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itaewonguy
Joined: 25 Mar 2003
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 Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 6:03 am Post subject: Chang rai - chang mai tours? |
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has anyone done one of the billion tours listed? Im heading that way soon and wondering if doing a tour is the best and easiest way to see the jungle, go rafting, elephant treks and visit hill tribes?
or will it be better to just go there and do activities seperately?
anyway stories and advice appreciated..
also I heard you can take a river up to Louangphabang whats that like? |
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sojourner1
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Location: Where meggi swim and 2 wheeled tractors go sput put chug alugg pug pug
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| Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 2:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Yes, the tours that guesthouses and travel offices sell make good day trips. They take you out to hill tribes, rafting, hiking, and elephant trekking. It's really lots of fun and a way to get with a group if traveling solo. You need that guided transportation and trekking guide to get a good trip into the wilderness as you wouldn't know where you're going, but you can rent motor bikes and ride around on your own. |
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Tobias
Joined: 02 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 4:14 pm Post subject: Chiang Mai info |
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Don't worry about finding these things. They'll find YOU. As soon as you get off the train or bus in Chiang Mai, you'll be approached by peddlers trying to sell you packages. They aren't too bad, actually. I once went with a tour offered by "mama's guest house" in Chiangmai, and I was pretty happy. Maybe it's still there. I got one day and two nights for like 2600 baht, including elephant trekking, rafting, a visit to a hill tribe, and a stop at an orchid greenhouse.
TWO CAVEATS:
If you do go on one of these tours, you will inevitably be taken to several souvenir shops that try to hock cheaply-made jewelry and such for serious bank. Just remember to say "No thanks. I'm just looking" and you'll be fine. You have no choice. Everyone is forced to make these annoying stops. The funniest part of these places is they try to get you to believe they actually make their inventory on-site.
At the hilltribe stop, you'll see all sorts of clothes, trinkets, and such that are supposedly made on-site. Yeah, whatever. This stuff is made in sweatshops in Bangkok and they're passing it off as being made right there. |
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cmr
Joined: 22 Mar 2006
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| Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2008 5:59 am Post subject: |
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| Did a 2-night tour in the jungle and really enjoyed the experience. Then, went for a one-day cooking lesson, one-day tour to visit the Golden Triangle (I think that was the name) and all was really nice and different. |
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hang10
Joined: 11 Nov 2007
Location: Asia, Twice the sex half the foreplay
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| Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 12:10 pm Post subject: Re: Chang rai - chang mai tours? |
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| itaewonguy wrote: |
has anyone done one of the billion tours listed? Im heading that way soon and wondering if doing a tour is the best and easiest way to see the jungle, go rafting, elephant treks and visit hill tribes?
or will it be better to just go there and do activities seperately?
anyway stories and advice appreciated..
also I heard you can take a river up to Louangphabang whats that like? |
Hey whats up.
Well depending on how old you are? You could think about hiring a bike. I mean you have all these dam Tours and stuff but for me I just don�t see the point. If you have some time and by the sounds of it you might then this would be the best option. I�m a bit of an adventurer and I�m in my late 20�s so its my kind of travel.
The Bikes are fairly cheap and just like the other chap said they are all over the place in Chiang Mai and Rai.
I would personally go for a Honda Super four as the roads here aren�t all that bad and it will give that extra bit of power in the mountains. Plus the other bikes aren�t as comfortable for long journeys.
You can Fly up here to Chiang Mai or take the train or bus what ever you like. The train is very nice as long as you get a nice compartment etc� Its hot here as you probably know so a bit of air con can make the difference. Of course when your on the bike then you can stop and start when ever you please. That�s the beauty of biking in Thailand. Get a map and do a bit of research. The hill tribe people will see you with or with out a tour. Same for everything else. The elephant camp thingy is just out side Chiang Mai Just around the corner from my house. So that could even be done in a Tuk Tuk, or Song Taw(which is the red truck/buses all over Chiang Mai) very cheap.
For the trip to Chiang Rai: This is breath taking to say the least. Once again on the bike and you wont be disappointed. Head off early, yes early 5 amish. You will have a great ride of about 3-4 hours depending on your speed/stops etc� You will travel through the Mountains that surround Chiang Mai and then head across the rice plains of Chiang Rai which at that time in the morning are extremely beautiful with the sun rising up. Then it�s more or less a straight road all the way to Chiang Rai. Obviously once there have a look around see some temples etc. Go to the hill tribe people just out side town. If you get lost don�t worry every one will help you. I have lived in this part of Thailand for over 5.5 years and I have never experience any problems, especially with the country people who will almost always greet you with a smile.
Also in your post you mentioned that you would like to see Luang Prabang? Well your in Luck. I used to live on the boarder town of Chiang Kong. This is the town that you need to travel to take either the fast or slow boat down the Mekong River to L.PRABANG. Once again, well from my experience, you can drive the bike or catch the bus from C.Rai to Chiang Kong. This trip is also extremely scenic also. Once in Chiang Kong head for Ban Fai, it�s a lovely old Guest house run by a nice old couple. You can Park your bike there also! Once you�re settled head over to the Bar down the Street called Lomtuang. A great big Dutch chap runs it you can buy all your boat tickets there. Don�t worry about visas; you can buy it on the boarder in Laos which is just across the river. The ferry across costs 30 baht. The Visa on arrival costs, well 35usd for Europeans and 30 for US. So take 50 cus I have no idea where your from! Lol. That will give you 30 days.
So you now have to make the choice? Do I go fast or slow? Well they both have pros and cons. The speed boat is just that, it will take you about 6-7 hours weather, river permitting. The only problem is, if you�re a big chap then it will be the most uncomfortable experience you will ever have. After the initial thrill of being on the Mekong the cramp will set in. For 6 hours its tough. Believe me I have done it 3 times every time I ask myself why o why. But I like fast stuff. Lol. (Fast and a tiny Boat!).
SLOW: its just that, slow. Two days to be exact with a stop over in a small town purposely built for the boat and its passengers. I have also done this twice and every time I want to go back on the speed boat. It gets boring. But hey some people love it?(Slow lots of room).
They are both the same price (about), the speed boat might be a bit more these days. Then of course there is Luang Prabang, and Vientiane and many more options. You could if you wanted make your way to Vientiane then fly back to Chiang Kong( well Houy Xai, opposite CK in Laos). I did this only just last month every time I do it, it gets better. It�s a real adventure for sure. I can go on and on about Laos, Vietnam etc� But I have said enough. Some things are not meant to be said.
All the best and safe travels
H10. |
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