DA CHIANG MAI A LUANG PRABANG LUNGO IL MEKONG ** TOUR PRIVATO **

Welcome upon arrival and transfer to the hotel with the assistant. The rest of the day available. For centuries the capital of Lanna, a small independent kingdom corresponding today to Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai was in that era a Theravada religious centre of the first importance in Asia. The city was enclosed by mighty walls on a quadrangular plan and surrounded by a broad moat, within which stood no fewer than 119 Theravada Buddhist temples.

Breakfast. At 8:00 departure for the day's visits, devoted to exploring the city of Chiang Mai through two fascinating walking tours. Travel between the hotel and the areas visited is aboard the traditional "Rot Daeng" (literally "red vehicles"), small trucks used for local public transport. The tour begins on the outer bank of the River Ping, in an area that during the colonial period was inhabited by Western and Asian traders engaged in exporting Chiang Mai's famous handicraft products. Today this district is known as the "Ket Community", a lively melting pot of ethnic groups. The architecture still preserves colonial residences in a hybrid style, and among the points of interest Wat Ket Karam stands out, one of the oldest temples in the city, with its distinctive gilded roof on five superimposed levels. Crossing the Chansom Memorial Bridge on foot, you reach Warorot Market, the largest and most famous market in Chiang Mai. This lively spot offers a wide range of goods, including the picturesque sections given over to flowers. Here it is possible, on request and if time allows, to take part in a demonstration of how the traditional flower garlands are composed, an art typical of Thai culture. In addition, among the market streets you find sellers of handicrafts made by the hill tribes, often sold directly by the artisans themselves. From the market you continue towards the temple complex of Wat Saen Fang, which leads on to Tapae Road, the main artery crossing Chiang Mai from east to west as far as the famous Pratu Tapae, the eastern gate of the old historic centre. The transfer is again aboard the "Rot Daeng". Lunch in a typical trattoria in the city centre, where you can enjoy dishes of the Northern Lanna tradition. In the afternoon, a walking visit of the old city, with a stop at Wat Chedi Luang, famous for its imposing stupa built in the 15th century and partly collapsed following an earthquake in the 16th century. This temple was one of the places that housed the sacred Emerald Buddha during its long journey to Bangkok. Next, you reach the central square of the historic core, where the founding of the city and its most distinctive cultural traits are evoked. Here stands the monument dedicated to the three founding kings of Chiang Mai, beside the oldest and most fascinating temple in the city: Wat Inthakhin Sadue Muang, a small gem that originally housed the city's foundation stone. In the late afternoon, you climb Mount Doi Suthep, which reaches an altitude of 1,600 metres. Here you visit one of the most sacred sanctuaries in Thailand, Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, situated at over 1,000 metres of altitude. Legend has it that the choice of the site for the construction of the temple was indicated by a white elephant carrying a sacred relic of the Buddha. The relic was then buried on the site of the imposing gilded Chedi, an iconic symbol of Thai spirituality. I will return to the hotel in the late afternoon. Dinner free.

Km 350.
Breakfast. At 8.00 departure from Chiang Mai for a journey towards the northern provinces of Thailand, on the borders with Laos and Burma. The route crosses a mountainous landscape, characterised by hills covered in lush tropical vegetation. The first stop is at Wat Rong Khun, also known as the "White Temple". This extraordinary monument is a work by the celebrated contemporary artist Ajarn Chalermchai. It combines modern and traditional architecture in a unique hybrid, with majestic dimensions and refined decoration that make it one of the most iconic and photographed places in Thailand. At approximately 12:00 you leave Chiang Rai to continue still further north, towards the border between Thailand, Laos and Burma. The landscape opens out onto a broad plain planted with rice and tropical fruit, crossed by the watercourses that feed the great Mekong, the river that flows from the Himalayas to the South China Sea. In this region, the Mekong is a vital commercial and cultural artery, the setting for lively interaction between local, Chinese, Laotian and Burmese communities. You arrive at the foot of Mount Mae Salong, along a scenic road that leads to traditional markets such as that of Mae Salong Nai, where you can meet people of different ethnic groups dressed in traditional clothing. This area is also famous for Khao Soi, a delicious curry soup with coconut milk and spices. From the market you continue on to a local farm set in the countryside, surrounded by rice paddies and hills. Here you can take part in a lesson on preparing Khao Soi, which will also be the main dish at lunch. The farm is an authentic place, where the owner grows rubber and tropical fruit and raises buffalo, keeping the farming traditions of the region alive. Daily life is enriched by contact with the surrounding jungle, an essential element for the communities of the North. After lunch, the journey continues towards the Golden Triangle, the point where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Burma meet. Here you visit a museum devoted to the history of poppy cultivation and opium production, once the predominant activity of the area. From the top of the hill that is home to the ancient Phrathat Doi Pu Khao, you can enjoy a panoramic view over the meeting point of the rivers, a scene of rare beauty that bears witness to the historic and cultural importance of this region. Hotel accommodation. Dinner free.

