Day 1: Chiang Mai – Karen village

Mae Malai local market

Your guide will meet you at the hotel at 0800. Drive to the area where we will start our Huay Nam Dang trekking begins. Here you can find more about the history and background of hill tribe trekking in Chiang Mai. Our first stop will be at the local market at Mae Malai. Here your guide will do his shopping for the coming days. You can join him. He will explain about the different ingredients he will be using for dinner.

Mork Fah Waterfall

Continue to the Mork Fah waterfall where you can have a swim and relax. This waterfall is part of the Doi Suthep Doi Pui National Park. Enjoy a simple but delicious lunch at a roadside restaurant. After lunch, we will continue to the Pong Deuad Hot Springs, where we will stop briefly. These hot springs are already in Huay Nam Dang National Park. Here we will start trekking. We will hike for about four hours through the forest. The trail goes up and down. About an hour before we reach the Karen village where we will spend the night, we pass through an area with amazing views.

Overnight in Karen village

After arrival in the village, you can relax, explore the village or learn some Thai cooking by helping your guide prepare the dinner. He can explain about the herbs and ingredients he uses. Learn to cook on a woodfire in a wok. It is not easy, but great fun! After dinner, your guide will take you to one of the village houses where you will meet some of the villagers.

Overnight in the Karen village.

Day 2: Karen Village – Chiang Mai

Breakfast and trekking

Wake up on the second day of your Huay Nam Dang trekking. Your guide will cook breakfast. After breakfast, we will start trekking into the forest for a trek lasting two to three hours, visiting the rice and vegetable fields of the villages along the way and learn about the villager’s traditional methods of cultivation.

Afternoon trekking through the national park

After lunch, you will continue trekking for about two hours to the Karen village of Baan Mae Ma Nai. You will also have the chance to fish at Mae Tang River using local tools and learn the technique of constructing a bamboo raft before. The evening is free of planned activities for you to explore or relax at your leisure. Overnight in the Karen village.

Day 3: Karen village – rafting – Chiang Mai

The best bamboo rafting in North Thailand

Breakfast at the community. Trek for out about one hour to the Taeng River (Mae Taeng). Our bamboo rafts are waiting for us. We will provide life jackets. Please wear them and read our bamboo raft policy.

Enjoy a wonderful bamboo raft trip along the Mae Tang River to a Black Lahu village. Here we will stop for a while. Your guide will explain about the Black Lahu people. We will raft to a Shan village where we will have lunch. Drive back to Chiang Mai by truck where your Huay Nam Dang trekking ends. We will drop you at your hotel at around 1600.

We also offer a two days program to Huay Nam Dang National Park.

Timeline	Timeline: Day 1 08.00 – Departure from hotel 09.00 – Visit a local market 09.45 – Visit the Mork Fah waterfall, opportunity to swim 10.30 – Drive to the Pong Duad Hot Springs 12.00 – Lunch at a local restaurant before arrive at hot springs 13.00 – Short stop and relax at the hot springs 13.30 – Start hiking about three to four hours to Karen village 16.30 – Arrival at Karen village where we stay overnight 17.00 – Help guide cooking dinner 18.00 – Dinner at the village before free at leisure Day 2 09.00 – Visit around the village 09.30 – Start hiking about four to five hours to another Karen village 12.00 – Picnic lunch in the jungle 14.30 – Arrival at the village, rest and relax 15.00 – Visit around the village, meet local people and join activities at the village 17.00 – Help guide cooking dinner 18.00 – Dinner at the village before free at leisure Day 3 08.30 – Start hiking about one hour to the rafting camp 09.30 – Start bamboo rafting about two to three hours 10.30 – Short stop to visit a Lahu village 12.30 – End of the rafting trip at a Shan village and lunch at the village 14.00 – Drive back to Chiang Mai 16.00 – Drop off at the hotel
Duration	Three Days
difficulty	Challenging
Tour Category	Standard
Included	Transportation by trekking truck Accommodation in the village Experienced English-speaking trekking guide Bamboo rafting (about 3-4 hours) One breakfast, two lunches and one dinner Drinking water during meals Coffee and tea Entrance fee 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
Not included	All drinks except drinking water Personal expenses Tips
Things to bring	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 hat or cap Raincoat Sunscreen 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.

*During the rainy season we may not be able to bamboo raft because of high and dangerous water levels. In this case we will do the rafting more down river where it is more safe but shorter. **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 experience and your personal safety are safeguarded.