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Remote hill tribe adventureThailand jungle trekkingThis four-day trip is a longer version of our 3-day Thailand jungle trek, so it's brilliant for travellers in good shape looking for a real adventure. You'll trek in a small group, giving you the chance to meet and share experiences, and you'll be led by your own personal guide. As you’ll be trekking through the Thailand jungle for four days, you’ll reach places seldom visited by tourists, like the Chiang Dao Wild Animals Protection Area and Sri Lanna National Park. You'll sleep on bamboo mats in simple huts, which gives the trek a really rustic jungle feel.The trip begins and ends in Chiang Mai, and you'll be accompanied by an english-speaking guide. Your guide will rustle up all of your meals, and this is included in the quoted price. Before you set off, you'll need to pop into our Chiang Mai office to speak to our local agent. |
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4 days/ 3 nights Departs Wednesdays and Saturdays from Chiang Mai |
Accommodation |
Very simple accommodation |
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Price |
£172 per person - based on 2 people sharing |
Includes |
Accommodation, transport and English-speaking guide, all meals (excluding breakfast on the first day and dinner on the last day) |
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Transport |
Săwngthăew (pick up truck), bamboo raft and elephant |
Excludes |
Drinks and other meals, excursions and entrance fees not listed in the daily itinerary |
Day 1: Chiang Mai - Thailand Jungle Trekking - Lahu villageYou'll be collected around 9am this morning and meet your local guide and fellow trekkers for the next few days. With a full canteen of water, you'll set off in a songthaew (pickup truck) to the starting point of your Thailand jungle trekking trip, stopping at Mae Malai Market and Chiang Dao cave en route. Next, you'll have lunch at a local restaurant before travelling up the mountain road to Baan Muang Kong to begin your jungle trek.It will take you around 2 hours to reach the first hill tribe village. You can freshen up a little in the washhouse and while your guide makes dinner, you will make your bed. You'll sleep in a simple hut made out of woven bamboo, on a firm but flexible platform that serves as your bed. The mosquito net will be hung up and the blankets and sleeping bags laid out. Before dinner, you can take a look around the village. You can buy soft drinks and even a cold-ish beer from your hostess. A tasty dinner, typical of the local cuisine, will be served by your guide. |
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Day 2: Trekking - Waterfalls - Lisu VillageAt the break of day, you'll be woken by cocks a-crowing. After breakfast, you'll put on your rucksack again and, with a last wave to the village children, you'll set off on a stiff 6 hour trek along overgrown jungle trails. On the way your guide will tell you all about the surrounding flora and fauna. You'll stop for a lunch at a beautiful waterfall and afterwards you'll continue on to a Lisu village, where you'll eat a typical hilltribe meal and spend the night in another basic hut, with the sounds of the jungle around you. |
Day 3: Rafting, trekking, and hill tribesThis morning, you'll grab a hearty breakfast and get ready for a challenging 4-5 hour trek with both downhill and uphill sections. At the end of this section of Thailand jungle trekking, you'll drop down into a beautiful valley. At the bottom of the valley, there’s a small collection of huts with palm leaf roofs - behold the elephant camp.You'll climb onto the back of your elephant from a platform, and then your elephant jungle trek will begin. Steadily, the elephant will lumber down the river valley, wading through the water, and sometimes down steep slopes- so be sure you've got a good grip on the saddle and watch out for tree branches! From your elevated view, you can gaze out over the lush jungle. In the afternoon, you'll arrive at some more huts nestled on the riverbank- a Karen hilltribe village. You'll climb down from your new best friend, drop off your rucksack in your dormitory-style accommodation and wash off the day's dirt in the fast-flowing current. The remainder of this day is free for you to go swimming in the river, learn some local fishing techniques, explore the village, play football with the children or help your guide with the meal preparation. |
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Day 4: Bamboo Rafting - Shan Village - Return to Chiang MaiThis morning, you'll leave the Karen village on a traditional bamboo raft - a real highlight of this Thailand jungle trekking adventure. We strongly recommend wearing your swimmers along with sandals for this activity.In September and October, the rains create a strong current allowing your raft to glide quickly between the jungle-lined banks. The majority of the rafting is relaxed, but the few small rapids that you come across are sure to get your heart pounding. You'll make a brief stop at a Lahu village in order to recheck your raft before passing rocks and rapids for around 2 hours. After a few hours on the water, you'll drift into the Shan village, where you'll have lunch at a local restaurant. Your Thailand jungle trekking ends here, and you'll return to Chiang Mai by local truck. |
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We cannot guarantee your exact arrival time in Chiang Mai, so we wouldn't recommend that you attempt to continue your journey immediately by overnight sleeper train or by flight. It's far better to spend tonight in Chiang Mai, enjoying a hot shower and a soft bed while you unwind. If you would like to arrange accommodation, just let us know on the quote request form. Things to take with you on this Thailand jungle trekking adventure: • Boots and a sleeping bag (sleeping bags can be rented locally approx £3) • Small rucksack, torch and water bottle • Shorts and long trousers, long and short sleeved tops, raincoat and socks • A hat or cap, sun block cream and insect repellent with DEET • Comfortable shoes (hiking boots not essential, but not sandals) Blankets are available at all of the accommodation offered during this trip, as the nights can be cold up in the hills. Between July and November we advise you to spend a little money on some ‘leech socks’. Click here for more information about Thailand trekking from Chiang Mai. |
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