Chiang Mai Songkran Festival

Today you will fly to Chiang Mai. Upon arrival,your private guide is waiting for you at the airport to take you by private car to your hotel. Chiang Mai, with its lovely Lanna temples, charming traditions, unique food, family-friendly attractions and stunning setting is a gem in Thailand’s northern hills. There’s so much for tourists to do here, from cultural exploration to adventurous treks and food tours.

Hit the streets to discover the true flavors of northern Thailand. With a local foodie leading the way, embark on a tour of Chiang Mai's culinary heart, journeying through the city's lively markets and stalls, treating your palate to exotic flavors as you stop at one location after another.

**All the food mentioned above are samples for your reference, our guide will arrange the food for you depending on your preferences.

Experience your first Chiang Mai Songkran Festival activity at one of Chiang Mai’s most sacred sites. After rising early, you’ll depart at 06:00AM with a packed breakfast and travel to Doi Suthep Mountain, home of Chiang Mai’s most famous temple, Wat Doi Suthep. At the foothills you’ll join locals in the daily alms-giving ceremony, placing offerings in the bowls of barefoot monks as they walk in procession through the streets of Chiang Mai. You’ll then travel to the summit and climb the 300-step Golden Naga staircase to Wat Doi Suthep. Take in an impressive view of the city from the temple grounds.

Next of your Chiang Mai Songkran Festival, journey to Wat Pra Singh in the Old City. This temple is highly revered and is a hive of activity during special occasions. Watch as locals solemnly pour scented water over iconic Buddha images. Take the opportunity to be part of this important blessing ceremony that purifies and washes away bad luck. You may also notice some sand castles sculpted like temples! This is an age-old tradition of bringing sand (which represents the sand you’ve collected in your shoes during temple visits over the year) to the temple as an offering. These well-crafted sand sculptures are adorned with flowers, colorful pebbles and incense.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Then, get ready for battle: you’ll spend the afternoon celebrating Songkran the modern way. Armed with a water pistol, hop aboard a local truck and revel in exciting water fights with young and old!

Spend the evening at your leisure in the Old City as celebrations continue into the night.

A half-day package to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary (join activity) offers you an enjoyable opportunity to spend quality time with elephants in their natural home, as well as gain an insight into their history and behavior, and create cherished lifelong memories of their time spent with these amazing animals.

Today you will be picked up (private transfer) from your place of accommodation and will drive through scenic agricultural areas before arriving at the Sanctuary. There, you will meet your English-speaking guide and learn a little about the elephants, before changing into traditional Karen clothing.

After being allocated bananas and sugar cane to feed to the elephants, you will walk with your guide through the Sanctuary, where you will find free-roaming elephants and hear their individual stories. You can touch, feed, photograph, and interact with the elephants at your leisure while you learn about their lifestyle and behaviors. 

After the close encounter with elephant, you will return to your hotel, the rest of the day is free at your leisure.

Enjoy your free time until your guide come and escort you to airport for your onward flight.