12-DAY Northern Thailand Highlands
5 Good Reasons To Do This Trip!
Come see for yourself how diverse Northern Thailand really is and meet hill tribe communities including the Lanna, Shan, Karen, and Lahu – many still living a traditional village life.
Trishaw your way through the back streets of Chiang Mai to local markets and community temples. An audience with a monk is not easy to come by, so gather those questions you have about life as a devout Buddhist.
Animal welfare is an important evolution and you’ll learn from the mouths of Mahouts what that looks like in Thailand today. Goodbye to the riding camps and hello to elephant life in a sanctuary.
Once a corner of drug production and criminal intrigue, life had unimagined complexities for locals back then. In contrast to the past, you’ll enjoy a leisurely boat ride along the border with Myanmar on the Mekong River.
Oh my – Northern Thai food! Replace the Green curry and Pad Thai with some coconut curry noodle soup and sticky rice. A smorgasbord of scrumptiousness is coming your way, with or without the side-serve of chilli!
Trip Details
| Dates | Price AUD (per person twin share) |
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Chaining Dates:
Some of the departures of this trip are chaining with other Patch Adventures trips
Cambodia (10 January) >> Thailand (Date comming coon) >> Laos ( 5 February)
Price
- $1,350 deposit.
- 2-week cooling off period applies.
- Lifetime Deposit. If you need to cancel, your deposit is transferable to other trips.
- Twin Share: we’ll match you with a roomie if you’re travelling solo.
- Private supplement available: max 4 spots
Trip length
12 days, 11 nights
Meeting point
Bodhi Serene, Chiang Mai
Ending point
The Legend, Chiang Rai
Group size
Maximum 12
Participation requirements
Please see our “Is this trip right for you?” section under the Participation Tab.
Included
- Arrival and departure transfer
- Meals: 11 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 7 dinners
- Private vehicle transportation
- 11 nights boutique accommodation
- A top-rated and English-speaking Tour Leader
- All listed activities and more!
Not included
- International Flights
- Travel insurance (mandatory)
- Additional hotel nights & late checkouts
- Drinks and other personal expenses
- Tip kitty (See FAQs for more information)
Click the tabs to find out more
Off-the-map villages and the Thai Highlands’ beauty are waiting for you – so go and make some memories!
Day 1: Chiang Mai
Welcome to Chiang Mai, once the capital of the ancient Lanna Kingdom, and today still, there are reminders all over the city of its regal routes – including sections of the old city wall and entrance gates!
You’ll be met at the airport by a friendly face from our local team and whisked straight to your hotel. By tonight you’ll be revved up to meet your fellow Patchies and your guide-extraordinaire over a welcome dinner. This might be your first taste of Northern Thai deliciousness, but we promise it won’t be the last!
Accommodation: Sabai Sabai Chiang Mai or similar
Included: Dinner
Day 2: Chiang Mai – City Life
Dive right into getting to know Chiang Mai this morning. You’ll start the day with a market visit where the spicy fragrances are likely to tickle your nose, and the stall holders’ colourful displays will definitely have you reaching for your camera.
Make sure your walking shoes are on and you’re raring to go because next on the agenda is a stop at Wat Chiang Man, the oldest temple in the city dating back to 1297. It seems almost unbelievable how well-maintained the elephant statues and golden spire are after all the years exposed to the weather.
If your feet are feeling it by the end of the day, don’t worry – we’ve
got the right remedy to soothe those walking pains.
Accommodation: Sabai Sabai Chiang Mai or similar
Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3: Spiritual Chiang Mai
The day begins on a peaceful note in the Buddhist temple of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Take a moment to slow down, and be present, as you listen to the monks chant and soak up the temple’s soothing atmosphere. If you feel up for it, make your own pilgrimage up the 308 steps of the serpent staircase of Naga for some eye-catching views of Chiang Mai.
Dinner tonight is a group effort thanks to the Raunkaew-Yanon family, who are part of the Lanna community. You’ll feel like an honorary family member while you learn about their traditional life, help gather fresh fruit from their orchard and become privy to their home-cooked recipes.
