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Published: February 22nd 2008
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Erawan Falls
What more can I say !!! It's great !!! Thailand - Part 2 of 3 - From Kanchanaburi to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai - September to October 2007
There are some more pics of my stay in Kanchabauri, after which I returned by public bus to Bangkok for a couple of nights and then flew by Thai Air to Chiang Mai.
I had booked a 3 day tour of Chiang Mai and surrounding areas with Sergeant Kai - he actually books day tours with various companies with mini vans and about ten or twelve other tourists. He is also a great guy and took me out for a whole day and evening himself in his own 4 wheel drive vehicle to visit Doi Suthep, the Maesa Elephant Camp and showed me the surrounding region of Chiang Mai. We also went to the Khun Khantoke dinner with traditional music and dancing, a great meal and a few hours of local entertainment in magnificent surroundings.
Sergeant Kai is retired from the Thai army and the nicest guy you could meet. He picked me up and dropped me off at the airport himself and was always checking with my tour guides on the mobile to see that I
Erawan Falls - Paradise !!!
I spent only 3 hours here on my first visit, this place is pure magic, when you swim in the falls the fish nibble on your toes, the water is cool and refreshing, I love this place and spent a whole day there on my recent second trip to Thailand was OK. I can only recommend him most highly and if you are in this area he is the man to see for a tour. He even organised an extra day tour to the Golden Triangle so that I could be dropped off in Chiang Rai. Spending a whole day with the Sergeant I learnt so much about Thai culture and the importance of family and friends.
Here is the email he sent me with the itinery for the 3 day tour - it was all flexible and he changed the schedule as we went along - he was worried about me trekking to visit the hill tribes but I told him I would be fine and most of the youngsters struggled to keep up with me !!!
"A Little about Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai, famous for its beauty and the gentle nature of its people. The charm of Thailand's Northern rose lives on forever.
Founded in 1296 AD by King Mangrai, Chiang Mai was for centuries the principal city of the Lanna Kingdom, or the Kingdom of a million rice fields. The city flourished as a major cultural, religious and trading center until it was
Felix Resort River Kwai - Room View
I booked a river view room and what a view it was - this is a good quality resort and highly recommended, only problem is it is a fair distance from the main tourist part of town and you need a taxi at night to get around. invaded by the Burmese in 1556. It remained a vassal state of Burma until the invader was eventually expelled by the King of Siam in 1776. Thereafter the Lanna Kingdom became part of Siam, and is today the most important city of Northern Thailand.
Many reasons combine to make Chiang Mai an essential stop on your holiday itinerary. The warm hearted locals will assure you of a memorable experience as you visit the attractive destinations the city and province have to offer. Wonderful mountain scenery, colorful hilltribes, striking flora and spectacular waterfalls provide the perfect backdrop for an exploration of the regions long history, rich with age-old traditions and pristine culture. "
Dear Leon Murphy,
Thank you very much that you are interested in my service. You are welcome to join us the "Chiang Mai Special 3 Days / 3 Nights Tour"
Day 1
After Breakfast, leave town for the Sanpatong District. Take an elephant ride along a trail in the forest for about 1 hour before heading to a spectacular waterfall where you can swim if you wish. Enjoy a picnic lunch together in this tranquil setting.
After lunch, we'll move on to
Felix Resort River Kwai
They have a great pool and surroundings if you want to relax !!! a remote Karen village. From here we'll take a bamboo raft along a particularly beautiful stretch of river passing through dense forest, and then head back into town.
By now you should be ready for a Lanna style banquet, or Khan Toke dinner, in which local food is served on low wooden tables while you enjoy traditional dancing and music performed by local tribes.
Hotel: Bossotel / 1 Single room / breakfast
Remark: today is the joint tour. You will join with a group of 8 - 12 persons.
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 dedicated to the King and Queen of Thailand. Along the way, stop off at Hmong and Karen tribal villages. We'll enjoy a picnic lunch by the spectacular Wachiratharn waterfall within Doi Inthanon National Park. Return to your hotel will be in the late afternoon.
Hotel: Bossotel / 1 Single room / breakfast
Remark: today is the joint tour. You will join with a group of 8 - 12 persons.
Day 3
Leave your hotel at
Erawan Falls
You may see big lizards and monkeys are in the trees or stealing your camera while you are swimming lol 9.00am 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 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.
Lunch will be taken at a real Thai restaurant, where you can sample some of the food this country is famous for. Afterwards, we'll travel to the handicraft villages of Bor Sang and Sankamphaeng to see the umbrella making center, silk, lacquerware, silverware and celadon factories.
The evening has been left free for you to practise your bargaining skills at the night bazaar, and to experience a little of the city's exciting night life.
Hotel: Bossotel / 1 Single room / breakfast
Remark: Today is private tour. We will arrange car and guide to service you privately.
Price: 265 US$ (Two hundred and sixty-five US Dollar)
Includes:
Accommodations: Totally 3 nights / 1 Single room / breakfast / Bossotel
Transportation
English spoken guide
3 lunches
All admission fees
All tours along the program
Erawan Falls
There are 7 steps of waterfalls and you can swim at most of them - the water is nice and the fish will nibble at your toes Insurance coverage
I hope this will meet your idea. Please tell if you are interested, I will book all things for you.
Then again, thank you very much and we are looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely yours,
Sergeant Kai
Managing Director
Mobile: 6681-7647-230
Office: ++6653-376268
Fax: ++6653-376268
www.chiangmaitours.com
On the day following the above 3 day tour I needed to get to Chiang Rai about 3 hours by bus north of Chiang Mai so Sergeant Kai organised for me to go on a tour to the Golden Triangle where Myamar, Laos and Thailand meet - the mini bus then dropped me off at Chiang Rai about 1930 pm after a very big day of touring.
There is more info about the places I visited with the pics in each section.
You can see more of my travels in Part 3 where I go from Chiang Rai and the Golden Triangle to Pattaya Beach. There's heaps of pics so make sure you select next at the bottom of the page to see the extra pages of pics.
In Part 3 of "My First Visit To Thailand" you will find an extra
Erawan Falls waterslide
This is great fun !!! It is very deep here so be carefull !!! list of hints for travelling to this wonderful country.
Click on the pics if you want a larger view and select next to see all the pictures.
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