Eco & Community Based Tourism Tours:

BG401 4 Day 3 Night Chiang Dao Explorer

TOUR OVERVIEW

TOUR DESCRIPTION

Day 1 - The trek will start when we collect you from your Chiang Mai accommodation, we will drive north towards the town of Chiang Dao stopping by the local market to pick up some food supplies. We will soon turn off the main highway and up into the hills, It will be a further 25 minute drive and you will be dropped off to start your days trek. The first days trek will be mostly uphill as you make your way through the thick forest will will stop off on the route to take some lunch before carrying on with the trek to our first hill tribe village. The first night you will spend in a rarely visited Lahu village which sees very few foreign visitors and is situated high up in the hills the village affords some great views across the forested valleys below and onwards towards the imposing Chiang Dao Mountain. Be prepared for some basic conditions as you will be sleeping as the locals do on thin mats in the Lahu villages houses. The guide will prepare your evening meal.

Overnight - Home stay in a Lahu House

Day 2 - The guide will prepare your breakfast and then we will commence our days trek towards Mae Mae Shan Village, we will trek through the forest and eventually follow the route of a small river which flows through the valley. We will stop by a small waterfall to take a break from the trekking and an excellent opportunity to take a cooling shower in the cascading waters. Lunch will also be taken in the jungle and we will continue the afternoons trek towards the Shan village at Mae Mae. We will arrive late afternoon and the guide will show you to your accommodation at Tree house Village, here you will be able to relax and enjoy the spectacular views from this unique accommodation nestled on the hillside. The local Shan villages will prepare your evening meal at Tree House Village, feel free to get involved with the cooking if you want! The night will be spent at Tree House Village.

Overnight - Tree House Village

Day 3 - After breakfast your guide will take you to the local village school (term time only) where you will be able to see the local hill tribe kiddies being educated, The Mae Mae Village school serves a number of villages in the area and educates a diverse number of hill tribe ethnic groups. Following the school visit we will drive to the cycle starting point. You will bike some quiet rural back roads for the morning through a diverse range of agricultural landscapes and small villages. Our final destination for the biking will be at the lake edge in Sri Lanna National Park where you will take a energy replenishing lunch. Following lunch over looking the lake it will be time to start the paddle into Sri Lanna National Park. you will kayak your way up the valley for about one and a half hours until you reach you destination and accommodation for the night which will be floating house boats. You will be able to enjoy the late afternoon relaxing or playing in the cool waters. Our evening meal will be taken by the waters edge and you will be able to relax and enjoy this peaceful and remote spot for the rest of the evening.

Overnight - Floating house boat Sri Lanna National park

Day 4
You will wake to the peace and tranquility of Sri Lanna National Park. A leisurely breakfast will be taken at the accommodation and then you can spend the rest of the morning enjoying this spectacular spot in the National Park, feel free to swim and play in the water or take your kayak out to explore the lake. We will stay until lunch time when it will be time to board the kayaks and paddle your way back to the National Park office where the transport will be waiting. You will then be driven to large wat Banden temple complex before driving the one hour back to Chiang Mai and transfer to your Chiang Mai hotel.

ITINERARY

Day 1
• Pickup from your Chiang Mai hotel - 08:00
• Drive to Chiang Dao
• Stop for supplies at local market
• Trekking
• Lunch break
• Trekking
• Arrive at the Lahu Village
• Dinner

• Overnight at a Home Stay in the Lahu Village

Day 2
• Breakfast
• Trekking
• Lunch break
• Trekking
• Swim and break at waterfall
• Trekking
• Arrive at Mae Mae Village
• Dinner

• Overnight at Tree House Village in Mae Mae Shan Village

Day 3
• Breakfast
• Drive to bike tour starting point
• Begin biking
• Lunch break
• Kayaking until reaching houseboat
• Dinner

• Overnight on Floating houseboat

Day 4
• Breakfast
• Swim, relax or explore surroundings by kayak
• Kayaking to shore of Sri Lanna National Park
• Lunch break
• Visit the Banden Temple
• Drive Back to your Chiang Mai hotel

PRICES

TOUR DETAILS & FACTS

rucksack/day sack,
clothing as suggested above
optional change of clothing to your preference
Sun hat
personal toiletries
1 bottle of water
insect repellent
small towel/sarong
Cameras etc
some money to purchase further drinks and hill tribe crafts

Notes

You do not need to bring along your main luggage please ask your hotel/guest house to store this for you while you are on the trek. You will only require the essentials packed into one day sack for the trip.

Basic bedding will be provided in the simple accommodation are you are not required to bring your own

in the wet season pack all gear in plastic bags if you want to keep your gear dry