Wiang Kum Kam, the “Atlantis” of Chiang Mai
Your guide and driver will meet you at the hotel for your Wiang Kum Kam, Lamphun and Doi Suthep Tour. Drive to Wiang Kum Kam. We will start our visit at the small but very interesting visitor center. The ruins of this sunken city have only recently been discovered and excavated. King Mengrai founded Wiang Kum Kam in 1282, 16 years before Chiang Mai. The settlement suffered from flooding and was abandoned. We will make a tour of the most interesting ruins of Wiang Kum Kam by horse cart.
After this, we will continue to Lamphun, the ancient capital of the Hariphunchai Kingdom. This town is several hundred years older than Chiang Mai and is steeped in history. We will visit the highlights of Lamphun including the temples Wat Hariphunchai and Wat Kukut.
The Tai Yong of Lamphun
Wat Kukut aka Wat Chamathewi is one of the oldest structures of Lamphun. We continue to Wat Hariphunchai, one of the most revered temples of North Thailand. This magnificent temple is the main attraction of Lamphun and draws many visitors, mainly Thai people. We walk through the “OTOP” (one district, one product) market to the very small but delicate Tai Yong textile museum. Many of Lamphun’s inhabitants are Tai Yong, Tai Lue from Muang Yong. These people migrated about 200 years ago from Northern Shan State (now Myanmar) to Lamphun. It is a fascinating story. Then it’s time for lunch which will be ‘khao soi’, a tasty noodle dish and specialty of North Thailand.
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and Wat Pha Lat
After that, we will continue to Wat Umong, an unusual and serene forest temple. “Umong” means tunnel in the Thai language. Then, we will drive up to Doi Suthep. Visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, the most famous temple of Chiang Mai. Along the way, we will stop at the Kruba Srivichai shrine. His followers constructed the road up to Wat Doi Suthep. The road was opened in 1935. Walk up the 300 steps to the temple. Views from the temple over Chiang Mai are spectacular. Your guide will explain the history of this temple. On the way down we will make a brief stop at Wat Pha Lat, another lovely forest temple. We will drop you off at the hotel. We hope you enjoyed our Wiang Kum Kam, Lamphun and Doi Suthep Tour.