6 Days 5 Nights Charming Chiang Mai + Chiang Rai,
Thailand.
Highlights of the trip.
This is the perfect trip for you to enjoy all the highlights of
Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. It is a good combination of nature,
culture and tradition as well as the beautiful landscape. On
this trip, you will visit Doi Suthep + Doi Inthanont national
park in Chiang Mai; Tiger Kingdom where you can get closer to
the big cats* ; Buathong Sticky waterfall + Chiang Dao Cave,
where Burmese soldiers rested their troops on their way to
Chiang Mai; Long-necked Village with the Padong Karen tribe
women wearing spiraling brass rings around their necks; Mae
Saiborder + meeting people from both Thailand and Myanmar at the
local trading area; Golden Triangle ? the famous area of opium
trading in the old days; Black House with a collection of art
and the balance of Yin and Yang in the Chinese Philosophy; White
Temple the most remarkable temple in white color with the
elaborate Thai art.
Itinerary.
Day 1 Chiang Mai + Doi Suthep temple (overnight in chiangmai)
Transfer form chiangmai international airport to your hotel
(Lanna Bonita Boutique Hotel)
1330 pm. Pick up from your hotel in Chiang Mai and heading to
visit Doi Suthep Temple, Formerly known as Doi Aoy Chang, Doi
Suthep-Pui National Park is named after two mountains within the
park; Doi Suthep and Doi Pui. Doi Suthep is where the hermit
Sudeva lived on it?s slopes for many years. The park is situated
in Chiang Mai Province, only a few kilometers northwest of
Chiang Mai City covering 265 km².The park is separated into two
areas not bordering each other; In south Doi Suthep and Doi Pui
area where most of the major attractions and the headquarters
are, 10 km further north is a smaller area around Mok Fa
Waterfall.The main attractions of the park are; Wat Phra That
Doi Suthep, Doi Pui Mountain, waterfalls, viewpoints and trails.
The national park is one of the best in the country for hiking
thanks to its ?endless? trails throughout the park from all
directions and elevations. Cycling is also very popular.The
mountains in the park are within the Thanon Thong Chai Range,
most of its bedrock is granite. Two of the highest peaks in the
park are Doi Pui which is the highest in the park at 1,685
meters asl and Doi Buak Ha.
Meal : ? / Lunch /
Day 2 CHIANGMAI ELEPHANT SAFARI (overnight in chiangmai)
Discover a simple beauty nature of Chiang Mai?s Countryside at
Mae Taman Elephant Camp. At the camp, a total of 60 elephants,
elephants? routine and elephants? abilities will be presented
and then, enjoy an elephant ride through the lush green forest
with the beautiful scenery of Mae Tang River together with
experience on the ox-cart riding to one of the nearby village.
The program at the camp will be ended with a traveling along Mae
Tang River by the bamboo rafting in the sense of fresh air and
sustainable living habitat along both sides of the river.Mae
Tang Elephant Kingdom is one of the most popular tourist
attractions in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Know why? Of
course, it is because of the various activities there. Normally,
if you here someone say ?an elephant kingdom?, you may just
imagine a wide area with many elephants and there is nothing
else to do than sitting on an elephant. But, in Mae Tang, you
aren?t just going to sit on an elephant, but also sit on a cart
and a raft. Moreover, there are some restaurants for you too.
All in one place, really!
Itinerary Day Trip : Full Day
08.00 a.m. : Start pick up from hotels
08.30 a.m. : Depart for Mae Taman Elephant Camp
Delight in Elephant Show & Logging Demonstration
Enjoy riding the elephant through the forest (approx. 30 min)
Enjoy riding the ox-cart to the local village
Lunch at the Elephant Camp (Easy & Local Buffet Lunch)
Take a bamboo rafting along Mae Tang River (approx. 45 min)
Visit Long Neck and Mix Hill Tribe Village
04.30 p.m. : Transfer back to town and drop at the hotels
Full Day Trip : 08.30 a.m. ? 04.30 p.m.
Meal : Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 3 Chiangmai to Chiangrai (overnight in Chiangrai)
Leaving Chiangmai for Chiang Rai Hot Springs is located about
half-way between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai on route 118, right
near Khun Chee National Park.
This hot springs is located in a large carpark, so is not
somewhere to bring your bathers and have a soak, however it is a
great place to soak your feet and stretch your legs. The hot
springs are very hot, so make sure to test out some of the pools
before you put your feet in, as some are a little cooler than
others.The hot springs are surrounded by stalls selling food and
drinks, and many local people bring eggs and boil them in the
hot springs. There are toilet facilities on site which are
available for use (5 THB) Chiang Rai is a colorful city indeed,
not least for its collection of gorgeous temples painted in
brilliant hues. Spend the day exploring the ?Three Colors of
Chiang Rai?: The White Temple,
Though all these landmarks can be visited independently, a
private tour provides a rare opportunity to hear the histories
of the temples, the culture and context surrounding their
construction, and the stories of the controversial artists and
forward-thinking visionaries who created them.
Itinerary
11:00 AM : Meet in your hotel lobby
12:00 AM : Enjoy a short coffee break at a natural hot spring
(about 20 minutes)
12:00 PM : Eat lunch at a restaurant
14:30 PM : Visit the White Temple (about 1 hour)
15.30 PM Tranfer to your hotel ( Chainarai Riverside )
Meal : Breakfast / Lunch / ?
Day 4 Chiang Rai-Mae Kong river cruse -Golden Triangle
(overnight in Chiangrai)
Boat Trip Along the Mekong River
Look across the mighty Mekong River from the height of the
viewpoint, then take a boat trip right through it for a more
intimate experience with this important waterway. Longtail boat
rides can be chartered to traverse the river, passing between
the shores of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. Take a short trip to
snap some pictures of the scenery or a longer one to get
to Chiang Saen and beyond.Sit back and enjoy the views from the
lazy comfort of the boat, or make a stop at Don Sao, a Lao
island in the middle of the river. You dont need a visa to make
a stop in Don Sao, and it?s worth the visit to the rural
village.Shop at the local market and browse through beautiful
Lao handicrafts like handmade textiles, generally cheaper here
than in Thailand.Ban Sop RuakSop Ruak is so named because it is
situated on the bank of the Mekong exactly at its meeting point
with the Ruak River. This historic hotspot is the ?centre of the
Golden Triangle? and the home base from which to see the many
gems of the region. It?s also the hub of border crossings by
boat into Laos and Myanmar.The town itself has just one main
street that winds along the curve of the Mekong River, lined
with stalls selling handicrafts made by Laotians and locals.
Enjoy a fish dinner on the waterfront while the sun sets over
the mountains. Sweeping views of Laos over the Mekong River can
be found here at any time of day, with the hills of Chiang Saen
providing the village backdrop.Wat Phra That Doi Pu KhaoHead
from the center of Sop Ruak to Wat Phra That Doi Pu Khao to see
the ruins of an ancient temple believed to have been built by
the ruler of Wiang Hirannakhon Ngoen Yang, once the capital of
the Lanna kingdom. The chapel and crumbling chedis are all that
remain of the temple today, but the brick viharn has been
renovated, as well as a shrine that women are prohibited to
enter. Archaeologists date the temple to the 14th century, but
legend has it that it was built as far back as the 8th
century.Browse the temple ruins, then take in the surrounding
area. From the hilltop, you can look over Sop Ruak, the Mekong
River, and much of the Golden Triangle.Meal : Breakfast / Lunch
/ ?