Accommodation: Sabai Sabai Chiang Mai or similar
Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 4: Elephant Sanctuary
It’s Day 4 of the trip, and there are so many unforgettable moments in store for you over the next week. Today you’ll journey to the hills of Chiang Mai to an elephant sanctuary, where you’ll watch these gentle giants go about their day. After learning about the sanctuary’s generations-long mission to care for elephants, you’re now going to help feed them.
You’ll spend the afternoon in a cooking class, but there’s a catch! This time, the elephants will act as your connoisseurs, as you’ll be preparing healthy snacks for them to nibble on.
Accommodation: Sabai Sabai Chiang Mai or similar
Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 5: Doi Inthanon – Mae Chaem
No snoozing your alarm this morning, because you’ll be heading off to Mae Chaem – and a refreshing break in Thailand’s most beautiful national park is waiting.
The ‘summit’ will be a breeze – only 300 metres through a cloud forest and the views from the 2,565-metre-high Doi Inthanon will open up in front of you. Home will be worlds away as you take in the views of Thailand’s rolling hills and bountiful rice fields.
After you pay a visit to the masterminds behind a local agriculture sustainability project, you’re back on the trail again. This time, it’ll be a leg-stretching, two-hour walk with enough pit stops to snap pics of forests, rivers and waterfalls along the way.
Accommodation: Baan Kub Doi Mae Jaem or similar
Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 6: Mae Hong Son
Today, your vehicle’s window will act as a cinema screen as you cruise through mountainous landscapes and dense jungles on your way to Mae Hong Son.
Have a coffee-break at Jericho Farm. Swap stories with your new friends over views of the flower-filled garden – who’s got the funniest travel story to share?
You might want to take a quick nap once you reach Mae Chaem. Just don’t sleep in, because you’re heading to a local restaurant for a yummy dinner with the rest of your Patchie crew.
Accommodation: November departure Rimtarn Resort
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Day 7: Mae Hong Son
It’s Day 7 of your trip, so you’re part of the Thai crew by now. Speaking of which, today is all about diving into the local community. You’ll be whisked away to the Mae Surin Waterfall National Park, where the local Karen families will welcome you.
Step into their solar-powered oasis in the midst of the falls and learn how the Karen women craft traditional clothing, pound rice by hand and weave with bamboo the old way. Make sure you take a stroll around the village… how many coffee plantations and rice fields can you spot?
With your belly full of Karen-made delicacies, it’s time to hit the road to check out two Buddhist temples – one overlooking Mae Hong Son from a hill, and one resting near a lake.
Accommodation: November departure Rimtarn Resort similar
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Day 8: Mae Hong Son – Pai
Spending your day with the Karen community will inspire you to live life at a slower pace – so consider today your cultural ‘spa day’.
The mud facial will make you feel years younger. And who could say no to lunch in a local village?
Recharged, you’ll continue your journey to the largest cave in Thailand, Nam Lod Cave. After zig-zagging through stalactites and stalagmites, it’s time for Pai. Will you treat yourself to a relaxing massage or some shopping? Either way, you’re going to love Pai’s street food scene.
Accommodation: Ai Pai Hotelor similar
Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 9: Pai – Chiang Dao
Today, you’ll take part in a ‘farm-to-table’ experience – Thai tea style! In the Araska Tea Garden, you’ll wander around the tea bushes while the tea plucker shows you how to harvest the leaves that will make the most delicious tea.
Next up is a tea masterclass in kneading, roasting, and of course, sipping on tea you just made. No cup back home tastes this good! Then, it’s time to head underground again…
Accommodation: Marisa Resort and Spa
Included: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 10: Chiang Dao – Chiang Saen
In the village of Thaton, you’ll hop on a longtail boat and enjoy a peaceful cruise along the Maekok River. You won’t be able to get enough of the river views, so next up is lunch by the Mekong River.
