Wild Thailand Tours : Explore The Hilltribes Of Chiang Mai And Chiang Rai

Thailand's adventure holiday specialist for a small independent group and customized travel in Thailand and neighboring countries

Explore The Hilltribes Of
Chiang Mai And Chiang Rai

Tour code : WT.CNX12
Duration : 5days 4nights,
Type of tour :Private Tour
Start in Chiang Mai and End in Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai
Minimum passengers : 2 persons
Trip Grade: easy to moderate
Activities : Bamboo Rafting, Elephant Riding, Hiking/Trekking, Boat Trip, Hilltribe Villages (Hmong/Karen/ Lahu)and local people Lifestyle, etc.

About the trip

This is a wonderful trip for soft adventure lovers. The nature & culture elements are combined for your enjoyable and meaningful trip.

You will have a great opportunity to visit 3 different tribal groups - Hmong & Karen in Chiang Mai, and Karen & Lahu in Chiang Rai.

From Chiang Mai we travel about 1.30 hrs. by air cond-van along the beautiful, local road to the Forestry Rafting Camp in Mae Wang to enjoy bamboo rafting on beautiful Mae Nam Wang for 1 hr. and connected with elephant riding (1 hr.), and then take the van to Doi Inthanon National Park (about 1 hr. drive).

" Doi Inthanon" , Thailand 's highest peak in Chiang Mai Province , is an offshoot in this southern extension of Himalayan Range . This national park's vegetation consists of 8 types (a native pine, lower & upper dry dipterocarp, opened & moist hill evergreen, and sub - alpine etc.). It is a habitat of more than 446 kinds of wildlife particularly 364 kinds of wild birds and there are several famous trails to explore the wonder of nature. Doi Inthanon is therefore one of Thailand 's best places for a nature walk and bird watching activities. There are Karen & Hmong tribesmen dwell in isolated villages in this area where visitors can observe their unique lifestyle and culture.

We check in the Karen Ecolodge, located in the middle of Karen terrace rice field. After that drive up to explore the summit (2,565 m. above the sea level). Nature walk at Ang Ka Nature Trail (45 mins.). Visit Hmong's Fruit & Flower Market and check-in at Karen Ecolodge/Nature Lodge for overnight.

On Day 2, hiking along the Kiew Mae Pan Trail for about 3 hrs. The hiking will end at the King & Queen Stupas. Lunch. In the afternoon, on the way before hiking (30 mins.) to visit Karen Mae Klang Luang Village where villagers are happy to show their fruits orchards. Chat with Karen people. Dinner & overnight at Karen Ecolodge.

On Day 3, we will travel down Doi Inthanon and return to Chiang Mai and onward to Chiang Rai via Chiang Dao with short stops to visit many interesting villages such as noodle producing village, paper making village (elephant waste recycle), as well as Chiang Dao Cave. We will overnight at Chiang Dao Inn.

On Day 4, we will continue traveling to Thaton, and take the boat trip on Mae Kok River and visit 3 different tribal groups - Karen, Lahu, and Akha. We will overnight in Akha Village (homestay).

On Day 5, we will travel to visit Mae Sai, the Golden Triangle, Chiang Saen with short visits at interesting local temple, and observe the reality of the opium at Opium Hall before return to the township of Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai.

Itinerary

Day 1Chiang Mai - Mae Wang - Doi Inthanon National Park - Nature Walk (L,D)

08.00 Pick up from a hotel in Chiang Mai or airport and travel by van to Mae Wang along small local road on the Southwest of Chiang Mai (1.30 hrs. drive) Enjoy elephant riding about 1 hrs. and bamboo rafting on a beautiful Mae Wang River for about 1 hrs. Lunch at a local restaurant. Then travel to Doi Inthanon National Park (about 1 hrs.). After that travel up to explore the summit, and visit to the visitor's center. Nature walk at "Ang Ka nature trail" near the summit (about 30 minutes). Here you will see tall cloaked in moss, fern, orchid and other epiphytes, especially "Sphagnum trees Moss" and Rhododendron.

After that visit to Hmong's Fruit & Flower Market. Then travel by van to check-in at Nature Lodge/Karen Ecolodge for overnight.

Day 2 Doi Inthanon - Karen Village (B,L,D)

Am Breakfast at Karen Ecolodge, and birdwatching/nature walk along "Kiew Mae Pan Nature Trail" until reaching the King & Queen Stupas. Lunch at a foodshop.

Pm After lunch, hike to visit Karen hilltribes at Mae Klang Luang, where they are happy to show you their fruit & coffee farms. Drinking fresh coffee and take leisure in the green & beautiful scenery

19.00 Dinner & overnight at the Nature Lodge or Karen Ecolodge in the park

Day 3 Doi Inthanon - Chiang Mai - Chiang Dao (B,L,D)

08.00 Breakfast at the lodge. Travel by van to Thaton. On the way visit to some interesting places such as Thai noodle making village, paper making village, Khao Larm (sticky rice in bamboo) making village, Chiang Dao Cave , and then check-in at Chiang Dao Inn.

Dinner and overnight at Chiang Dao Inn.

Day 4 Chiang Dao - Thaton - Boat Trip - Hilltribe Villages (B,L,D)

Am Travel to Thaton pier and take the boat trip on Mae Kok River (about 2.30 - 3 hrs.) to Karen village and connected with elephant riding (about 1-2 hrs.) to visit Lahu village. Observe their village life and interact with the people. Dinner and overnight at homestay in Lahu village.

Day 5 Lahu Village - Mae Sai - Golden Triangle - Chiang Rai/Chiang Mai (B,L)

Am After breakfast, trek into the jungle until reaching a nice waterfall (about 2.30 hrs.) Take a rest at the waterfalls. After that travel by van/ to Mae Sai (about 1.30- 2 hrs. drive). Visit Mae Sai, the lively market at Thailand-Myanmar border. Then travel to visit the Golden Triangle and Chiang Saen with visits to some nice local temples & Opium Museum

Pm After lunch, return to Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai for departure. (It's possible also to drop off at Chiang Khong for departure to Laos.

Meals: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner