CHIANGMAI : Trip Guide

Recommended 1 Day Tour Program



1 day Safari
08.00 - 08.30 Pick up at the hotel by air conditioned van.
Elephant show 45 minutes.
Elephant Riding and visit Hill tribe Village. (Takes about 40 minutes or more)
Ox Cart Riding (takes about 30 minutes or more)
Buffet Lunch (included Tea or Coffee and Fruit)
Bamboo rafting (takes about 35 minutes or more)
Visit orchid farm and butterfly farm (takes about 30 minutes or more)
Transfer to hotel by air condition van.

1 day Trekking
08.00 - 08.30 Pick up at the hotel by air conditioned van.
Elephant Riding (Takes about 45 minutes or more)
Visit Meo & Karen Hilltribe Village and Waterfall. Lunch (Thai menu 1 set)
Bamboo rafting (Takes about 45 minutes or more depend the water’s level)
Transfer to hotel by air condition van.

1 day in Chiang Rai
07.00 - 07.30 Pick up at the hotel by air conditioned van.
Visit Mae ka jan Hot spring for a half an hour.
Visit Chiang Sean Old City for a half an hour.
Visit the Golden Triangle for a half an hour. Buffet Lunch (included Tea or Coffee and Fruit)
Enjoy shopping at Mae Sai for 45 min Visit Yao & Akha Village for 45 minutes.
Arrive Chiang Mai by air condition van.


1 day for Inthanon National Park
08.00- 08.30 Pick up at the hotel by air conditioned van.
Visit Wachiratarn waterfall for a half an hour.
Visit Karen Village for a half an hour.
Visit Inthanon Royal Project for 40 minutes.
Lunch (Thai menu 1 set)
Visit the Twin Pagodas “Pra Mahathat Napametaneedon and Pra Mahathat Noppapol Phumisiri” for 40 minutes.
The Peak of Doi Inthanon; Thailand’s highest peak for 20 minutes.
Visit Siritarn Waterfall for a half an hour.
Arrive Chiang Mai by air condition van.

Note: Please contact your licensed travel agent for above programs. To check the registered travel agents please call Registration Office Northern Provinces, Tourism Authority of Thailand at 0 5320 4602 or 0 5320 4485 (Mon.-Fri. from 08.30-16.30)

Doi Mae Salong

Visit Doi Mae Salong, village of the Chinese refugees. Along the way make a stop at the Hilltribe Development Centre, the centre aids and administers local hilltribe settlements. Hilltribe handicrafts, including woven cloth. Continue to Pa Tai begin 2-hour excursion along Mae Kok river by longtail boat to Chiang Rai via Akha village, forest park, hot spa and Karen village.



Resterant and dining

Contact : Mae Sa Long Flower Hills Resort
Address : in Doi Maesalong Flower Hills Resort 779 Mu 1 Doi Maesalong, Amphoe Ma Fa Luang, Chiang Rai
Telephone : 0 5376 5496, 0 5376 5497
Fax :
Website : http://www.maesalongflowerhills.com

Contact : Nai Phol Tuan Restaurant
Address : Nai Phol Tuan Restaurant 58/1 Mu 1 Doi Mae Salong, Tambon Mae Salong Nok, Amphoe Ma Fa Luang, Chiang Rai
Sub-District : Mae Salong Nok
Telephone : 0 5376 5001-2, 08 1493 5242
Fax :
Website : http://www.khumnaipholresort.com

Amphawa Floating Market by Train

Ayutthaya World Heritage and Red Cross Fair 2009

Miss Chutathip Chareonlarp, Director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Office said that, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, in cooperation with the Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Administrative Organization, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Municipality, Fine Arts Department, TAT Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Office, and relevant public and private agencies, will arrange the “Ayutthaya World Heritage and Red Cross Fair 2009”, during 11-20 December, 2009, at Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park to celebrate the occasion that the UN World Heritage Committee announced the Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park as a Cultural World Heritage Site in 1991.

In this event, there will be many interesting activities. Firstly, the Lord Buddha relics at Chao Sam Phraya National Museum for the public to pay respect. Furthermore, there will be exhibitions and booths to sell OTOP products and well-known goods from 16 districts. Visitors can see an aqricultural exhibition, flowering and decorative plants, and attend a food fair. The Community and Village Leaders’ Thai Country Song Singing Contest, floating market activities, cultural performances, Thida Krungkao Contest, Red Cross booths, as well as buying a Red Cross lottery for donation, are also some other features of this event.

