I have this proposal (cost pendig) for myfamily trip in dec with 2 teens
I need to cut out 2 days due to flights etc
what should I cut or change?
any iedea a\waht would be a reasonable cost?
thanks guys!
Day 1
Leave the hotel in the morning head to visit the Mae Sa Elephant camp, the biggest elephant camp in the north of Thailand for the fantastic elephants show their skills to work for people. Then you will move on to visit a Hmong Tribal village on Mae Sa Mountain that you will experience a Hmong Tribal lifestyles.

In the after noon after lunch is for the 17 km journey up Suthep Mountain to the west of the city. Near the summit is the magnificent Wat Phra That Doi Suthep. This temple, one of the most important temples of the province, and an enduring symbol of Chiang Mai, is a place of fascinating history and legends. The temple grounds afford excellent views over Chiang Mai city and valley.
Hotel in Chiang Mai


Day 2
In the morning leave your hotel for the journey south to Doi Inthanon, Thailand's highest mountain. Travel through the luscious forest on the way up the mountain to the Twin Chedi to honor the King and Queen of Thailand. You'll enjoy beautiful scenery of the spectacular Wachiratharn waterfall within the Park. In this park if you would like to hike for a couple of hours along a beautiful trail you can make a fun-hiking along a trail that normally there is no tourist. We’ll enjoy beautiful scenery and spectacular waterfalls for approximately 2 hours. At the end of the trail there is another Karen village that you will experience the authentic tribal lifestyle of this village.
We will head to Mae Chaem district to stay overnight.

Day 3
After breakfast, leave the village in the morning you will visit the Mae Chaem village. Here we will see local people produce cotton clothes by their own styles and complicated technique. Then we will head to Mae Hong Sorn through the mountainous road for around 3-4 hours drive. From here on you will visit Wat Phra Tat Doi Kong Mu, Wat Jong Come, Jong Glang and some sight seeing around the city of Mae Hong Sorn. You will stay overnight in Mae Hong Sorn.

Day 4
After breakfast you will head to visit a Long Necked Tribal village and their school along the border before heading south to visit Lod Cave, the biggest cave in the north of Thailand. You will take a bamboo raft along the river through the cave. After that we will head to Pai, a small, lovely town in the mountains. Overnight in Pai.

Day 5
After breakfast, we will head to Chiang Dow to visit a Palong Tribal village, the school for the tribes in Chiang Dow before heading to visit a beautiful Lahu Tribal village along the border of Thai and Myanmar before moving up to Doi Mae Salong, the Chinese community with it’s beautiful Tea-plantation on the mountain at over 1300 meters above the sea-lever. Overnight on this mountain at a beautiful hotel.
Hotel on Doi Mae Salong


Day 6
Leave from hotel in the morning down from the mountain to take a long tail boat journey to Chiang Rai, on the way stop off at a hot spring where you can take a bath in the pond that filled with mineral water from the hot spring.
After that you will take a ride on the elephant hike up the mountain for almost 2 hours to get to another lovely lahu village before start hiking along a trail on the mountain for an hour to get to a waterfall where the truck is waiting for us to take us to town in the afternoon.
Hotel i n Chiang Rai

Day 7
Check out from the hotel in Chiang Rai, then by the van we will head to Mae Sai the border of Thai and Burma that you will have a chance to explore in the bustling market before moving on to the Golden Triangle, where Thailand Myanmar and Laos meet on the Mekong River. Here, the Opium Museum tells the story of opium cultivation, trade and smuggling in the area. After that you will take a long tail boat along the Mae Khong river at the Golden Triangle to visit the Laos village for some souvenirs. The Sun setting is very impressive on this island. Return to Chiang Mai in the evening.
Hotel in Chiang Rai or back to Chiang Mai.

Day 8
Depart from Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai

Instead of the Mae Sa elephant camp, go to the TECC in Lampang.

What hotels does he have you in? That would be a large part of the cost. Guide part, I wouldn't pay more than $200/day to include driver, guide, gasoline, and would really prefer to pay $100/day. Add hotels to guide price.

I would eliminate days 1, 4, 6, or 7.

I did days 1 and 2 with Sgt Kai (actually day 2 was with one of his guides, Sutee). The only difference was that we asked to substitute Mae Sa Elephant Camp for the TECC near Lampang as Kim suggests. Both days were fabulous. Sgt Kai is terrific, as was Sutee. We had our own hotel arrangements, so I can't comment on where he might have you staying.

did you go in the river with the elephants on the a day at tecc? my kids really want that experience

there is also an elephant camp near pai (thoms) anyone know anything about it?

At the TECC, the river is only for those doing a mahout program, and then, only some elephants (there are a couple who don't like each other and therefore don't bathe together). If you are a drop in visitor at the TECC, you are free to watch the bathing if you are there early enough...maybe 9:00 is bathing time, I forget. You can walk around the center, and pay for a ride on an "elephant taxi."

If you want the whole bathing, riding on the neck, learning to control elephant, learning about elephant care and health experience then you need to do the mahout training. The one day option is very limited due to time, 2 days is better and 3 days we found to be even too short there. Supat keeps a website www.changthai.com that has a schedule of the days.

if it were me i would cancel the day to the national park....i have done that trip and found it overall to be boring....the top is quite nice but not worth a whole day from your vacation...

i think you are doing way toooo much moving around...stop and enjoy north thailand

I agree with Bob. First of all if you really want an elephant experince you need to do it at the Elephant Conservation Center -- definitely NOT the one he suggests. And if your kids want to get in the water they need to do at least the one day program there-- check their website. No camp gives that experience to people who are there for an hour or so.

Skip the state park as Bob said.

We were with Sgt Kai last month for a day trip- stopped by 4 Seasons for a drink & some snacks on our way down from the Hill Tribe Village to Doi Suthep. Great place for a stop over.

I just saw that you need to cut some time out. I would eliminate the state park and MHS.