Hall of Opium and House of Opium There are two museums
in the region where you can learn more about the history of
opium in the Golden Triangle. Both are essential for anyone
interested in deepening their understanding of the area?s
complex history.The is the larger of the two. Owned by a Thai
Royal Family foundation, it focuses on the wider historical
context of opium and the broader impact of the drug trade. It?s
an interactive experience, featuring multimedia exhibitions
designed to make education fun.The House of Opium is older,
smaller, and privately owned. Founded by a local woman with a
passion for collecting opium paraphernalia, she turned her
extensive collection into a museum when the crackdown on the
drug trade made these items hard to find. Come here to see
countless tools for planting, harvesting, and consuming opium,
including pipes, scales, and scrapers.Three Countries at the Hub
of World HistoryIt?s possible to take a short day trip here to
see the infamous landmark and snap some photos, but it?s also
easy to spend a good deal of time in the area. The Golden
Triangle region offers a wealth of history and culture, nature
and adventure, and there?s plenty for travelers of every kind to
do or see here. Come for educational opportunities or
spectacular sightseeing; travel to temples, museums, little
villages, ; trek up mountains or drift down the Mekong River to
Chiang Saen or Chiang Khong.You can meet the elephants in two
different places while you are in the area. The luxurious Four
Seasons Golden Triangle Tented Camp or Anantara Golden Triangle
and Elephant Camp offer this life-changing experience.Most
experiences here include opportunities to see all three
countries and two rivers converge at a single point, a truly
rare sight, and one that happens to be the hub of global
history.
Day 5 Chiangrai -Chiangmai- Home Industry (overnight)
07.00 abf
To the south of Chiang Mai’s walled Old Town lies the
traditional silver-making district of the city. Centring on
Wualai Road, this area is dotted with silver shops, but is
probably best known to tourists as the location of the
Saturday Walking Street Market, the smaller version of the
excellent sunday market that sets up each weekend in Chiang
Mai. But what many of the shoppers may not realise is that a
small lane off Wualai Road leads to one of the most unusual
temples in northern Thailand.
Wat Chedi Luang
Wat Chedi Luang lit. temple of the big stupa or temple of
the royal stupa) is a Buddhist temple in the historic centre
of Chiang Mai, Thailand. The current temple grounds were
originally made up of three temples — Wat Chedi Luang, Wat
Ho Tham and Wat Sukmin.
History
The construction of the temple started in the 14th century,
when King Saen Muang Ma planned to bury the ashes of his
father in the place. After 10 years of building time it was
left unfinished, later to be continued after the death of
the king by his widow. Probably due to stability problems it
took until the mid-15th century to be finished during the
reign of king Tilokaraj. It was then 82 m high and had a
base diameter of 54 m, at that time the largest building of
all Lanna. In 1468, the Emerald Buddha was installed in the
eastern niche. In 1545, the upper 30 m of the structure
collapsed after an earthquake, and shortly thereafter, in
1551, the Emerald Buddha was moved to Luang Prabang.
In the early 1990s the chedi was reconstructed, financed by
UNESCO and the Japanese government. However the result is
somewhat controversial, as some claim the new elements are
in Central Thai style, not Lanna style. For the 600th
anniversary of the chedi in 1995, a copy of the Emerald
Buddha made from black jade was placed in the reconstructed
eastern niche. The icon is named official Phra Phut Chaloem
Sirirat, but is commonly known as Phra Yok.
Three Kings Monument
Three Kings Monumnet
Description
The Three Kings Monument stands majestically in front of
the old town hall. Phra Pok Klao Road And is a place
where Chiang Mai people or tourists come to worship.
Three Kings Monument If we turn to the monument, we will
find that the middle one is Phaya Mangrai, the right one
is Phaya Ruang, and the left one is Phaya Ngam Muang.
These three kings are regarded as the creators of the
Lanna kingdom. and Nopburi, Si Nakhon Ping, Chiang Mai
to be prosperous for more than 700 years. It is
considered a monument of historical value. Which can be
considered as the symbol of the city of Chiang Mai that
has it all. behind the monument Now it is the Chiang Mai
City Arts and Cultural Center. which exhibits the
history and interesting stories of Chiang Mai It’s good
to come and collect information first. It’s called a
warm-up for walking around Chiang Mai.
