Detailed Information

Travel and Activity Schedule

Sunday 21 July or 22 december

Arrival in guest house Good Will

8/2 Chiang Mai - Lampoon Road - Soi 2
Chiang Mai 50000

tel: +66-53-242323

Dinner & welcome at 18.00 hour. A lunchbox is available for people who arrive early (please reserve).

From the airport of Chiang Mai you can take a taxi for 120 bath to the guesthouse.

This simple and clean guesthouse owed by a friendly Thai family has 2-3 person rooms with hot shower and a kitchen/dining room on top of the roof with a nice view on Chiang Mai.

Monday 22 July or 23 December

Visit to the Phuping Palace & the Doi Suthep Temple.

The Phuping Palace was built in1961 as a winter residence for the Royal family as well as a guest quarters for prominent state visitors from abroad. Surrounded by landscaped flower gardens the temperature is usually very comfortable here situated at altitude above the planes of Chiang Mai. The Palace is surrounded by a lavishly landscaped flower garden.

Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep is situated on Doi Pui mountain overlooking the city of Chiang Mai. The road winds up from the city of Chiang Mai to the base of the temple where you can take the 306 steps which are lined each side with a naga balustrade. If you are not feeling energetic or not so steady on your feet then there is the option of the short ride on the funicular cable car. The present temple complex at Doi Suthep dates from the 16th Century, the center piece being the large Lanna style gold covered chedi. Doi Suthep on its own makes a very worthy visit but while here you can enjoy the cool air, and clouds allowing, the great views over the whole of Chiang Mai and to the mountains beyond.

Tuesday 23 July or 24 December

Visit to the Ket Karam Temple and Worarot market.

Wat Ket Karam was established almost six hundred years ago and has gone through some name changes and shows the unique and diverse cultures that go into making Chiang Mai such a special and warm place to live or visit. It is truly Lanna yet has buildings that are of Chinese design and influence, some buildings are European influenced with Central Thai features. Somehow the blend and mix has made this place a truly special place to visit. The first name of the temple was Wat Sa Gate named for the Chiang Mai Royal Families ceremonial structure which the Royal family used to wash their hair at, on the first day of Songkran (Lanna New Years). It was changed because it was the same name as another temple down south. Now it is Wat Ket Karam or "Wat Gate" by farang spelling. It is also the home of the so called Wat Gate Museum.

Worarot Market, known locally as Kad Luang, is the main local market and is a busy bustling place where you can see the 'real' Chiang Mai. It is located centrally at the top of Chiang Moi Road along the Ping River. Worarot Market is set in and around a huge rambling building and is a place to go to find almost anything! On the ground floor of the main building there are a number of food stalls selling both fresh, dried and packaged food. Thai food specialties like Jasmine brown, red, sticky black and sticky brown rice, a great variety of (exotic) vegetables and fruits, fish, tofu beans as well as herbs and spices aplenty make Worarot Market especially popular with Thai visitors to the city. Many stalls and shops around Wororot Market sell all kinds of household goods often at a fraction of the price you will find elsewhere. Cooking equipment, utensils, crockery, glassware everything you need to set up home here is available so it is the perfect place for people just moving to Chiang Mai. There are also a number of fabric shops with a bewildering array of materials suitable for making anything from a suit to a cushion cover. If you see something you like take a sample of the material to one of the nearby tailors (Sopa is recommended) and have something made up to your exact specifications. Perhaps the best thing about Worarot Market is that it is a chance to see Chiang Mai life close up, a real experience that is highly recommended.

Wednesday 24 July and 25 December

Free day in Chiang Mai

Explore the town, visit the waterfall or enjoy a strong and energetic Thai massage.

Evening Lecture:
Peaceplanet macrobiotic family community in Thailand.

Peaceplanet started her activities in the Netherlands. Thian & Hansa den Hoed started a macrobiotic family community and were giving macrobiotic cooking classes and lectures in the Netherlands. Hundreds of people from all over the world found a place in their family and could experience macrobiotic in daily life. They were helping to make macrobiotic meals, cleaning the house and taking care of their children and grandchildren. In their organic food company they were helping with making food products like tempeh, natto, seitan, samosa's, spring rolls, pesto, humus, tofu spreads, muesli's and pastry without sugar and milk products. They were filling grains, beans, seeds, nuts, dried fruits and many Japanese products in consumer packages. At special organic markets in and around Amsterdam they were able to sell these products to the customers. They could experience the influence of macrobiotic food and daily physical activity on their health and happiness. December 24 2012 Thian, Hansa & Lang bought a beautiful piece of land in the Shan hill tribe village Pang Ung (Ban Ruam Thai) in the mountains of Northern Thailand with view on a lake and surrounded by tree and bamboo forest. Hansa will explain their dream about creating a macrobiotic family community in Thailand.

