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Northern
Thailand
Bordered by Burma and Laos, characterised by forested
mountains, the lower extremities of Himalayan foothills, and fertile
river valleys, northern Thailand encompasses part of the fabled
Golden Triangle and was the cradle of Thai civilisation where, in
1238, the aptly named Sukhothai ("Dawn of Happiness") became the
first truly independent Thai kingdom.
Major places of interest include Sukhothai,
440 kilome- tres north of Bangkok, where massive stone Buddhas preside
over ruins within the old city walls; Si Satchanalai, seat of Sukhothai's
viceroys: Lampang 61 0 kilometres north of Bangkok, the sole Thai
provincial capital where horse-drawn carriages remain in daily use,
home of several Burmesestyle temples and Ngao's Young Elephant Training
School; Lamphun, 674 kilometres from Bangkok, famous for beautiful
women and the stunning Wat Phra That Hariphunchai; Chiang Mai, 700
kilometres north of Bangkok, a city dating from 1296 with beautiful
women, historic temples, crisp mountain scenery, distinctive festivals
and handicrafts, and several hill tribes of Tibeto-Burman origin;
Doi lnthanon National park which covers Thailand's highest mountain
(8,514 feet) and includes several beautiful waterfalls; Mae Hong
Son, a 35-minute flight northwest of Chiang Mai, home of several
hill tribes and Burnese-style temples; Chiang Rai, 825 kilometres
from Bangkok, in the mountainous heart of the Golden Triangle; and
Nan,'790 kilometres from Bangkok, site of a famous annual regatta
and several historic temples.
Major Regional
Events
JANUARY
Winter Fair....................................................Chiang
Mai
FEBRUARY
Flower Festival..............................................
Chiang Mai
APRIL
Songkran Water Festival.................................Chiang
Mai
Pol Sang Long Fair.................................. Mae Hong Son
MAY
Lychee Fair.............................. Chiang Rai & Chiang
Mai
AUGUST
Longan Fair......................................................
Lanphun
SEPTEMBER
Boat Races.........................................................
Phichit
Langsat Fair.....................................................
Uttaradit
OCTOBER
Boat Races.............................................................
Nan
NOVEMBER
Loi Krathong (Festival of Lights)....Sukhothai & Chiang Mai
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Suggested Itinerary
| Day
1 |
By road/rail/air
to Phitsanulok. Check-in hotel. Visit Phra Buddha Chinarat. Evening:
leisure. Overnight stay. |
| Day
2 |
Early morning departure
to visit Sukhothai & Si Satchanalai. Proceed to Lampang for an
overnight stay. |
| Day
3 |
Early morning trip
to Ngao's Young Elephant Training School. Enjoy horse-drawn carriage
rides to visit Burmese style temples in Lampang. Overnight stay. |
| Day
4 |
Morning drive to
Chiang Mai via Lamphun. Check-in Chiang Mai hotel. Afternoon: leisure/orientation.
Evening: Khantok dinner. |
| Day
5 |
Morning: visit mountaintop
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, Phuping Palace. Afternoon: city sightseeing/historic
temples/handicraft villages. Evening: Chiang Mai night bazaar. |
| Day
6 |
Full-day trip to
Doi Inthanon National Park, hilltribe villages, waterfalls. Evening:
nightlife/leisure. |
| Day
7 |
Morning trip to
Mae Sa valley. Afternoon: Bo Sang Umbrella Village, San Kamphaeng
handicraft district. Evening: shopping/leisure. |
| Day
8 |
Morning flight to
Mae Hong Son. Sightseeing around Burmese-style temples. Overnight
stay. |
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Day 9 |
Return to Chiang
Mai by road through spectacular mountain scenery, forest, hill tribe
villages,rice terraces, Overnight stay in Chiang Mai. |
| Day
10 |
Morning departure
by road/air to Chiang Rai. Check-in to hotel. Orientation. Evening:
riverside dining. |
| Day
11 |
Explore Golden Triangle.
Full-day trip to Chiang Saen, Wat Phra That Doi Tung, hilltribe villages.
Evening: leisure. |
| Day
12 |
Morning: sightseeing
in Chiang Rai. Afternoon: road journey to Phayao. Overnight stay.
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| Day
13 |
Morning departure
for Nan. Mountain scenery, hilltribe villages, historic temples. Overnight
stay. |
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Day 14 |
Mid-morning departure
for Phrae, soil-erosion landscapes, Burmese-style temples, handicraft
villages. Afternoon flight, via Phitsanulok, to Bangkok |
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