****Limited to 16 seats only.Book your Air Asia seat early to enjoy cheaper fare****
Dhammagiri Foundation Orphanage
& SUNFLOWER season tour
NOV 17-21, 2012 MAE HONG SON, THAILAND
Remember
the photo exhibitions showcasing the
artistic output of Ajahn Cagino..?
Ajahn Cagino, a Malaysian born professional
photographer turn Buddhist monk, is a founding member of Dhammagiri Foundation (www.dhammagiri.or.th),
an NGO that seeks to improve the life of
poor ethnic minorities in mountainous Mae
Hong Son province
of Thailand.
The photo exhibitions were held to raise
funds to build an orphanage.
This NOVEMBER 17-21, 2012, Ti-Ratana
Penchala Community Centre invites you to visit Ajahn Cagino at the new orphanage near
Mae Hong Son town and visit his temple
located up in the mountain village
of Muang Pam.
At the
same time, get lost in the bright yellow fields of Bua Tong Flowers (Mexican
Sunflower),
which blooms in Mae Hong Son province only in November!! Visit the Long Neck Karen village, go bamboo
rafting into Tham
Lod Cave
and make a trip to scenic Mae Aw village,
nicknamed “The Switzerland of Thailand” and home to descendants of former Chinese Kuomintang
soldiers.
If you are going to Mae Hong Son, NOVEMBER is the best time!!
SAT NOV 17: CHIANG MAI - PAI – THAM LOD –
MUANG PAM (L/D)
Arrival
Air Asia flight AK 1914 8.40 am at Chiang
Mai airport. Transfer to Pai
town in Mae Hong Son province. Have lunch in Pai and take a walk around the shopping street of Pai. Then continue
to Tham Lod Cave to take bamboo raft
ride into the cave and visit the ancient
wooden coffins. From Tham
Lod Cave
parking area, board pickup trucks for transfer up mountain to Muang Pam
Village and visit Ajahn Cagino's temple. Overnight at
Muang Pam’s home-stay houses, with dinner of home cooked Thai food.
LUNCH: Local Restaurant
DINNER: Home cooked meals (Muang Pam
village home-stay program)
ACCOMMODATION: home-stay at Muang Pam village
SUN NOV 18: MUANG PAM - MAE HONG SON (B/L/D)
After
breakfast, board pickup trucks for transfer down to Tham Lod Cave area. Board tour vans and visit Fish Cave
and Wat Pa Baan Mai temple. Proceed
to Mae Hong Son town for lunch. Then go for Pai River long-tail boat ride to visit the Long Neck Karen village. Next is elephant ride across river and through
forest & plantation. Return to Mae Hong Son town to visit hilltop Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu and 2
lakeside temples; Wat Chong Kham and
Wat Chong Klang. Dinner and then
visit night market at lakeside area.
Transfer to Dhammagiri Foundation Orphanage to overnight.
BREAKFAST: local breakfast under home-stay
program of Muang Pam village
LUNCH: Local Restaurant
DINNER: Local Restaurant
ACCOMMODATION: at Dhammagiri Foundation
Orphanage
MON NOV 19: MAE HONG SON & MAE AW Day
Trip
Morning,
transfer to Mae Aw with en-route stops at Pha
Sua Waterfall, Pang Tong Summer
Palace and Pang Ung Lake ("Switzerland
of Thailand"). Visit Ban Pang Ung
village where the local Shan villagers cultivate coffee bushes. Then
finally arrive at Mae Aw village aka
“Ban Ruk Thai” (Love
Thai Village);
a village established by descendants of former Kuomintang Chinese soldiers. Lunch
and explore the village. Return to Mae Hong Son town. Dinner in town and
overnight at Dhammagiri Foundation Orphanage.
BREAKFAST: at the orphanage
LUNCH: Local Restaurant
DINNER: Local Restaurant
ACCOMMODATION: at Dhammagiri Foundation Orphanage
TUE NOV 20: MAE HONG SON - KHUN YUAM -
flight to CHIANG MAI (L/D)
Morning,
transfer to Microwave Tower hill to enjoy the scenery. Then to Khun Yuam to visit the Bua
Tong flower (Mexican Sunflower) fields, with hill after hill carpeted with
the yellow flowers. Lunch and transfer to Mae Hong Son airport to catch 16.10pm
flight back to Chiang Mai, arrival
16.45pm. Dinner and overnight in Chiang Mai.
BREAKFAST: at the orphanage
LUNCH: Local Restaurant
DINNER: Local Restaurant in Chiang Mai
city located beside Mae
Ping River
ACCOMMODATION: Imm Hotel Tha Phae, Chiang Mai (3
star) or similar
WED NOV 21: CHIANG MAI departure
After
breakfast at hotel, transfer to airport for Air Asia 9.10am flight.
BREAKFAST: at hotel
RATES: based on twin
sharing, for group size of 16 persons
a) Ground
Tour
b) Chiang
Mai–Mae Hong Son air ticket RM 220 (subject to change by airline)
TOTAL = RM
1420 /person
Single
supplement = RM 115
Rates & Itinerary subject to changes in FOREX
rates, domestic Mae Hong Son – Chiang Mai air ticket price, unforeseen
surcharges, weather, etc.
INCLUSIVE:
a) Domestic
1 way air ticket Mae Hong Son to Chiang Mai, based on approximate price RM220 and
subject to change by the airline.
b) Airport
transfers and tour excursion on PRIVATE basis using 2 x Tour
Vans
c) Accommodation
NOV 17: Home-stay
program at Muang Pam Village
NOV 20: Imm Hotel Tha Phae, Chiang Mai (3 star) or
similar
d) Meals
as per itinerary above
e) Guaranteed
no compulsory shopping stops
f) English
speaking tour guide and entrance fees for attractions as per itinerary
EXCLUDING:
a) Return
KL-Chiang Mai Air Asia airfare, airport taxes and fuel surcharges
b)
Accommodation on Nov 18 & 19 nights (these are at Dhammagiri Orphanage)
c) 2
breakfasts: Nov 19 & 20 (while at Dhammagiri Orphanage)
d) Travel
insurance – can be arranged separately – RM 32 per person (5 days coverage)
e) Guide
& Driver Tipping – no compulsory amount set – amount is up to individual
discretion
f)
Personal expenses like optional activities not included in itinerary, soft
drinks during meals, items of donations or dana, hotel bellboys/porter tipping,
laundry charges, mini-bar charges, etc.
SIGNING UP:
To sign up, kindly contact Bro.
David via:
·
email david@elsoltravel.com
·
h/p:
016-210 6951
·
tel.
603-79844560 (Mon–Fri, 10am-5pm, EL SOL Travel & Tours Sdn Bhd)
DEADLINE: sign up by MAY 31 with non-refundable deposit of RM 300 /person
DO NOTE that it is to your advantage if you purchase the Air Asia return
KL – Chiang Mai air tickets as early as possible.
Air Asia
air ticket will go up in price as the date of departure approaches closer.
The flights to be used are:
SAT NOV 17 Air Asia AK 1914 KUL 0655 CNX 0840
WED NOV 21 Air Asia AK 1915 CNX 0910 KUL 1300
Alternatively,
you can opt to arrive in Chiang Mai on your own before Nov 17 and/or to
depart Chiang Mai on your own later than Nov 21.
