Discover Hill Tribes and Border Markets in Chiang Rai, Full Day
Leave the city behind and journey deep into the cultural heartland of northern Thailand. This full-day adventure unveils serene landscapes and unique ethnic traditions of the Doi Mae Salong region.
Begin with scenic drive into mountains departing at 8:30am to meet Akha, Yao, and Lisu villagers and gain insight into their ancestral ways of life. Surrounded by forested slopes and tea plantations, peaceful atmosphere reveals side of Thailand few visitors see. The area encompasses temples, churches, schools and eateries famous for tasty Yunnan cuisine.
Next stop at Mae Sai, Thailand's northernmost point nestled on border with Myanmar. Visit thriving local markets where Burmese traders sell everything from jade trinkets to regional street snacks. The market is paradise for gem collectors with various cut and polished end products.
Visit Wat Hiranyawat featuring world's largest bamboo woven Buddha image. Lunch served at local restaurant before returning to Chiang Rai around 4:30pm.
Options
Private Full Day Tour
Private Tour: Full Day tour to Mae Sai and Mae Salong including lunch.
Pickup included
What's included in Discover Hill Tribes and Border Markets in Chiang Rai, Full Day
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
Doi Mae Salong
Guests will have enough time to enjoy their breakfast at their Chiang Rai hotel before meeting your guide for the day. Together with a separate driver, we will leave approximately at around 08:30 hrs from Chiang Rai and into the Doi Mae Salong area, home to the various hill tribes still calling this part of northern Thailand their home. It may sound that Doi Mae Salong is only a mountain region in the Chiang Rai province, but it is an all-encompassing town with temples and churches, schools, factories and shops. The local eateries on Mae Salong are famous for the tasty Yunnan cuisine, prepared from farm-fresh vegetables and livestock raised there. Besides seeing all this passing by, your guide will bring you to one of the larger Akha, Yao and Lisu Hilltribe villages, explaining the differences in culture, origin and traditions. It is here where we too will enjoy a local lunch, freshly prepared at one of the leading restaurants in the area.
The town is also the official border crossing with Thakhilek in Myanmar and the daily stream of Burmese trading their goods in Thailand is a sight to behold. The thriving market is a paradise for gem collectors, and wandering up and down the main street gives you an insight into the large variety available for sales, originating from Myanmar. In all corners along with Mae Sai’s market, you will find various end products, cut, polished and ready to be sold to those interested in its value, shape and beauty. It is time to head back to Chiang Rai after being close to 8 hours on the road, exploring the Chiang Rai region to the northern-most point. We’d expect to be back at your hotel at around 4.30 pm.
Wat Hiranyawat
Is located in Mae Sai district, and formerly was known as Wat Mueang Daeng Noi. Inside the temple is the largest bamboo woven Buddha image in the world called “Phra Singh San Chana Mara”
Inclusions
- All applicable taxes and service charges
- Lunch at a local restaurant is included (food only)
- All entrance and donation fees for visits as mentioned in the description
- Transportation by private vehicle with professional driver.
- A full day private tour with a professional English-speaking guide.
- Tours, inclusions of any kind and other services that are not outlined in the tour description
- Personal expenses such as meals, drinks, tips and gratuities, shopping, portage fees and optional tours, unless otherwise stated
- Hotel accommodation in the destination of commencement.
- Any airline tickets, visa fees, additional transportation cost from and to the general meeting point
- Transfers To/from any airport or resorts located outside the general pick-up and drop-off locations
- Travel insurance coverage for customers (highly recommendable)
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This tour is operated on full private basis with English-speaking guide. Other languages are on request / subject to availability and supplementary charges may apply
- Transfers are only operated within the downtown Chiang Rai areas and restricted to main hotels only. Regions outside the central business district such as Fang, Thaton, Chiang Saen, Chiang Khong, Mae Sai, any surrounding mountain resort outside the Chiang Rai city borders and Chiang Rai International Airport are excluded and supplementary charges apply.
- This excursion includes obstacles of various kinds that may not make this excursion suitable for wheelchair users. The obstacles comprise of unpaved roads, small boats and cruise embarkation and disembarkation and insufficient facilities to provide a comfortable sightseeing tour.
- Guests are advised that some walking is required during this excursion; we always ensure that we take the most comfortable ways from the entrance of the sight to the sight itself.
- We always will make efforts to confirm the exact pick-up time upon reservation. For any operational issues in which are not able to confirm the exact pick-up time in advance, we reserve the right to inform you the day before the departure of the tour.
- Please note pickup and drop-off services may not be confirmed for customers staying at private residences, apartment complexes, or other non-registered tourism accommodations. Customers may be asked to meet at a nearby hotel for pick-up and drop off.
- Sand and water have a destructive effect on electronic equipment. It the customer’s own responsibility to ensure that any camera, mobile telephone or other device is properly wrapped and protected against these elements. We cannot be held responsible in any way for negligence and/or not following suggestions for any damage related to this.
- Please ensure that you bring sunglasses, a hat /cap and sunblock with a high SPF factor when traveling with us on this tour – even when it is cloudy, the sunrays still have an immense power.
- We reserve the right to make necessary changes to the excursion in case of unfavourable weather conditions or situations where we are forced to make alterations to guarantee the safety of our guests.
- It is the responsibility of the customer to provide us with the correct hotel information, should pick-up and drop-off services be included in the package. Any changes in accommodation outside 24 hours will be handled accordingly: changes within 24 hours may be on request.
- During this full-day tour, due to time constraints, it is not possible to include a trip into Thakhilek, Myanmar.
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
Choose to be picked up from a list of locations
Additional Information
We pick up from booked downtown hotel in Chiang Rai
Redeem
Ticket Redemption
- Please contact Asian Trails at least 72 hours before your activity date to confirm your reservation and arrange transportation. Changes within 24 hours may be on request. - Pick-up times for excursions will be reconfirmed one day prior to commencement of your booked excursion. As an indication, the pick-up time from your accommodation is scheduled 30-60 minutes prior to the confirmed starting time. - Please be ready and waiting in your hotel lobby 15 minute prior to your scheduled pick up time. - Upon pickup, please present your confirmation/voucher or photo ID in exchange for your activity. In the event of no-show or change of accommodation without prior consent and confirmation from us within 24 hours may result in the applicable cancellation charges as outlined in the terms and conditions.
