Trek the Mountains of Huay Nam Dang

Price per person in THB
2 persons3 persons4 persons5 persons6 persons7 persons8 persons
  7,700  5,9005,0004,9004,5004,3004,000
Difficulty
70%

This private two-day trekking gives you a chance to explore the beautiful Huay Nam Dang and Mae Taeng area. Because your trip takes place in the Huay Nam Dang and Doi Pui/Doi Suthep National Parks you will contribute to the protection of these parks. By staying in the Karen village you will support the local people and make them proud of their traditions and culture. The trip ends with a fabulous bamboo rafting* down the Mae Taeng River. We consider this one of our Chiang Mai jungle trekking and forest bathing tours.

Total approximate driving time:
Day 1 – two hours
Day 2 – two hours

*Please note that we might have to cancel the bamboo rafting trip due to the water level in the river in the rainy season (May until October). This has happened a couple of times in the months of August and September. In that case, we will offer bamboo rafting on the Ping River or another activity.

From: 7,700.00 ฿

Trees with a view of mountains and forests North Thailand flora Huai Nam Dang
Huai Nam Dang National Park vista

Day 1: Chiang Mai- Karen Village

Mork Fah Waterfall and Hot Springs

This trip is a private tour. Your guide will meet you at the hotel at 0800. Drive to Huay Nam Dang National Park for your two-day Huay Nam Dang trek. This national park has been a popular trekking destination since the start of hill tribe trekking in the early 1970s. We have done this trek many, many times with groups and individuals. See our testimonial and feedback page.

Our first stop will be at Mae Malai, where your guide will do his shopping for the coming days. He will take you along and explain the different ingredients he will use for dinner. Continue to the Mork Fa waterfall, where you can swim and relax. This waterfall is part of the Doi Suthep Doi Pui National park. Enjoy a local lunch at a roadside restaurant. After lunch, we will continue to the Pong Duad Hot Springs, where we will start trekking.

Trekking and village overnight

We will hike for about four hours through the dense tropical forest. There is enough time to rest, take pictures and enjoy the beautiful surroundings. When we arrive at a plateau with giant pine trees, we are rewarded with magnificent views over the endless mountain scenery. The pine tree, by the way, is the Pinus Kesiya.

In the late afternoon, we arrive at the Karen village, where we will spend the night. After arrival, you can relax, explore the village, or learn Thai cooking by helping your guide prepare dinner. He will explain the herbs and ingredients he uses and teaches you how to cook a delicious meal in a wok on a wood fire. After dinner, your guide will take you to one of the village houses to meet some villagers. He will try to teach you some words in the Karen language, such as “tablu,” a greeting, and means thank you as well.
We will spend the night in the Karen village. You will sleep on a mattress with a mosquito net, and we provide a sleeping bag or sheet. You can compare it to camping. For more information on the Green Trails village Homestays, please have a look here.

Family rafting on the Mae Taeng
Bamboo rafting on the Mae Taeng River

Day 2: Karen Village – Chiang Mai

Great bamboo rafting

After breakfast, we will trek for about one hour to the Mae Taeng (Taeng River), where our bamboo rafts* are waiting for us. Depending on the season, there are some exciting rapids in this river. We will provide life jackets, of course, and please wear them and read our bamboo rafting policy. Enjoy a wonderful bamboo raft trip to a Black Lahu village along the Mae Tang River. Here we will stop for a while and walk around the village. After this, we will return to our raft and continue a wonderful trip through the jungle.

Enjoy the view of the lush green jungle on both riverbanks. Bamboo rafting was an essential means of transportation in the old days. Our destination will be a Shan village, where we will have lunch. After lunch, we will drive back to Chiang Mai by trekking truck. We will drop you at your hotel at around 1600. Here your Huay Nam Dang Trek ends. We hope you had a great time.

We also offer a three-day trek to the Huay Nam Dang National Park.

*Please note that we might have to cancel the bamboo rafting trip due to the water level in the river in the rainy season (May until October) which happened a couple of times in August and September. In that case, we will offer bamboo rafting on the Ping River or another activity.

Highlights

Mae Malai local market

Huay Nam Dang National Park

Hot Springs

Beautiful Mork Fah Waterfall

Fantastic forest

Overnight in a village homestay

Amazing views

Karen culture

Bamboo rafting on the Mae Taeng (Taeng River)

Inclusions

What is 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 sheet bag or sleeping bag
Use of Mosquito net
Use of Backpack (on request)
Toilet paper & Soap
Towel
A flashlight is provided in the village

What is not included?

All drinks except drinking water
Personal expenses
Tips

Timeline

08.00 – Departure from the hotel
09.00 – Visit a local market
09.45 – Visit the Mork Fah waterfall. Time for a swim.
10.30 – Drive to the Pong Duad Hot Springs
12.00 – Lunch at a local restaurant before arriving at the Hot Springs
13.00 – Shortstop 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 your guide cook dinner
18.00 – Dinner at the village before free at leisure

Day 2
08.30 – Start hiking for about one-a-half hours to the rafting camp
10.00 – Start bamboo rafting about two to three hours
11.00 – Short stop to visit a Lahu village
13.00 – The raft trip ends at a Shan village. Lunch at the village.
14.00 – Drive back to Chiang Mai
16.00 – Drop off at the hotel

What to bring

During this trip, you will have to carry your luggage yourself, so it is essential to pack as lightly as possible. You can leave your big luggage in the storage room of the hotel. If you stay in a different hotel after the trip than the one before, you can leave your big luggage in our office for the duration of the trip. Porterage during the trip is available for 300THB per day.

Two or three short sleeve shirts for the daytime
A warm shirt with long sleeves for the evening (in the winter Nov – Feb, it can be a bit cold)
Comfortable shoes with good grip (especially in the rainy season from May until November)
Swimwear
A hat or cap
Light raincoat
Sunscreen
Flip flops for in the village
Sunglasses
Your toiletries
Personal medication
Fully charged batteries or even an extra battery or power bank for your camera or phone. Most villages have electricity, but it is not always available.

Some money for souvenirs, drinks, and tips. We recommend 1000-1500 Thai Baht per person in small notes (not bigger than 500 Thai Baht and plenty of 100 Thai Baht notes).