"A short trip through Northern Thailand" Top 5 Page for this destination Northern Thailand by Myndo

Northern Thailand Travel Guide: 3,774 reviews and 8,687 photos

Wat Phra Singh, Chiang Mai - Northern Thailand

This was the Route we took and the things we did / saw on our short Northern Thailand Trip.
We booked a 5 day tour with Diethelm travels (a firm that is quite big in doing trips in Thailand)
The name of the trip was "Golden Triangle" - and it promised to show us around Northern Thailand. Its Temples, Landscapes, Hilltribes, Doing things like boating on the River Mae Kong (Mekong) and Mae Kok (Mekok), also Elefant Riding and City tours.

So here is it:
1st day :
Start in Chiang Mai - visit a Karen Village - Hot Springs - Chiang Rai - Chiang Saen - Wat Phra Dat Kom Kitti - Mekong River - Golden Triangle

2nd day: Golden Triangle - Chiang Saen - Mae Sai - Fish Grotto - Doi Mae Salong - Tea plantations - Akha Village - Yao Village - Chiang Rai

3rd day: Chiang Rai - Mekok River - Elefant Riding - Lahu Village - Hmong Hilltribe Lodge

4th day: Hmong Hilltribe Lodge - Elefant Camp - Orchid Farm - Shopping Tour Chiang Mai (Jade, Silk, Umbrellas) - Kantoke dinner in the Evening - Night market

5th day: City tour Chiang Mai - Wat Phra Singh - Wat Chiang Man - Wat Doi Suthep

I have to say they made it real good. Very good organisation, also we were a very small group (only 4 people) so we could enjoy it all the more. Our guide also had a very nice way with the Hilltribe people, so we did nit only feel like we were gawking at them ( I am pretty sure the big groups will feel like walking through an exhibition or a zoo or a shop-street at some of their villages).

So northern Thailand was a very pleasant surprise. Full of wonderful magic looking landscapes, friendly people, very good food, comfortable clima ...

I would recommend this to anyone!

Pros and Cons

Pros:Magic looking landscapes, friendly people, fabulous food, comfortable clima...
Cons:... well, sometimes you just feel like a tourist :-(
In a nutshell:Go there!

Last visit to Northern Thailand: Feb 2005
Intro Updated Mar 14, 2005
Add to Trip Planner (?)
Report Abuse

Reviews (43)

Local markets Off The Beaten Path (4)

You won´t see many tourists in the local markets, but I really think this is something you must have experienced at... more travel advice

Do´s and Don´t s in the temple Local Customs (3)

- dress politely, do not wear shorts (and no spaghetti straps either, the shoulders should be covered): It is as... more travel advice

Hilltribes: the Yao Things to Do (19)

The Yao came to Thailand from China, They fled when Mao took over the regime there. If you look at them, you can see... more travel advice

Chiang Rai: Take the Riksha Things to Do (19)

The Riksha are a classical mean of transport in Asian cities. You can also find them here in Chiang Rai and Chiang... more travel advice

Transportation (1)
Getting around in the bigger towns ...
Shopping (3)
See All Umbrellas and clothes painting
Hotels (4)
See All Living like the Hmong

Comments (19)

GibJoe Oct 25, 2009 at 4:01 PM Report Abuse

Good interesting page
septem Jun 2, 2009 at 12:20 PM Report Abuse

Great pages, great tips and great photos. Juliana
zumodemango May 12, 2009 at 2:33 AM Report Abuse

Perfect trip with these tips!
sallybce1 Jan 21, 2009 at 5:53 PM Report Abuse

How did you get there? I speak Chinese, so I'd love to go to that area.
balhannah Jan 21, 2009 at 5:27 PM Report Abuse

I've enjoyed my tour around Northern Thailand with you, thanks a lot for the great tips.
egbundi May 17, 2008 at 5:07 AM Report Abuse

Hi there, I intend to travel to Thailand in September for 5 days. Could you give me the contacts of the company that you used to plan your trip? Thanx........ Eva
zazatann May 3, 2006 at 5:51 AM Report Abuse

More surprise to see you come on tour with Diethelm because I'm a tourist guide for this company also. ...ha...
uglyscot Apr 9, 2006 at 1:03 AM Report Abuse

Since I'll never get there, this was a real opportunity to visit Thailand. BTW yhe thing in the bell is 'the clapper'.
lacole Feb 21, 2006 at 8:10 AM Report Abuse

What a wonderful page!!!! I can't wait to go at the end of the year!!!!
globerover Nov 28, 2005 at 3:24 PM Report Abuse

A great survey of Northern Thailand - I particularly liked the tips dealing with the hilltribes and the "instructions" for the Thai "Plumpsklo" ... and I noticed you had the same hotel in Chiang Rai that we had ...