Flight: TG102 Bangkok - Chiang Mai 07.55 - 09.15

Meet & Greet: On arrival at Chiang Mai Airport, you will be welcomed to Thailand by your private English-speaking guide and transferred to your hotel to check in and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the De Naga Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Day at leisure in Chiang Mai: You have a full day at leisure to relax at your hotel and explore the fascinating town of Chiang Mai at your own pace.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the De Naga Hotel (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey: This morning, you will be picked up from your hotel and then transferred to the Lisu Lodge in the hills around Chiang Mai.

Please note: The following itinerary follows the 2 night trekking option offered at the Lodge, and is suitable for those with a good level of fitness. There is an alternative 2 night ‘soft-adventure’ option, for those who prefer a more relaxed itinerary. Please ask for more details.

Afternoon activities: Arrive at the Lisu Lodge late morning and enjoy a traditional welcome drink while discussing the itinerary for your upcoming adventures. You will be driven in a pick-up truck to the starting point near Pha Mieng. From here, you will set out along a jungle trail for a gentle 90 minute hike to the remote jungle village of Hmong Pha Mieng. Here you can meet the inhabitants of this small hill tribe village and enjoy a picnic lunch in the forest. After lunch, you will walk for a further 90 minutes up to the top of the mountain, where the Red Lahu Village of Pha Daeng is located. Continue walking along the mountain ridge for around an hour to the Lahu Village of Kup Kap. From this high vantage point, you will have a spectacular view of the Mae Taeng District and Chiang Mai City. Beyond the mountain peaks to the west lies Myanmar (Burma). You will stay overnight at the Lahu Outpost, which is modelled on a traditional Lahu house.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Lahu Outpost. Basic facilities and amenities such as Western-style toilets and a communal shower, mattresses, pillows, bed linens, blankets, towels and mosquito nets are provided.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Morning activities: After an early breakfast, you will hike down a steep jungle path (90 minutes), passing the Huay Sadharn Waterfall. Here you will transfer by local truck to the rafting station and set out on an exciting 45 minute rafting trip down the river. (*During the summer months inflatable rafts may be replaced by bamboo rafts). Return to Lisu Lodge by local truck, with a stop en route at a tea plantation. Here, an experienced local guide will lead you around the scenic plantation and introduce you to the process of growing and harvesting tea, as well as vegetable propagation to produce tea seedlings at the nursery. You will learn how to pluck tea leaves, and enjoy a cup of fresh-roasted tea. Enjoy a delicious picnic lunch and arrive back at the Lisu Lodge early afternoon. On arrival, a welcome drink will be served. Guided by a Lisu villager, walk from Ton Lung Temple to visit the herbal garden. Continue through the village with a stop for a cup of tea at the village shaman’s house. Chat with the Lisu shaman and learn about his life, beliefs, curing rites and Lisu traditions.

Afternoon activities: This afternoon, you will continue with a visit to the rice paddies. Walk with a guide through the rice paddies, where the lodge works in conjunction with local villagers to grow rice without the use of pesticides. Depending on the season and the conditions on the ground, you may have the chance to learn about and participate in the various stages of rice cultivation in the northern Thai style. Continue to the Himmapaan Nursery and learn about the flora of northern Thailand and the work done by the Himmapaan Foundation to restore the forest ecosystem. They work to support and implement environmental projects in conjunction with local communities in areas affected by tourism. Finally, you can also visit the vegetable garden where the lodge produces organic fertiliser from leftover organic waste and grow a variety of fruits and vegetables which are then used in the kitchens at Lisu Lodge. This evening, you will have some time free at leisure to relax at the lodge before enjoying a Thai dinner with a traditional Lisu dance show.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Lisu Lodge

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Morning activities: After enjoying breakfast at the lodge, you are free to choose one from a range of activities. You could take a guided bike tour in the surrounding area, or a 1 hour ox-cart ride through farmlands and orchards to the Thai Village of Baan Pang Mai Daeng. For those wishing to stay at the resort, you can enjoy a steam-bath or a traditional massage. After your morning activity, you will enjoy a delicious Thai lunch at the lodge before departing for the next stage of your trip.

Please note: A second additional 1 hour activity can be booked at an additional charge but as a free activity you are welcome to go cycling by yourself. Bicycles and a road book of recommended routes can be provided by the lodge.