Km 230.
Breakfast. We leave Chiang Rai and head towards the high mountains that separate Thailand from Laos. At the foot of the mountain range lies the small traditional centre of Chiang Kham, founded in the 12th century by the Burmese of Pagan to mark the eastern border of their empire. In the 17th century we find Chiang Kham mentioned in the chronicles of the Kingdom of Lanna, where it is listed as an important hub along the trade routes of the northern principalities. It was in this period that the Lanna Kings of Chiang Mai deported the Thai Leu communities to Chiang Kham, forcing their migration from Yunnan. The town's thousand-year history is testified today by its rustic, exotic settlement of old wooden houses forming communities shared by the Lanna and Thai Leu peoples, and by the presence of dozens of ancient temples, one of which is built entirely of wood and unique of its kind: Wat Nantaram. After visiting it, we leave Chiang Kham to enter the territory of the vast province of Chiang Rai, climbing the high mountains on the border with Laos. Two mountain ranges run parallel to one another, enclosing between them a narrow plateau at around 600m of altitude where many tribal ethnic groups have found refuge. Among them the Thai Leu but also the Yao. Here too are the lovely Phu Sang waterfalls, which provide the occasion for a stop. Lunch in a restaurant overlooking the falls. Passing through various tribal villages, we then climb up to reach an area of great scenic interest where the mountains rise into peaks of bizarre shapes. One in particular has become very well known among the locals. Its sharp shape recalls a finger pointing at the sky, which in Thai is rendered as "Phu Chi Fah". It reaches 1600m of altitude. It is possible to climb to the summit to admire a broad panorama over Laos, along an easy path about 800m long. Last transfer of the day to Chiang Khong, an important trading and distribution centre on the great Mekong river, on whose opposite bank stands the Laotian town of Huay Xai. Hotel accommodation. Dinner free.

PLEASE NOTE: Phu Chi Fa may be subject to seasonal closure periods. In that case we will propose as an alternative a visit to the mountain of Doi Pha Tang, a short distance from Phu Chi Fa and with similar characteristics.

Km 150.
Breakfast. Departure for the border with Laos. Completion of the exit formalities from Thailand, arrival at the Lao Immigration check-point and meeting with the Laotian guide, who will assist with the procedures for obtaining the Lao Visa. At 09:00 we continue to the river port of the Laotian town of Huay Xai and board the Shompoo "slow boat". The slow cruise begins (with the current) on the great Mekong river towards Luang Prabang, which is reached the following evening. The Mekong flows between high mountains covered in dense vegetation, creating a surreal landscape. Lunch served on board. In the afternoon, a stop at a local tribal village of the Khmu ethnic group, the predominant ethnic minority in the mountains of northern Laos. With the exception of a few scattered communities still settled in Yunnan and northern Vietnam, the Khmu today are found only in Laos. In the late afternoon we reach the town of Pakbeng, set on the river. Dinner free.

Breakfast. The cruise towards Luang Prabang resumes. The mountains now rise higher and create an even more captivating landscape. The day's stops are the village of Baan Mouang, where a local whiskey (distilled from rice) is produced, and above all the famous Pak Ou caves, which house thousands of Buddha statues. Lunch served on board. We arrive in Luang Prabang during the afternoon (around 16:30, highly variable depending on the currents). The ancient centre of Luang Prabang was the capital of the Kingdom of Lan Xang. It occupied a narrow strip of land bounded by the great Mekong river and by its tributary the Nam Khan, which before joining it runs parallel to the Mekong and then traces a narrow L that gives Luang Prabang its unmistakable shape. Like Chiang Mai, Luang Prabang also became a Theravada Buddhist centre of great fame and importance. This strip of land, today entirely a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was home to hundreds of temples. Hotel accommodation. Dinner free.

Breakfast. The day begins early with participation in the morning ritual of offerings to the monks, an ancient tradition that takes place along the streets of Luang Prabang's historic centre. During this spiritual ceremony, the faithful offer food to the monks as a sign of devotion and respect. Participation is optional, and the cost of purchasing the food to be offered is not included. Guests are asked to show deep respect for the local culture, keeping their behaviour discreet and in keeping with the spiritual context. After the ritual, return to the hotel for breakfast. Afterwards, a visit to the Royal Palace, today the National Museum, which houses the famous golden statue of the Phra Bang Buddha, the religious symbol of Laos. We continue with Wat Mai, built in the 19th century as the residence of the Grand Patriarch of Laotian Buddhism, and with the older Wat Visoun, which was the first to house the venerated Phra Bang Buddha, protector of the city. The morning ends with a visit to Wat Xieng Thong, the Royal Monastery, considered the most sacred place in Laos. This extraordinary temple complex holds the ashes of King Sisavang Vong and is an architectural masterpiece steeped in history and spirituality. Lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we set off towards the mountains south-west of Luang Prabang, travelling approximately 40 km to reach the spectacular Kuang Si waterfalls. Here, an imposing waterfall almost 100 metres high tumbles into a natural emerald-coloured pool, creating a picture-postcard landscape. For the more adventurous, it is possible to climb to the top of the falls along a scenic path. On the way back to Luang Prabang, we stop in some tribal villages of the Akha ethnic group, to discover the traditions and way of life of the local communities. I will return to the hotel in the late afternoon. Dinner free.

Breakfast. At the locally indicated time, transfer to the airport only with a driver, without assistance. End of the tour.