Sport and traditions in Northern Thailand, among enthusiasts

Let's begin the day with a visit to the Grand Palace, a masterpiece founded in 1782, housing Wat Phra Kaew and its 14th-century Emerald Buddha. We then cross the river to discover Wat Arun, the "Temple of Dawn," before reaching Wat Pho, famous for its immense reclining Buddha. Afterwards, we'll enjoy a ride in a traditional private longtail boat on the Chao Phraya River, one of the country's most important waterways. We'll discover the Venice of the East and the traditional way of life of its inhabitants, half of whom still live along the riverbanks.

We fly to Chiang Rai, our first stop in the north of the country. We begin our stay with a visit to the extraordinary Wat Rong Khun (white temple), a contemporary creation by one of the country's most famous Thai artists: Chalermchai Kositpipat.

Early in the morning, we meet our tour team and then depart for the Mekong River and the Golden Triangle, the point where the Thai, Burmese, and Laotian borders converge. At the port, we board a water taxi and cruise for about an hour on the Mekong. We continue along the banks of the Mekong to a viewpoint overlooking the river and the enormous casino in a decadent "Sino-Roman" style, located on the Laotian bank. We visit the superb Opium Museum, built into the side of one of the hills overlooking the Mekong Valley. On the return journey, we stop in small villages of the Yoa and Akha communities.

Departure for Mae Salong (25 to 30 km along a mountain road), a region of Chinese refugee villages from the last century and vast tea plantations. Visit to the 101 Tea Plantation, followed by a stroll through the small village of Santikiri to learn about the history of the KMT refugees. From there, we embark on our first hike of approximately one and a half hours on the Mae Salong Tea Trail. A true immersion in the surrounding nature, this path is popular for birdwatching and views of the iconic tea plantations of Mae Salong. We continue our journey through the mountains to Tha Ton.

This morning, we'll take advantage of our stay in Thaton to go hiking with our guide, Renato, a member of the Karen tribe. We'll venture off the beaten path to meet the mountain tribes in the jungle and among the mountain rice paddies. After visiting the village, we'll trek through the rice fields. Amidst these fields, we'll discover small wooden pagodas where people live during the rice harvest, as well as crops of pumpkins, cotton, and more. After a lunch break, we'll continue through the mountains, enjoying breathtaking scenery before arriving at the Lahu village, marking the end of our trek.

This morning, we trek through valleys, rice paddies, and small rural communities before arriving in Chiang Dao. Today's trek begins in the village of Mae Mae within Pha Daeng National Park. We start by walking along dirt trails through coffee and tea plantations. Then, we continue our hike through forests and mountains to reach the Pang Tad waterfalls.

This morning, we set off towards Doi Luang mountain to admire the surrounding landscape. We continue our hike to Sai Lod Bueng waterfall to refresh ourselves and enjoy a relaxing moment in nature. In the late afternoon, we drive to Chiang Mai, the Rose of the North and former capital of the Lanna Kingdom, which will enchant us with its lifestyle, its hundreds of temples, its cuisine, its smiles, and its traditions.

We begin with a detour to the large central market of Warorot, where you can find all sorts of specialties from northern Thailand. Next, we head out of town to discover the magnificent Doi Suthep temple, perched high in the mountains at an altitude of 1200 meters. This superb Buddhist temple invites you to devout meditation in an atmosphere steeped in silence and mysticism, where every stone, every statue, every step reveals an aspect of Buddhism. Along the way, we stop at Wat Pha Lat temple.

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This morning, we set off for the mountains overlooking Chiang Mai, to Doi Inthanon National Park, where we'll begin a guided hike in the mountains and discover the Karen people of northern Thailand. We start our trek through the hill tribes of Doi Inthanon. We walk alongside a mountain stream before reaching the lush green rice paddies of the region in the higher elevations. We have lunch near a waterfall where we can also cool off. In the afternoon, our hike continues into the hills. We reach a Karen village where we stop for a break before venturing into the rice paddies where our guesthouse is located.

Accompanied by our guide, we set off today into the mountains overlooking Chiang Mai, in Doi Inthanon National Park. We finally reach the highest point in Thailand and begin a roughly 1.5-hour hike through the forest and along the ridge, enjoying a magnificent panoramic view of the Pha Dok Seaw trail. We'll pass near waterfalls and discover the two immense pagodas that stand atop the mountain. On our return journey, we'll stop for a short walk at the Sirithan and Wachirathan waterfalls.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day and transfer to the airport at your chosen time.