Stay with the Palong People of Chiang Dao

Day 1: Chiang Mai- Palong village

Rubber boat rafting and local market

Your guide and driver will pick you up at the hotel at 0800. You will drive to the north into the mountains near Chiang Dao for your two-day Palong Hilltribe trekking. First, we will stop at a local market.  Your guide will do some shopping for the coming days. He will take you along and will explain about the different ingredients he will be using for dinner. Then, continue to a riverside camp on the Tang River where you will experience an exciting whitewater raft trip by rubber boat before continuing by car to a Lisu village near Chiang Dao where we will start trekking.

Trekking and village overnight

Lunch will be in the jungle. After lunch, we will continue our trek. The trail has a few steep hills, but most of ut is relatively easy. All together we walk about 2,5 – 3 hours through the forest. We will invite you to recognise wild ginger, rattan and the pitcher plant in the woods and your guide tell you all about bamboo and its many uses. Late in the afternoon, we will reach our final destination of today, the Palong village Pang How.

There are only a handful of Palong villages 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 silver belt worn around the waist. 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. After dinner, you will meet some of the villagers, and you will learn about the turbulent history of this village. Overnight will be in one of the village houses

Day 2: Palong Village – Chiang Mai

Textiles and agriculture

After the sounds of nature and the locals woke you up, your guide will prepare breakfast. The second day of your Palong hill tribe trekking starts. After breakfast, your guide will show you around the village. He will explain about the village shrine and the ‘huja rawl’, the ‘village heart’. We will visit an exciting textile weaving project where local women produce beautiful sarongs and shoulder bags. Next, we will visit the garden of Sukhum, where lots of different fruits and vegetables grow. It is an educational experience.

After this, we will say goodbye to the villagers and start trekking for about one hour to a Lahu village.  Here we will visit a fascinating spirit temple. We will also meet an elderly blacksmith who is still going strong despite his age. After this we will continue trekking for one hour to a Karen village where are car will be waiting for us.

Chiang Dao Cave and Elephant Poo Poo Paper Park

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. 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 where your Palong Hilltribe trekking ends.

• English speaking guide
• Private transportation by A/C vehicle
• Accommodation in a local house
• All meals during the trek (two lunch, one breakfast and one dinner)
• Drinking water during meals
• Coffee and tea
• 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 drinking 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 notes (not bigger than 500 Thai Baht and plenty of 100 Thai Baht notes). This is for souvenirs, drinks and tips.

 

Duration	Two Days
difficulty	Intermediate
Tour Category	Standard

You will stay overnight in either of these two houses: Lung Boon House or Lung Chai House. We have been working with Lung Boon and his wife Ya Ma  for a long time. Lung Bun is 56 years old and Ma Ya 42. They moved to Thailand in the 1980s. They have four children who were all born in Thailand.

Lung Chai and his wife Tui were also among the first settlers in this area. They have five adult children. Lung Chai is 60 years old and his wife Tui 52. We have a long relationship with Lung Chai and his family.

 

 

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.