Then, it’s uphill all the way to Doi Mae Salong, courtesy of your driver. Here you’ll get to see the locals (Yao and Akha tribes) going about their daily lives in the rice and cabbage fields.
Flowing water is the theme of the day as you wrap it up with a night overlooking the Mekong River. We hope you’ve packed a book, because this spot is perfect for some easy reading.
Accommodation: Siam Triangle Chiang Saen Hotel or similar
Included: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Day 11: Chiang Rai – The First Capital of the Lanna Kingdom
You’ve got one more full day left, so get out there and make the most of the lovely city of Chiang Rai! Wat Phra Kaew is also called the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. It’s one of the most sacred Buddhist places in the country, so make sure you dress for the occasion – in other words, cover for your shoulders and knees.
By tonight, you’ll be reminiscing over your favourite trip moments at your slap-up farewell dinner. Exchange numbers and photos with the Patchie Girls, and don’t forget to hug your guide goodbye – by now, you’re all great friends!
Accommodation: The Legend Chiang Rai, Superior Studio room or similar
Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 12: Departure
Just think of all you’ve seen and done — from wandering through local markets to enjoying traditional meals, exploring regal and religious ruins, and meeting different communities that all call this region of the world their home. Unforgettable experiences shared with an unforgettable group. It’s time to meet your private transfer to catch your flight home. It may be goodbye for now – but not forever!
Included: Breakfast
Trip Map
Good to Know
WHAT ABOUT FOOD?
Traditional Thai cuisine loosely falls into four categories: tom (boiled dishes), yam (spicy salads), tam (pounded foods), and kaeng (curries). Deep-frying, stir-frying and steaming are methods introduced from Chinese cuisine.
A typical Thai meal includes five main flavours: salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy. Indeed, most Thai dishes are not considered satisfying unless they combine all five. While the seasoning can be spicy for a foreign palate, Thai food ensures that a balance of all flavours is present.
When eating out, or making a meal at home, a group of Thai diners would eat a variety of meat and/or fish dishes, plus vegetables, a noodle dish, and possibly soup. Everything is shared, except the soup each person might order, or each person gets a personal bowl to get a serving of the soup. Dessert may consist simply of fresh fruit, such as pineapple or any of the thousands of tropical fruits that are common in the country (guava, durian, mangosteen, papayas, bananas, tamarind, or mangoes, among many others). Or it could be something more elaborate, like colourful rice cakes, rice dumplings coated in coconut, grass jelly, or a bean dessert.
Thais eat slowly and enjoy the food, as a meal is also an opportunity for sharing with loved ones.
Is This Trip Right For You?
You love travelling and enjoying most of your time in a country.
You don’t like being rushed or herded around B-grade attractions, but you also understand that some places are worth the wait in line.
You’re open-minded and open-hearted. You try to embrace the little things. You understand that even in the best vehicles, the air-con sometimes breaks. Even in the best restaurants, the service sometimes is a little slow. This is just part of the adventure, and you choose to be gracious.
You also know that a ‘great trip’ doesn’t have to mean sprinting from place to place. The best moments so often come when you hit the pause button, sit still, and just take it all in.
You’re young enough at heart to know that sometimes the best opportunities come when you’re least expecting it. You understand that doing things right doesn’t always mean following a strict routine.
You enjoy trying new food, visiting new places, and making new friends. You make a great travel buddy and you love to share experiences with others. You understand that to fit in with local cultures, sometimes that involves trying something you haven’t tried before, or sitting on the floor to eat with a nomad family.
Does that sound like you? We’d love to invite you to travel with us!
Frequently Asked Questions
Prior to the payment of your full balance, the final price may change if there is significant variation in the AUD:USD exchange rate. Our trip pricing is determined by what the exchange rates are at the time of publishing the trip.
The pricing on this trip is based on an exchange rate of 1 AUD:0.69 USD.
A deposit of $1,350 is required to hold your spot. Payment can be made by credit card (fees apply) or bank deposit.
