Northern Thailand – Itinerary
Day 1: ARRIVAL, DRIVER TRAINING AND TEMPLE BLESSING
We’ll pick you up at 10:00 am from the Chiang Mai Gate Hotel in the city and transfer you to our training base for the adventure ahead!
On arrival at our ‘base camp’ in Mae Wang at around 11:00 am we’ll check you into 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 the journey ahead will be blessed!
In the evening it’s time to spend more time getting to know your Tuk Tuk and enjoying a great Northern Thai buffet dinner.
Inclusions:
- Transfer from Chiang Mai Gate Hotel to our ‘base camp’
- Full Tuk Tuk orientation and training
- Temple blessing
- 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: 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 for the 20km or so to the elephant home giving all the opportunity to build some ‘road time’ and confidence. On arrival, the inspiration behind the home will talk about the history of the elephants, what he and his team are doing. 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 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!
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: 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 backbends, 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 Tuk’s 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 home-grown coffee and snacks in small villages. Lunch will be in a roadside snack bar – real Northern Thai style.
If you’re feeling confident, we can go up to the top of Doi Inthanon – (your trusty Tuk Tuk can make it!) – and around mid-afternoon, we’ll arrive at your accommodation for the next two nights.
Inclusions:
- Tuk tuk’s 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 to ensure you’re located in the most stunning area and perfectly located for the trek tomorrow. Fan cooled, en-suite bathrooms
Day 4: TREKKING
We’re giving the Tuk Tuk’s 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 8-9km (but with some hills!) which takes in great vista’s and a stunning waterfall.
Lunch is provided on the trek and your trekking guide is a wealth of information on both the people and wildlife inhabiting the area all around you.
NOTE: This trek is suitable for everyone, as long as you’re able to walk 8-10km. The pace is gentle but there are some up and downhill sections as you’d expect in the mountains. This isn’t a trek done by thousands each year – rather it’s been researched and developed just for us!
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.
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
Day 5: ON THE ROAD AGAIN…
Time to get back on the road and today we head out of Doi Inthanon National Park towards our final destination of Mae Sariang, close to the Burmese / Myanmar border.
Our route winds through incredible scenery and some very quiet roads for the first section of the day and we then join the main road for the last hour or two into Mae Sariang. Towering trees, steep hills and more than a few sharp curves are the order of the day and, as always, we’ll take frequent stops to enjoy the area, let the Tuk Tuk cool down and allow traffic to pass. (You can also watch everyone taking photos of YOU as yet again everyone is stunned by the site to Tuk Tuk’s up here!)
We’ll arrive in Mae Sariang around mid-late afternoon and check into our superb riverside accommodation for the night.
Mae Sariang is well worth exploring with friendly people, a fascinating mix of Thai and Burmese culture (Mae Sariang is home to many Burmese Muslims) and some interesting temples. Alternatively, have a cold beer on the terrace over the river watching the sun go down!
Inclusions:
- Tuk Tuk’s and support vehicle
- Breakfast
- Twin share riverside accommodation in Mae Sariang – air-conditioning and en-suite bathrooms
Day 6: MORE BENDS AND MOUNTAINS
Mae Hong Son is our destination today and we’ll head up, over and around the mountains on one of Thailand’s most stunning roads to reach there. With plenty of stops to change drivers, go ‘wow’ at the scenery and chat to all and sundry wondering how on earth you’re driving a Tuk Tuk. This is most definitely a day for your camera (or Go Pro!).
We’ll arrive at your accommodation around mid-afternoon giving you enough time to check in, have a quick swim (yes, there’s a pool!) and settle into the amazing sunset bar nestled right amongst the rice fields. Cold beer has never tasted so good!
Inclusions:
- Tuk Tuk’s and support vehicle
- Breakfast
- Twin share accommodation outside Mae Hong Song town – air-conditioning, en-suite, swimming pool and stunning location!
Day 7: FREE DAY TO EXPLORE
Another day off for your Tuk Tuk’s and some time to do as you please. There’s a fantastic 8km trek through the forest right from the resort grounds, a swimming pool to hang out by or you can head into Mae Hong Son town to explore (around 10-15 mins by minivan).
Re-charge your batteries, recover from the sunset bar last night or stretch your legs in the forest, it’s up to you.
Inclusions:
- Optional trek – one of our team will accompany you
- Breakfast
- Twin share accommodation outside Mae Hong Song town – air-conditioning, en-suite, swimming pool and stunning location!
Day 8: MOUNTAIN ROADS TO PAI
Pai, one of the most famous of all mountain towns in Thailand, is our destination today but before we get there we need to negotiate several hundred bends and some of the steepest roads on the trip. With great forest, incredible views and a stop in Soppong for lunch to try local Shan food this will be a very memorable day! Towards mid-late afternoon we’ll drop down into the valley where Pai sits.
Your accommodation is 4-5km outside the town sitting amongst rice fields and you have great views wherever you look. There’s also a lovely swimming pool to wash away the day’s travel.
Inclusions:
- Tuk Tuk’s and support vehicle
- Breakfast
- Twin share accommodation outside Pai – air-conditioning, en-suite, swimming pool and stunning location!
Day 9: ENJOY PAI AND THE SURROUNDING AREA
Another day to let the Tuk Tuk’s rest and give you the opportunity to do some exploring on your own. From caves and temples to hanging out by the pool or exploring the local villages, our guides are on hand to help arrange all sorts of activities. Or, why not sit back and take in the great views from this fantastic resort (or if you’re the technical sort, lend a hand servicing and making sure your Tuk Tuk is in fine form for the final leg of the journey tomorrow!)
Inclusions:
- Breakfast
- Twin share accommodation outside Pai – air-conditioning, en-suite, swimming pool and stunning location!
Day 10: THE FINAL LEG
Setting off in the early morning we negotiate the final few hundred bends as we drop back down towards Chiang Mai and then our initial base camp of days 1 and 2. You’ll notice a huge change in the villages, people (and temperature!) as we head lower and lower and then through a number of small villages and towns on our route.
With plenty of opportunities to stop and explore we take today pretty easy and we’ll arrive back in Mae Wang towards mid-late afternoon. Then it’s time to freshen up before we have a final group dinner, sharing the adventures of the last 10 days and enjoying your last special moments with your very own Tuk Tuk!
Inclusions:
- Tuk Tuk and support vehicle
- Breakfast and dinner
- Twin / triple shared accommodation – air-conditioned and en-suite
Day 11: FAREWELL
After a lie in – (it will have been a late night last night!) – we’ll transfer back to Chiang Mai Gate Hotel arriving around 12:30 pm. You are now a fully-fledged member of The Tuk Tuk Club!
Inclusions:
- Breakfast
- Transfer to the Chiang Mai Gate Hotel
Requirements for this trip:
- Driving License – Driving license is compulsory to do this trip (manual/stickshift). International Driving Permit (IDP) recommended.
- Travel Insurance – You must have travel insurance to do this trip.
Hi, I’m Nikki and I started South East Asia Backpacker in 2008 after my own first solo backpacking trip! My vision was to create a travel diary for everyone, a place for travellers to share their experiences from the road. After backpacking and writing about Southeast Asia for over 10 years, I saw the opportunity to provide backpackers with the kind of experiences that I’d treasured myself in the region! 
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