Destination: Chiang Mai/Mae Hong Son/Ban Hua Nam/Ban Huai Pomfat/Ban Doi Makprik/Huai Pong Klang Pai/Ban Patong
Descriptions: This bare circuit of 9 days offers to discover the spiriture of Mae Hong Son and its surrounding. With this true adventure, you will be taken off road and away from the tour groups into a Thailand few tourists get the chance to see. You take the oppotunity to visit the friendly local people and walk up into the mountains to stay with migratory hill-tribe people still living as they have for centuries, unfazed by the modern world in the valley. This is a challenging trip but the experience is unique.
B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, G=Guide
Day 1: Chiang Mai/Mae Hong Son (G)
On arrival at Chiang Mai Airport, you’ll be met by our guide and transferred towards Mae Hong Son. The winding roads lead us through the stunning landscape to Mae Hong Son Town. After checking into hotel, you’ll enjoy a short city tour, seeing the famous Burmese style monasteries, Wat Jong Kham and Wat Jong Klang. The first structure was constructed around 200 year ago by the Shan people while Wat Jong Klang houses an old glass painting and many wood carvings depicting the various lives of Buddha. A next stop of our trip is Doi Kong Moo which dominates the town and therefore affords a wonderful view of surrounding areas. You’ll spend the night in Mae Hong Son.
Day 2: Mae Hong Son/Ban Hua Nam (B, L, D, G)
The extremely beautiful mountain region around Mae Hong Son is ideal for anyone seeking a true adventure and trekking expedition. You’ll take a short drive this morning before walking along the Mae Hong Son river valley, using a local path to see many deep gorges, waterfalls, high cliffs, and many pockets of dense forest. Our walk may involve some river crossings but this is still an unforgettable experience. Along the way, you’ll make stop as we please, to stretch our legs or enjoy a leisurely swim. After a full day walking we arrive at Ban Hua Nam village where you are guest of a Karen family in a traditional house. Overnight in Ban Hua Nam.
Day 3: Ban Hua Nam/Ban Huai Pomfat (B, L, D, G)
An early morning start to walk mountainsides. You’ll get well off the beaten track as we trek through the bamboo forest and climb up the mountain of Doi Sa Ngo. The trekking will be difficult at times with some with some steep uphill and downhill walking, however the spectacular scenery, with a mixture of terraced fields and hill villages makes the hardship all worthwhile. We ascend the Tiger Pass, exploring en route many massive rock formations as well as tropical plants before arriving at Ban Huai Pomfat. You’ll have time to take a wander around this village, enabling us to understand a little more about their culture and lifestyle. Overnight in Ban Huai Pomfat.
Day 4: Ban Huai Pomfat/Ban Doi Makprik (B, L, D, G)
After breakfast, you’ll walk through the verdant and rugged mountain landscape to the Karen Hilltribe Village of Ban Pakar. At this small village, you’ll have a chance to meet the local people and explore their traditional way of life. After an enjoyable stop, you’ll continue our trek uphill past the Lisu ethnic minorities. There is still a bit of opium growing in this area now, but much more cultivation of rice, potatoes, beans, taro root and ginger. You’ll finish the walking day at Ban Doi Makprik. This remote village is conquered by the Lisu hill tribe people who are very poor, but have an interesting history and a colorful culture. You’ll spend the night in Ban Doi Makprik.
Day 5: Ban Doi Makprik/Pai river (B, L, D, G)
In the morning, you’ll descend the mountain and walk following the old short cut way between Mae Hong Son to Pai. The small path is steep at some places, making our trek somewhat arduous. You’ll arrive at the camp site in Huai Pong Klang Pai near the Pai River around mid afternoon and spend the remainder of the day to enjoy swimming or rest our legs. You’ll also have some opportunities to practice the local way of live we not usually do at home when making a camp fire, cooking our food in bamboo stems, eating from bamboo bowls, drinking from bamboo cups. Overnight in Huai Pong Klang Pai.
Day 6: Huai Pong Klang Pai/Ban Patong (B, L, D, G)
Upon leaving the camping site, you’ll set off on a full day trek along Huai Pong Klang Pai Creek, venturing into this remote and beautiful area. Along the way, you’ll cross over many streams as you walk in the ravine, using the local track, passing through the rain tropical forest. The trekking is strenuous; however some physical preparation will allow you to maximize enjoyment from the walk. You’ll spend the night in Ban Patong village.
Day 7: Ban Patong/Pai valley (B, L, D, G)
The trekking expedition will be extended or shorten upon your request. After a few hour walk, you’ll board a truck for 30 kilometer drive along the very rough road, from evergreen forest descending to deciduous forest in the Pai valley. This little town of Pai, snuggled in a picturesque valley between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son in the North, has a peaceful atmosphere that soothes away the stresses of city life. Arriving in Pai by mid afternoon, you’ll check in a local style cottage resort and will have time to explore the town or simply to relax. Overnight in Pai.
Day 8: Pai Valley/Chiang Mai (B, G)
After breakfast, you’ll depart the town and travel by roads through the mountainous region to Chiang Mai for accommodation.
Day 9: Chiang Mai (B, G)
After breakfast, you’ll be free until your driver arrives to take you to the airport for your departure flight.
