Day Trips and Vacation Options

It is not everyday that one decides to travel to a far off country even when the main motivation is to participate in AzurA'a Self-Help Workshops. If you are planning of joining our workshops your AzurA team would like to offer you some carefully selected opportunities to experience this amazing country. Below we have put together a few such recommendations that might be of interest to you.

These would naturally be considered 'extra-days' which you can select before or directly after your 5-Day/6-Night workshop.

Our Travel Agent partner organizes these selective trips independently and has asked AzurA to mention them here for your information and convenience. As in all things today, the prices and components of these packages are subject to change.

Browse these options and when you find one of particular interest feel free to contact our partner agency here. They will do everything possible to work with you and make your extended stay with us in Thailand an adventurous and exciting experience.

Ready to have some real adventure, explore Thailand's natural beauty, meet it's unique people, visit the various temples and museums and hot-springs....ready to add another experience to the many you already have?

Day Trip 1: Doi Suthep Temple

The most important landmarks of Chiang Mai city, including some of our most interesting temples (there are over one hundred, so we must be selective!) and a trip up into Doi Suthep Mountain National Park to see Chiang Mai's crowning glory, and one of Thailand's principal religious sites - a stunning temple with expansive views perched one kilometer above the city.

* Half day 8:30 - 12:30 PM or 1:30 - 5:30 PM
* Private: 1,200 Baht. Group: 800 Baht per person

Day Trip 2:Local Handicraft Village of Sankamphaeng

On this tour, we will meet the skilled artisans behind the beautiful handicrafts for which the Chiang Mai region is famous. We'll see the creation of hand-made mulberry paper and painted umbrellas, silk and cotton textile weaving, wood carving, and manufacture of gem stone jewelry, silverware, lacquer-wear, pottery and more.
Lots of opportunities to buy some very original gifts for loved ones who couldn't make the trip - and at amazing prices!

* Full day 8 : 00 AM - 05 : 00 PM
* Private: 1,500 Baht. Group: 900 Baht per person
* Half day 8 : 00 AM - 12 : 00 PM or 1 : 00 - 5 : 00 PM
* Private: 1,000 Baht. Group: 800 Baht per person

 

Day Trip 3: Elephant Nursery Camp

On this trip to a local Elephant Nursery, we'll witness elephant training as it happens, and watch the elephants displaying their historically vital timber logging skills. After that we'll stop off at a snake farm where the animals are reared to provide snake venom.
Finally, we'll visit a modern orchid farm to see how these beautiful plants are bred for both local and international markets.

* Half day 8 : 30 AM - 12 : 30 PM
* Private: 1,500 Baht. Group: 1,200 Baht per person

Day Trip 4: Elephant Safari

Elephant Safari through the jungle, with a visit to indigenous "hill-tribe" people along the way. These peoples are quite distinct from ethnic Thais, and have their own unique cultures, languages, religions and clothing. The hill-tribe people in Northern Thailand mostly migrated from Tibet, China and Burma over the last few hundred years, and follow the traditions of their ancestors in small subsistence-farming communities. After descending from the elephants' backs, we'll ride in an ox-cart to a beautiful, clear river, where we'll wind down the adventure on serene bamboo rafts.

* Full day 8 : 00 AM - 04 : 30 PM
* Private 2,000 Baht. Group: 1,500 Baht per person (All tickets and buffet lunch included)

Day Trip 5: Amazing Long Neck Karen Hill Tribe

Visit the amazing "Long Neck Karen", a hill-tribe whose women preserve the tradition of stretching their necks by wearing a succession of metal rings around them. While the practice might seems strange to us, it's an important part of their cultural heritage. These women are very friendly, speak good English and are more than happy to answer all your questions about their ornamentation and lifestyle. We will also visit other hill-tribe peoples such as the Akha and the Meo. And before we return to Chiang Mai, we'll visit to Thaton Temple and the Chiang Dao Caves.

