Northern Thailand Adventure

Itinerary

Day 1: TUK TUKS, TEMPLES, ELEPHANTS, RAFTING AND A NORTHERN THAI WELCOME

Pass By: Mae Wang District, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Once in Mae Wang the adventure really gets started. You’ll be introduced to your Tuk Tuk, guide team and drivers and then head straight off to start experiencing rural Chiang Mai. Heading through small farming villages our first stop is the remote mountain side Temple of Wat Tham Nam Hu where you’ll have the chance to learn about Buddhism and the life of the monks.

Next we follow the valley North through lovely scenery to a small, highly ethical elephant home. After lunch it’s time to help the mahouts feed the elephants before then walking with them down to the local river where the elephants bathe..

Next it’s time for us to take a slightly different mode of transport as we board bamboo rafts (with expert ‘driver’) to float gently downstream enjoying the cool water and breezes.

In the evening we’ll head out to a real ‘country pub’. Very popular with the local community and with some of the best food you’ll come across, a great night is ahead.


Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at a small local resort. Twin / double rooms, en-suite, air-conditioning and wi-fi

Day 2: KAREN HILL TRIBES, REMOTE MOUNTAIN ROADS AND THAILAND’S HIGHEST POINT

Stop At: 119 Moo 7 Ban Luang Subdistrict, Doi Inthanon National Park 50270 Thailand
Our first stop is the valley of Mae Sapok where we’ll take a short hike through the forest to a very pretty waterfall, great to cool off by, and explore the local Karen community. The road then winds ever upwards with hairpin bends. We pass through numerous small Karen farming communities and will stop for a late lunch at a small roadside eatery.
Then we continue to wind our way through the mountains to where we’ll spend the night in the Karen Hill Tribe village of Mae Khlang Luang. This location of this village is awesome – looking out over rice fields, surrounded by forest and mountains it really is a special place and the family who run our accommodation for the night are some of the friendliest people you could wish to meet.
But that’s not it for the day – once we’ve checked in we’ll head by ‘songtaew’ (a local taxi!) to Thailand’s highest peak, Doi Inthanon over 2,500m.

In the evening we’re enjoy a traditional Thai BBQ in the village whilst overlooking the rice fields.

Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in a simple but clean village lodge. Twin / double rooms, en-suite, fan cooled, wi-fi

Day 3: HIKING IN THE HILLS OF DOI INTHANON

Stop At: 119 Moo 7 Ban Luang Subdistrict, Doi Inthanon National Park 50270 Thailand
A superb day hiking and exploring the forest surrounding the village. Accompanied not only by your guide team but also a local forest expert who can bring everything to life.

The hike is around 6km and we take it nice and easy meaning it’s suitable for all. We’ll head through the towering forest, stopping to learn about how the local communities use different plants for traditional healing, and then reach fantastic waterfalls and follow the stream heading down the mountains.

Lunch is eaten in a forest clearing and there’s even the opportunity to cool off swimming in the chilly waters under one of the waterfalls.
Eventually we start to hit human habitation again and walk along rice terraces back to the village where we spend the night, stopping first for some of the freshest most traditional coffee you’re ever likely to have had.

We have another delicious Thai feast in the Hill Tribe village this evening.

Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: We stay in the same accommodation as on night 2 - lovely views and a very friendly community

Day 4: BACK ON THE ROAD – HEADING TOWARDS THE BORDER WITH MYANMAR

Stop At: Mae Sariang, Mae Sariang, Mae Hong Son Province
The route today starts by winding down the side of Doi Inthanon – fantastic roads and incredible views – and then we head through very remote countryside and areas that few overseas visitors ever see. There are plenty of stops at local coffee shops, viewpoints and just to stretch legs before we have lunch in another great roadside eatery.

We then start climbing again and passing through more Hill Tribe communities before we start the descent to Mae Sariang.

Mae Sariang is a very pleasant small town which is effectively the last stop before the border with Myanmar. With a real ethnic mix in the community – from Thai to Karen, Hmong to Burmese – the town is a fascinating place to explore with very friendly locals.
We stay in the best hotel in the town which has pleasant rooms all with nice balconies and there’s even a riverside swimming pool and in the evening head for yet more great Northern Thai food.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in a pleasant riverside hotel. Twin / double rooms, en-suite, air-conditioning, wi-fi and swimming pool

Day 5: RIVERS, BORDERS AND A SERIOUSLY REMOTE MOUNTAIN VILLAGE

Stop At: Tha Song Yang, Tha Song Yang, Tak Province
First we transfer a short way by minivan before boarding a local ‘long tail’ boat which will take us down river to the community of Tha Song Yang. The river is the exact border between Thailand and Myanmar and winds it’s way through jagged cliffs and forested hills with the odd small community making a simple living on the river banks.
We then transfer into 4WD vehicles to head high into some of the most remote mountains in the country to the Karen community which is our base for the next two nights.
By the middle of the afternoon we’ll arrive at the very small Karen settlement. Made up of around 20-30 families this community was the first to settle in the local area and is the highest village in the surrounding hills.

We’ll explore the village, meet our hosts and then sit down with the local families to have a traditional mountain Karen dinner together.


Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: A very simple homestay in the remote mountain community. Clean mattresses, mosquito nets and simple washing facilities.

Day 6: ELEPHANTS IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT – AND A REAL KAREN MOUNTAIN EXPERIENCE

Stop At: Tha Song Yang, Tha Song Yang, Tak Province
This morning we head out to observe elephants in their natural habitat. When we reach the elephants we can marvel at just how magnificent they are. We will be accompanied by expert mahouts who, through our translators, can tell you all about the history of these elephants and their relationship with the local community. Lunch will be in forest and in the afternoon we’ll hike back to the community picking various plants and vegetable that will be cooked up this evening for another amazing dinner.

In the early evening walk up to the mountain top Temple in the late afternoon perched on a ridge overlooking the hills into Myanmar and lived in by one solitary monk.

Then it’s back to the village where everyone will work together – community and us – to cook a fantastic farewell feast, share stories and enjoy each others company.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: We stay in the same homestays we did last night - very simple but an amazing experience