| Mae Hong Son - High Mountains Exotic Cultures
| Days: |
6 |
| Location: |
Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son |
| Activities: |
Elephant safari, white water rafting (inflatable), trekking, boat trip |
BRIEFLY
On this tour we will be walking the highest trails in Thailand near the summit of Doi Inthanon, staying in Karen and
Lahu villages, and the most beautiful hotels in the region. We will see the strange and beautiful Karen long-neck people,
the misty city of Mae Hong Son, waterfalls and lakes, and the dances of two hilltribes. We will be rafting down
the wild Mae Taeng river, elephant riding in deep jungle and meeting shaman. A week of beauty, with a dash of excitement.
Maximum 8 customers plus tour leader, guide and driver.
ITINERARY
Day 1 - Arrive Chiang Mai
Arrive Chiang Mai; check in Yaang Come Village Hotel - evening orientation - talk on history of Thailand and
Lanna Thai. Origins and basic principles of hilltribe culture.
Dinner and night in Yaang Come Village Hotel
Day 2 - Chiang Mai to Lahu outpost
Transfer at 9.00 a.m. to the multi-award winning Lisu Lodge (Conservation International, British Airways, PATA,
Green Hoteliers etc.) Drive by local truck to a small village to begin the trek along jungle trails to
the remote Hmong village of Pha Mieng. (1.5 hours walk). Meet the villagers and have a picnic lunch.
After lunch, walk to the top of the mountain (1.5 hours) to the Lahu village of Pha Deng, then along
a mountain ridge to the Lahu village of Kup Kap (1 hour).
Dinner and evening show at the Lahu Outpost.
Day 3 - Trekking, rafting and elephants
Breakfast at Lahu Outpost. Walk 2 hours downhill passing Huay Sadan waterfall to the river, and travel downstream
by inflatable raft down the river to the Thai village of Muan Gurt. Transfer upstream to an elephant camp for a picnic lunch.
Then a one hour elephant ride through steep mountain jungle and rivers.
Drive to an Akha village to meet the shaman and the Akha people. Transfer to Lisu Lodge for welcome drink,
briefing and orientation. Walk through the village, starting from Dton Loong temple (Buddhist). Meet the shaman
and enjoy a cup of local tea with is family. Visit the village spirit shrine (animist). Visit the Cultural Centre established by the village.
Dinner and show of Lisu music and dance. Overnight at Lisu Lodge.
Day 4 - High Mountain trekking
Drive to the summit of Doi Inthanon, the highest point in Thailand, 8,700 feet. Near the summit we take a short nature walk
along a wooden walkway through mountain peat bog and forest. Then a 2 hour trek though forest and alpine meadow
(November-April only).
We are likely to see sunbirds, Pita birds, silver pheasant and white tailed deer. Himalayan bears are also present but rarely seen.
Lunch at the Kings temple. Afternoon drive to Mae Hong Son (3 hours). Check in Fern Eco-resort hotel.
Meal at hotel.
Day 5 - Mae Hong Son and the Long Neck people
Morning boat trip to a Padong Karen village (optional). The Padong have migrated to Thailand and established
a village featuring their strange custom of lengthening the neck with hoops of bronze. Although a tourist curiosity,
the villagers recently achieved legality in Thailand and there is a school in the village. Whatever one thinks of
the practice, the people here are much better off than their kinfolk in Myanmar. The women weave their cloth for
sale to tourists and pose for photographs.
As an alternative, Fern Eco-resort provides 3 hour nature treks in the surrounding dense jungle with a local guide.
Return to Mae Hong Son for lunch, and then drive to a Kuomingtang Chinese village on the Myanmar border.
Visit the 16th century lakeside Burmese Buddhist temples. Dinner by the lake in Mae Hong Son.
Night in Fern Eco-resort Hotel, Mae Hong Son.
Day 6 - Drive Chiang Mai (4 hours), end of tour. Onward departures
For more information and prices, e-mail +662 653 9712 and +6681 450 5340
noting your country of departure.
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