One of the new developments in Southeast Asia is the redesigned trekking route in northern Thailand, a highlight of our 15-day trip, Bangkok, ethnic minority trekking and southern beaches. Our new trek allows more time in villages deep in the jungle to discover the daily lives of different ethnic groups, followed by a 2-day rafting descent to finish in Baan Sob Kai, where we will visit Elephant Rescue Park.
Contents: trekking in northern Thailand
We will stay in local huts in the villages along the trek: the first night with the White Karen, the second with the Red Karen and the last with our Lahu hosts.
4 days of trekking off the beaten track
Our new trekking route in northern Thailand, as last year, begins in Chiang Mai, one of the main trekking centers of Southeast Asia. One of the most popular activities in this city is to do trekking through national parks Province. These excursions, which can be between 1 and 2 days, combine jungle walks with visits to ethnic minorities, but they are often “circular” circuits with high concentration of visitors.
Our proposal for this 4-day trek in Chiang Mai The aim is to leave the busiest tourist villages behind and discover ethnic minorities’ ways of life in depth. Over 4 days, we cross the jungle to Baan Sob Kai, where vehicles collect us for the return to Chiang Mai, avoiding a circular route.
We will cook our own food, visit a Karen school and, depending on the season, see different stages of harvesting rice, the region’s staple food.
The last 2 days, depending on the water level of the Mae Taeng River, we will alternate rafting sections with walks to reach our destination in Baan Sob Kai where we will find our vehicles We'll be transferred to Elephant Rescue Park..
In our summer, mainly in July and August, monsoon rains affect the environment. Everything is greener and the jungle denser, but roads and bridges may be closed, and rivers sometimes flood force them to suspend some rafting trips.
Itinerary of the Northern Thailand trekking
We will arrive in Chiang Mai by night train from Bangkok. Chiang Mai, the northern capital of the country, is located on the banks of the Mae Nam Ping River, in a valley surrounded by wooded hills, ideal for trekking.
Chiang Mai’s streets combine temples, day and night markets and shops of every kind, accessible on foot or by tuk-tuk.
The artisans’ quarter is worth visiting to see traditional techniques for making lace, textiles, metalwork and umbrellas, among other products.
Late in the day, at a time arranged in advance, meet the trekking guide in the hotel lobby to check equipment and review the programme.
Day 1: Chiang Mai – Northern trek to a White Karen village
5 hrs (8,8 km,+577 m / - 893 (m)
After breakfast, we will leave first thing by road to the mountainous area of Mae Taeng. En route, we stop at a local market to buy food and finalise preparations for the trek. We continue by vehicle to the Mok Fah waterfall, where we can enjoy a very special swim.
After a few kilometres by vehicle, we will reach the starting point of our trekking journey. We begin on a steep uphill path into tropical forest. The trail reaches its highest point and follow the crest down to the village of Baan Pong Noi, where we will have our picnic lunch.
In the afternoon, we resume walking uphill, then follow a relatively flat stretch before descending to our village of Banan Mae Ma Nai, home to the White Karen minority. We arrive in the village, where we can observe this ethnic minority’s daily life and customs.
Accommodation in a local hut.
Day 2 – Northern trek to a Red Karen village
4–5 hours (8.2 km, +159 m / −186 m)
After breakfast, we begin the day’s trek with a walk of about 3 hours, crossing dense forests to reach the Paklauy rice fields. Different stages of rice cultivation can be seen depending on the season.
We stop for lunch, then continue trekking along the valley floor to reach the village of Baan Pa Khao Lam, the largest and most populated in this area, composed of a mixture of mountain tribes, mainly Red Karen.
After a refreshing shower and a change of clothes, we will experience how to cook part of our dinner: rice cooked inside a bamboo stem.
Accommodation in a local hut.
Day 3 – Northern trek to a Lahu village
Walk: 3 hours 30 minutes (6.8 km, +218 m / −236 m)
Rafting: 40 minutes (3 km)
After breakfast, time to explore the village, with particular interest in visiting the primary school. Its interesting mushroom garden stands out, along with a small frog farm, which local children care for and show to visitors.
We leave the village on a trail into open forest, following a small path over gentle hills. We finally reach the Mae Taeng River and cross it on a suspension bridge. On the other bank, we reach the camp of elephants of Pang Pa Ka, where many elephants once worked hauling timber from the jungle. Today, an elephant and the equipment people used to work with them can still be found.
After lunch we will get onto the water for an exciting raft journey to Baan Pong Ngaan. Depending on the water level, this raft trip can be modified by a short walk until you reach the village (3 km).
Once we get there to the Lahu village, with time to relax and settle in the house.
Dinner in the Lahu village and overnight in a local cabin.
Day 4 – North Trekking – Chiang Mai
Rafting: 3–4-hour descent
In the morning, breakfast and a time for explore the Lahu village and at the agreed time return to the river to recover our rafts and start the 3-hour descent to Baan Sob Kai village. A fascinating journey through the winding Mae Taeng’s rapids and bends.
Arrival at the town of Baan Sob Kai and lunch. Meet our vehicles and transfer to Elephant Rescue Park. The park visit shows how elephants rescued from work camps and circuses are cared for. It includes learning about the mahouts (keepers), feeding the animals and bathing them.
After the visit, return by car to Chiang Mai and check in at the hotel.
