Soul of Thailand: North to South

Arrive at Chiang Rai Airport, where your private driver will welcome you and transfer you into the peaceful mountains of Mae Chan. Settle into your resort, beautifully located high in the hills with panoramic views from your room. The rest of the day is yours to relax, breathe in the fresh mountain air, and enjoy the hotel’s peaceful surroundings. Dinner at your leisure. Accommodation: Katiliya Mountain Resort, Mae Chan For first-time travelers to Thailand, we highly recommend beginning your journey with a few days in Bangkok before flying north to Chiang Rai.

After breakfast, meet your guide and depart for Wat Tham Pa Archa Thong, a remote mountain temple known for its monks who collect morning alms on horseback. Continue to the Mae Fah Luang Garden and Royal Villa, then explore Mae Sai’s lively border market near Myanmar. In the afternoon, visit the Golden Triangle and the Hall of Opium, an excellent museum on the region’s complex history. Return via a tea plantation for a tasting among the hills. Accommodation: Katiliya Mountain Resort, Mae Chan

Travel to Fang and check in at Phumanee Lahu Home, a simple but comfortable hotel created by Miss Yok, a member of a nearby Lahu community. The local team will introduce you to Lahu culture, traditions, and the story behind this meaningful community-based project. Later, enjoy a gentle bike ride through the surrounding countryside before returning to the hotel for dinner. Accommodation: Phumanee Lahu Home, Fang

After breakfast, travel by 4x4 into the forest toward Doi Phumen, surrounded by lush mountain scenery. Continue to the Lahu village, where your hosts welcome you for a picnic lunch with your guide. Discover how the community transformed its way of life through sustainable tea farming and a royal development project. Learn how tea is harvested, dried, roasted, and prepared before tasting it fresh from the source. Dinner and overnight in the village. Accommodation: Simple but meaningful homestay in Doi Phumen Village.

Begin the morning by learning how to prepare khao puk, a traditional Lahu specialty. Continue to Phumen Waterfall, where you can relax and swim in a peaceful natural setting. Later, drive to Doi Angkhang to visit local ethnic villages, including the Muser and Karen Palong communities. After lunch, explore the Royal Agricultural Station, a beautiful mountain project with flower gardens, fruit trees, and cool-climate crops created to support local livelihoods. Accommodation: Phumanee Lahu Home, Fang

Arrive in Chiang Mai and check in at your elegant riverside hotel. Enjoy free time to relax before your evening experience at the Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center. Tonight, sit around a traditional low table for a khantoke dinner—a northern Thai meal served with a variety of local dishes. During dinner, enjoy graceful Lanna dances and cultural performances inspired by the traditions of the region’s hill communities. Accommodation: Cross Chiang Mai Riverside

After breakfast, drive north of Chiang Mai to Eco Elephant Care. Change into local clothing, meet the elephants, and learn about their behavior, history, and daily care. Help prepare seasonal food such as bananas, grass, or sugarcane, then feed them in a respectful, hands-on setting. After lunch, prepare herbal treats and walk alongside the elephants through the jungle, observing them in a natural environment. Return to Chiang Mai in the afternoon. Accommodation: Cross Chiang Mai Riverside.

Explore Chiang Mai’s Old City with your guide, from the Silver Temple of Wat Si Suphan to Wat Suan Dok, Wat Phra Singh, and the impressive Wat Chedi Luang. After lunch at a local restaurant, cruise along the Ping River and observe daily life from the water. Stop at a traditional farmer’s house to discover local herbs, fruits, and organic produce. End the day at Warorot Market, filled with flowers, snacks, spices, and fresh tropical fruit. Accommodation: Cross Chiang Mai Riverside

After breakfast, transfer without a guide to Chiang Mai Airport for your flight south to Phuket. Upon arrival, your private driver will welcome you and transfer you to COMO Point Yamu, a beautiful design resort overlooking the dramatic landscapes of Phang Nga Bay. Check in and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure, with time to unwind by the pool, enjoy the sea views, or settle into the slower rhythm of island life. Accommodation: COMO Point Yamu, Phuket

Enjoy three more days at leisure at COMO Point Yamu, surrounded by calm sea views and the limestone scenery of Phang Nga Bay. Relax by the pool, enjoy the spa, or simply take time to rest after your northern Thailand adventure. For those who wish to explore, Phuket offers many possibilities: wander through the colorful Phuket Old Town, join a boat trip in Phang Nga Bay, discover a quiet beach, or enjoy a sunset drink by the sea. Accommodation: COMO Point Yamu, Phuket

Enjoy your final morning at leisure, with time for breakfast, one last swim, or a quiet moment overlooking the sea. Depending on your flight schedule, your private driver will transfer you to Phuket Airport for your onward journey. Leave Thailand with memories of misty mountains, living traditions, tea villages, elephants, temples, river life, and the peaceful shores of the Andaman Sea.