Join this memorable family trip to Thailand, exploring the vibrant cities of Bangkok, Pai, and Chiang Mai. Our carefully crafted itinerary ensures a perfect blend of cultural immersion, adventure, and relaxation for the whole family. In Bangkok, you'll be captivated by the bustling markets, ornate temples, and mouthwatering street food. Next, venture to the picturesque town of Pai, nestled in the mountains of northern Thailand.
Finally, immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of Chiang Mai. Explore ancient temples, participate in a traditional Thai cooking class, and experience the thrill of interacting with elephants in an ethical sanctuary.
Upon arrival at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, you will be met and greeted by our Exo Travel guide for transfer to your hotel.
This late afternoon half-day trip will take you to discover one of the least-known-by-foreigners street areas of Bangkok around the Bangrak district. Once in the area, you will be pointed out some good restaurants, mainly local ones, while enjoying sampling some street snacks. Your guide will also explain to you how to use local modes of transportation like Tuk Tuk or local buses. Cool down with a local Thai Iced Coffee “Kafae Boran” or a fresh, cold fruit shake. After that, hop on a Tuk Tuk to River City Shopping Complex pier where you will take a ferry crossing to Khlongsan district and explore the local market in the area.
End your walking tour at the Jam Factory, a small industrial design complex with a modern book café and a unique furniture shop by a famous Thai artist. Located in the complex is The Never Ending Summer Restaurant, a cool industrial-style Thai restaurant with authentic Thai taste, where you will enjoy a nice dinner in a cosy atmosphere. After dinner, transfer back to the hotel.
After breakfast at the hotel, drive just an hour south of Bangkok to Samut Songkhram, the province that offers visitors a glimpse into Thai countryside life. We will start the day with a stop at a local train station to experience a short regional train ride bounding for an amazing country market that has sprouted along the railway tracks. Here, you will witness the dexterity and speed of the vendors as they quickly pack their stalls right before 08:30 am when the train approaches; hence bringing shopping to a brief halt. It is a standard practice and stallholders have learnt the art of assembling and reassembling their wares at a moment’s notice!
Then we will visit Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and take a long-tail boat ride through the canals and see how Thai people live alongside the labyrinth of canals in this area. Arrive at the famous Damnoen Saduak market where you can stroll around the colourful floating marketplace bustling with boats and vendors selling tropical fruits and other delights.
Upon arrival in Chiang Mai, you will be met and greeted by our Exo Travel guide in Chiang Mai for transfer to your hotel in Pai. En route to Pai, a stop can be made at the pretty, 60-meter-high, Mok Fah Waterfall and Pong Duad Hotspring located in Huay Nam Dang National Park. This powerful phenomenon spurts up from under the ground at a temperature of 99 degrees. Thai people believe its natural properties are good for the skin's complexion!
Arrive in Pai in the late afternoon, and check in at the hotel. In the evening, enjoy a stroll through the colourful Pai night markets for an evening snack or some hill-tribe-inspired crafts and gifts.
Following breakfast, we depart and continue south to Mae La Na (45 minutes), arguably one of the most picturesque valleys in Mae Hong Son province. Here, we are invited to visit two communities; Baan Ja Bo (Lahu) and Baan Mae La Na (Shan). Situated 30 minutes walk from each other, we are privileged to be invited into their homes and communities to meet the people and learn about their unique and distinct cultures.
The Lahu people of Baan Ja Bo are colourful, flamboyant and welcoming. It’s known for its traditional medicine and wild traditional hill tribe food. Here, a local village guide will escort you to explore the important cultural sites, and introduce you to local craftsmen and craftswomen who will explain the many different meanings of the colours of their traditional clothes. The guide will lead you to hike up the mountain to visit the Coffin cave, considered to be a sacred site by the Lahu people. You will be explained about local beliefs and how to behave in the caves, and shown locals’ rice fields and rotational rice farming system, as well as how locals live in harmony with the forest. Enjoy a local lunch prepared by the villagers at Baan Ja Bo.
From here, enjoy a downhill walk (30 minutes) or drive through a stunning valley of majestic limestone cliffs to Baan Mae La Na. Here, you will be met by a local village guide who will lead you on the trail to visit the beautiful Coral Cave. During your trek, enjoy the beautiful fertile mixed deciduous forest area where you will find the significant herbal plantation that locals always use as their traditional medicine.
Following breakfast, continue further north to Tham Lod cave in the small town of Soppong (1.5 hours). This must-see historic cave is explored by bamboo raft via a tiny river that winds through the cave. You will disembark the raft 2- 3 times to explore the huge taverns that contain remains of ancient teak coffins that date back over 2,500 years and simple cave paintings- all the while being accompanied by a local guide bearing a kerosene lantern. Indeed, Tham Lod is considered a good example of community-based tourism as all of the guides at the cave are from the local Shan village.
Continue to a local restaurant for lunch and then travel onwards to Tam Pla Park (1.5 hours). The park features a number of creeks running out of a cave and the waters are filled with soro brook carp fish. Return to the hotel late afternoon.
Breakfast at the hotel. Check out and transfer from Pai to Chiang Mai.
Upon arrival in Chiang Mai, explore the old and modern city, including its old crumbling city walls, gates, moat, eclectic markets, residential areas, majestic foreign consulates, government buildings and Tapae Road, one of Chiang Mai’s main streets. Continue with a drive up to Doi Suthep Mountain for a visit to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Built-in 1384 AD, this is the most sacred temple in Northern Thailand. Inside the temple, you will see one of the most sacred stupas in all of Thailand. A fantastic panoramic view of the city can be seen from here.
In the early evening, your guide will meet you at the hotel and take you to transfer by a local songtaew and travel by foot to explore a number of the evening street food markets around Chiang Mai city, trying out some northern Thai delicacies and learning how to order food in Thai. Your tour will finish around 9:00 pm
So you really want to live life on a local day? Today, you will experience a typical day in the life of a Thai person- no tourists, no sightseeing, just real-life home cooking in a real Thai neighbourhood.
Join Mr Prapat in his family car and transfer 20 minutes to Hang Dong to spend the day with your ‘Thai family’. In true Thai style, slip into a pair of local ‘fisherman’s pants’ and discover the architecture of a traditional Thai house and rice barn. Your Thai family will also demonstrate their basket weaving skills, a tradition that has been in Thailand for centuries. Stroll around the small, family orchid and select fresh ingredients to add to the day's cooking extravaganza. You will learn to cook traditional home-cooked recipes with authentic Northern Thai flavours that are different from standard dishes offered in commercial cooking classes. Best of all, you will have the opportunity to get to know a real Thai family and be their house’s guest for the day. Enjoy a delicious home-cooked lunch with your family (cooked together). In the afternoon, go for a stroll around the neighbourhood to see some cottage industry goods being made before returning to Chiang Mai.
To book this amazing trip, contact your Travel Counsellor today and you’ll benefit from our 24-hour duty office ready to assist you before, during and after your trip.
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