Vistors should NOT MISS to experience the peaceful atmosphere of the ancient people’s way of life in the imitation marketplace of the Ayutthaya Period and use a replica of an ancient coin, Phot Duang, to exchange for food and desserts. Admire the light and sound performance, “Krung Si Ayutthaya : The Great Kings” (15 rounds; 10 days 10 nights). The opening ceremony will be arranged on Friday,11 December, 2009. The ticket costs 200 baht and 500 baht.

TAT Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Office would like to invite tourists to visit the “Ayutthaya World Heritage and Red Cross Fair 2008”. For further information, please contact TAT Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Office at Tel: 0 3524 6076-7 or the Provincial Administration Office (Chief of Finance and Accounting Group) at Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya City Hall, 2nd Floor, Four-storeyed Building, Tel: 0 3533 6563.

Click Here For : Schedules of the Light and Sound Performance & Tour Programme of the World Heritage Site, Ancient Market, and Light and Sound Performance “Ayutthaya World Heritage and Red Cross Fair 2551”

Ayutthaya World Heritage and Red Cross Fair 2009 more

PangUng - MaeHongSorn

Trailer ( Pai - PangUng ) @ Thailand

Doi Luang National Park

This forested park, some 65 kilometres south of the provincial capital, covers an area of 1,170 square kilometres, and extends into areas of Chaing Mai, Lampang and Phayao provinces. A major attraction is the Phu Kaeng Waterfall which is composed of 9 beautiful cascades.

Thailand has an abundance of natural beauty for the visitor, and native alike, to enjoy. Traveling in her national parks could be one of your most memorable traveling experiences. Doi Luang National park is one of the largest parks in the north.

Established in 1990 by combining Champa Thong Waterfall Park, Bha Gred Naak Waterfall Park, Pu Gaeng Waterfall Park and Wang Gaew Waterfall Park, Doi Luang National Park covers 1170 Sq.. kilometers. The park sprawls over three provinces; Chiang Rai, Payao and Lampang. Dominated by two north-south mountain ranges, elevations range from 600 m. to 1798 m. at the peak of Doi Luang, to the north.


Doi Luang National Park covers three main watersheds:

1. The Wang River; flowing south to the Chao Praya River
2. The Lao River; flowing north to the Mekong River
3. Payao Lake, the second largest inland fresh water lake in Thailand; to the east.

There are three distinct seasons, offering varied conditions. The cold season (Nov-Feb), with temperatures ranging from 15 to 28 Celsius, is the most comfortable for hiking and camping. You'll want to bring some warm clothes such as a light jacket or sweater as the evenings and early mornings can be quite cool; layer so that you can peel down to cooler clothes as the day warms up.

The hot season (Mar-May) temperatures range between 27 to 32 Celsius. This means playing in the waterfalls is a must. Brings clothes for wading or swimming.

The fertile forests are made up of hill evergreen forest, moist evergreen forest, mixed deciduous forest and dry dipterocarp forest.

The rainy season (Jun-Oct), easily the most beautiful, brings forth a burst of green; as well as a healthy population of insects. This is my favorite time when the forest is at its most colorful. Be prepared to get wet and enjoy the rain forest in all its glory. The waterfalls are at their most beautiful, but this is not the time for playing in them. Bring your bug spray! Temperatures range between 24 to 30 Celsius.

Some species of fauna living in the national park are common muntjak, common wild boar, palm civet, civet, Malayan flying lemur, macaques, tiger, black cat, barking deer, flying squirrels, Siamese hare, common red jungle fowl and more than two hundred confirmed species of birds such as vernal hanging parrot, partridge, Richard's pipit, sooty - headed bulbul and blue - winged pitta. Doi Luang is also known to have a rich source of mixed deciduous forest, decidious dipterocarp and evergreen forest that blankets the national park with various kinds of tree, bamboo and plant.

While many visit Doi Luang to trek in the vast forest-covered mountains or visit hill-tribe villages, most visitors come to this park for the magnificent waterfalls. Pu Gaeng Waterfall features limestone and travertine deposits that give this waterfall its characteristic steps or levels. There are a total of nine levels, it is said the most beautiful are the fourth and the fifth, with a 1 km trail through the tropical forest dominated by bamboo. From the camping ground to the second level, there is a natural trail that allows visitors to study nature close at hand. Another exciting route is the 1,500 meter path to the top of the fall, a vantage point to admire the whole area of Doi Luang, Payao province and Payao Lake.

