CHIANG MAI LIFESTYLE PACKAGE

Trip Description : Experience the traditions and culture while exploring the historical sites in Chiang Mai. You are also have a opportunity to meet the monk who will explain about the Buddhism, Lord Buddha, Buddhist way of life and how to do meditation.

Destination	:	Thailand (Chiang Mai)
Start City	:	Chiang Mai
Tour Type	:	Private
Duration	:	4 days, 3 nights
Depart	:
Trip Grade	:	Easy      Moderate    Strenuous
Activity	:	Sight-seeing/Shopping/Historical Sites/Nightlife/Life Style

ITINERARY

DAY 1 : ARRIVE CHIANG MAI / KHANTOKE DINNER & SHOW
Arrive Chiang Mai Airport. Welcome and transfer to hotel by private car.
Evening enjoy Khantoke dinner, which is the traditional northern Thai (Lanna) form of dining. The food is served on a wooden pedestal tray, called "Khantoke". The diners sit on the floor around the Khantoke, supported by triangular cushions. The dishes are all northern Thai delicacies.
While guest enjoy the meal there are usually performances of traditional northern Thai (Lanna) dances and music (e.g. Fingernail dance, sward dance, candle dance, Ramwong dance and Firework displays). Additionally, there are also hill tribe shows, which are performed by Akha, Lahu, Lisu, Yao, Meo, and Karen hill tribes.
Return to the hotel.
Overnight : Chiang Mai
Meals : Dinner

DAY 2 : CHIANG MAI EXPERIENCE
Rise early in the morning to take part in a daily Buddhist ceremony "Tak Bat" or merit making by giving food and other daily items to monks on their arms-rounds at the statue of Kruba Sri Vichai, the holy monk of Northern Thailand.
Then visit the morning fresh market where you can find some requisites of life to the monks. Proceed to Wat Suan Dok, this temple was built in a 14th century and the large central stupa contain relic of the Lord Buddha. Several of the white stupas contain ashes of Chiang Mai's former royal family.
Continue to merit making by giving requisites of life to monk and receiving blessings from him on this special time.

Visit a local farmhouse outskirts of Chiang Mai. Take a leisurely stroll around the grounds before cruising along the rural Mae Ping River by "Long-tail Boat" for 30 minutes. Softly moving along the river, you will see wooden houses and modern residences with colourful scenery and lifestyle of the local people.
Continue by walk to visit the largest central market called "Warorot Market" (Kad Luang) where you can buy local products at a reasonable price. Then take a "Samlor" [trishaw] ride along Thapae Road down though the Old City Walls and visit to "Wat Phra Singh", built by King Pha Yu to house the bones of his father King Kam Fu. The temple contains marvelous examples of Lanna art including a Lanna style viharn, "Viharn Lai Kham" and the finest small scripture repository of its type in the north.
Overnight : Chiang Mai
Meals : -

DAY 3 : BUDDHISM EXPERIENCE
Visit the most unique temple in many respects, Wat Umong. The temple and its tunnels were built in the late 14th century, built in the foothills of Suthep mountain and is still heavily forested. You can feed the fish, turtles, and ducks in a large pond. "Talking trees" have words of wisdom in Thai and English. The wat is famous for its ancient tunnels and large stupa. Other attractions include a Buddha field of broken sculpture, a fasting Bodhisattva, a Spiritual Theatre of paintings, reproductions of ancient Buddhist sculpture of India, and a library-museum.

Proceed to meet the monk who will explain about the Buddhism, Lord Buddha, Buddhist way of life and how to do meditation. Lunch will be served. After the mornings introduction to Buddhism you will be prepared with a better understanding of the religion.

Continue to visit Chiang Mai most sacred temple, Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. This temple was built in 1383. It is located 15 kms from the city and 3,500 feet above sea level. See the marvelous golden pagoda, which is containing the holy relics of Lord Buddha. This temple and its golden chedi attract Buddhist pilgrims from all over the world throughout a year. You can enjoy the panoramic view of Chiang Mai City and Ping valley from the summit of Doi Suthep. Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is approached on foot by climbing a steep 306 stairway flanked by tremendous mythical Nagas, which symbolize humanity's progress from earth into nirvana. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon.
Overnight : Chiang Mai
Meals : Lunch

DAY 4 : DEPART CHIANG MAI
Breakfast at the hotel. Free time until your private transfer to the Chiang Mai Airport or extend your relaxing stay in Pattaya, or Phuket.
Meals : -