Your guide and driver will be waiting for you at your Chiang Rai hotel lobby (conditions apply), from where we head out northbound towards Mae Sai, a 60-kilometre ride, connecting Thailand with Thakhilek in Myanmar. En route, we make a stop at Baan Wang Lao, one of the few villages where traditional forms of handicraft still form the core of the residents’ steady income. Together with your guide, the walk through the village with locals showcasing their work give you an insight of something truly Thai. Our goal for this half day outing is of course Mae Sai, better known as ’Northern Most Point of Thailand’. Surrounded by mountains, this small border town is sole overland border crossing into Myanmar and with its local market being a focal point for trading, one will see a mix of Thais and Burmese wandering the main street of Mae Sai. It is also the ideal market for gem lovers, where numerous kinds of precious stones from Myanmar, such as rubies, emeralds, jade, and others, are for sale. You will have ample time to walk around and see for yourself what’s for sale here. If you’re interested in buying something, don’t forget to barter – it is the only way to trade in this part of the world and the success of your haggling skills will certainly deliver some smiles.