Published on Jan, 2025

Minty met us in the Marriott lobby at 8:30 and we rolled out of Chiang Mai through a rush hour far less daunting than Bangkok’s. Minty is a very well informed and personable guide who gave us a brief and clear account of the absorption of the Chiang Mai’s Lanna kingdom into modern Thailand under Rama V and its development as a tourist destination and agricultural center. Minty is also an excellent photographer whose pictures never fail to capture the captivating beauty of the tour and the happy faces of her clients. The countryside was lush except where dried rice stubble awaiting burning. The air was acrid with smoke until we started ascending the foothills of the Thanon Thong Chai mountains toward the Doi Suthep-Pui National park. Along the way to the park, we stopped at the Wachirathai waterfall, an 80 meter cascade that drew hordes of awestruck tourists and made a beautiful rainbow at its base. The views from both vantage points were spectacular; from the upper one, the torrent seemingly just beyond arm’s reach. , We entered the park and visited the Rama IX and Queen pagodas, built on gorgeous twin peaks to commemorate the 60th birthday of the beloved late king Bhumibol and the 25th anniversary of his reign. They are serene and shapely, and surrounded by dreamlike mountains and valleys thinly veiled with mists, but breezy and cool, interspersed with gorgeous gardens filled with blooming snapdragons. Inside the queen’s pagoda has frescoes depicting the life of Buddha, and the king’s bas reliefs of the holiest places and moments of Buddha’s life: his birth, enlightenment, first sermon, and death. We drove to Thailand’s highest point, and the crypt of the last King of Chiang Mai. Beside the chedi is a rounded brass plate on which visitors are invited to balance a coin. After watching a succession of coins tilt and fall, I succeeded, and my secret wish will soon be granted. We celebrated with lunch at a Hmong restaurant Romphoti, where we a had the best tilapia ever. After lunch, we stopped at viewpoint overlooking a verdant valley where flowers and vegetables, perhaps including those we’d just lunched on, are grown beneath canopies. We drove to the entrance of the Dai Inthanon park, collected bamboo walking sticks, end set off into the forest led by Minty and assisted by a local guide, Miu, a young Karen girl. Rainforest trees towered above us, We trekked downhill near a river whose roaring cascades filled the forest with soothing sound and delighted the eyes with their beauty, so close it seemed possible to touch the whitewater as it raced by. We crossed a wobbly bamboo bridge backdropped by a torrent of falling water, then hiked past coffee trees, some with ripened red beans, growing in the shade of the forest canopy. We reached a Karen village where Miu left our group and stayed with a group of elder Karen women looming the textiles for which they are famous. Then Monty returned us to Chiang Mai just after sunset.

Published on Jan, 2025

Purichat ["May"] was a wonderful and enthusiastic tour guide. She presented us with a variety of activity options to choose from and took us to see and do the things that interested us the most. May's also a great driver and very knowledgeable and flexible guide. We really appreciated the history of Thailand she shared with us as well as how the country was formed both geologically and politically. We chose the hike that goes along a rushing river filled with water falls and went through rice paddies and a Karen Hill Tribe village. It was a memorable hike and a memorable day, and while we noticed other guides were hurrying their groups along and limiting the time they could spend taking pictures, May let us go at our own pace and take as many photos as we wanted. I highly recommend her as a guide!

Published on Nov, 2024

We used Charin for a second time as a guide for a day trip to Doi Inthanon, Wachirathan waterfall and some other places off the regular tourist routes, visiting a local tribe and the Royal Agricultural centre with fabulous gardens to walk around, a great place to stop and eat our picnic lunch. There is not much Charin doesn’t know, he has had such a varied life, his knowledge is wonderful and we couldn’t have picked a better guide. Would highly recommend taking this tour, the sights are amazing as was Charin.

Published on Oct, 2024

Nephat has an infectious enthusiasm and natural talent helping people discover the history and culture of Thai people. She was very patient with me when I asked a lot of questions about the stone engraving in the twin pagodas. I appreciated the way she took her time with me Inever felt rushed on under pressure. Being an older man with asthma, I appreciated How she chooses trails in Doi Inthanon National park that were appropriate and still allowed me to experience Thai nature and wild life to its fullest. Again takin time to explain the natural land ecosystem. I have had many Quine’s, but would have to say that she was one of the best.Will recommend her to all my friends and will book her again when I come back to thailand.

Published on Sep, 2024

Unfortunately, the weather for our day trip out of Chang Mai was very poor and we were able to see little at the top of Thailand’s highest mountain. However, Ae still made the day memorable as we went through the countryside and had an excellent lunch. Ae is an excellent guide speaks very good English and goes out of her way to bring her city alive to her guests.