TTSF01 - Songkran – The water festival Tour
The yearly Songkran festival is one of the most enjoyable festivals in Thailand. It is the Buddhist New Year. April is the hottest time of year and water is the essential element of this festival.On the first day of Songkran we will visit Wat Doi Suthep, a must-see sight of Chiang Mai, and make a wonderful hike in Doi Suthep-Doi Pui National Park.
The second day we will spend in central Chiang Mai to witness the Songkran parade and visit several temples to observe and partake in rituals. Then we will join the festivities around the moat of old Chiang Mai.
The third day we head out to Lamphun where the festival has a more traditional character and where few foreigners go. We will spend the day celebrating with the local people and witnessing rituals in several temples. You will get very wet but this festival will leave you with an everlasting memory.
Duration of this Tour: 5 Days
Transportation:
Local pick up truck
Accommodation:
Rain Forest Boutique Resort
Highlights:
Enjoy the Songkran festival and visit several temples to observe and partake in rituals.
Itinerary:
Day 1: April 11, 2013
Description:
Arrival in Chiang Mai. We will pick you up from the airport or railwaystation.Transfer to the hotel. Check-in time is at noon.Rest of the day free at leisure.
Overnight at Rainforest Resort – Superior room
Day 2: April 12, 2013
Meals:
Breakfast
Lunch
Description:
We will pick you up from your hotel or guesthouse for an early 6 o' clock departure. You will drive up to what is Chiang Mai's most famous landmark: Wat Prathat Doi Suthep, the temple located on the 1,676 meters high Doi Suthep. On the way to the temple we stop briefly at the shrine on the left side of the road. You will see monks walking barefoot begging for alms. We will join in this ceremony for a short will before continuing the ascent of Doi Suthep.
You will arrive at Wat Doi Suthep before the crowds arrive, the best time to be here. Climb the 300-steps staircase, flanked by Nagas, or take the cable car up. With clear weather, the views are incredible. Good morning Chiang Mai!
Wat Doi Suthep is located in Doi Suthep-Doi Pui National Park. After having visited the temple you will hike the short distance to the National Park Headquarters. There you will pay a short visit to the small FORRU nursery. FORRU is the Forest Restoration Research Unit from Chiang Mai University. FORRU has a made a name for itself in the last few years in the field of reforestation. Your guide will explain about the work of FORRU.
From the park headquarters you will trek down a beautiful trail through some of the best forest in the park. Your guide will explain about the different forest types of Doi Suthep-Doi Pui National Park. The trail is not very difficult but sometimes steep. We have all the time in the world so there is no hurry.
At the smaller Sai Yoi waterfall we will take a rest and enjoy our picnic lunch. You will continue through bamboo forest to the Montatharn waterfall. You will be picked up from the waterfall and transferred back to the hotel where you can freshen up.Rest of the afternoon free at leisure.
Overnight at Rainforest Resort – Superior room
Day 3: April 13, 2013
Meals:
Breakfast
Lunch
Description:
Your guide will pick you up from the hotel. Expect to become wet today. Recommended clothing: shorts, your Songkran shirt and flip-flops. Please wrap you wallet in a plastic bag and leave valuables and mobile phone at the hotel. You can take your camera but please carry it in a waterproof backpack.
Transfer by public truck (songtaew) to the Nawarat Bridge. Here we will start to walk. Watch the Songkran parade. Buddha statues are paraded on decorated floats. Revelers sprinkle water on the statues. We follow the parade to Thapae Gate. We continue to several temples where we will partake in rituals and watch the construction of sand pagodas. Your guide will explain you about the background of everything you are witnessing around you.
We will make our way to Wat Phra Singh, where this walking tour ends. At Wat Phra Singh we will pay merit to the Phra Sihing Buddha Statue. We will have lunch in a local restaurant. We will make our way back to the moat where the most rowdy Songkran scenes take place. Pick up trucks with revelers circle the moat and engage in fierce waterbattles with people on the roadside. Here is it really party time.When dawn settles in revelers usually start to tire and it’s time to go home, take a hot bath and relax.
Your guide will transfer you back to the hotel by tuk tuk or songtaew.The evening is free at leisure.
Overnight at Rainforest Resort – Superior room
Day 4: April 14, 2013
Meals:
Breakfast
Lunch
Description:
Your guide will pick you up from the hotel at around 0830. We recommend you to dress the same as yesterday. According to some people Songkran anno 2012 has degenerated into a vulgar waterthrowing party laced with plenty of alcohol and has nothing to do anymore with the deeply religious and respectful ceremonies of yesteryears. This might be the case in central Chiang Mai. Like I said: it has become a bit rowdy there, too rowdy for some people’s taste.
Today we want to show you the other, more traditional side of Songkran. We will head out to Lamphun and its environs, about 30 kms south of Chiang Mai.
Our transportation today will be an open pickup truck. The pickup truck will have a large watercontainer, a couple of small waterscoops and a coolbox with ice. We can buy drinks along the way (on own costs). Lunch in a local restaurant is included today.
We will not follow a scheduled program today. We will take it as it goes. We will visit at least two local temples and drive around standing in the back of the truck, handing out liquid blessings….
At the end of the afternoon we will make our way back to the hotel.The evening is free at leisure.
Overnight at Rainforest Resort – Superior room
Day 5: April 15, 2013
Meals:
Breakfast
Description:
Check out time is noon.We will transfer you to the airport or railwaystation.
Included:
- Transportation by pick up truck
- Lunch
- English speaking guide
- On day 4 a pickup truck with water container, water scoops and a coolbox with ice
- Two sets of Songkran shirts
- Sightseeing tour as mention
- Entrance fee
- Insurance
Not Included:
- All drinks
- Personal expenses
- Tips
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