Road journey from Chiang Mai to Pai: After lunch, you will be met by your guide and driver and will set off for the drive along winding rural roads to Pai, a journey of around 2.5 hours passing through spectacular jungle and mountain scenery en route. Stops will be made on the way at a local market and Pong Daeud hot springs. On arrival in Pai District, you will be taken to visit Wat Nam Hoo, where the ashes of Prince Supankunya are stored, and where you can pay your respects to the Buddha Image, which mysteriously leaks water from its empty head. Check into your hotel in the afternoon and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at The Quarter (Deluxe Cottage)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Full day guided trek: Depart your hotel after breakfast for a short drive to a nearby Lisu Village, where you will begin your guided trek through the countryside around Pai. Walk through the fields until you reach the first Lahu Village of the day, and stop to enjoy a picnic lunch. Continue walking for one more hour until you reach the second Lahu Village, and stop at a beautiful three-stage waterfall. Here you have a chance to relax for a while and cool off in the refreshing water before setting off on the return journey back to Pai. Arrive back at your hotel in the afternoon and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at The Quarter (Deluxe Cottage)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Rafting trip from Pai to Mae Hong Son: You will be picked up from your hotel in Pai at 7am for a short drive to the rafting base, where a breakfast will be served during the safety briefing. Having selected paddles, life-jackets and helmets adapted to your size, drive for around 90 minutes to reach the “Suza waterfall”. Start paddling at 10.30am until you reach the Pai River, where you will take a break to enjoy a filling picnic. After lunch, continue paddling to some hot springs, and then descend the “Rising Stone” rapids, a series of 5 rapids ranging from 100-300m long, grades 2-3. Continue rafting through the Pai Gorges which are scattered with a few more tricky rapids, before your boat will pop out into the Mae Hong Son Valley. Disembark at the Mae Surin National Park Headquarters around 5pm, where you will be reunited with your main luggage and transfer on to your hotel in Mae Hong Son.

* Please note that rafting is subject to local weather conditions and may not be available in the dry season between February & June.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Fern Resort (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Full day guided trek: After breakfast, you will be picked up at your hotel and driven a short distance to a Karen Village. Here you will set off on a scenic trek through the stunning northern Thai landscapes. The trek will take around 3 hours to arrive at the hill top, where you will stop for a picnic lunch. Walk back down the hill and return to your resort in the afternoon, and enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Fern Resort (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Road journey from Mae Hong Son to Chiang Mai: After breakfast this morning, you will be met by your guide and driver for the drive back to Chiang Mai railway station, a journey of approximately 5 - 6 hours, depending on traffic conditions.

Train: Thai Railways Train#10 Chiang Mai - Bangkok Bang Sue Junction 18.00 - 06.25 (the following day)

Accommodation: 1st Class Sleeper Carriage (2-berth private compartment with sink)

Meals: Breakfast

Private transfer: On arrival in Bangkok, you will be met at the airport by your guide and transferred to your hotel.

Morning guided tour of Bangkok: After dropping your luggage off at your hotel head out for an orientation tour of Bangkok. The tour starts with a visit to some of the most significant Buddhist temples in Bangkok: Wat Trimitr with a solid gold statue of Buddha weighing 5.5 tons, and Wat Po, the most extensive temple in Bangkok, with its huge Reclining Buddha and the Chedis of the Kings. Continue to the city's most important landmark, the Grand Palace. The stunning Palace with its bright gold temples, pavilions and gardens was the residence of the early Chakri dynasty kings 210 years ago. Within the extensive grounds is the most sacred and important of all Thai temples, the Wat Phra Kaew, containing the most revered Buddha image in the country, the Emerald Buddha, made from one solid piece of translucent green jade. A strict Dress Code Policy applies for visiting the Grand Palace. Only trousers or long knee-length skirts are permitted, and shoes that completely enclose the foot (no sandals, open toed shoes etc.)

Explore Bangkok at night: Late afternoon, you will set out from your hotel to explore Bangkok at night. Start by exploring Chinatown, a bustling area popular with locals and tourists alike, and a haven for food lovers. The 1km strip is packed with market stalls, street-side restaurants, and a high concentration of gold shops. Continue your journey to Pakklong Talaad, the biggest wholesale and retail fresh flower market in Bangkok, before driving to Wat Suthat and the striking ‘Giant Swing’. Afterwards, continue on foot passing Bangkok Metropolitan Office and on to the Democracy Monument which will be lit up. Enjoy dinner at Hotel De Moc’s Restaurant, before travelling by tram around the Ratanakosin area, enjoying great views as you go of some of Bangkok’s essential attractions, such as the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall, the Golden Mount, Wat Ratchanaddaram, the Democracy Monument, the City Pillar Shrine, the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, the National Theatre and Santi Chaiprakarn Park. Finish your tour by exploring the Khao San Road, famously known as the “centre of the backpacking universe”, before returning to your hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Riva Arun (Studio Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Private transfer: This morning, you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Koh Samui.

Flight: PG129 Bangkok - Koh Samui 09.55 - 11.00

Private transfer: On arrival in Koh Samui, you will be transferred to the pier.

Public ferry to Koh Phangan: You will take the public ferry from Bangrak Pier on Koh Samui to Koh Phangan. The ferry departs at 1pm and the journey will take around 30 minutes.

Private transfer: On arrival on Koh Phangan, you will be met by hotel staff and transferred to your hotel to check in and relax.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Buri Rasa Village (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Days at leisure: These days are free at leisure for you to relax and enjoy the facilities at your beachfront hotel, and to explore the laid-back island of Koh Phangan at your own pace.

Accommodation: Stay these nights at the Buri Rasa Village (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Private transfer: After enjoying a final few hours at leisure by the beach, you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the pier for the ferry to Koh Samui.

Public ferry to Koh Samui: You will take the public ferry from Koh Phangan back to Bangrak Pier on Koh Samui. The ferry departs at 4.30pm and the journey will take around 30 minutes.

Private transfer: Upon arrival at Bangrak Pier, you will be transferred to the airport, where you will check in for your Bangkok Airways flight to Bangkok.

Flight: PG190 Koh Samui - Bangkok 20.45 - 22.15

Meals: Breakfast