa Mai. This village is the largest Hmong community in Northern Thailand and gets very few visitors a marked contrast with Doi Pui Hmong Village. You will learn about a very interesting project of FORRU, the forest restoration unit of Chiang Mai University. We will visit the small Hmong museum and the FORRU tree nursery.
We will pick you up from your hotel for an early departure to Doi Inthanon National Park. Doi Inthanon is the highest mountain of Thailand (2,565 m). It was declared a national park in 1972. The park boasts the greatest diversity of forest types and bird species found in any single park in the country and has many beautiful waterfalls. We will drive up to the summit of Doi Inthanon where we will visit the two chedis that have been constructed here to honour the 60th birthday of the King and Queen.
After this we will visit the Karen village Ban Mae Klang Luang. Along the way we will stop at the Hmong market where products from the Royal Project are for sale. Lunch will be at local restaurant.
After lunch drive for ten minute to the starting point of the trek. We will trek for about two hours along a majestic waterfall. A local Karen guide will accompany us. We will have to cross the river several times. This multi-tiered waterfall cascades wildly towards the Karen village Ban Mae Klang Luang, where our trek ends.
After this, we will spend some time in the village and learn about coffee cultivation. You can taste a delicious cup of Mae Klang Luang coffee, if you like.
Return to Chiang Mai. Along the way we will stop at the Vachirathan and Mae Klang waterfalls.
This program is especially for hikers and nature lovers. We leave Chiang Mai early in the morning and drive to Chaesorn National Park. After a coffee stop at the ranger station we will start trekking for around two hours. We’ll walk through cloud forest and enjoy the incredible views and the many birds. Visit Chaesorn Waterfall and hot springs.
Lunch will be at a local restaurant in the national park. After lunch we will drive to Mae Kampong. This village is probably the most famous homestay village in Thailand. We will visit the coffee making group and their coffee plantations. You will learn about coffee cultivation. Many villagers are also involved in the cultivation of fermented tea leaves. We will visit the local temple and the Mae Kampong waterfall before we drive back to Chiang Mai. Along the way we will visit the umbrella making village in Borsang.
English speaking guide,Transportation by A/C minibus, Lunch, Drinking water, Information leaflet on Chaesorn National Park and on Mae Kampong, Insurance included.
Your guide will pick you up from your hotel for an early departure to Doi Inthanon National Park. Doi Inthanon is the highest mountain of Thailand (2,565 m). It was declared a national park in 1972. The park boasts the greatest diversity of forest types and bird species found in any single park in the country and has many beautiful waterfalls. We will drive up to the summit of Doi Inthanon where we will embark on a beautiful nature trail, the Kaew Mae Pan Nature trail. A local guide of the Hmong tribe will accompany us. Here we walk for a couple of hours through unspoilt cloud forest. When the skies are clear the views are magnificent.
Lunch will be at local restaurant. After lunch we will visit the two chedis that have been constructed here to honour the 60th birthday of the King and Queen. We will continue to the Vachirathan waterfall and the Mae Klang waterfall. Along the way we will stop at the Hmong market where products from the Royal Project are for sale.
Things to bring: T-shirt and shorts for daytime, Long sleeves/Jacket during winter time (Nov - Feb), Hiking shoes with good grip, Flip flops, Sun cream, Headgear, Insect repellent (DEET medicated), Sun glasses, Small backpack.
English speaking guide, transportation by AC vehicle, lunch, drinking water, information leaflet on Doi Inthanon National Park and on the tribal people on this trek, entrance fees, insurance all included.
We will drive to the Ping River. We will cross the river at the so-called Iron Bridge and will drive towards the Wat Ket area. Doing so we will pass the first Christian church of Chiang Mai, founded in 1868. We will visit Wat Ket, a temple with an interesting story as well as a remarkable small museum with lots of historical photos of Chiang Mai. We continue to the most famous markets of Chiang Mai, the adjoining Warorot and Ton Lamyai markets. Your guide will take you around and will let you taste some of the typical Northern Thai delicacies for sale here. We will also visit a Chinese pagoda in what is Chiang Mai’s Chinatown. You will learn about the history of these colorful markets.
Next stop will be Wat Buppharam, a beautiful temple in Burmese and Lanna style. By now it is time for lunch. We will take you to a riverside restaurant where you will enjoy a delicious Thai lunch. After lunch we will enter the old city within the moat. Here we will visit the spectacular Wat Chedi Luang and Wat Phra Sing. You will meet a Buddhist monk, if you wish. Then drive up to the Doi Suthep, a 1600-meter high mountain towering over Chiang Mai. Visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a beautiful temple from which you have a fantastic view over the city. Return to your hotel in the late afternoon.
Our first stop will be Wat Kukut. We will drive onwards to the fresh food market of Lamphun. From here we will walk to Wat Haripunchai, the most famous temple in Lamphun. After an extensive visit of this temple we will cross the bridge over Mae Nam Kuang to Wiang Yong, the first settlement of the Tai Yong people in Lamphun. The bridge itself is an interesting market of local products
. We will visit Wat Ton Kaew and its interesting museum that exhibits Tai Yong textiles. We cross the bridge back to where our car waits for us. Then we drive around the old citywalls of Lamphun and pay a visit to the shrine for the first queen Chamadevi. Then we head back to Chiang Mai. We follow in the footsteps of Captain McLeod, a British officer, who undertook this journey on January 11, 1837. His entourage consisting of about 30 persons on horseback or walking travelled from Lamphun to Chiang Mai, a distance of about 28 kms, which took 5,5 hours. Elephants were used to carry the baggage. “An hour’s marching brought us to the village of Patapa (situated in a grove of mangoe trees), which is the boundary between Zimme (Chiang Mai) and Labong (Lamphun)”. Before reaching Pratupa village we will stop at Wat Ban Luk where we will meet a monk. Opposite Ban Luk temple is a beautiful, more than 200 years old Ubosot (monk’s prayer house) that is currently under renovation. We continue to Pratupa where we will visit the temple and its centuries old scripture house. Here we will have lunch.