Northern Thailand Hilltribes Trek

Arrival in Chiang Mai

Arrive in Chiang Mai at any time and make your way to the hotel. The day is unstructured, leaving time to settle in and get a first sense of the city. Depending on arrival time, you might explore the old city walls or grab a first taste of northern Thai food at a nearby market.

Trek to a Lahu Village

The trek begins with a drive from Chiang Mai to the trailhead. The first day on foot is a 7km route through a mix of working farmland and dense forests of bamboo and teak. The path offers lessons in local botany, identifying edible plants and traditional medicines. After a trailside lunch, the route continues across rice fields and through valleys to the Lahu village of Ban Pha Mon. The evening is spent with a host family, offering a chance to assist with meal preparation or learn about traditional Lahu massage.

Over the Ridge to a Karen Village

Today is the longest leg of the trek, covering 12km. The trail climbs out of the farmlands, crossing open grasslands before a sustained ascent to a ridgeline. From the high point, the path drops down to Huew Hin Poon Creek, a good spot for a swim and a midday meal prepared over a friction fire. The final stretch, another hour or so of walking, leads to a jungle Buddhist temple just outside the Karen village of Ban Muang Pam. The night is spent in the village, learning about the community's traditions of wood carving and weaving.

River Trek and Cave Rafting

The day's 7km trek follows the Pam River through lush jungle terrain. The destination is Tham Lod, a massive cave system stretching over 1.6km underground. The only way to navigate its main chambers is by bamboo raft, poled through the darkness by a local guide. After exploring the cave and having lunch, an overland transfer leads to Ban Jabo, a Black Lahu village perched in the hills. The evening involves learning about Lahu culture and helping the host family prepare a traditional dinner.

Return to Chiang Mai

After a final breakfast in the village, the journey concludes with an overland transfer back to Chiang Mai. The drive winds out of the hills, arriving back in the city by mid-afternoon, where the trek officially ends.