Thailand Family Experience

Upon arrival at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, you will be met and greeted by our ExoAsia Travel guide for transfer to your hotel.

This late afternoon half day trip will take you to discover one of the least-known-by-foreigners street areas of Bangkok around Bangrak district. Once in the area, you will be pointed out some good restaurants, mainly local ones, while enjoying sampling some street snacks. Your guide will also explain you how to use local modes of transportation like Tuk Tuk or local buses. Cool down with a local Thai Iced Coffee “Kafae Boran” or a fresh, cold fruit shake. After that, hop on a Tuk Tuk to River City Shopping Complex pier where you will take a ferry crossing to Klongsan district and explore the local market in the area.

End your walking tour at the Jam Factory, a small industrial design complex with a modern book café and a unique furniture shop by a famous Thai artist. Located in the complex is The Never Ending Summer Restaurant, a cool industrial style Thai restaurant with authentic Thai taste, where you will enjoy a nice dinner in a cozy atmosphere. After dinner, transfer back to the hotel.   

After breakfast at the hotel, drive just an hour south of Bangkok to Samut Songkhram, the province that offers visitors a glimpse into Thai countryside life. We will start the day with a stop at a local train station to experience a short regional train ride bounding for an amazing country market that has sprouted along the railway tracks. Here, you will witness the dexterity and speed of the vendors as they quickly pack their stalls right before 09:45 am when the train approaches; hence bringing shopping to a brief halt. It is a standard practice and stall holders have learnt the art of assembling and reassembling their wares at a moment’s notice!

Then we will visit Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and take a long-tail boat ride through the canals and see how Thai people live alongside the labyrinth of canals in this area. Arrive at the famous Damnoen Saduak market where you can stroll around the colourful floating marketplace bustling with boats and vendors selling tropical fruits and other delights.

Return to Bangkok and free afternoon at leisure.

Breakfast at the hotel, and free day at leisure.

Breakfast at the hotel, and transfer out to Bangkok Airport for flight to Chiang Mai. (Suggested morning flight).

Upon arrival in Chiang Mai, you will be met and greeted by our ExoAsia Travel guide in Chiang Mai for transfer to your hotel in Pai.

En-route to Pai, a stop can be made at the pretty, 60-meter high, Mok Fah Waterfall and Pong Duad Hotspring located in Huay Nam Dang National Park. This powerful phenomenon spurts up from under the ground at a temperature of 99 degrees. Thai people believe its natural properties are good for the skin's complexion!

Arrive in Pai in the late afternoon, check in at the hotel.

In the evening, enjoy a stroll through the colourful Pai night markets for an evening snack or some hilltribe inspired crafts and gifts.

Following breakfast, we depart and continue south to Mae La Na (45 minutes), arguabley one of the most picturesque valleys in Mae Hong Son province. Here, we are are invited to visit two communities; Baan Ja Bo (Lahu) and Baan Mae La Na (Shan). Situated 30 minutes walk within each other, we are privileged to be invited into their homes and communities to meet the people and learn about their unique and distinict cultures.

The Lahu people of Baan Ja Bo are colourful, flamboyant and welcoming. It’s known for its traditional medicine and wild traditional hilltribe food. Here, a local village guide will escort you to explore the important cultural sites, introduce you to local craftsmen and craftswomen who will explain the the many different meanings of the colours of their traditional clothes. The guide will lead you to hike up the mountain to visit the Coffin cave, considered to be a sacred site by the Lahu people. You will be explained about local beliefs and how to behave in the caves, and shown locals’ rice fields and rotational rice farming system, as well as how locals live in harmony wit the forest.

Enjoy a local lunch prepared by the villagers at Baan Ja Bo.

From here, enjoy a downhill walk (30 minutes) or drive through a stunning valley of majestic limestone cliffs to Baan Mae La Na. Here, you will be met by a local village guide who will lead you on the trail to visit the beautiful Coral cave. During your trek, enjoy the beautiful fertile mixed deciduous forest area where you will find the significant herbal plantation that locals always use as their traditional medicine.

Please note: These villages are part of a program called “Project for Recovery of Life and Culture” which helps communities prepare for meaningful community-based tourism projects that share culture, raise funds to conserve natural resources, train community guides and create income for local members.

Return to Pai for an overnight.

(Note: The program is not suitable for children under 7 years old.)

Breakfast at the hotel, and free day at leisure.

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out and transfer from Pai to Chiang Mai.

Upon arrival in Chiang Mai, explore the old and modern city, including its old crumbling city walls, gates, moat, eclectic markets, residential areas, majestic foreign consulates, government buildings and Tapae Road, one of Chiang Mai’s main streets. Continue with a drive up to Doi Suthep Mountain for a visit to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. Built in 1384 AD, this is the most sacred temple in Northern Thailand. Inside the temple, you will see one of the most sacred stupas in all of Thailand. A fantastic panoramic view over the city can be seen from here.

In the early evening, your guide will meet you at the hotel and take you to transfer by a local songtaew and travel by foot to explore a number of the evening street food markets around Chiang Mai city, trying out some northern Thai delicacies and learning how to order food in Thai. Your tour will finish around 9:00 pm.

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day at leisurey.

Breakfast at the hotel, check out and transfer to Chiang Mai Airport for your onward flight.