North Thailand Trekking Tour 3 Days: Chiang Dao Private Exploration

In this North Thailand Trekking Tour 3 Days: Chiang Dao Private Exploration, you'll venture into the stunning mountains of northern Thailand, where various tribal communities reside. Explore the unique cultures of the Karen, Lahu, Palong, and Akha people as you journey through this mountainous region. Each of these tribes has its own traditions, customs, history and language.

3 days 2 nights

Thailand

Trekking Tours

- Short Trips

Attractions

Chiang Mai

Duration

3 days 2 nights

Code

TCD01

Type of tour

Private tour

Overview

This North Thailand Trekking Tour 3 Days: Chiang Dao Private Exploration allows you to escape the ordinary and delve into the heart of Chiang Dao on a one-of-a-kind blend of cultural immersion and adventure. There are numerous highlights of this tour, including visits to villages of local ethnic groups such as Karen, Lahu, Palong, and Akkha. Thrilling activities like rafting in inflatable boats and on bamboo rafts also add an adventurous touch.

You will also explore "treasures" at the renowned local Mae Ma Lai market, brimming with its artisanal products and culinary specialties. The tour continues with a short drive away lies the awe-inspiring Chiang Dao Caves, a spectacular natural wonder.

The final day brings a unique encounter. You will visit the Poopoopaper elephant cam, providing an unforgettable experience. Here, you can learn about the lives of these creatures and gain a deeper appreciation for their respectful well-being.

Then, cap off your adventure with a night spending time with the Palong villagers, welcomed by their warmth. You also will be able to savor local dishes and share anecdotes about their daily life in a friendly atmosphere.

Overall, this 3-day private trekking tour in Chiang Dao is an ideal choice for adventurers seeking to immerse themselves in local culture and explore captivating sites off the beaten path.

Highlights

Visiting local ethnic villages like Karen, Lahu, Palong, Akha
Rafting by dinghy and bamboo raft
Visiting Mae Ma Lai local market
Exploring the famous Chiang Dao caves
Visiting the camp Poopoopaper elephants

Itinerary

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Your personal trekking guide will pick you up at your accommodation for your private Chiang Dao trek. We'll drive into the mountains, stopping at Mae Ma Lai market along the way. Here, your guide will purchase supplies needed for the next few days and explain the different ingredients used in Thai cuisine.

Next, we'll head to a riverside camp on the Taeng River, where you'll enjoy a rush but exciting inflatable rafting experience, followed by a short bamboo raft trip. Your skilled helmsmen will navigate the raft through gentle rapids. We will then drive to Chiang Dao to officially begin our trek, leaving the main road to reach the Akha village of Ban Huay Hok.

First, we'll tackle our first hike, a scenic climb lasting about an hour, that leads us to the Palong Pang Deng Nai village. This village is part of a fascinating royal agricultural project. Your guide will explain this project in detail to you. Lunch will be in the village.

After this visit, we will start trekking to Pang How, another village in Palong where you will spend the night. These Palong villages are a rare sight in northern Thailand, as the tribe recently migrated from Myanmar. The women wear distinctive red costumes, with rattan hoops and silver belts around their waists.

Your guide will introduce you to Thai cuisine and explain all the different herbs we used in dishes. You can assist in preparing dinner. After the meal, your guide will take you to a local home, where you'll hear captivating stories about the Palong's daily life and the history of the village.

Night in the village of Baan Mae Chon.

On the second day of your private trekking in Chiang Dao, the guide will prepare breakfast. After breakfast, your guide will take you on a tour of the village. He will explain about the village shrine and the "huja rawl", the "heart of the village".

Following that, we will embark on a two-hour hike to a waterfall, where you can enjoy a refreshing break. A delicious picnic will be served at the waterfall. After lunch, we will continue trekking through the forest for about 3-4 hours to another village in Palong. Your guide will provide insights into the natural environment for you, helping you identify wild ginger, rattan and pitcher plants in the forest and tell you about the uses of bamboo.

We emerge from the forest into the rice fields at Huay Bong, another Palong village. Upon arrival, you can rest for a while or spend time playing with the children. Your guide will prepare your evening meal for you all, and you are welcome to join in cooking if you wish. At the campfire after dinner, it's time to gather around to share some stories with your guide and the local people of Palong.

Night at Baan Huay Bong village.

After breakfast, we'll begin a 1.5-hour hike to the village of Karen Thakilek. Along the way, we'll stop at a Lahu village for a visit, to explore a fascinating spiritual temple and observe a traditional blacksmith at work.

Our journey continues with a trek towards Karen village before driving to the foot of Doi Chiang Dao, Thailand's third-highest mountain, where we will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Afterward, we'll visit the famous Chiang Dao Caves.

The final stop for the day will be Poopoopaper Elephant Camp. Here, you'll take an excellent self-guided tour to see the entire stages of producing paper from elephant dung and discover the history of papermaking.

We'll then return to Chiang Mai, concluding your private Chiang Dao trek.

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