Hilltribe Encouters

Pick up at your hotel in Chiang Mai and transfer by private vehicle to the mountainous area north of the city. Break the journey at Mae Malai local market, an excellent opportunity to get in touch with the locals and stroll along the colorful stalls offering a wide range of exotic products.

After a stop at Mok Fah waterfalls for a picnic lunch, drive along the winding road through amazing scenery to Huay Nam Dung National Park and the village of Mae Sae.

Start your hike to the Karen village of Baan Mae Jok. The Karen people are one of the largest hill tribes of South East Asia with a total population of three millions spread throughout Burma, Laos, and Thailand, and representing half of the total hill tribe population in the country. During the trek, seasonal fruits are a welcome refreshment and energizer. Also, a porter is at your service for carrying your personal affairs (1 porter per 2 pax).

This evening enjoy an authentic Thai candlelight dinner along with an open bar.

Overnight in Mae Jok.

Transfer distance/duration: 90km/02h30.

Trekking duration/difficulty: 02h00/Moderate.

Breakfast will be served while the morning mist is being swept away from the valley by the cool morning breeze.

Resume your walk under the shade of the tropical canopy. This morning’s trek will take you to a Karen elephant camp. Regionally famous for their mahout skills, the history of the Karen people has always been linked to those of the elephants. Picnic lunch will be taken at the camp while your elephant is being prepared.

Climb on your tusker’s back and get deeper into the jungle, eventually reaching the Karen village of Baan Pa Khaolam where you will spend the night.

Today’s dinner includes:

– one bottle of wine per four people

– open bar

Overnight in Pa Khaolam.

Trekking duration/difficulty: 03h00/Moderate.

Elephant Riding duration/difficulty: 01h00-01h30/Easy to moderate.

After a leisurely breakfast, the morning will be entirely dedicated to a bamboo raft journey along the Taeng River to the Shan village of Sop Kai passing other hill tribe villages en route. The Shan or Tai Yai (“large Thai”) are believed to have migrated from Yunnan in China and have inhabited the Shan plateau in Myanmar as far as the 10^th century, but were forced to flee into Thailand following intermittent conflicts with the Burmese army.

Local lunch in Sop Gai then drive back by songtaew to Chiang Mai in the afternoon.

Bamboo rafting duration/difficulty: 03h00-04h00/Moderate.

Transfer distance/duration: 60km/02h00.