Adventure Planet

Best Season

All year round

Highlights

Waterfalls
Karen Village
Karen Family Village Stay
Elephant riding
Bamboo Rafting
Lahu Hilltribe
Shan Hilltribe

Description

Discover one of Thailand's most progressive hilltribe cultures and diverse regions at Karen Village. They live in bamboo houses raised on stilts, beneath, which live their domestic animals, pigs, chickens and buffalos. The mountain-dwelling Karens practice swidden agriculture, and the plains-dwellers, for the most part, cultivate irrigated paddy fields. Karen women are noted for their skill in weaving, which is done on a back-strap loom while Karen men produce musical instruments, animal bells, unique tobacco pipes and numerous other crafted items. Climb up the vertiginous hill to get an insight into the customs and cultures of the Karen tribe. Get out and explore, well off the beaten path, on strenuous treks. This trip promises a trekking experience that stimulates your senses culturally and adventurously.

Itinerary

Day 1: Waterfall and arrival at Karen Village (-/L/D + Villager’s hut)
Begin the day in the morning by departing at Chiang Mai by truck to a local market to shop for food and personal items necessary for trekking. Then you will continue on the drive to the waterfall where you can swim in the fresh water. Lunch follows. After lunch, you will continue on the drive along the winding road and then begin your adventure trekking through the jungle for around 2 hours until you reach the Karen Village, a famous hill tribe in Northern Thailand. You will end the day exploring the village and local life. Dinner is next followed by a nights’ stay with a Karen family.


Day 2: Elephant riding and Karen Village (B/L/D + Villager’s hut)
The day will begin after breakfast when you’ll embark on a full day trek on the trail passing through forests as you travel to an elephant camp. There, you will stop for lunch afterwhich you can enjoy riding the elephants through the forest. Then you will resume the journey to the next Karen village (Bann Pa Khaloam) where you will spend the night. You will interact with the locals as you cook dinner and relax around the village.

Day 3: Bamboo Rafting (B/L/-)
The day will begin after breakfast when you’ll start bamboo rafting along the river for 2 hours to Lahu hilltribe village. Along the way you will stop to visit the Karen village hilltribe. You will end the exciting bamboo rafting adventure, passing through many rapids, at Shan Village where you will have lunch. After lunch you will be transferred back to Chiang Mai in a local truck. Once in Chiang Mai you will transfer back to your hotel.

Includes:

• Accommodation (2 nights with a Karen family)
• Meals as per itinerary
• Ground transportation
• Local English-speaking guide
• Elephant riding
• Bamboo rafting
• Insurance

Excludes:

• International flights and taxes
• Travel Visa & Insurance
• Meals not mentioned in itinerary
• All Drinks
• Tips to staff
• Personal expenses
• Personal sleeping equipments such as sleeping bag, torchlight, swimming suit for village stay
• Any optional additional tours or activities during free time
• Any other expenses not mentioned in “cost include”