Thursday 25 July and 26 December

Minibus to Mae Hong Son & Pang Ung

Mae Hong Son province is located in the remote West of Northern Thailand. The province borders Myanmar's Shan state to the North and all along the west. The province's total area is some 12,000 square kilometers, mostly mountainous and forest-covered, with a few flat valleys in which villages have developed. Rice paddies are cultivated in every valley. From Chiang Mai by road it is a 6 hours drive to cover the distance of 290 kms (180 miles). Not a highway, but a long and scenic winding road with 1864 curves. The road is probably one of the most scenic drives in Northern Thailand.

From Mae Hong Son we will take the local yellow cab to Pang Ung where we will stay in simple bamboo huts with limited electricity and bath room with cold water.

Christmas Celebration

Only in winter.

Friday 26 July or 27 December

Bamboo raft ride and swimming in the lake

It is the area that ever used for planting opiums, this plant was popular among the hill tribes in the North of Thailand. They destroyed a large amount of forest. With the Royal Inintiative Project by HM King for highland development, this area was changed to the land of beautiful landscapes and evergreen forest. The area covers 18,000 rai (7,200 acres) with height at 1,150 m.(713 mi.) above sea level. It consists a large basin with reservoir and lake. Around the basin lined with pine forests and green mountains, these made beautiful memorable views at Pang Ung lake. The interesting activities for travelers are : Bamboo raft ride, it is especially activities for visitors who wants to touch the liquid smokes above the morning lake. Watching night sky in peaceful environment and morning walk on the nice paths around the lake. A highlight of sunshine scene is a sunrise at the lake. It is a place for people who love to touch fresh cold air and beautiful mountain with lake view. The lake gives super views. It is covered with fog in the early morning until the sunshine comes. The water is calm and peaceful while images of smoke float high above liquid in the morning.

Saturday 27 July or 28 December

Nature walk

This walk on the Pang Tong Royal project gives the impression of being in paradise. A small path to the Pang Tong Royal School leads through forest with beautiful deciduous trees and huge bamboos. On the background is the sound of streaming water and singing birds. The way continues passing small farms completely isolated in the forest where cars have no access. Rippling creeks pass through terraced fields and give the possibility to cool down your feet or to take a dip in the fresh water. More coolness can be experienced under the pine trees when arriving at the Pang Ung lake.

Thai food the macrobiotic way

Demonstration cooking class where Thai dishes will be prepared with simple macrobiotic ingredients like brown rice, whole wheat noodles, tofu, fresh vegetables, shoyu, miso and mild spices and without animal food and sugar. You will enjoy the taste of traditional Thai recipes like Tou Hu Tod (deep fried tofu with peanut sauce), Tod Yum Hed (oyster mushroom soup), Pad Thai (stir fried rice noodles), Gang Ped Fug Tong Mungsavirat (pumpkin curry), Som Tum (papaya salad).

Sunday 28 July or 29 December

Visit Mae Hong Son

Nestled in a deep valley hemmed in by high mountain ranges, Mae Hong Son town has long been isolated from the outside world. Virtually covered with mist throughout the year, Mae Hong Son was once only accessible via harrowing, windy, narrow roads that took most of a day to traverse, an adventurous drive that made the town that much more alluring. The name of Mae Hong Son refers to the fact that its terrain is highly suitable for the training of elephants. In fact, former governors of Chiang Mai used to organize the rounding up of wild elephants which were then trained in Mae Hong Son before being sent to the capital for work. Elephants remain an important part of the local culture.

Wat Chong Klang - a replica of the Phra Phuttha Sihing is installed on an altar. There are several interesting items such as wooden figurines of human and animals depicted in the Phra Vejsandon Jakata (pronounced Cha-dok which means one of odd stories of former incarnations of the Buddha) created by Burmese craftsmen and brought over in 1857, painting on glass about the Jakata and on Prince Siddhartha, as well as on the ways of life of the time. The captions are in Burmese. There are also notations that the paintings were by Thai Yai artisans from Mandalay.

Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu - Erected by the first governor of Mae Hong Son, this temple reflects the strong influence of the Burmese. The highlights of this attraction are the two lavishly decorated pagodas. Also, this hilltop temple affords an exceptional aerial view of the city and surrounding mountains and valleys.

Long Neck Karen Village

Among the unspoiled nature the hill tribes live in harmony. Visit the village of Long Neck Karen or Padong, the beauty of women is their long neck. In the village you find traditional handicraft like shawls, bags and jewelry

Monday 29 July or 30 December

Free day in Pang Ung

Enjoy the village, the lake or a nice walk in the mountains.