* Full day 8 : 00 AM - 07 : 00 PM
* Private: 3,500 Baht. Group: 2,000 Baht per person (All tickets and lunch included)

Day Trip 6: Doi Inthanon National Park

Doi Inthanon National Park is home to Thailand's highest mountain and arguably its most spectacular views, waterfalls, flora and fauna. As you ascend to the 2500 meter high peak, you'll traverse a number of distinct Eco-Systems. The park is a bird watcher's paradise, with over 100 species visible on any given day (for enthusiastic ornithologists we are able to arrange privately guided expert tours). You will also visit local hill-tribe peoples, and see the very successful community agricultural projects sponsored by H.M.the King over the last 20 years. These projects raise standards of living, teach modern, Eco-Friendly agricultural techniques and provide alternatives.

* Full day 8 : 00 AM - 05 : 00 PM
* Private: 3,500 Baht. Group: 1,500 Baht per person (All tickets and lunch included)

Day Trip 7: Different Hill Tribe Villages

On this tour we will see several hill-tribe villages (Karen, Akha, Lisu , Lahu and Palong) with their unique customs and ways of life. We will also visit Chiang Mai's largest caves in Chiang Dao with its pre-historic funeral sites and artifacts from when they were refuges during the many wars in the area.

* Full day 8 : 30 AM - 5: 00 PM
* Private 2,500 Baht. Group price 1,500 Baht

Day Trip 8: The Golden Triangle

This tour takes us through rural Chiang Mai into the province of Chiang Rai, where we'll visit the world-renowned 'White Temple,' the creation of a local artist that has now become one of northern Thailand's most unique attractions. Once we reach the border town of Mae Sai, we're close to the heart of the infamous Golden Triangle - the world's principal source of opium and heroin production only a generation ago.

Today, it's a lot safer…but the view across the Mae Kong River into both Laos and Burma is just as majestic. We'll briefly cross into Laos before heading to the industrious border town of Mae Sai and across the frontier into the Burmese market town of Tachilek (which provides an opportunity to extend their Thai visa for those that need it.) We'll also visit a couple of 'Hill-tribe' villages and a local spa village before returning to Chiang Mai.

* Full day 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
* Private: 3,500 Baht. Group: 1,500 Baht per person (Buffet lunch included)

Day Trip 9: Mae Hong Son

This tour takes us through pristine mountains and orchard-filled valleys into the wonderful old city of Maehongson. This provincial capital boasts well-preserved city walls, a large lake and one of the finest examples of a Buddhist monastery, actually more reminiscent of the more romantic parts of India than northern Thailand!

We will visit local hill-tribes and meet the fascinating Long-neck and Big-ear Karen peoples. We'll also see the famous Kongmoo and Jongkam temples, as well as the Lod cave and Fish cave. A truly wonderful adventure.

* Two day 9:00 AM - 05:45 PM
* Private: 8,500 Baht. Group: 7,500 Baht per person (Includes air tickets, entrance fees, accommodation, breakfast and lunch)

Day Trip 10: White Water Rafting Day of Adventure

If you've got the energy, this is the perfect action-packed day of adventure!

Mountain-biking along northern Thailand's most spectacular trails…elephant riding through lush forests…white water rafting on pristine rivers…and hiking through the jungle to remote Akha hill-tribe villages - we guarantee you'll get a good night's sleep after this trip!

* Full day 8 : 00 AM - 05 : 00 PM
* Private: 3,500 Baht. Group: 2,500 Baht per person (All tickets and lunch included)

Day Trip 11: Elephant Conservation Camp

This tours allows us to visit the world famous Thai elephant conservation center and the worlds best elephant hospital, in the province of Lampang, where we can also see the original king of Thailand's 'White Elephants'. After we will ride a traditional horse carriage and see local religious sites.

* Full day 8 : 00 AM - 06 : 00 PM
* Private 3,000 Baht Group price 2,200 Baht (Tickets and lunch included)

Day Trip 12: Jungle Trekking

Our experienced guides will introduce you to the adventure of a lifetime: hiking through lush forests, bathing in pristine waterfalls, bird watching, riding on full-sized elephants and rafting on bamboo or white-water rafts. They will provide you the healthy meals and tribal accommodation

BTS Eco-Tours are designed on the following principles:

1. Minimal or No impact on plants and animal life, community living and social patterns, or archeological remains.
2. Interpretive programs to increase understanding and appreciation of the unique value of the area.
3. Local participation in operations and decision making.
4. Local benefit

* This a 1-3 day trip
* First day begins 9 : 30 AM, last day ends 05 : 00 PM
* Contact our partner agency for details and pricing