7 Day Northern Thailand Adventure
MOUNTAINS AND HILL TRIBES
Tuk Tuks, boats, trekking, elephants and living with a remote community deep in the mountains
7 Day Northern Thailand Adventure
Off the beaten track, remote mountainous Thailand at it's very best. Travelling by Tuk Tuk, long tail river boat and even 4 wheel drive trucks this journey takes you into the soul of mountain communities and delivers an unforgettable travel experience During this 7 Day Adventure you'll meet elephants in their natural forest habitat, travel winding mountain roads by specially built Tuk Tuks, hike in the foothills of Thailand's highest mountain, float downstream on bamboo rafts and spend two days with an incredibly remote traditional mountain community - a rare and unique privilege With authentic Thai food throughout, superb expert guides, a range of overnight accommodation - from charming rural resorts and riverside hotels to genuine mountain Hill Tribe Homestays - and fascinating villages throughout, this is a trip deep into the areas that gave birth to the phrase 'Amazing Thailand'! If you're looking for a very real travel adventure deep into the heart of Thailand then look no further.
What do you get?
- One of our customised Tuk Tuks and an expert local driver
- The very best local guides and support team with you the whole way
- Fantastic, twin / double accommodation full of character
- Pick up in Chiang Mai city and drop off in Mae Sot
- Remote Temples, elephants, trekking, bamboo rafting and Karen Hill Tribe village experiences
- All meals throughout the adventure - feasting on local and national delicacies
- A long tail boat river trip along the Thailand / Myanmar boder
- A real adventure in the heart of real Thailand
Available Dates
We're still working on our dates for 2024 but don't worry, if you'd like to enjoy a 7 Day Adventure next year just get in touch at [email protected] and we'll do our best to set up a new trip date just for you!
£1,195 Per Person
(reserve your place with a deposit of just £150pp)
Where you'll go
Mae Wang
The adventure starts in the picturesque valley of Mae Wang around an hour outside of Chiang Mai city. Situated in the foothills of Thailand's highest mountain this region is full of charming rural villages, superb views of the mountains, pretty farmland and much much more. A great start to your Northern Thailand adventure.
Doi Inthanon and surrounding villages
Wind your way up remote back country roads and spend time in small rural Hill Tribe communities as you head towards the summit of Thailand's highest peak - Doi Inthanon at over 2,500 metres. Enjoy hiking through the pristine forest, gazing at towering waterfalls and spending a couple of nights in a welcoming Hill Tribe village with great views over the rice fields.
Mae Sariang
Surrounded by forests, mountains and rivers and inhabited by Lawa, Karen and other Hill Tribe groups, Mae Sariang is a fascinating laid back town with friendly people, interesting Temples and a great river, perfect for sitting next to enjoying a well deserved cold beer at the end of a day's adventure.
Karen Mountain Village,Tak province
Travel doesn't get more 'wow' than this. 30km up tiny, steep winding roads deep into the mountains you'll reach a small Karen community of around 20 families which is your home for 2 nights. Unbelievable views, traditional culture unchanged for generations, deep forest and beautiful elephants. Not only the highlight of this trip but the highlight of any trip to South East Asia. Truly unforgettable
Itinerary
Day 1: Tuk Tuks, Temples, Elephants and a Northern Thai welcome
Our team will pick you up from The Chiang Mai Gate Hotel (our meeting point) at 09:00 to get this unique adventure started. You’ll then transfer by private minivan to your base for the next two days, Mae Wang, around 60 minutes South of the city.
Once in Mae Wang the adventure really gets started. You’ll be introduced to your Tuk Tuk (your vehicle for the next 4 days!), guide team and drivers and then head straight off to start experiencing rural Chiang Mai.
Heading through small farming villages our first stop is the remote mountain side Temple of Wat Tham Nam Hu where you’ll have the chance to learn about Buddhism, the life of the monks and also receive a blessing for the adventure ahead.
