5 Day Adventure the Best Travel Experience in Northern Thailand

5 Days

Mobile Ticket

Hotel Pickup Offered

English

Language Offered

Overview

The perfect trip for anyone wanting to combine unique adventure with stunning locations and a real insight into of the magic of Northern Thailand over 5 days.

Ever wanted to drive your own Tuk Tuk? Want to join the very exclusive Tuk Tuk Club and get back to the days when travel was a real ‘adventure’? Then join us on this awesome 5-day experience of the best of Northern Thailand including stunning locations, off the beaten track trekking and fantastic accommodation.

Inclusions & Exclusions

Departure & Return

What To Expect

ITINERARY:

This is a typical itinerary for this product

Day 1: ARRIVAL, DRIVER TRAINING AND MAKING MERIT AT A LOCAL TEMPLE

We’ll pick you up at 10:00am from the CHIANG MAI GATE HOTEL in Chiang Mai city and transfer you to our training base for the adventure ahead.

On arrival at our ‘base camp’ in Mae Wang at around 11:30 we’ll check you in to your accommodation, have lunch together and then begin your driver training. Once everyone has got to grips with the basics we’ll head on your first test drive to a local Temple where we can ‘make merit’ for the journey ahead!

In the evening it’s time to spend more time getting to know your Tuk Tuk and enjoying a great Thai feast.

Day 2: MORE TRAINING AND ELEPHANTS

After breakfast we’ll go through more driver training, building on what you learned yesterday, and run through all the nitty-gritty of the trip ahead.

Then it’s time to venture a little further afield with a test drive through small country roads to a fantastic elephant home that is leading the way in taking elephants away from a life of trekking and instead creating an environment where people can learn about and spend time with elephants on their terms, not ours!

We’ll head slowly in convoy to the elephant home giving all the opportunity to get some ‘road time’ and confidence. On arrival, you’ll learn about the history of the elephants, what the team at the Elephant home are doing and then, after a great lunch at the home, it’s time to enjoy the company of these wonderful animals. You’ll be able to feed them, get to know them and then walk with them (no riding allowed!) to the local river where you’ll bathe with them.

In the late afternoon we’ll have more driving practice as we head back to the base camp for dinner and getting ready for an adventurous day tomorrow.

Day 3: AND WE’RE OFF – DOI INTHANON HERE WE COME

After an early breakfast we’re hitting the road and heading along small country roads towards Thailand’s highest mountain, Doi Inthanon. Your guide will be in the lead Tuk Tuk and we’ll travel in convoy with the support vehicle at the rear. The first 20-30km of the route is simple with gentle curving roads but we soon hit stunning switch back bends, incredible scenery and tiny Karen hill tribe villages as we make our way towards the National Park.

Enjoy the look of complete surprise from everyone as they see Tuk Tuks this far up in the mountains – trust us, novelty doesn’t not even begin to cover it – and we’ll stop frequently to have a look at different villages / views and of course to sample some of the great coffee and snacks in small villages. Lunch will be in a roadside snack bar – real Northern Thai style.

We arrive at our accommodation mid-afternoon before jumping in another classic Thai mode of transport - a ‘Sorngtaew’ - a shared taxi adapted from a pick up truck, which drives us to the summit of the mountain.

Day 4: TREKKING

We’re giving the Tuk Tuks a well deserved rest today and exploring the National Park on foot. Accompanied by an expert trekking guide we’ll explore the stunning forest around the area on a trek of around 6km which takes in great vista’s and the obligatory waterfall.

Lunch is provided on the trek and your trekking guide is a mine of information on both the people and wildlife inhabiting the area all around you.

NOTE: This trek is suitable for all as long as you’re able to walk 4-5KM. The pace is gentle but there are some up and downhill sections as you’d expect in the mountains.

We’ll arrive back at the accommodation around mid – late afternoon, just in time to rest up, relax and then enjoy a great countryside Thai feast.

Hotel Pickup

Additional Info

Day 1 : Inclusions:

Transfer from Chiang Mai Gate Hotel to our ‘base camp’
Full Tuk Tuk orientation and training
‘Making merit’ at the local temple
Lunch and dinner
Twin / triple share accommodation in a beautiful resort in Mae Wang – air-conditioning, en-suite rooms (single rooms can be requested but a surcharge applies)

Day 2 : Inclusions:

Tuk Tuk driver training
Visit to the elephant home and all associated activities
Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Twin / triple share accommodation in a beautiful resort in Mae Wang – air-conditioning, en-suite rooms (single rooms can be requested but a surcharge applies)

Day 3 : Inclusions:

Tuk Tuks and support vehicle
Breakfast and dinner (lunch at own expense – (+/- 50THB)
National Park entry fees
Twin / triple / quad shared accommodation in Doi Inthanon – this is the most basic of the accommodation but intentionally so to ensure you’re located in the most stunning area and perfectly located for the trek tomorrow. Fan cooled, en-suite bathrooms

Day 4 : Inclusions:

Trek and trekking guide
Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Twin / triple / quad shared accommodation in Doi Inthanon – this is the most basic of the accommodation but intentionally so to ensure you’re located in the most stunning area and perfectly located for the trek tomorrow. Fan cooled, en-suite bathrooms

Accommodation

The accommodation is intentionally of a very high standard throughout the trip to allow you to ‘adventure’ during the day but relax and enjoy great surrounding in the evenings and free days.

Mae Wang ‘base camp’ – nights 1 and 2 – 3*- 4*

Khum Khun Wang Resort (or similar), Mae Wang. A stylish Northern Thailand hotel in peaceful grounds with a laid back small dining area. Perfect for our ‘base camp’.

Doi Inthanon – nights 3 and 4 – 2*

Forest ‘huts’ – simple rural rooms (fan cooled) with twin / triple / quad rooms. Basic facilities but ideally located for a real rural experience and the trekking on day 4

What do I need to bring? How much will I spend?

The most important thing to pack is a sense of adventure and a sense of humour! However, there are of course a few other essentials:

IMPORTANT - Your driving license and an International Driving Permit (IDP):

If you are planning to drive one of the Tuk Tuks it’s essential that you bring your home driving license with you and an International Driving Permit (IDP)

International Driving Permits are little ‘grey’ books recognized around the world that back up your regular driving license and they are usually obtainable quickly and easily and for a nominal fee.

How and where you apply to get an IDP of course varies by country but a quick Google will turn up the best way to sort things out.