For trekking, there is a path from this fall to Doi Nawg in Payao province. Guides are available on request at the Park Office. To get to there; leave Payao driving north, along route 1, for 39 km to where the road ends at park headquarters. Here, you will find a visitors center, a small restaurant, serving basic Thai food, and campgrounds (visitors have to bring their own tent and equipment).

Champa Thong Waterfall, surrounded by humid tropical forests, offers the most challenging ascent. This waterfall is graced with the biggest trees and excellent bird, and butterfly, watching opportunities. To get there; drive north from Payao, on route 1, for 7 km, turn left (west) onto route 1127, continue on route 1127 for 12 km to the waterfall.

Wang Gaew Waterfall, with limestone features similar to Pu Gaeng, is the largest waterfall on Lampang province. This waterfall has over 100 levels! This is one of the most beautiful falls is the park and its water flows all year. On the way to the falls you'll pass through villages made up of wooden houses. To get there; drive south out of Payao, on route 1, 8 km turn right (west) onto route 1282, drive 45 km to Wang Nua turn right onto route 1002 (north) continue for 26 km to the waterfall. Nearby Wang Tong Waterfalls are very similar in nature to the Wang Gaew falls, lower and more accessible; near Wang Thong is Naang Paya Pang Din Fai Cave. The cave contains some interesting and beautiful limestone stalactites and stalagmites and is well worth visiting.

The sheer height make this a great spot to view early morning sunrise. The rising sun through the haze gives one a very mystical feeling. The tall pine trees seem out of place in this tropical country. A choice location is at km 20 on Route 120 in the area of Payao-Wang Nua District.

There are many more waterfalls nearby; Champathong, Bha Gred Naak Waterfall with rocks shaped like the scale of naga glittering in the sun light. About 4 kilometers from Baan Tohm, situated in virgin forest, unfortunately, there is no transportation the fall. To reach this remote fall, you'll have to walk through the forest and Wang Thong Waterfall among them. The area is rich in animal life with diverse and unspoiled plant life. With year round waterfalls and several hill tribes a person could lose track of time here and feel they are truly in one of the last unspoiled environments in the world.

Remind the children in the family to be conscientious to maintain this invaluable resource of Thailand. This area is sensitive to the influence of the outside world. Go, enjoy, but please be careful of the pristine environment. "Take only pictures, leave only footprints."

Doi Tung

In 1986, the head of the 31st Watershed Conservation Unit of the Royal Forest Department requested the Foundation to help solve the problems of deforestation and prevent the local people, who were struggling for survival, from encroaching the remaining watershed forests of Doi Tung. .

Mom Rajawongse Disnadda Diskul, then Principle Private Secretary to the Princess Mother, was also searching for a location for HRH to reside in Thailand rather than having to travel to Switzerland when she was approaching ninety years old. He found that the climate in Doi Tung was suitable for her health. Upon hearing this report, the Princess Mother and Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana paid a visit to Doi Tung and decided to build a home there so that she can devote her time to reforestation and development projects in Doi Tung. During that first visit, the Princess Mother stated that "I will reforest Doi Tung".

The Doi Tung Development Project is a holistic and integrated sustainable alternative livelihood development initiative. It is the culmination of the Princess Mother's lifelong dedication to development work

Human Development

The Princess Mother recognized that narcotic crop cultivation is a symptom of poverty and a lack of opportunity, which can drive people to break the law-she believed that no one wants to do bad things inherently. Once people's health is taken care of, Her Royal Highness believes that development should help people to help themselves, by creating viable and sustainable livelihood options. Afterward, education will lay a foundation for long-term development.

"For development to work, basic needs must be tackled first. Without adequate income, people have no choice but to deforest land through illegal logging, and engage in other illegal activities such as opium cultivation and prostitution." This was part of the address made by the late Princess Mother in 1988 when the handicraft training centre was launched alongside the reforestation project, as an alternative enterprise for people in the locality.

The Princess Mother's philosophy was to help people help themselves. She said "to improve livelihoods, you must provide vocational training that is up to par and ensure that there are no financial losses incurred."

She also said "don't let people buy our products out of pity." As a result, the Doi Tung Development Project arranged for local people to work in handicraft training centres that allowed for cost savings from economies of scale and quality control. Building the skills and talents of the local people, the Project helped them maximize their potential by hiring Thai and foreign experts to help with designs that appeal to premium markets, and provide them with skill training in dyeing and weaving techniques that complemented local traditional skills

Economic Development

The Foundation believes that economic development is one of the means to sustainable development; it is not an end in itself, but when financial stability coupled with social and environmental progress can lead to sustainable development. Environmental issues like illegal logging persist as long as the basic needs of a community go unmet. Recognising that the well-being of nature depends on human stability, the Doi Tung Development Project has business units in Food, Horticulture, Tourism, and Handicrafts. The Project went from being a crop substitution initiative, to provide various livelihood options with the end goal of empowering locals to become business savvy, able to cope with global market forces. As an example, the Project itself has been financially self-sustaining since 2002. The social enterprises are a balance of maximizing social returns on investment verses a financial one. Today, locals are being trained in everything from landscape design to coffee roasting. They are encouraged to set up their own enterprises. In less than 10 years, the ownership of some of the business units in Doi Tung will be transferred to the local community.

Environmental Development

In 1988, the Project area was subject to slash and burn agriculture, opium cultivation, and trafficking in humans and arms. It was a survival world where people lived in survival conditions. The late Princess Mother saw the urgency of reforesting the area to preserve the quality of the watershed, both for the environment and for the original settlers whose livelihoods were threatened.

The Princess Mother however realized that a reforestation alone without taking into consideration the economic livelihoods of the locals will lead the area into another vicious cycle and become disastrous. This gave rise to economic forestry that allowed villagers to earn income from licit activities in their natural surroundings without having to engage in slash and burn cultivation or harming the environment. In addition to planting watershed forests, the Project also allocated land for subsistence forests where locals could grow short-term crops and fruit trees, and economic forests of coffee and macadamia. Through learning by doing, the Project discovered that even the number of forest fires decreased with the expansion of economic forestry and a growing sense of good local stewardship of the forests.

The renewal of nature began by reforestation of 9,900 rai (150 km?) of highland watershed. Locals went from being opium growers to forestry workers, planting trees to earn legitimate incomes overnight. This quick hit helped develop their trust in the Project.

Today, a new generation of local people manage their trash, recycles, and treats waste water. Small weirs are built and tended by school students; local villagers understand the need to preserve the watershed to ensure sufficient water for consumption and agriculture. The local community is well aware of their responsibility for their impact on the environment.


Mae Fah Luang

Under the patronage of the late Princess Mother, Princess Srinagarindra, the Mae Fah Luang Foundation was founded to carry out development activities so that the quality of life of Thailand's ethnic minorities in the Doi Tung area could be raised. These activities took the form of livelihood development, which encompassed the reforestation of watershed areas and the development of various social enterprises to benefit local people.

After the passing away of the Princess Mother, His Majesty the King took the foundation under patronage and appointed his daughter, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, as its chairperson. The Foundation's central mission is to keep the Princess Mother's development legacy alive to benefit as many people as possible and to inspire new generations to be responsible, engaged citizens.




Links:

Doi Tung Development Project


The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

Chaipattana Foundation

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Beurau

Tourism Authority of Thailand

Tourism Council of Thailand

Mae Fah Luang University

Doi Mae Salong

Mae Salong in Chiang Rai is very reminiscent of parts of China and much of the area’s history has a strong Chinese connections. When the Communists took over mainland China in 1949, remnants of the Nationalist Chinese army fled to the Thai-Burmese border. In 1961 they were driven into Thailand and some settled own on Doi Mae Salong Mountain and formed a Yunnanese community right in the heart of the Thai kingdom. The Yunnese who settled here were involved in the opium trade until the Royal Thai Army resisted these activities. A road was built into the area in the 1980s and since then there has been a great effort to incorporate the Yunnanese into mainstream Thai society. Despite this effort, however, a strong Chinese heritage is still very much apparent - Chinese is still often spoken in Mae Salong, and it’s not unusual for people to have Chinese satellite TV.