Next you follow the valley North through lovely scenery to a small, highly ethical elephant home. On arrival you’ll be introduced to the elephants and their mahouts before sitting down to a tasty Thai lunch right next to the elephants. After lunch it’s time to help the mahouts feed the elephants before then walking with them down to the local river where you can help bathe these lovely animals.
The elephants themselves decide when they’ve had enough and then it’s time for us to take a slightly different mode of transport as we board bamboo rafts (with expert ‘driver’) to float gently downstream enjoying the cool water and breezes.
Finally you head back to the elephant home, say goodbye to the elephants and jump back in your Tuk Tuks to be driven gently back to our base for the night – the charming and relaxing Khum Khun Wang Resort.
In the evening you’ll head out to a real ‘country pub’. Very popular with the local community and with some of the best food you’ll come across, a great night is ahead.
What's included?
- Transfer from Chiang Mai Gate Hotel to our ‘base camp’
- Rural village and remote Temple visits, including a blessing for the adventure ahead
- Time at a small, private elephant home meeting the elephants and walking with them
- Bamboo rafting on the local river
- Lunch, Dinner and water throughout the adventure
- Expert professional tour guide, drivers and support team
- Twin / double share accommodation in a charming resort in Mae Wang – air-conditioning, en-suite rooms (single rooms can be requested with a surcharge)
- For more information about all the accommodation on your adventure please click here!
Day 2: Karen Hill Tribes, remote mountain roads and Thailand's highest point
Heading off after breakfast the Tuk Tuk Convoy spends the day winding it’s way high up into the mountains today, taking remote, rarely travelled mountain roads giving a real sense of the beauty of this part of the world
Your first stop is the valley of Mae Sapok where you’ll take a short hike through the forest to a very pretty waterfall, great to cool off by, and explore the local Karen community. The road then winds ever upwards with hairpin bends until you reach what feels like another world. It’s noticeably cooler up here and the scenery is simple stunning. You pass through numerous small Karen farming communities and will stop for a late lunch at a small roadside eatery – it might not look like much but the food is fantastic. And remember, all along this journey you’re in the prime position to experience everything. This isn’t travel cut off from the world in an air-conditioned mini-van. The beauty of the Tuk Tuk is that you can sense and smell everything as you pass by – plus the novelty of seeing visitors travelling by bright orange Tuk Tuk guarantees a great reception wherever you are.
Then you continue to wind your way through the mountains to where you’ll spend the night in the Karen Hill Tribe village of Mae Khlang Luang. The location of this village is awesome – looking out over rice fields, surrounded by forest and mountains it really is a special place and the family who run your accommodation for the night are some of the friendliest people you could wish to meet.
But that’s not it for the day – once you’ve checked in you’ll head by ‘songtaew’ (a local taxi!) to Thailand’s highest peak, Doi Inthanon at over 2,500m. Taking in the huge ‘chedi’s’ built in honour of King Rama 9 and his Queen, you’ll also explore the cloud forest before actually walking to the top of the mountain itself (don’t worry – it’s an easy walk suitable for everyone).
In the evening you’ll enjoy a traditional Thai BBQ in the village whilst overlooking the rice fields. Travel doesn’t get much better than this.
What's included?
- Hike to a forest waterfall and small Karen community
- An amazing journey by specially built Tuk Tuk through stunning mountain backroads
- Stops along the route to explore villages, take in the views and soak up the atmosphere
- Visit to Doi Inthanon (including entry fees)
- Explore the summit of Thailand's highest mountain
- Explore the summit of Thailand's highest mountain
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner and water throughout the adventure
- Twin / double share accommodation in a small Hill Tribe village - en-suite, fan cooled and with fantastic views across the rice terraces
- For more information about all the accommodation on your adventure please click here!
Day 3: Jungle Trekking
A superb day hiking and exploring the forest surrounding the village. You’ll head off around mid-morning by pick up truck to the start of the hike accompanied not only by your guide team but also a local forest expert who can bring everything to life.
