R3A ROUTE CARAVAN (XISHOUNGBANNA & KUNMING) - MARCH 13

R3A ROUTE CARAVAN (XISHOUNGBANNA & KUNMING)
March 13 – 19, 2010
Organized by the Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association and The Tourism Authority of Thailand

All images © Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association

MAP
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Route R3A is one of the new highways serving the North-South Economic Corridor. It links Thailand with Laos and Xishuangbanna Prefecture in Yunnan province, Southern China. Covering some 2,000+ kilometres, Route R3A links Thailand with Lao PDR and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) via Bangkok – Chiang Rai – Chiang Khong in Thailand, Bokeo– Luang Namtha –Boten in Laos, and Bohan – Jinghong – Kunming in Yunnan, Southern China.

Opened in March 2008, Route R3A is seen to be the economic highway and road to economic prosperity, tourism opportunities and cultural exchange for the Greater Mekong Subregion.

The Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association (CTBA) in co-operation with The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will be organizing a Chiang Mai & Northern Thailand Roadshow and a R3A Route caravan and surveying trip from Chiang Mai in Thailand to Laos and onto Jinghong and Kunming City in Southern China, 13-19 March, 2010.

The roadshow is only available to CTBA members and Chiang Mai-based travel operators. However, the R3A Route caravan trip is also open to individual travellers, family members and friends who would like to join. Those interested can either bring their own vehicle or join the CTBA group bus.

ITINERARY

Sunday, March 13	Chiang Khong – Boten- Chiang Rung	Hotel in Chiang Rung
02.00	Meeting Point at Tha Phae Gate
02.30	Depart for Chiang Khong, Chiang Rai province
07.30	Breakfast in Chiang Khong, Chiang Rai
08.30	Thailand/Laos border check point and formality (Houei Xai/ Huay Sai)
10:00	Depart for Luang Namtha, Laos
13.00	Lunch in Luang Namtha
14.00	Depart for the Laos border (Boten)
15.00	China border check point and formality (Boten)
17.00 (Chinese local time)	Briefing on “China’s Traffic Regulation”
18.00	Stop for petrol. Leave Bor Harn heading straight for Muang Lah.
19.00	Dinner at Muang Lah
20.00	Depart from Muang Lah for Chiang Rung (Xishuangbanna)
22.00	Overnight at a 4-star hotel in Chiang Rung

Monday, March 14	Chiang Rung - Garden Trails – Galanpa – Paranasri Show	Hotel in Chiang Rung
06.00	Wake up time
07.00	Breakfast at the hotel
08.00	Trails tour of the garden. Watch a tiger show and lion show. Then take an electric cart ride around the garden. Witness how peacocks are lured down from the mountains then watch hundreds of peacocks feeding. Enjoy a cultural show highlighting Akha customs and traditions, including a live demonstraton of an Akha wedding ceremony.
12:00	Lunch
13.00	Visit a Thai Lue village and Wat Maha Suttawas (Wat Thai Yai) Shopping at a jade factory
18.00	Dinner
20:10	Paranasri Culture Show & Light-and-Sound performance highlighting the culture and traditions of various tribes of Xishuangbanna (Sipsongpanna) Autonomous Prefecture.
22:30	Return to the hotel

Tuesday, March 15	Chiang Rung - Tourism Seminar - Kunming	Hotel in Kunming
06.00	Wake up time
07.00	Breakfast at the hotel
08.30 – 12.00	Tour of the various attractions in Kunming
12:00 - 13:30	Lunch hosted by TAT
13:30	Depart for Kunming
17:30	Dinner for Mochiang
18:30	Depart for Kunming
22:30	Arrive in Kunming and overnight at a 4-star hotel

Wednesday, March 16	Kunming - Stone Forest - Chiang Zhou Cave	Hotel in Kunming
06.00	Wake up time
07.00	Breakfast at the hotel
08.00	Visit the Stone Forest in Kunming. The city’s famous landmark is known for its alluring karst landscape and is considered to be one of the natural wonders of the world.
12:00	Lunch
13.00	Visit Zhou Yong Xiang caves
17:30	Dinner and shopping. At leisure.
21:00	Return to the hotel

Thursday, March 17	Chee Chan Mountain - Travel Seminar	Hotel of Kunming
06.00	Wake up time
07.00	Breakfast at the hotel
08.00	Visit Xishan Forest Park and the 1,000-year-old Taoist monastery perched on a mountain overlooking Dianchi Lake (Dian Chuen). Walk along the tunnel that hugs the contour of the mountain. Stop by the Taoist shrine then pass through the "Lhong -Mheon" dragon door and touch the ‘dragon’s crystal ball’ — both believed to be auspicious acts that bestow good luck. From this scenic vantage point, enjoy spectacular views of the lake and the city of Kunming.
12:00	Lunch
14.00	Tour of the various attractions in Kunming
18:15 to 21:30	Dinner hosted by TAT
21:30	Return to the hotel

