Thai hill tribes adventure
| country: | Thailand |
| location: | Thai hill tribes, Golden Triangle, Northern Thailand |
| departures: | 2008: 24 Aug, 21 Sep, 19 Oct, 16 Nov, 7 Dec |
| price: | From £675 (8 days) excluding flights. Single supplement £130. Entrance fees US $13. We can arrange flights from the UK. Maximum group size is 15 people. |
the amazing things you'll be doing
This adventure is designed for people keen to head off the beaten track and stay in some very special hill tribe lodges, which are both atmospheric and comfortable.
We start in the north’s cultural centre, Chiang Mai, where we enjoy a fun cycling tour. We then trek to hill tribe lodges, stay in an award-winning eco-resort run by Lisu villagers, and get to know Thai culture at a Lanna Farm. Take off on an elephant trek, raft in gentle rapids, and end your travels with a visit to the mysterious Golden Triangle.
Highlights include:
Cycling adventure and cyclo tour in Chiang Mai Elephant trek and rafting Soft trekking through beautiful scenery Atmospheric boutique lodge accommodation Interaction with hill tribe minorities
Travel is by modern air-conditioned vehicles, some cycling, a short boat ride and a samlor (cyclo). Our cost includes breakfasts, one lunch and one dinner, a tour leader and local English speaking guides, but not entrance fees (US $13 will be collected at the start of the trip). This trip is suitable for travellers with above average levels of fitness and mobility and a keen sense of adventure.
We start in the north’s cultural centre, Chiang Mai, where we enjoy a fun cycling tour. We then trek to hill tribe lodges, stay in an award-winning eco-resort run by Lisu villagers, and get to know Thai culture at a Lanna Farm. Take off on an elephant trek, raft in gentle rapids, and end your travels with a visit to the mysterious Golden Triangle.
Highlights include:
Travel is by modern air-conditioned vehicles, some cycling, a short boat ride and a samlor (cyclo). Our cost includes breakfasts, one lunch and one dinner, a tour leader and local English speaking guides, but not entrance fees (US $13 will be collected at the start of the trip). This trip is suitable for travellers with above average levels of fitness and mobility and a keen sense of adventure.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-2: | Chiang Mai. Enjoy a stay in the culturally rich northern city of Chiang Mai with its fine food and strong Lanna heritage. Get your bearings with a cyclo tour round town, and a visit to hilltop Doi Suthep temple. We take off on a leisurely cycle through the countryside around Chiang Mai and enjoy some free time in the evening to explore this fabled former capital with its fabulous night market. |
| Day 3-5: | Mae Hong Son & Pai. Fly to Mae Hong Son, a pleasant town near the border with Burma, home to the unique Paduang tribe as well as some picturesque Burmese-inspired temples. Visiting the huge cave Lod en route, continue onto Pai, a colourful, arty village which will provide an atmospheric base for your exploration of the area’s hilltribe villages, waterfalls and trekking options. |
| Day 6-8: | Hill Tribe Adventure & Lisu Lodge. Continue on to fantastic Lisu Lodge – a comfortable yet simple rustic lodge with real character – a notch above mainstream trekking lodges. Lisu Lodge has received many awards for its eco-friendly approach to tourism and its employment of minority people as cooks and hosts. Explore the local hill tribe villages with a gentle cycling tour where friendly Akha or Lisu people will welcome you into their home. Elephant riding and rafting trips are also part of the adventure and the memorable night you spend here will end with an entrancing display of local culture by the village’s children. Return to Chiang Mai for your final evening with some free time for last minute shopping. The trip will end with a departure transfer to Chiang Mai airport for your onward travel. |
small group adventure holiday
These small group journeys have a maximum of 15 like-minded travellers which ensures that all travellers have an amazing overall experience with the destination and that they enjoy the flexibility that comes with the small group dynamic. On this trip you will stay at boutique accommodation with character. Our numbers are discreet enough for us to interact with local families in their homes and meet people in markets, bazaars and temples – something that’s just not possible when you arrive as part of a large tour group. Along with our unique combination of Western tour leader and local English-speaking guide this will ensure an unforgettable travel experience.how this holiday makes a difference
 We believe that travel should entail an exchange of knowledge and perspectives, a sharing of wealth, and a genuine appreciation of Thailand’s beautiful natural environment. This philosophy underpins the heart and soul of our style of travel. We recognise that poorly planned itineraries or poorly informed tourists contribute less to cross-cultural understanding and less to the livelihoods of local people. This journey is a thorough exploration of beautiful Northern Thailand – with its rolling hills, cloud covered mountain passes and picturesque minority villages. A stay at the award-winning locally run Lisu ecolodge near Chiang Mai is a key feature of this journey. The Lisu people are one of the many hill tribe ethnic groups living in the north of Thailand who migrated from Tibet in the 1920s. The Lodge has won several awards for its wonderful mountain atmosphere, and its employment of local people as managers, cooks, and hosts. During our stay here we have tea with a village shaman (witch doctor) – with your guide acting as a translator you will learn a little more about the life of the fascinating Lisu people. During this journey we actively encourage our travellers to patronise or financially assist numerous not-for-profit organisations in Thailand including Cabbages and Condoms in Bangkok (a restaurant which helps fund Thai family planning projects). On this journey our local guides are trained to share their knowledge of cultural and other local issues in a balanced, informative way; in this journey alone you are likely to meet several local guides from different provinces in Thailand. They share real experiences from their own lives and insights into their family life, influences and beliefs, thus providing our travellers with a deeper understanding of the places they visit. This is what motivates our guides, not shopping commissions. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |