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Sukhothai World Heritage Park, World Wildlife Sanctuary, Rafting, Elephant Safari, Camping, Karen Village, Waterfalls.

Because of the remoteness of the Wildlife Sanctuary everything we need will be transported by elephant. Daily supplies such as fresh food will be delivered by 4 wheel drive vehicle to a pick up point where elephants will then deliver them to us. Only 150 persons per day are allowed in the Sanctuary to avoid over crowding and damage to the fragile environment. Some waterfalls we will see have been discovered only within the last 9 years or so and Thee Lor Su waterfalls is the largest in Thailand.

A Cultural Khantoke Dinner

DAY ONE We will greet you at the airport or train station in Chiangmai and transfer you to your selected Hotel or Guest House. Tonight at 7pm your will enjoy a Khantoke Dinner with Thai and Hill Tribe music and dance. Overnight in selected Hotel or Guest House in Chiangmai.

DAY TWO This morning we depart at 8:30 AM. for the Ancient City of Sukhothai with it's beautiful temple ruins dating back hundreds of years. We will first have a delicious all you can eat lunch of traditional Sukhothai food consisting of many wonderful dishes and local fruit in a garden restaurant. We then leisurely walk among the ruins in the UNESCO World Heritage Park in Old Sukhothai. Tonight we will explore the Sukhothai night life and markets then enjoying a delicious dinner. This evening accommodations are in Sukhothai at a nice 3 star hotel with swimming pool.

Sukhothai Old City

The Road to Umphang

DAY THREE This morning after another hearty American Breakfast we will depart for Umphang stopping for lunch in Mae Sot and then a Hmong hill tribe village. Over night will be at a resort in Umphang with a delicious all you can eat dinner along the river. You will also meet and talk with the local guides that will be joining us on this adventure.

DAY FOUR This morning enjoy an American Breakfast served on the banks of the Umphang River with it's beautiful morning mist and surrounding mountains. We then board the raft for a leisurely 3 hour journey through canyons with high limestone cliffs and many waterfalls. We will then have lunch along the river then take a 3 hour elephant ride to forestry camp then walk to Thee Lor Su Waterfalls, the largest in Thailand.

One of many waterfalls along the river.

Before sunset we will walk about 5 minutes to see wild Barking Deer feeding then return to the forestry camp for dinner by candle light. There is no electricity so the evening sky is filled with stars and comets are often seen. The evening will be in nice tents with comfortable mattress, pillow, sheets and blankets here at the forestry camp. There are toilets and showers located here. Riding to Thee Lor Su Falls

Thee Lor Su Falls

Walking through a Bamboo forest

DAY FIVE After your breakfast we will start our 4 hour leisurely walk through Bamboo forest and along a beautiful stream. Many colorful birds, butterflies and wildflowers are seen on this trail including Kingfishers and Flycatchers. We will walk across bamboo bridges to a Karen Hill Tribe village where as many as 60% of the villagers have never seen a television. We will have lunch then relax and swim in the river and enjoy the rest of the afternoon enjoying the Karen village. Dinner and evening will be in our own house so as not to disturb the people and fragile culture. Your bed will be again comfortable with mosquito nets and toilets and shower are available here.

While enjoying the river it is very common to see elephant with their infants coming to the stream to drink as the village has many elephants. Hundreds of colorful butterflies are also there to drink from the moist sand on the bank. Children after school also come by to enjoy the cool water. You may also visit the village school if you wish.

A Karen Home Karen children swimming in the river

Loading equipment on an elephant at our Karen house

DAY SIX This morning after breakfast we load our equipment on elephants and then ride for 2 hours over the mountain to meet the vehicle to take us back to Umphang arriving in time for lunch. We then travel to the Thai Burma border town of Mae Sot for the evening staying in a nice 4 star hotel with swimming pool. This evening we will have dinner at a very famous Thai restaurant in a beautiful garden setting.

(OPTION) For those more adventurous instead of returning to Umphang we will have lunch then again board the rubber rafts for an exciting 4 hours of white water rafting. The elephants will go on ahead to take the camping equipment to where the raft journey ends. We will also pass many beautiful waterfalls along the way. Wild animals such as elephant, tiger, gibbons, lemurs, deer and bear have been spotted while rafting this section. We will camp over night tonight in comfortable tents and have a delicious dinner beside the river.

Lay Ka Ti Rapids

Day Seven After breakfast we will visit the handicraft shops selling Burmese products then return to Chiangmai arriving around 5 PM with lunch en route. (For those doing the optional white water rafting) There are no roads or villages in this area as it is in the UNESCO World Wildlife Sanctuary. For this reason, after breakfast, we will need to ride elephants for 6 hours with lunch along the way to reach our pick up point then return to the resort in Umphang for the evening. Tonight is a delicious all you can eat dinner joined by our guides so you can ask questions about your experiences.

Day Eight
(For those doing the optional white water rafting) This morning after breakfast we travel to the Thai Burma border town of Mae Sot in time for a late lunch. This afternoon you can relax by the pool at the 4 star hotel then this evening we will have dinner at a very famous Thai restaurant in a beautiful garden setting.

Day Nine
(For those doing the optional white water rafting) After breakfast we will visit the handicraft shops selling Burmese products then return to Chiangmai arriving around 5 PM with lunch in route.

-- End of Excursion --

Special Instructions:
This is an eco-cultural friendly excursion. For this reason we have conditions that must be followed.

• You can only get off the raft in designated areas.
• No climbing on cliffs or waterfalls.
• No picking of flowers or rocks etc.
• You must ask before taking pictures of children and villagers.
• No money can be given to villagers or children for pictures.
• Candy cannot be given to children.
• Soap, shampoo etc cannot be used when in rivers or streams or hot springs.