Northern Thailand Hilltribes Trek
Experience Overview
Trek up into the mountains to meet Thailand's remote hilltribe communities on a five-day adventure. Head out from wondrous Chiang Mai and through a national park to Lahu and Karen villages, explore deep caves by bamboo raft, and marvel at the lush jungle scenery before arriving at the hilltop village of Ban Jabo and the warmest of welcomes.
Highlights
- Trek through teak forests
- Learn about medicinal plants
- Help cook a traditional Lahu dinner
Trip Details
Product Code: 1574
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Basic
Transport: Open pickup truck, van, trekking, raft.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Budget
Tour Operator:
G Adventures
Supplier Code: ATHH
Starts: Chiang Mai, Thailand
Finishes: Chiang Mai, Thailand
Duration: 5 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Average
Includes
Activities
- Your G for Good Moment: Ban Pha Mon Homestay, Ban Pha Mon Your G for Good Moment: Ban Muang Pam Homestay, Ban Muang Pam Your G for Good Moment: Ban Jabo Homestay, Ban Jabo Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
- Trek to remote hilltribe villages (4 days)
- Lod Cave visit and bamboo rafting
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Hotels (1 nts), basic huts (3 nts, multi-share).
- 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners
Transport
- Open pickup truck, van, trekking, raft.
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, specialist trekking guides.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $449 ($90 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Chiang Mai
Arrive at any time.
Day 2: Chiang Mai/Ban Pha Mon
Drive from Chiang Mai to the trailhead. Trek through farmland and bamboo and teak forests. Learn about bush food and medicinal plants. Enjoy lunch en route before continuing through rice fields and valleys to reach the first village of a Lahu tribe. Assist with food prep and cooking, or check out a local Lahu massage.
Tucked away in the hills of northern Thailand is where the most colourful and unchanged traditional communities can be found. Trek through forests and rural terrains to visit some of these diverse hilltribe villages; often, each will have their own unique language, clothing style, and belief system that differs significantly from those of neighbouring tribes. You are well looked after by your CEO and local guides, who take the responsibility of preparing all meals and carrying food supplies.
Day 3: Ban Pha Mon/Ban Muang Pam
Trek between villages, over farmlands and grasslands, and ascend to the ridge line. Learn about bush medicine and seasonal fruits as you make your way to the lunch stop. Go for a swim and help the local guides prepare lunch. Continue on to the Karen village and spend the night.
Trek for about six hours and between villages, over farmlands and grasslands and acend to the ridgeline. Learn about bush medicine, seasonal fruits and plants and seeds. Slip your wet shoes on and descend to the Huew Hin Poon Creek for lunch.
Here, go for a swim and help the local guides make a friction fire and prepare lunch. Continue another hour and a half to the jungle Buddhist temple outside the second village. Spend the night in the Karen village learn about wood carving, weaving and cooking.
Day 4: Ban Muang Pam/Ban Jabo
After breakfast, leave the village and continue on, trekking beside the Pam River through lush jungle. Arrive at Tham Lod, a 1666m deep cave. Enter by bamboo raft and move to different chambers - a truly unique experience. Following the cave visit and lunch travel to Ban Jabo, a Black Lahu village. Learn about the Lahu culture, try out some traditional activities, and lend a hand making dinner using regional products and cooking methods.
Day 5: Ban Jabo/Chiang Mai
Following breakfast, bid farewell to your hosts and return by private van to Chiang Mai, arriving at approximately 3pm. Tour ends on arrival.
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
Dimitar K - Traveled, November 2023
Good customer service, reputable company with lots of different tours on offer led by experienced guides, attracting good people in the groups.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/04/2023
Melanie H - Traveled, November 2023
Affordability and well organized
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/27/2023
Deborah D - Traveled, October 2023
There are other travel companies out there that are similar, so shop around for prices.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/13/2023
Wendy K - Traveled, December 2023
Interesting trips and good CEO
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/25/2023
Emily S - Traveled, December 2023
Bloody brilliant tour
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/25/2023
Dana W - Traveled, December 2023
Authentic, local, flexible, non-touristic
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/18/2023
Jordan T - Traveled, November 2023
Full itinerary, great guide and experiences I couldn't arrange on my own.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/18/2023
Tim H - Traveled, November 2023
Very good CEO
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/04/2023
Hailey W - Traveled, August 2023
There are a few reasons I selected this score 1. Our CEO Ronny was one of the best tour guides I've had! He was very engaging, fun and knowledgeable. He answered all of our questions (and we had a lot!) with patience and positivity. He always kept the energy up and information clear. 2. The trip itself was one of the most unique and authentic experiences I've had with the integration into local hilltribes life and our ability to walk through the jungle so seamlessly with a guide and then spend time in the villages. 3. The only reason I give this trek an 8 instead of a 10 is because I think it could be described a little bit better. While there was mention of working with a shaman and massages in the tour description, neither of those things were presented as options. In addition, some people were not prepared for the amount of hiking that we would be doing every day, neither the types of conditions we would be staying in. Personally, I loved it, however I'm aware of some struggles from others in the group based on that. Either way, an amazing trip and I wouldn't ever even mention #3 to a future attendee but I just thought I'd bring it to light. Thanks for a great experience!!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/09/2023
Julia B - Traveled, September 2023
The whole tour was very well organized and our Guide Ronny did a great job looking for each and every one of us. Always with a smile and lovely attitude
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/09/2023
Frieda S - Traveled, August 2023
I would definitely recommend this style of traveling with G Adventures, because I felt safe and had fun every Second. Thank to our guide we had such the authentic trip and learned a lot about the villages
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/09/2023
Simone S - Traveled, October 2023
Overall great experience, but very basic, local and sporty which is not something for everybody
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/13/2023
Edward B - Traveled, October 2023
I enjoyed it lots
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/06/2023
Lucinda B - Traveled, October 2023
Fabulous experience at very low cost
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/06/2023
Arthur K - Traveled, September 2023
Simple booking, smooth processing
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/23/2023
Martin M - Traveled, September 2023
Very well organised Deducted one point as first village very very basic but this was made clear ahead of trek
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/23/2023
Marvin S - Traveled, September 2023
We enjoyed every second of our trip because it was so well organized and leaded by our tour guide Ronny
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/09/2023
Sabrina S - Traveled, September 2023
The trip was awesome and good organised.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/09/2023
Meghan J - Traveled, August 2023
Amazing guide
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/09/2023
Sean A - Traveled, August 2023
Great experience, and a great CEO
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 10/09/2023
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