The hike is only around 6km and you’ll take it nice and easy meaning it’s suitable for all. The first few hundred metres are uphill but after than the trail is either downhill or flat! You’ll pass through the towering forest, stopping to learn about how the local communities use different plants for traditional healing, and then reach fantastic waterfalls and follow the stream heading down the mountains.
Lunch is eaten in a forest clearing and there’s even the opportunity to cool off swimming in the chilly waters under one of the waterfalls.
Eventually you start to hit human habitation again and walk along rice terraces back to the village where you’ll spend the night, stopping first for some of the freshest most traditional coffee you’re ever likely to have had.
There’s time to explore the village and learn about the life of the community before you have another Thai feast in the Hill Tribe village this evening.
What's included?
- Hike through the forested foothills of Doi Inthanon
- Enjoy towering waterfalls and stunning rice terraces
- Expert professional guide, drivers and support team
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner and water throughout the adventure
- Twin / double share accommodation in a small Hill Tribe village - en-suite, fan cooled and with fantastic views across the rice terraces
- For more information about all the accommodation on your adventure please click here!
Day 4: Towards Mae Sariang and the border with Myanmar
You’re back on the road today as the Tuk Tuk convoy, expertly driven by our professional driving team, take you due West to Mae Sariang, our overnight destination. The route today starts by winding down the side of Doi Inthanon – fantastic roads and incredible views – and then you head through very remote countryside and areas that few overseas visitors ever see. There are plenty of stops at local coffee shops, viewpoints and just to stretch legs before you have lunch in another great roadside eatery.
You then start climbing again and passing through more Hill Tribe communities before you start the descent to Mae Sariang.
Mae Sariang is a very pleasant small town which is effectively the last stop before the border with Myanmar. With a real ethnic mix in the community – from Thai to Karen, Hmong to Burmese – the town is a fascinating place to explore with very friendly locals. There are even a couple of great bars if you need a refreshing cold drink to end this adventurous day.
You’ll stay in the best hotel in the town – River House Resort – which has pleasant rooms all with nice balconies and there’s even a riverside swimming pool (who said adventures couldn’t have a bit of luxury) and in the evening head out for yet more great Northern Thai food in the best restaurant in town fortunately only a couple of minutes walk away.
What's included?
- Another wonderful day exploring the remote roads and communities of Northern Thailand by Tuk Tuk
- Expert professional guide, drivers and support team
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner and water throughout the adventure
- Double / Twin share riverside accommodation in Mae Sariang – air-conditioning, en-suite bathrooms and a swimming pool!
- For more information about all the accommodation on your adventure please click here!
Day 5: Rivers, borders and a seriously remote mountain village
For the early birds this morning is a great opportunity to visit the local morning market, a fascinating experience, and you can also buy some food to donate to the Monks on their morning alms round – a real Thai tradition.
Then it’s back to the hotel for breakfast before you’ll say goodbye to your Tuk Tuks (and drivers) and start to next part of this incredible adventure. You’ll transfer a short way South by minivan before boarding a local ‘long tail’ boat which will take you down river to the community of Tha Song Yang. The river is the exact border between Thailand and Myanmar and winds it’s way through jagged cliffs and forested hills with the odd small community making a simple living on the river banks. Some great photo opportunities and a full on travel experience as you head down river for around 3 – 4 hours (with the odd stop to stretch your legs). NOTE – when the river conditions are not suitable this journey will be replaced by a minivan to Tha Song Yang)
On arrival at Tha Song Yang you then transfer into 4WD vehicles to head high into some of the most remote mountains in the country to the Karen community which is your base for the next two nights. You’ll soon see why 4WD vehicles are necessary as rather than winding around the hills the road simply heads up and over any mountain in it’s way. The trip takes around 60-90 minutes and is truly spectacular and there will be stops to stretch legs / take photos / soak up the scenery and atmosphere.
