Day 5 — Phayao → Chiang Rai
Km 250
Early in the morning departure to the boarding pier where you can witness the traditional offering to novice monks (Taak Bat). Participants will be able to personally purchase the Sangkatan on site (optional activity and not included, the cost of Sangkatan in Phayao is about 200 baht). Afterwards, you will board small rowing boats of local fishermen to reach a small island in the center of the lake where the ancient statue of the Tilok Aram Buddha is located. (Note: in case of bad weather and high waves, the boat tour may be canceled). The date of the works has not yet been planned. However, the place will remain open to the public during the restoration and with a bit of luck, visitors who come here during this period will have the opportunity to see the country's most famous artist at work. Return to the hotel around 08:30 for breakfast on the panoramic terrace of your hotel overlooking the lake., departure to Chiang Rai, shortly before arriving in Chiang Rai, stop off to see the Wat Rong Khun, the “White Temple”: a unique monument designed by a famous Thai artist, the journey carries on northwards, towards the border with Laos and Myanmar; amidst mountains thick with tropical greenery, and tribe villages rising in narrow valleys., we enter the region of the great Mekong river – a thriving, ethnically rich commercial area in Asia. Several hilltribes live at the foot of mount Mae Salong, on the border with Myanmar. As you stroll through the market of Mae Salong Nai, you will find yourself in the middle of a colourful melting pot, with people from different ethnic groups in their traditional clothing. This is the place to find the ingredients for the typical Khao Soi – a delicious spice- and coconut-flavoured noodle soup that we'll taste during lunch at a countryside homestay. After lunch we reach The Golden Triangle, a vast region between Myanmar, Thailand and Laos. Historically it has been an area well-known for the growing of opium; however, it is now referred to as a conventional intersection between those three countries. The centre of the triangle is the village of Sop Ruak, 70 km north-east of Chiang Rai. Instead of red poppy fields, you will see many souvenir stalls as well as tabernacle with a huge, golden Buddha statue., in the late afternoon, continue to Chiang Rai, arrival at about 18:30, free evening and night,