Aside from Doi Mae Salong’s picturesque scenery, there is quite a bit to do here. If you wanted to you could quite easily stay two or three days. A tour of the Chokechamrern Tea plantation is worthwhile – the fact that this brand of tea originally came from Taiwan underscores the area’s Chinese connections. There is also a museum and the village market sells the fine teas produced around the village. There are also a number of Akha, Lisu, Mien and Hmong villages in the area, and the Hilltribe Development and Welfare Centre supports them with the sale of their handicrafts (mainly woven cloth and silverware).

Details: The museum opens daily from 08.30 to 16.30. The entrance fee is 30 Baht per person.

How to get there: Doi Mae Salong is located on Route 1089, 40 kilometres from Mae Chan. It is possible to get to the mountain by bus from Chiang Rai to Ban Basang (fare 15 Baht) where you can pick up a Songtaew to the mountain top (50 Baht).

Information Doi mae salong more Thailand tourism

Huai Nam Dang at Chiang Mai, THAILAND 2/2

Huay Nam Dang National Park

It is formerly known as an area of Doi Sam Muen highland development project which was initiated by His Majesty the King to solve the problem of forest encroachment and poaching, as well as to enhance the lives of the local hill tribe people.

As this area is filled with attractive natural features and forests providing vital watershed, Huay Nam Dang was declared the 81st national park of Thailand on 14th August 1995, with an area of 1252 square kilometers.

The park is ruggedly mountainous from north to south. These mountains include the ranges linking Chiang Dao mountain. The highest peak, Doi Chang at 1,962 meters above sea level, is the vital source of important streams, which flow into the Pai river, Ping river and Taeng river. The climate is comfortably pleasant all year.

The healthy natural condition of Huay Nam Dang national park is a matrix of highly diverse habitat types. Main plants found in this park are Malabar ironwood, Dipterocarpus Tubinatus, teak, Crudia chrysantha, Red cedar, Pinus kesiya Royle and orchids.

Tourist attractions
Doi Gew Lom viewpoint: This viewpoint is well-known among Thai and foreign visitors who come here to see a spectacular sea of mist collecting in the valley as well as various types of colourful flowers. Silver Orchids palace, the palace of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana is also in this place. Moreover, there are two nature trails: Ueang Ngoen nature trail and Chom Doi nature trail. Each trail covers a distance of approximately 1.5 kilometers.

Doi Chang viewpoint: This highest viewpoint offers delightful view of orchid hanging from trees. This place deserves to be a source for nature study. It is in the north of Doi Gew Lom viewpoint.

Pong Duead hot spring: There are 3 to 4 big hot springs and some small ones scattering all over the area. Water erupts from geysers in a small stream, creating clouds of stream in the woodland. Sometimes, the hot water erupts as high as 2 meters. The temperature of water is about 90 to 99ºC. There is a nature trail, Pong Duead Nature Trail, which covers a distance of 1,550 meters.

Lam Nam Mae Taen: The bank of Mae Taeng river are surrounded by evergreen forest with plenty of plants. White-water rafting along this current can be an very exciting experience. Normally the trip start with a trek from Pong Duead hot spring along a short route to Ban Pang Pa Kha (7 km) or Ban Pa Khao Lam (9 km). Then the 3 to 4 hours rafting takes you to Ban Sop Kai.

Tha Pai hot well: The boiling water bubbles from the well. Its heat is about 80ºC. This hot water create hot current with clouds of stream all over the area. Tha Pai hot well is located about 30 km from the park headquarters. It is in Mae Hee village of Pai district in Mae Hong Son province.

Huay Nam Dang waterfall: This 4 level waterfall is surrounded by plants of evergreen forest and marvelous rocks. This spectacular waterfall is located in the area of Huay Nam Dang village, Mae Taeng district of Chiang Mai province.

Facilities
4 guesthouses are located within the park headquarters compound. Each guesthouse can be shared by up to 6 people. Four camping sites are also provided. There is a welfare shop serving the visitors.

How to get there
Entrance to Huay Nam Dang national park is between the km markers 65 and 66 on the highway no. 1095 (Chiang Mai - Pai - Mae Hong Son route). It is about 109 km north-west of Chiang Mai. Several buses leave Chiang Mai's buse stations each day and cover the journey in about 3 hours. For private cars from Chiang Mai, take road no. 107 to the north about 37 km to Mae Malai market, from where turn left into road no. 1095 and head for the hills for about 65 km. Then the right turn between km marks 65 and 66 will take you to the park check point.