Friday, March 18	Kunming – Muang Lah	Hotel in Muang Lah
05.00	Wake up time
06.00	Breakfast at the hotel
07.00	Departure for Muang Lah
11:30	Lunch in Mochiang
12:30	Depart for Chiang Rung (Muang Lah)
18:30	Dinner in Muang Lah
21:30	Overnight at a 3-star hotel in Chiang Rung (Muang Lah)

Saturday, March 19	City yards - Huai Sai - Echiyongkag - Chiang Mai
05.00	Wake up time
06.00	Breakfast at the hotel
07.00	Depart for Bor Harn
08.00	China border check point and formality (Boten)
08.30 (Thai local time)	Depart for Luang Namtha
09.30	Arrive in Luang Namtha Sight-seeing tour and shopping. At leisure.
11:00	Lunch at Luang Nam Tha
12:00	Depart for Huay Sai
15:30	Thailand/Laos border check point and formality (Houei Xai/ Huay Sai)
16.30	Depart Chiang Khong heading for Chiang Mai
21:30	Arrive in Chiang Mai

APPLICATION FORM
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SPECIAL PACKAGE PRICES

By your own vehicle (Excluding Petrol/Gasoline)

1.1 CTBA member	14,900 THB nett per person
1.2 Non CTBA member	15,900 THB nett per person
1.3 Children (under 12 yrs.)	9,600 THB nett per person
1.4 Vehicle Fee (Includes car’s passport and entrance fee)	13,200 THB nett per car

All prices include 4-star accommodation (twin room) with breakfast, all meals, all Entrance fees, Visa, Parking Fees, Immigration Fees, Customs Fees, Health Check, Temporary International Driving License and Travel Insurance. Each vehicle will receive a radio mobile for communication.

Remark:

	If you already have a valid visa for the People’s Republic of China (PRC), 1,000 THB will be deducted from the above price.
	For a single room reservation, there will be an additional charge of 4,000 THB per person.
	The total distance for the journey is approximately 2,800 kilometres; the average charge for petrol/gasoline is approximately 11,000 THB per vehicle (About 6.44 Yuan per litre).
	If you are not the owner of the vehicle, please ensure that you have a Letter of Authorization (Allowance Letter) from the vehicle owner or hire purchase company ready to be presented at the immigration check point and formality.

By CTBA Group Bus

1.1 CTBA member	14,900 THB nett per person
1.2 Non CTBA member	15,900 THB nett per person
1.3 Children (under 12 yrs.)	9,600 THB nett per person
1.4 Single room requirement (Additional cost)	4,000 THB nett per person

All prices include 4-star accommodation (twin room) with breakfast, all meals, all Entrance Fees, Visa, Parking Fees, Immigration Fees, Customs Fees, Health Check and Travel Insurance.

Documents Required:

Copy of a valid Car Registration which annual tax paid
Copy of ID of the vehicle owner
Copy of Thai Driving License
Letter of Authorization from the vehicle owner and copies of the vehicles owner’s ID and house registration
Completed application form
Copy of a valid passport with not less than 6 months before travel. There should also be at least 2 pages left in the book. 2 photos of the vehicle’s owner and 6 photos of the driver.

Please also be informed that once all of the documents have been submitted, the applicant will not be permitted to submit a further application for additional vehicles. It will be possible to request the cancellation of a particular vehicle number but the applicant will still be responsible for paying the vehicle fee of 300 Yuan (about 1,500 THB per vehicle).

The average petrol/gasoline charge in China as of 24 December 2009 is as follows:

Diesel	6.44	Yuan/Litre
Benzene	90 6.6	Yuan/Litre
Benzene	93 6.7	Yuan/Litre
Benzene	97 6.95	Yuan/Litre

Contact information:
Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association (CTBA)
Tel: +66 (0) 5382 0333, (0) 5382 0826
Fax: +66 (0) 5382 0827
E-mail: info@chiangmaitourism.org
Web site: www.chiangmaitourism.org, www.amazinglannajao.com

IMPORTANT
Event dates and programme details may be subject to change.
Many of the festivals and events listed on Thailand's official calendar of annual events are traditional Buddhist or folk festivals, the date of which is either determined by the Buddhist lunar calendar and waxing and waning moon. These are not staged events. The festivals reflect the rhythm of life in rural Thai villages and local traditions as observed in times past. To ensure you have the most updated information, please reconfirm details prior to travel.

Contact:
Tourism Authority of Thailand
Email: info@tat.or.th
Website: www.tat.or.th
Tel: +66 (0) 2250 5500 (120 automatic lines)
Fax: +66 (0) 2250 5511 (two automatic lines)

FOR EVENT INFORMATION,
please call 1672.

Address:
1600 Petchaburi Road, Makkasan, Rajatevee
Bangkok 10400
Thailand