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Smiling Albino - www.smilingalbino.com |
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BOOK THIS TRIP
Itinerary
Cost: $750US/person |
A visit to Thailand's far north provides an interesting fusion of past and present. Lush mountains, exotic food and numerous hilltribe groups create an incredible cultural experience. Chiang Rai, the Kingdom’s northernmost province borders Burma on the west and Laos on the east to create the infamous 'Golden Triangle' – a perfect venue to truly gain a taste of northern Thai life in a comprehensive, cozy and immensely enjoyable manner. We use mountain bikes, longtail boats, elephants and motorscooters (van for non-scooter riders) to navigate the back roads of Thailand's remote north.
Hang on for one of the country’s greatest northern adventures!
Day 1 - Fly to Chiang Rai – soak in the northern vibe…
In the afternoon you’ll board a Thai Airways flight from Bangkok to Chiang Rai city. Drift into the cerebral northern groove in your luxurious villa along the Mea Kok River. Enjoy the herbal spa, a dip in the infinity pool or perhaps a traditional Thai massage. We’ll spend the first two nights of our odyssey at The Legend, a stunning boutique riverside resort.
Day 2 - Bikes, Boats & Elephants
In the morning we’ll heading off on mountain bikes, then catch a longtail boat to a riverside temple (everyone can use some good luck) before carrying on to a hilltribe elephant camp. This Karen village is surrounded by limestone mountains - a great venue to try an elephant trek and some hilltribe cuisine. After lunch it’s onto the bikes to enjoy a leisurely ride back to Chiang Rai, stopping along the way for spectacular photo opportunities of hilltribe settlements and river valleys. This active, yet unobtrusive means of transport gives us a natural glimpse into Chiang Rai’s enchanting rural communities. A day biking deserves a northern Thai feast, sampling all the specialties at one of the city’s most authentic restaurants. Spend the evening as you wish perusing the Night Bazaar or perhaps enjoy a traditional Thai massage to sooth those aching legs.
“Thanks for putting together an exciting and well-planned journey through Northern Thailand. You knew exactly what routes, and more importantly, what forms of transportation would allow us to best-experience the country. As we traveled, I never felt that we were trying to get from one destination to the next. The experience was in traveling across the countryside, whether on a mountain bike, motorbike, or longtail boat.” – Dan, San Francisco, CA
Biking: 20-55km (paved/dirt roads, depending on group experience)
Bicycles are high-performance, with front suspension, helmets, gloves and safety light provided
Meals: B,L,D
Note: non-cyclists can enjoy all of today’s activities by private van/jeep transport
Day 3 - To Chinatown
With our comfy private van we’ll make a spectacular ascent to a stunning Chinese mountain village. For those with some riding experience who wish to summon their sense of adventure, strap on a helmet and learn how to ride a Thai motorscooter!
We’ll lead you through a comprehensive and safe training program then head off on our ‘hogs’ and van to one of the Kingdom’s most gorgeous destinations – Doi Mae Salong. Riding 75km, stopping at your will for great photo-ops, we’ll ride up and over spectacular jungle-covered mountains, passing hilltribe villages en route to this enchanting retreat. Once opium country, Doi Mae Salong is now home to Thailand’s premier Oolong tea production and Yunanese who fled China during the Cultural Revolution. This charming township exudes a special, quiet energy that will leave you reflecting on your time here for years to come. We’ll spend tonight in a beautiful Chinese villa, perched on the mountainside, overlooking terraced tea plantations.
Van/scootering: 75km (paved roads and thrilling turns)
Meals: B,L,D
Note: non-scooter-riders can enjoy all of today’s activities by private van/jeep transport. Motorscooters are new, well-maintained 100+cc Honda bikes, equipped with safety helmets, gloves and comprehensive training program
Day 4 - Over the Hills and Far Away
It’s back on the mountain roads for a spectacular day of upcountry cruising. This 75km ride takes us to the dazzling farthest reaches of Chiang Rai province. We’ll have a royal feast at Doi Tung, the country’s premier royally-initiated development project where spectacular mountaintop botanical gardens are one of many attractions. This afternoon we’ll wind up, down and around a twisty mountain road that literally straddles the Thai-Myanmar border to Mae Sai – Thailand’s northernmost point. This fascinating town where traders from countries around the Golden Triangle converge to ply their wares and eek out a living is the perfect place to pick up interesting souvenirs and people watch.
An early evening private shuttle takes you 60km to the Chiang Rai International Airport for your flight back to bustling Bangkok.
Van/scootering: 75km (paved roads and thrilling turns)
Meals: B,L
Note: non-scooter-riders can enjoy all of today’s activities by private van/jeep transport. Motorscooters are new, well-maintained 100+cc Honda bikes, equipped with safety helmets, gloves and comprehensive training program
“Thank you for showing us Thailand like we never could have seen it on our own. You run a really great operation and worked hard to make sure we saw the country, experienced the culture, sampled the food and understood the places and people that you so obviously love. Your passion for what you do is evident and you strive to take us to the parts of the world most westerns do not get to see. The memories of what we saw (and the taste of the chili) will last a lifetime.” – Evan, Manhattan, NY
As we say goodbye you’re bound to be thinking about your next Smiling Albino adventure! “Krang na, pope gan mai na” (see you again next time).
Things you may wish to add to your adventure:
