The Amazing Tribal Diversity of Chiang Dao

Day 1: Chiang Mai- Palong village

Your trekking guide will pick you up at your hotel or guesthouse for your Chiang Dao private trekking. We will drive 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.
Then, continue to a riverside camp on the Tang River where you will make an experience an exciting whitewater raft trip. Continue by car to Chiang Dao where we will start trekking. Continue to Chiang Dao where we will leave the main road to drive to an Akha village.

We will start our trek with the hike to the Palong village Pang Deng Nai, which is part of one of the Royal projects. Here the guide will explain about this agricultural project. Lunch will be at the village. There are only a handful of Palong communities in Northern Thailand. The Palong tribe only recently moved from Myanmar to Thailand. The women wear a distinctive costume mostly in red, with rattan hoops and a silver belt worn around the waist.

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 dinner. After dinner, he will take you to one of the local houses to tell you the stories about the daily life of the Palong and the history of the village.
Overnight will be at Palong hill tribe village Baan Pang Dang Nai

Day 2: Baan Pang Dang Nai – Baan Mae Chon

Second day of your Chiang Dao private trekking. After the sounds of nature and the locals woke you up, your guide will prepare breakfast. After breakfast, your guide will show you around the village. He will explain about the village shrine and the ‘huja rawl’, the ‘village heart’. After this, we will continue our trek through the forest about 3-4 hours to another Palong village. Your guide will take his time to explain about the natural environment. We will invite you to recognise wild ginger, rattan and the pitcher plant in the forest and tell you all about bamboo and its many uses.

We walk out of the forest into the Mae Chon, another Palong village. 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 cook dinner. At the campfire after dinner, it’s time to share some more stories with your guide and the local Palong people.
Overnight will be at Palong hill tribe village Baan Mae Chon.

Day 3: Ban Mae Chon – Chiang Mai

Third day of your Chiang Dao private trekking. After the sounds of nature and the locals woke you up, your guide will prepare breakfast. After breakfast, we will trek about 1.5 hours to the Karen village Thakilek. Along the way, we will stop at Lahu village where we will visit the fascinating spirit temple and a blacksmith. After this, we will continue trekking to the Karen village.

Drive to the foot of Doi Chiang Dao, the 3rd highest mountain in Thailand. Here we will have lunch in a local restaurant. Visit the famous Caves of Chiang Dao. Drive back to Chiang Mai. Last stop today will be the Elephant Poo Poo Paper Camp. During an excellent self-guided tour, you will see all the stages of the production of paper from elephant dung and learn about the history of papermaking. Return to Chiang Mai. It is the end of your Chiang Dao private trekking.

• English speaking guide
• Private transportation by A/C vehicle
• Accommodation in a local house
• All meals during the trek (3 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners)
• Drinking water during meals
• Coffee and tea
• Information leaflet on the tribes
• Information paper
• Rubber boat whitewater rafting (about 30 mins)
• Elephant Poo Poo Paper Park
• Chiang Dao Cave
• Limited medical insurance
• Use of sheetbag or sleeping bag
• Use of Mosquito net
• Use of Backpack (on request)
• Toilet paper & Soap
• Towel
• A flashlight is provided in the village

 

• Other drinks except water during meals
• Personal expenses
• Tips

• 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
• Flip flops
• Sunglasses
• Your personal toiletries
• Personal medication
• Fully charged batteries or even an extra battery for your camera.
• 1000-1500 Thai Baht per person in small (not bigger than 500 Thai Baht and plenty of 100 Thai Baht notes). This is for souvenirs, drinks and tips.

Duration	Three Days
difficulty	Challenging
Tour Category	Standard

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 holiday experience and your personal safety are safeguarded.