Heritage of Lanna

DAY 1:  CHIANG MAI – KHUM LANNA (L, D)

• Pick up from your hotel in Chiang Mai. Leaving Chiang Mai to Khum Lanna, visit to Darapirom Palace Museum (closed on Monday) located in the Dara Rasamee Border Patrol Police Camp in Mae Rim District in Chiang Mai Province opened to the public on December 9, in remembrance of the day of the Princess' passing in 1933. The Dara Pirom Palace was built after King Vajiravudh (or Rama VI) gave the petition to Jao Dara Rasamee to return to her childhood home city of Chiang Mai after King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) passed away. Jao Dara Rasamee used her home at the palace to perform many good deeds in the fields of agriculture, culture and the arts. She also supported Buddhism and was a major influence in developing Lanna's handicrafts which are still making Chiangmai famous today. Then onto visit orchid farm before transfer to Mae Taman village for experience with elephant riding and bamboo rafting. Lunch will be provided by the Mae Taeng river. Afternoon, onto Chiang Dao to visit a more primitive of Palong hill tribe village and then continue drive to Khum Lanna also stop to visit Lahu village of Ban Kew Hai en route
   
• 16:00, arrived at Khum Lanna and be greeted by local Lanna people. Tasty welcome drink (herbal tea or fruit juice from the garden) will be serving prior to the briefing and orientation for your next day activity. Thai farmer shirts will be provided for guest use during the stay by Khum Lanna. Get your free sample of our “Khum Lanna Thai Recipe Book” before the first Thai cooking class begins. Enjoy the fruits of your labors with a full 4-course sit-down Thai dinner with your host and friends. Get an introduction to Thai language (which will prepare you for your market shopping next day). Watching a million stars in front of a campfire in the garden.
   
• Overnight at Khum Lanna.

DAY 2:  KHUM LANNA (B, L, D)

• 05:30 Coffee/tea will be brought to your room for your wake-up call before the Sunrise biking along the rural country road via San Kwang village to Phrao, on the way visit a local family to experience how to produce the different chili paste and how to peeling the coconut off before sending to the local market. Arrive in Phrao you visit an early local market where local coffee will be served. With the help of your guide you may buy local cookies and the flower garland for the temple offering on the way back. Then walk to visit the farmer tools shop and rice shop, talk with the owner and learn more about the rice legends and differences & properties of the varieties of rice. Your local escort will translate. Bike back to Khum Lanna with a stop to visit Wat Pa Gee. Pay respect to the Buddha image under the sacred tree. Continue biking to Khum Lanna along the local canal with a stop to see the rice fields and get more information about the rice-growing process and the place of rice in Thai life. Upon return, refreshment or shower before a local Lanna-style breakfast which can be a set on the riverside.
   
• 10:00 Enjoy preparations for Lanna country-style BBQ lunch. Start by a garden tour around the house; collecting different seasonal herbs, vegetables, and fruits for cooking. Learning how to ride a water buffalo and do the actual riding.
   
• 11:00, the second Thai cooking class begins and followed by an informal Lanna country-style BBQ lunch that you have prepared with your host.
   
• From 14:00-16h00 you experience the activities of fruit (or vegetable) carving and hot-pressed herbal massage (consists of 8 kinds herb; ginger, zingiber, lemongrass, plantain, tamarind leaves, soap pod, camphor and Aom Kiew )
   
• Late afternoon at leisure until the last Thai cooking class lesson in the early evening In this last lesson, you will learn to prepare and cook your selection from the garden and enjoy making 3 new Thai dishes. Enjoy the fruits of your labors with a full 4-course sit-down Thai dinner with your host and friends watching a million stars in front of a campfire in the garden.
   
• Overnight at Khum Lanna.

DAY 3:  KHUM LANNA – CHIANG MAI (B, L) 

• Around 07:00 walk to the temple and join your host in the traditional Alms offering, giving food to monks. 08:45 Breakfast is set in a leisure style which can also be near the riverside. 09:00, light biking to the rural village in the morning. See the incredible accumulation of beehives on the sacred tree at Ban Nam Phrae and get information about the need for bees and the reasons for local conservation and visit the brick factory. Continue biking to Wiang Phrao Wung Hin (the ancient city 30 years older than Chiang Mai) to visit a temple and Phra Chao Lan Tong, the most significant Buddha Image in the Phrao district. Here, King Mengrai (1259-1317) assembled the villagers and trained them to be soldiers to defend the city. Bike to Wat Tham Dork Kum and visit different Buddha stucco figures and the huge reclining Buddha
   
• Picnic lunch will be provided on the top of the mountain, where you can overview the entire valley of Phrao district and Khum Lanna from this point. Biking back to Khum Lanna. Refreshment or shower before checkout. Receive your Cooking Diploma and a gift from the owner. Leave Khum Lanna, then onto visit Chinese temple and Lisu village of Ban Huay Kieng Sang. Late afternoon, transfer back to your hotel in Chiang Mai. End of services.