The ethnic minority trek
It's a tour of 4 days and 3 nights in the area of Mae Taeng. A walk into the jungle surrounding Chiang Mai and meet the peoples who have made these slopes their home: Karen, Lisu and Lahu. Nowhere else offers such cultural variety. Known as hill tribes, these communities have lived peacefully for years, far from the modern world.
We'll find out about the ethnic minorities in northern Thailand, their natural surroundings and local people, as well as travelling downriver on bamboo rafts.
The trip requires no particular fitness level and is highly recommended for travel to Thailand with children or family. The journeys to the area of the trekking are made in vehicle and the hikes are up to 5 hours a day.
Sometimes the terrain (especially in monsoon times) makes the walks more demanding than they really are. There is little cumulative elevation gain. during the journey, but The terrain is rugged.. Together with mud and rain, this requires us to take extra care and have good hiking boots.
On days 3 and 4 of the trek, we have a rafting down the river. Rafts are built from thick bamboo stems, with thinner poles used as paddles. Bring a waterproof bag for your camera and valuables. Sandals or other footwear secured around the ankle are recommended.
During the trekking in Thailand there are no porters, so everyone carries their own luggage. Other bags can stay at the Chiang Mai hotel until we return.
Local accommodation during trekking
Where do you sleep on a trek in Thailand?
We stay in local huts belonging to different ethnic groups, eating and sleeping there during the trek. Travellers have a separate space from the hut where the owners live.
What are the cabins like?
The cabins are from wood and bamboo, with raised floors with corrugated cement or palm roofs. Inside are mattresses, pillows, blankets or duvets, and mosquito nets. There are no sheets: We recommend bringing a sleeping bag liner.
How are the toilets in the local houses?
The toilets are located in a hut outside the main house A good torch or headtorch is essential for getting around safely at night. The generator runs only until a certain time; afterwards there is no lighting to see the paths.
What do you eat during trekking?
All meals are included during the 4-day northern Thailand trek. Drinks cost extra and are usually sold at the same house.
In Baan Pa Khao Lam, we will learn to cook rice inside bamboo.
A assistant cook, is responsible for preparing meals helped by women from the villages where we stay. Meals are local dishes with less spice and chilli: rice, noodles and vegetable soups. Simple, well-prepared food accompanied by fresh fruit.
Recommended travel equipment
The equipment we need to carry on the the backpack for this trek depends on the time of year you travel. During the monsoon rains, it is hotter, so choose light clothing and waterproof layers. In the dry season, nights are colder, so bring warm clothes.
The main luggage stays at the Chiang Mai hotel. On the trekking stages, take only what you need for 3 nights.
It's very important to carry good trekking shoes, a rain poncho and a daypack in which we carry our belongings and protect our cameras from the monsoon rains.
What do we have to carry in the backpack?
Here is our recommended packing list:
- Sandals with ankle straps,
- bathing suit,
- towel,
- light clothing,
- a jacket or fleece,
- rain poncho,
- head torch,
- sleeping bag liner,
- cap,
- toiletry bag (including sunscreen),
- a personal first aid kit (including insect repellent).
Travel itinerary to Thailand
A fascinating journey that takes us from Bangkok to the jungles of the north of the country. Walking and rafting on the northern trek, with the beaches of Krabi, Samui or Koh Yao Noi awaiting us at the end.
| DAY | ROUTE | |
| 1 | Flight from departure city to Bangkok | > |
| 2 | Arrival in Bangkok | Hotel |
| 3 | Bangkok | Hotel |
| 4 | Bangkok – Night train to Chiang Mai | Train |
| 5 | Chiang Mai | Hotel |
| 6 | Chiang Mai – North Trekking | Cabins |
| 7 | Trekking in the north | Cabins |
| 8 | Trekking in the north | Cabins |
| 9 | Northern trek – Chiang Mai | Hotel |
| 10 | Flight from Chiang Mai to Bangkok and Krabi | Hotel |
| 11 | Krabi – Kayaking excursion to Than Len | Hotel |
| 12 | Krabi | Hotel |
| 13 | Krabi | Hotel |
| 14 | Flight Krabi – Bangkok – Flight to home city | > |
| 15 | Arrival in your home city | > |
Trip extensions
Three beach options to finish the trip to Thailand.
Krabi is included in the original trip, with the idyllic island of Yao Noi or livelier Samui as optional extensions.
Option Ko Samui
| DAY | ROUTE | ||
| 10 | Chiang Mai | D | Hotel |
| 11 | Chiang Mai – Flight to Samui | D | Hotel |
| 12-13 | Samui beaches | D | Hotel |
| 14 | Samui – Flight to Bangkok and flight to city of origin | D | > |
| 15 | Arrival in your home city | > | > |
Koh Yao Noi option
| DAY | ROUTE | ||
| 10 | Flight Chiang Mai – Bangkok – Krabi – ferry to Koh Yao Noi | D | Hotel |
| 11–13 | Koh Yao Noi beaches | D | Hotel |
| 14 | Koh Yao Noi – ferry to Krabi and flights to Bangkok and departure city | D | > |
| 15 | Arrival in your home city | > | > |
> 15-day small-group trip> Trekking and nature trip
> Departures in February
A fascinating route through Thailand taking us from Bangkok to the northern jungles. Walks, trekking stages and rafting bring us to ethnic minority villages. The beaches of Krabi, Samui or Koh Yao Noi They're waiting for us at the end of the itinerary.