Macrobiotic sustainable living

Macrobiotic lifestyle has an enormous influence on our environment. When the whole world population change to a macrobiotic food pattern based on vegetarian products like grains, vegetables and beans we need only minor part of the agricultural land to produce our food. We can bring back nature in our surrounding.
Organic agriculture in a natural environment gives us the best quality food and will help us to recover and remain our health.
Nature gives us plenty materials to use for building and in our domestic maintenance. How can you improve your life using natural materials like clay, bamboo, wood, leaves and straw.

Tuesday 30 July or 31 December

Walking through the mountains

Starting under the pine trees around the Pang Ung lake the path high in the mountains leads us trough deciduous forest with wild banana trees and bamboos. Surrounded by beautiful mountains we will go down in the valley to a small river close to Myanmar. Passing small terraced fields we will arrive at a Karen village with 17 houses. The road continues along the river showing mountains completely covered with bamboos and others with reed and flowers.

New Years Eve Celebration

Only in winter.

Wednesday 31 July or 1 January

Pha Sua waterfall

About 26 km from Mae Hong Son on the road to Pai, this waterfall consists of six levels and offers some fine walks. This waterfall is about 20 m high and 30 m wide. It is said to be the most beautiful waterfall in Mae Hong Son Province. On rainy season, the plentiful water makes the waterfall looks like a rolling mat.

Fish Cave (Thumpla)

Near the village of Huay Pha, about 17 km from Mae Hong Son (Highway 1095), this is a beautiful spot to escape the heat. A water channel that leads its way out of a small submerged cave. What is inside the cave is still unknown to us, but it astoundingly draws thousands of the "Pluang-Hin" fish into the cave, with only a small number of them coming back out.

Medicinal cooking

Use your daily food as medicine. Your health starts in the kitchen. Depending on the ingredients and the way of preparing you can make strengthening, relaxing and discharging dishes and drinks. Learn to understand your needs and improve your health to realize your dream.

Thursday 1 August or 2 January

Free day in Pang Ung

Enjoy the village, the lake or a nice walk in the mountains.

Shiatsu massage class

Learn a basic massage of the head, shoulders and back to relieve somebody from tiredness pain and stiffness. A very effective traditional Japanese massage. Everybody can do it at any moment at any place.

Friday 2 August or 3 January

Minibus to Chiang Mai

See 25 July and 26 December

Saturday 3 August or 4 January

Last day in Chiang Mai & Farewell

Today we will say good bye to each other. Depending on your flight schedule you can still enjoy Chiang Mai or take a taxi to the airport.

A lunchbox is available for everyone.

Due to circumstances we can make changes in this travel and activity schedule.

Included

Two or three person room with toilet and shower with warm water in Guesthouse in Chiang Mai and two or three person home stay with toilet and bathroom with cold water in Pang Ung. When you book alone we let you share a room with a person of the same sex.

All transport in the above scedule.

Three macrobiotic meals per day.

Entrance fees for all attractions.

Not Included

Ticket to Chiang Mai.

Transfer from airport to guesthouse and back to airport.

Activities or entrance fees not included in the above schedule.

Meals, snacks or drinks in restaurants or bars.

Travel insurance (obliged).

Cancellation insurance (advised).

Guesthouse before 28 April 2013 and on or after 11 May 2013.

We can book extra days in the guesthouse in Chiang Mai or the home stay in Pang Ung on your request.

Costs & Refund:

Adult (18 years & older) € 990.- (€ 200.- non-refundable)

Child (3 - 17 years) € 495.- (€ 100.- non-refundable)

Baby (0 - 2 years) € 247.50 (€ 50.- non-refundable)

Peaceplanet guaranties this vacation. Also with a small group we will not cancel these spring holidays. In case of cancellation by Peaceplanet we will refund the full amount you paid to us for these holidays plus the full price including taxes you paid for your airplane ticket from your country to Chiang Mai.

Cancellation by the customer is possible till 21 days before the vacation start. In case of cancellation please send an email to info@peaceplanet.org. We will refund the full amount you paid to us for this vacation minus a non-refundable amount (see price schedule above).

Discount:

Second adult for the price of a child

Payment:

Please make your payment to:

Johannes den Hoed

5 Mu 5 Ban Ruam Thai (Pang Ung)

Mok Champae district

Muang Mae Hong Son 58000

Thailand

Bangkok Bank Thailand

account: 379 0 3168 83

SWIFT code: BKKBTHBK

Please make sure no costs have to be paid by Peaceplanet for your payment.

Insurance:

A travel insurance is obliged for these holidays.

Peaceplanet is not responsible for the cost caused by accidents, health problems, repatriation or lost or damaged commodities.

A cancellation insurance is advised.