TTTK03 - Chiang Dao in depth Tour - 4 days
Highlights:
An unforgettable elephant ride. Experience the life of the hilltribe people. Bamboo rafting
Difficulty Level:
This four-day hilltribe trek will take you into the mountains of Northern Thailand. This trek is a small group trek that departs every Wednesday and Saturday as a join-in tour. Departures are guaranteed with a minimum of 2 persons. Maximum group size is 10 persons.
In the coming days you will learn about the flora and fauna of Northern Thailand and about the mountain dwellers who call these foothills of the Himalayas their home. You will learn about the traditions and life of the various tribes inhabiting this area, the Karen, Lahu, Palong and Akha. Most of these tribes migrated into Thailand from the surrounding countries. Your experienced guide knows this area as the back of his hand and will tell you about the flora and fauna. If you are interested in Thai cooking, you can join our guide with preparing dinner and he will teach you how to cook real Thai food. Enjoy the local hill tribe lifestyle, your guide can tell you many stories about their lives.
Departure Time:
9 am
End Time:
4 - 5 pm
Transportation:
trekking truck
Accommodation:
hilltribe house
Itinerary:
Day 1: Chiang Mai – Karen Village
Meals:
Lunch
Dinner
Description:
Your trekking guide will pick you up around 09:00 at your hotel or guesthouse. You will drive to the north into the mountains. On the way, you'll stop at the Mae Ma Lai market. Your guide will do some shopping for the coming days. He will take you along and will explain about the different ingredients used in the Thai kitchen. After that, drive to Keng Keud, enjoy an elephant ride.
Then, continue to a riverside camp on Tang River where a bamboo raft will be waiting for you. Your helmsmen will maneuver the raft through the gentle rapids.
After that, drive to Chiang Dao Cave. Visit the cave. Lunch will be at a restaurant in front of Chiang Dao Cave. After that we will drive to the Red Lahu Pang Tong village where will start trekking. We will walk about 2,5 hours this afternoon until we arrive at our final destination of today, the Karen village of Pha Lai. This area has five difference tribes which are Lahu, Palong, Akha, Lisu and Karen. You will visit some of these for the next coming day. Your guide will introduce you to the Thai kitchen and will explain you about all the different herbs we use for the Thai dishes. After that you can help him to cook the dinner. After dinner he will take you to one of the local houses to tell you the stories about the daily life of the Karen and about the history of the village.
Day 2: Karen Village – Palong Village
Meals:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Description:
After breakfast this morning we will start trekking to Lisu and Akha village in the area of Pha Lai.
Enjoy a delicious lunch in the forest. After lunch we will continue our trek through the forest to the Palong village Mae Joen. Your guide will take his time to explain you about the natural environment. Walking today will be around 5-6 hours. Arrive at the village later in the afternoon.
Your guide will prepare your evening meal for you all, and if you like you can join him to prepare dinner. At the campfire after dinner, it’s time to share some more stories with your guide and the local Palong people.
Day 3: Palong village
Meals:
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Description:
After breakfast this morning we will start trekking for about two hours through the forest to a waterfall where you will have time for a refreshing swim. Enjoy a delicious picnic lunch at the waterfall. After lunch we will continue our trek through the forest about 3-4 hours to another Palong village. Your guide will take his time to explain you about the natural environment. We walk out of the forest into the rice fields to Palong village Huay Pong.
Once we have arrived in the village you can rest for a while or spend some time playing with the children. Your guide will prepare your evening meal for you all, and if you like you can join him to prepare dinner. At the campfire after dinner, it’s time to share some more stories with your guide and the local Palong people.
Day 4: Palong village – rafting – Chiang Mai
Meals:
Breakfast
Lunch
Description:
After breakfast we will trek about an hour to a Karen village Thakilek. Most of the Karen lives in eastern Burma. They have been fighting for an independent state for many years. Thailand has a significant Karen population. After that drive to the restaurant where we have lunch. Drive back to Chiang Mai by truck. On the way back we will make a stop at an orchid nursery.
Included:
- Transportation by pick up truck
- 3 nights accommodation hill tribe villages
- All meals on trek
- English speaking guide
- Elephant Ride (about 40 minutes)
- Bamboo Rafting (about 45 minutes)
- Insurance
Not Included:
- All drinks
- Personal expenses
- Tips
Things to Bring:
- Short sleeve shirts for the day time (bring a spare one, just in case)
- Long sleeves for the evening (especially in the winter Nov - Feb it can be a bit cold)
- Shoes with good grip (especially in the raining season from May - Sep)
- A cap
- Suncream
- A small towel
- Flip flops
- Sun glasses
- Your personal toiletries
- Personal medication
- Fully charged batteries or even an extra battery for your camera.
- 1000-1500 Thai Baht per person in small notes (not bigger than 100 Thai Baht). This is for souvenirs, drinks and tips.
Notes:
Due to weather conditions and other conditions on the ground we might have to adjust the itinerary of this trekking. If it is necessary to adjust the program we will always make sure that the quality of your experience and your personal safety are safeguarded.
Please respect local customs and traditions. We will give you a document named "code of conduct in the village". Read it before you go on your trek. Dress conservatively in the village. Please refrain from or, at least minimize, the intake of alcoholic beverages while you are in the village.