Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Sorn 3-day Northern Thailand Tour

This 3-day guided tour of northern Thailand is perfect if you are short on time and really want to experience the flavor of Thailand's hill tribe villages and their colorful, friendly peoples.

Your tour begins in the capital of the north, Chiang Mai, where you will drive by bus towards Mae Hong Sorn - a sleepy village boasting just one set of traffic lights! Using our superior hotel as the base for our day tours over the next 2 days you will experience the surrounding area, including a ride through the countryside on the back of an elephant to visit the Long Neck Karens and other hill tribe villages, before flying back to Chiang Mai to conclude your tour.

Compulsory Gala Dinner
During Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve at the Imperial Tara Hotel, Mae Hong Sorn. Costs are payable direct to the hotel.
Christmas Eve - approximately US$34.00 per person
New Year's Eve - approximately US$48.00 per person

For full details on this 3-day itinerary please refer to the itinerary.

Schedule Details Departs: Monday departures Departure Point: From your Chiang Mai hotel
OR
Airport transfer from Thai Airlines flight TG102 from Chiang Mai Airport Departure Time: 10:00am Return details: Return to Mae Hong Son Airport Hotel Pickup: Please advise the name of your hotel and flight arrival details in the 'Hotel Pick-up' field at time of booking Itinerary:

Day 1 (Monday): CHIANG MAI/MAE HONG SORN (L,D)
The tour begins at approximately 10:00am today from Chiang Mai. You will drive through spectacular jungle-clad mountains, stopping at Mae Rim to visit an orchid and butterfly farm before continuing to Mae Hong Sorn province. Picnic lunch will be provided.

Before arriving in Mae Hong Sorn, you will stop on the way to visit Fish Cave where villagers leave large fresh water fish undisturbed in a mountainside pool. The local people believe that the fish are protected by the mountain spirit and catch them would bring bad luck. Rumor has it that there is a long cave under the mountain hiding lost treasures.

Mae Hong Sorn itself is more a sleepy village than a town, boasting just one set of traffic lights! It is home to many Shan people, originally from Burma, and you can see Hill tribes selling their produce in the Mae Hong Sorn market.

Accommodation: Imperial Tara Hotel, Mae Hong Sorn or similar

Day 2 (Tuesday): MAE HONG SORN-LONG NECK KAREN VILLAGE (B,L,D)
A full day to enjoy the picturesque landscape of Mae Hong Sorn, with its surrounding mist shrouded mountains. In season, the valleys are carpeted with brightly colored flowers while numerous rich shades of green can be enjoyed at any time of the year. (The end of October/beginning of November is particularly spectacular when the countryside is a glorious sea of yellow with an abundance of sunflowers in full bloom!)

Today you will experience an unforgettable ride through the jungle on elephant back! We will drive further into the countryside in 'pick-up' vans which can negotiate narrow roads. A ride through the jungle will bring you to one of the most colorful hill tribe villages, home to the Long Neck Karens. The women wear numerous brass coils round their necks and legs, making them look "stretched" - their photographs have graced explorer journals worldwide. The coils are considered beautiful and are a sign of wealth (each one costs about 2,000 Baht). A coil is added to little girls necks, arms and legs every few years after they are four years old. Lunch is included before taking a boat trip on River Pai, and then heading back to Mae Hong Sorn.

Accommodation: Imperial Tara Hotel, Mae Hong Sorn or similar

Day 3 (Wednesday): MAE HONG SORN-CHIANG MAI (B)
Today, visit the early morning fresh market and witness the traditional Buddhist offering. Afterwards, sightseeing of Burmese temples on the lakeside, Wat Nong Jong Kam and Wat Jong Klang and a drive up to visit Wat Phra Dhat Doi Kongmoo on the mountain top with breathtaking views of this sleepy town. You will take a noon flight from Mae Hong Sorn to Chiang Mai where your tour concludes.

Additional Information