By the middle of the afternoon you’ll arrive at the very small Karen settlement where you’ll stay for 2 nights. Made up of around 20-30 families this community was the first to settle in the local area and is the highest village in the surrounding hills. The community have made their living through subsistence farming over the years and this is about as wild as you can get in Thailand. This village has literally only just opened up to receive visitors and it’s an immense privilege to be one of the pioneer visitors in such a stunning and remote area.
Whilst facilities are simple – you’ll stay with different families in the community in curtained off rooms with mattresses on the floor and mosquito nets (don’t worry – there is access to ‘western’ style toilets and simple shower facilities) – the experience more than makes up for it. It’s incredibly rare to be able to even visit a community such as this, let alone stay with them.
When you arrive in the village you’ll be joined by local experts who know the village inside out and speak English, Karen and Thai (many people in the village only speak Karen) to allow you to get the most out of this time. You’ll explore the village, meet your hosts and then sit down with the local families to have a traditional mountain Karen dinner together.
It’s then time to sit out, look at the incredible stars from this high up and enjoy the evening
What's included?
- River boat trip along the border between Thailand and Myanmar
- 4WD transfer high into the remote mountains
- An amazing day with one of the most remote mountain communities in the region
- Expert professional guide and translators in the community
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner ad water throughout the adventure
- Simple homestay accommodation with village family - a real privilege
- For more information about all the accommodation on your adventure please click here!
Day 6: Elephants in their natural habitat
After an early breakfast – village life starts early! – you’ll head out for what is a real highlight of this adventure, being able to observe elephants in their natural habitat.
The community where you are staying have ‘owned’ elephants for generations and refuse to sell their elephants / rent them to the tourist camps in the lowlands (and your stay in the village goes a long way to helping the community ensure that they can sustain not only the village but also these wonderful animals) and today you will hike through the hills to observe the elephants going about their daily lives. The length of the hike depends on where the elephants are at any given time – the community send people to watch over the elephants making sure they don’t get ‘into trouble’ – but is usually around 90 minutes or so walking through the forest and mountain farmland. When you reach the elephants we can marvel at just how magnificent they are. You will be accompanied by expert mahouts who, through our translators, can tell you all about the history of these elephants and their relationship with the local community. Lunch will be in forest and in the afternoon you’ll hike back to the community picking various plants and vegetable that will be cooked up this evening for another amazing dinner.
The ‘wow’ moments aren’t quite over however. You’ll walk up to the mountain top Temple in the late afternoon perched on a ridge overlooking the hills into Myanmar and lived in by one solitary monk. A great opportunity to learn more about the importance of Buddhism in this part of the world to see, weather permitting, a spectacular sunset.
Then it’s back to the village where everyone will work together – community and us – to cook a fantastic farewell feast, share stories and enjoy each others company. It really can’t be stressed at just how incredible this village is – the number of visitors is highly regulated and there’s a genuine sense of fascination and intrigue from both the community wanting to learn about their visitors and vice versa. The evening ends with yet more star gazing and a final night with your homestay family. Again, facilities are very simple (but clean) but the experience more than makes up for any lack of mod-cons.
What's included?
- A hike deep into the forest to observe and spend time with elephants in their natural habitat
- Sunset mountain top Temple visit
- Expert professional guide and translators in the community
- Breakfast. lunch, dinner and water throughout the adventure
- Simple homestay accommodation with village family - a real privilege
- For more information about all the accommodation on your adventure please click here!
Day 7: Transfer to Mae Sot and the end of the adventure
After breakfast it’s time to say goodbye to your hosts of the last two nights, soak up the atmosphere one more time and then jump into your 4WD’s for the trip back down the mountains – just as exciting as on the way up – and on to the town of Mae Sot where the adventure ends.
The transfer to Mae Sot takes around 2.5 hours and you’ll arrive in the town by 2:00pm taking you either to the airport (it’s less than an hours’ flight to Bangkok from here) or to your hotel for the night. The adventure ends when you say goodbye to your guide team at either your hotel or the airport as you begin the rest of your travels in Thailand and South East Asia.
What's included?
- Transfer to Mae Sot (airport or hotel drop off)
- Breakfast and water
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