Day 1London
International flight from London to Bangkok on the national carrier, Thai Airways.
On arrival you will be met by your guide and driver and escorted to your hotel, the charming renovated Thai house - Ariyasom Villa.
Today sees you explore Bangkok on foot, using public transport and in the care of your guide.
In the morning you will enjoy a cycle tour of Chinatown and Thonburi. This a wonderful way to explore the city, without traffic jams or adding to the city`s pollution.
At lunchtime you will visit the Bangkok School for the Blind where you sponsor lunch for all the children. You will have the opportunity to learn about the work of the school and meet the many children.
Today sees you head out of Bangkok to visit the fascinating Tha Kha floating market and the town of Amphawa where you will be able to shop for local goods and help contribute to the local economy. You will overnight in Baan Amphawa, a small, locally run traditional Thai style property awarded Green Leaf status.
You have the morning to further explore Amphawa under your own steam before being driven back to Bangkok this afternoon, in time for your overnight train to Chiang Mai. One of the most authentic travel experiences in Thailand. The food on board is excellent.
On arrival in Chiang Mai you will be collected at the station by your local guide and enjoy exploring the city, its temples and a textile workshop established to help disadvantaged women.
At dawn you will enjoy a trishaw ride round town and experience the city as it awakes. You will also visit a temple to watch the monks chanting, before enjoying a personal blessing from the head monk. In the afternoon you will visit and spend time at the Baan Kingkaew orphanage.
Today you head to the area known as Little Switzerland or Doi Angkhang, which sits high up in the mountains that separate Thailand with Burma and home to a number of ethnic minority villages. As your time in the north will include visits to a number of hill tribe villages we offer a helpful guide to cultural exchange.
You will visit the Doi Angkhang Research Station, a royal project, which provides agricultural support to neighbouring hilltribes and develops non-indigenous crops for them to grow. As a result the villages earn a sustainable income and have been able to relinquish opium production.
Your guide and driver will escort you through the mountains to the beautiful rural retreat of Phu Chaisai, in the Golden Triangle.
Today you will enjoy trekking through the hills and river basin of the Mae Kok where you will visit some more hill tribe villages.
Day 13Chiang Rai - Chiang Khong
Travel on to your final destination today, the community-based tourism project of Lanjia Lodge. You will spend three days living with your hosts - the Hmong and Akha tribespeople, meeting the shaman, learning traditional batik techniques, and understanding their way of life.
Day 14Chiang Khong
Enjoy a further day at Lanjia Lodge. Lanjia has been established to improve the quality of lives of hilltribe villagers and to achieve this the lodge is working with the Population and Community Development Association (PDA) - one of Thailand's most respectable and diverse non-government organizations.
Day 15Chiang Khong - Chiang Rai
Your final day is at leisure to relax in the wonderful surrounding of Lanjia Lodge before returning to Chiang Rai for your return flight to Bangkok and onto London.
Connecting flight to the UK.