History
The Three Kings Monument or commonly known as Three
Kings Monument Located in the heart of Chiang Mai
Adjacent to Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Center
(Old City Hall, Chiang Mai) and Wat Inthakhin Nauemuang
The Three Kings Monument was built to commemorate the
three kings who built Chiang Mai today, namely Phaya
Mengrai (Mengrai), the first king of the Mangrai
dynasty. who gathered provinces and cities into the
Lanna Thai kingdom and Phaya Ngam Muang and Phaya Ruang
(Phor Khun Ramkhamhaeng the Great), the three kings made
an oath to drink water mixed with blood from the finger
of his hand. to be a close friend When King Mangrai had
built the city of Chiang Rai Later he found Chaiyaphum,
an auspicious city. It is a plain along the Ping River
with Doi Suthep Mountain. Invite the two friends to come
to consult and agree to build a city together. “Nopburi,
Srinakorn Ping, Chiang Mai” In 1983, the people of
Chiang Mai joined together to build the Three Kings
Monument or the Three Kings Monument. This is in
remembrance of His Majesty’s grace for a long time. Cast
in brass and black copper It is half the size, with a
height of 2.70 meters, designed and cast by Ajarn
Kaimook Chuto. The location of the Three Kings Monument
is regarded as The center of Chiang Mai city In front of
the monument, there is a large courtyard called “Khuang
Three Kings” or “Khuang Three Kings Monument”.
=More information
The Three Kings Monument was built to commemorate the
three kings. When looking for Chaiyaphum to build
Nopburi, Si Nakhon Ping, the capital of the Lanna
Kingdom, Phaya Mangrai the Great King of the Lanna
Kingdom with two friends of King Ramkhamhaeng The Great
King of Sukhothai and Phaya Ngam Muang The three kings
of Phu Kam Yao drank vows at the river Ing. that they
would not invade the city against each other The Three
Kings, cast in bronze and black brass, are half the size
of His Majesty, actually revered by Chiang Mai residents
and tourists alike.
History of the Three Kings
Phaya Ruang (Phor Khun Ramkhamhaeng the Great), the King
of the Sukhothai Kingdom, was the third son of King Sri
Inthrathit He was very powerful when he was 19 years
old. He did Iuhatthi defeating Khun Sam Chon Chao Muang
Chod, appearing with great honor and being afraid of all
the cities. At that time, he ruled the country and the
kingdom. people to receive peace and happiness for all
And he invented the Thai alphabet in 1826, which is
still used to this day. He reigned around 1822 and died
around 1842.
Phaya Ngam Muang was born in the year of 1781. He ruled
Phayao after his father, Phaya Mingmuang in 1801. When
he was young, he studied art and science together with
the same teacher’s office as Phaya Mengrai. Therefore,
he has been a close friend since then. He is always
powerful equal in governing the country He used his
wisdom to make friends with neighboring kingdoms. The
city has always been peaceful and happy.
The three kings He made an oath of allegiance and drank
water from his fingertips mixed with blood. to be
friendly The waters vowed not to be hostile to each
other on the banks of the Ing River. Phayao City When
King Mangrai built the city of Chiang Rai Later, he
built the city of Fang and hit the city of Hariphunchai
from Phaya Yiba to build Wiang Kum Kam, which is
currently in the Saraphi district. After he found
Chaiyaphum Muang, which is the seven auspicious
blessings, along the Ping River and Doi Suthep, Phaya
Mangrai therefore invited his companions, Phaya Ruang
and Phaya Ngam Muang, to come and discuss. Set up a
sacred ceremony to bury the city pillar vision On
Thursday, the full moon of the 6th lunar month, 1839, on
the auspicious day of the 16th lunar month, when the
trumpet is nearing dawn, the ascendant in Rasri Min
Apothat It was completed in the same year as this new
city. Nopburi, Si Nakhon Ping, Mueang Chiang Mai which
is Chiang Mai, the land of Lanna Thai nowadays
When it comes to this kind of thing, I’m not really your
average tourist.Sure, I’ll check out some of the most
popular wats, but I’m also going to reserve some of my time
to check out some of the obscure ones too.And you’ll have to
forgive me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think there are any
that are more obscure than Wat Sri Suphan, more commonly
referred to as Chiang Mai’s Silver Temple.
You’re not likely to find any other places of worship in the
area that look like they’ve been covered in layers of
tinfoil and have your favourite Marvel superheroes etched on
the walls.
Before I start though, its likely that some readers will
feel somewhat overwhelmed with all the local terms that
you’ll come across below. If thats the case, never fear,
there’s a helpful glossary of terms that should help explain
what you’ll find at Chiang Mai’s places of worship. The
Haiya (ËÒÂÂÒ) subdistrict, located just south of Chiang
Mai’s historic quarter is a residential area that is known
for its traditional silver workshops, which produce and sell
artisan jewelry and ornaments.
When you build a temple in a neighbourhood famed for its
silver craftsmanship, it probably only makes sense that you
show off what you’re best known for, right?
Well, that wasn’t always the case.
Wat Sri Suphan was originally established in 1502 during the
reign of King Mueangkaeo of the Lanna Kingdom’s Mangrai
Dynasty.
In the five centuries since, the wat has been rebuilt on
several occasions, leaving very little evidence of the
original.
Before I go into much detail about the temple, I think it’s
important to note that while “Wat Sri Suphan” is generally
referred to as “The Silver Temple” in English, the “silver”
part is actually only a small piece of a large complex that
includes a much larger viharn (worship hall), residences and
some other buildings.
The silver ubosot (ordination hall) part of the complex,
which has become Wat Sri Suphan’s claim to fame in recent
years, is a recent addition and was actually only completed
in 2004.
What I’m getting at here is that while locals refer to this
place of worship by its formal name, tourists are almost
always going to call it, “The Silver Temple.”
It probably doesn’t really matter what tourists call it in
English, but I think in some cases (admittedly I was
originally under this impression too) people come looking
for the Silver Ubosot and leave completely unaware of the
actual historic and (arguably) more important parts of the
temple.
Wat Sri Suphan Viharn The grand viharn may not be as snazzy
or attractive as the Silver Ubosot next door, but that
doesn’t change the fact that it is the most significant
building at Wat Sri Suphan and dates back more than two
centuries, making it the oldest building on site.
The sad thing about this is that it is often overlooked by
tourists who know very little about it (few articles online
talk about it) or even bother to check it out while
visiting, which is why I’ve elected to talk a little about
it before I go into detail about the Silver Temple.
The large Lanna-style viharn features an impressive
overlapping four-tiered roof with “Naga” serpents along the
gables and “Garuda” chofas at the apex of each of the four
tiers.
The building doesn’t have a hint of silver on the exterior
and is instead a beautiful mixture of gold and red with an
umbrella finial at the top.
The entrance is guarded by two of the most impressive naga
serpents (that I saw while) in Chiang Mai with some
green-skinned Yaksa guardians standing behind them.
Similar to the exterior, the interior of the building is
finished almost entirely in red with only the upper parts of
the walls, window shutters and columns decorated with golden
patterns.
View fullsize
Overview
If you want to get a real sense of Chiang Mai, a visit to the
Old City is a must! It is home to a number of eccentric cafes
and restaurants, unique shops, and majestic temples that will
leave you in awe! If you want to see the best of this part of
Chiang Mai, you can explore it in the most convenient way
possible and join this private trip. You’ll hop on a comfortable
and fancy tuk-tuk ride, making you feel like a real local while
traveling around the city. You’ll then visit a number of
breathtaking temples including Wat Sri Suphan, Wat Chedi Luang,
Wat Phra Singh Woramahawihan, Three Kings Monument, Tha Phae
Gate, Mueang Mai Market or Warorot Market. Experience the most
convenient tour ever with their hotel pick and drop off service,
a perfect way to avoid the busy crowds. Book now and tour the
amazing Chiang Mai
