Advice on Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai tour?

Hi there,

I’m planning to visit Chiang Mai with my girlfriend next November. We’ll be in Chiang Mai for 4 nights from 15th to 19th of November 2024.

Then on the 19th we’d like to do a tour for about 4 day, 3 nights tour (number of days flexible). Lonely planet recommends a company called Green Trails based in Chiang Mai. We contacted them asking for tour recommendations and they recommended their “THE ANCIENT CARAVAN TRAIL TO CHIANG RAI”, that’s detailed on their site (link to this tour: [https://www.green-trails.com/tours/green-trails-expeditions/the-ancient-caravan-trail-to-chiang-rai/](https://www.green-trails.com/tours/green-trails-expeditions/the-ancient-caravan-trail-to-chiang-rai/)). This tour is 4 days and 3 nights and ends in Chiang Rai. This makes sense for us, as we’re continuing to Laos at Huay Xai border afterwards (so ending in Chiang Rai is on the way). A few questions :

* Is this company and tour good or are would anyone recommend alternatives?
* Is it worth booking this kind of tour in advance, or could we find one directly in Chiang Mai during our stay a few days before for a better price (taking into account we’ll be there during Loy Krathong and Yi peng, so probably very busy)?
* We were offered this tour at \~500$ per person for 2 person private tour, trips, food, guides, 3 nights accommodation included. I don’t mind paying a steep price if its worth it, but is this price competitive or should we try and bring it down?

P.S. bonus question. Any recommendations on the Loy Krathong/Yi Peng festivities on the 15th and 16th of November? We arrive in Chiang Mai from Bangkok on the 15th at around 7:30 pm. Will we miss the main events on that night or will we still catch a bit of it?

Thanks,

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