There is a cooling-off period of 2 weeks. (Applicable to all bookings made 110 days in advance.)
We have implemented a ‘lifetime deposit’ guarantee. Deposits are not refundable, but they are transferable at any time, right up until the first day of the trip.
The final balance of the trip is required 120 days in advance of the departure date. Our suppliers require upfront payment well in advance to guarantee availability.
Please refer to the full terms and conditions for further information.
This is the most frequently asked question we get!
Nearly everyone is in their 50s and 60s, with some people above and below (but of course, everyone is welcome!)
Most Patchies come alone and are matched with a room-mate. Remember, you don’t need to pay for a single supplement if you come solo. We will place you with a similarly-aged roommate.
The typical Patchie has travelled a LOT, is a well-seasoned adventurer, and is not easily thrown by small things. However, many Patchies tell us that this is their first ever group tour. Many of our guests have avoided tours to this point as they’re not attracted to being herded around in large groups.
Oh, and one last thing:
Patchies are warm, generous, and kind. We knew it would be like this, but we weren’t expecting it to be *quite* like this. We’re so blessed as a business to have the customers we do; we consider ourselves to be some of the luckiest people in the world.
So long as you have a general level of health and fitness, you’ll be fine. However, to enjoy this trip, you’ll need to be able to spend time on your feet and regularly walk for 2-3 hours. Daily activities might include walking on uneven and hilly ground, getting on and off various forms of transportation and occasionally climbing some stairs. You may also encounter over-the-bath showers in some of the accommodations.
All activities are optional, meaning that if you don’t feel like it, you can skip it, but it will be impossible to enjoy your trip if you’re not able to do a walking tour for a full afternoon. Unfortunately, this tour cannot accommodate people requiring walking aids.
There is no Visa currently required for Australian and New Zealand passport holders to visit Thailand.
Most of our trips have a tip kitty because many cultures have interesting and diverse rules when it comes to tips. We’ve found it to be the easiest way to combat over-tipping, under-tipping or having the tip fall into the wrong hands. Our goal is for guests to relax and know that the complexities of tipping are taken care of, on their behalf.
For your Northern Thailand adventure, we ask your contribution be:
- 3,000 Thai Baht (equivalent to $123 AUD) to your guide on Day 1. The kitty will be managed by your guide who will use it to cover small tips along the way for included meals and hotel cleaners and bells, as well as your drivers
(exchange rate: $1 AUD : 24.4 Baht)
What is not covered is a customary tip at the end of the trip for your guide. If they’ve ensured that your trip is memorable, we recommend the following guidelines:
- 2400 Thai Baht per person at the end of their service.
Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai both have regional airports that accept domestic and a few international flights. There are several one-stop and two-stop flight options from major cities in Australia and New Zealand.
Try to arrive before midday on the start day, although earlier would be recommended. If possible, come one day early to settle in. We can organise additional hotel nights for you at cost.
The opportunity to do laundry during your trip is possible and best left for stays that are for more than one night. Your guide will be able to assist with recommendations during your trip.
In the unlikely event of a health or security related incident during a trip, we’ve engaged a local partner to assist. From our experience, there is not one framework that fits all, and every incident is unique and requires a different approach. With all trips, your guides are your day-to-day support. While behind the scenes, there is an active line of communication – between your guide, the on-ground support team, and Australian Ops.
Some days do involve long stretches of driving and you need to be the kind of person who enjoys road trips. Any such necessary long drives are offset by photo stops, picnic lunches, roadside pit stops, tea/coffee breaks, and of course seeing points of interest and leg-stretching walks.
Our vehicles are comfortable, well-maintained, and not prone to breaking down.
January in Thailand is simply delightful! With average temperatures ranging from a comfy 20°C to a warm 30°C it’s the perfect time to explore. The weather is usually cool and dry, making it great for all kinds of outdoor fun. Whether you’re exploring the cities, or wandering through lush landscapes, January’s weather has got you covered. Pack your bags and get ready for an amazing Thai adventure!
