You are met on arrival at Chiang Mai Airport and transferred to your centrally-located hotel. Please note an arrival airport transfer is included, so please advise flight details at time of booking and there will be an Intrepid’ s Thai tour leader to meet you at the airport and transfer you to our hotel. Please advice flight arrival details at least 14 days prior to departure if you wish to have this transfer provided.

In the evening enjoy a superb northern Thai dinner accompanied by charming northern dances and hill tribe shows performed by Akha, Yao, Lahu, Meo, Lisu and Karen tribes’ people.

A tour to visit the temple of Doi Suthep, one of the north's most sacred temples, spectacularly situated on a mountaintop at an altitude of 3,520 feet. The temple is reached by a dragon staircase of 300 steps and attracts Buddhist pilgrims from all over the world. The temple’s golden pagoda contains Buddha relics, and attracts Buddhist pilgrims from all over the world throughout the year. Its compound offers an exhilarating view of Chiang Mai city and surrounding countryside. 

Your afternoon is at leisure to continue exploration of this fascinating city - or you might like to try your hand at a Thai cooking class or relax with a traditional Thai massage. Your local guide can advise you on these activities. There's a great range of restaurants to choose from in Chiang Mai, some with wonderful views from the banks of the River Ping.

After breakfast set of by road to the Golden Triangle. Stop at an elephant camp to see the elephants take their morning bath before giving a demonstration of how they were trained to haul lumber in the forest. Enjoy the fun of elephant ride for one hour. Carry on to Thaton, stopping at a local market on the way.

After lunch take a cruise down the Mae Kok River to the village of Ban Mai Mok Jam. Continue by road to visit unspoiled hill-tribe villages and then to Chiang Rai.

After breakfast visits the Golden Triangle or Sop Ruak, a small trading village where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet and enjoy a panoramic view of the Mekong River. Stops will be made at an Akha hill-tribe village, the old city of Chiang San on the bank of the Mekong River and the border town of Mae Sai. Opposite the Myanmar town of Thachilek this is the northern-most point of Thailand.

After lunch explore the local market before returning to Chiang Mai.

Free until transfer to airport for your onward flight. Please note that check out at the hotel is midday