Doi Mae Salong and Mae Sai Explored
From $103.10
Price varies by group size
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance. Learn more
Safety measures
8 hours (approx.)
Hotel pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English
Explore our promoted experiences
Operators have paid Viator more to have their experiences featured here
Overview
Experience the stunning scenery and fascinating hill tribes of Thailand’s Golden Triangle during this full-day private excursion. Enjoy an up-close encounter with the residents of Akha, Lisu, and Yao hill tribe villages and stop at the northern-most point on the Thai-Myanmar border.
- Explore the Mae Salong and Mae Sai areas during a full-day trip from Chiang Rai
- Interact with Akha, Yao, and Lisu hill tribe villagers
- Enjoy the stunning view of the Mekong Valley from Doi Mae Salong
- Travel to the northern-most point along the Thai border with Myanmar
- Great way to experience the rugged scenery and culture of Thailand's far north
- Private guide ensures personalized service and attention
Saved to wishlist!
Get picked up in the morning from your hotel in a private vehicle. You’ll continue up into the hill country outside Chiang Rai, arriving at your first stop in the Lisu hill tribe village of Ban Mae Kaotom.
After interacting with the villagers and learning about the daily rhythms of hill tribe life, continue to the village of Mae Chan, where you can learn about the Akha and Yao tribes that also populate the area. Then take a short break before proceeding to Doi Mae Salong, a mountain overlook near the Thai-Myanmar border that offers stunning scenery and a view of the Mekong Valley down below.
As you continue your excursion, you’ll enjoy a lunch at Mae Salong Villa before heading to the northern-most site along the Thai-Myanmar. After lunch you will stop at Tham Pla, otherwise known as Fish Cave. Watch as monkeys roam and the surrounding area as you get the opportunity to feed the fish. Shop for souvenirs at the impressive Mei Sai market, a paradise for gem collectors, and then begin your trip back to Chiang Rai.
After interacting with the villagers and learning about the daily rhythms of hill tribe life, continue to the village of Mae Chan, where you can learn about the Akha and Yao tribes that also populate the area. Then take a short break before proceeding to Doi Mae Salong, a mountain overlook near the Thai-Myanmar border that offers stunning scenery and a view of the Mekong Valley down below.
As you continue your excursion, you’ll enjoy a lunch at Mae Salong Villa before heading to the northern-most site along the Thai-Myanmar. After lunch you will stop at Tham Pla, otherwise known as Fish Cave. Watch as monkeys roam and the surrounding area as you get the opportunity to feed the fish. Shop for souvenirs at the impressive Mei Sai market, a paradise for gem collectors, and then begin your trip back to Chiang Rai.
Itinerary
Guests will have enough time to enjoy their breakfast at their Chiang Rai hotel before meeting your guide for the day. Together with a separate driver, we will leave approximately at around 08:30 hrs from Chiang Rai and into the Doi Mae Salong area, home to the various hill tribes still calling this part of northern Thailand their home. It may sound that Doi Mae Salong is only a mountain region in the Chiang Rai province, but it is an all-encompassing town with temples and churches, schools, factories and shops. The local eateries on Mae Salong are famous for the tasty Yunnan cuisine, prepared from farm-fresh vegetables and livestock raised there. Besides seeing all this passing by, your guide will bring you to one of the larger Akha, Yao and Lisu Hilltribe villages, explaining the differences in culture, origin and traditions. It is here where we too will enjoy a local lunch, freshly prepared at one of the leading restaurants in the area.
Duration: 2 hours
Admission Ticket Included
After lunch, we continue further northwards. Just before we reach Mae Sai, we stop at the Tham Pla, better known as the Fish Cave. Situated in the small town of Pong Ngam, an abundance of monkeys (Makaken) roam the region right here, hence this area is also often referred to as the Fish and Monkey Cave. An excellent stop to take a break after lunch presents itself here, where guests are offered the opportunity to feed the fish and enjoy this scenic spot before entering Mae Sai.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Admission Ticket Included
The town is also the official border crossing with Thakhilek in Myanmar and the daily stream of Burmese trading their goods in Thailand is a sight to behold. The thriving market is a paradise for gem collectors, and wandering up and down the main street gives you an insight into the large variety available for sales, originating from Myanmar. In all corners along with Mae Sai’s market, you will find various end products, cut, polished and ready to be sold to those interested in its value, shape and beauty.
It is time to head back to Chiang Rai after being close to 8 hours on the road, exploring the Chiang Rai region to the northern-most point. We’d expect to be back at your hotel at around 4.30 pm.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Admission Ticket Free
Reviews
Why you are seeing these recommendations
Compare Similar Experiences
Current

Doi Mae Salong and Mae Sai Explored
8 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$103.10
Why you are seeing these recommendations
Explore Similar Things to Do
Food ToursBus ToursPrivate Sightseeing ToursMarketsCultural ToursFull-day ToursDay TripsCultural & Theme ToursDay Trips & ExcursionsFood, Wine & NightlifePrivate & Custom ToursTours & SightseeingChiang RaiFood Tours - Northern ThailandBus Tours - Northern ThailandPrivate Sightseeing Tours - Northern ThailandMarkets - Northern ThailandCultural Tours - Northern ThailandFull-day Tours - Northern ThailandDay Trips - Northern ThailandFood Tours - Chiang MaiBus Tours - Chiang MaiPrivate Sightseeing Tours - Chiang MaiMarkets - Chiang MaiCultural Tours - Chiang MaiFull-day Tours - Chiang MaiDay Trips - Chiang MaiFood Tours - Luang PrabangBus Tours - Luang PrabangPrivate Sightseeing Tours - Luang PrabangMarkets - Luang PrabangCultural Tours - Luang PrabangFull-day Tours - Luang PrabangDay Trips - Luang PrabangCategory
Why you are seeing these recommendations