Northern Thailand Hilltribes Trek - 5 Days

• Get up to $40 cash back per person when you book with us

• All accommodation: Hotels (1 Nights), Huts (3 Nights)

• Variety of delicious meals: 4 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners

• All transport between destinations 

• Trek to remote Thai hilltribe villages across 4 epic days

• Lod Cave visit and bamboo rafting

• Incredible prehistoric coffin cave visit

• Guidance from an amazing G Adventures Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout

Head out from wondrous Chiang Mai and through a national park to Lahu and Karen villages, spend time with a shaman, explore deep caves by bamboo raft and marvel at the lush jungle scenery on this epic 5 day adventure!

Then, arrive at the hilltop village of Ban Jabo for the warmest of welcomes to end your trip.

Where we visit

Day 1: Chiang Mai

Arrive at any time and to meet your CEO and fellow travelers. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards and don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Accommodation: Hotel

Day 2: Chiang Mai/Ban Pha Mon

Today you'll drive from Chiang Mai to the trailhead. Trek through an area tucked away in the hills of northern Thailand where the most colourful and unchanged traditional communities can be found. Learn about bush food and medicinal plants and enjoy lunch en route before continuing through rice fields and valleys to reach the first village of a Lahu tribe. Often, each of these diverse hilltribe villages will have their own unique language, clothing style, and belief system that differs significantly from those of neighbouring tribes. You are well looked after by your CEO and local guides, who take the responsibility of preparing all meals and carrying food supplies, although you can assist with food prep and cooking, or check out a local Lahu massage.

Trekking: Today you'll trek for approx. 3 hours and 30 minutes between Ban Mae Malai and Ban Pha Mon for around 7km.

Accommodation: Homestay

Please note: The exact itinerary of the walking on this trip may change from time to time, taking into account the weather and local conditions. Also, please note there may be times when the use of video and/or still cameras may be inappropriate - your CEO and guides will be able to advise you. Be prepared for the accommodation to be basic; remember, it's all about an authentic and unique experience!

Day 3: Ban Pha Mon/Ban Muang Pam

Trek for about six hours and between villages, over farmlands and grasslands and acend to the ridgeline. Learn about bush medicine, seasonal fruits and plants and seeds and then slip your wet shoes on and descend to the Huew Hin Poon Creek for lunch.

Here, go for a swim and help the local guides make a friction fire and prepare lunch. Continue another hour and a half to the jungle Buddhist temple outside the second village. Spend the night in the Karen village learn about wood carving, weaving and cooking. Opt to learn about medicine from a shaman or play football with the locals.

Trekking: Today you'll trek for approx. 6 hours and 30 minutes between Ban Pha Mon and Ban Muang Pam for around 12km.

Accommodation: Homestay

Day 4: Ban Muang Pam/Ban Jabo

After breakfast, leave the village and continue on, trekking beside the Pam River through lush jungle. Arrive at Tham Lod, a 1666m deep cave, and enter by bamboo raft as you move to different chambers. See hundreds of log coffins, some as old as 2,000 years, buried in these remote, chilly caves with some tight passages where locals believe spirits lurk! This is a truly unique experience. Following the cave visit and lunch travel to Ban Jabo, a Black Lahu village. Learn about the Lahu culture, try out some traditional activities, and lend a hand making dinner using regional products and cooking methods.

Trekking: Today you'll trek for approx. 3 hours between Ban Muang Pam and Ban Tham Lot for around 7km.

Accommodation: Homestay

Day 5: Ban Jabo/Chiang Mai

Following breakfast, bid farewell to your hosts and return by private van to Chiang Mai, arriving at approximately 3pm. Here, your tour ends on arrival.

Please note: We recommend booking your departure flight no earlier than 6pm.

• Please be advised that a 2-week period of traditional slash and burn farming occurs in this region between March and April (start date varies). During this time your trek may follow an alternate route to avoid uncomfortably smoky areas.
• When arranging your transportation, such as flights, please take into consideration the below time restrictions for joining and departing from your group. With these times, we have taken into account travel time to/from the airport in the given destination and required time for check-in or baggage collection/immigration.

- Your flight must arrive by or before: Arrive at any time.
- Your flight must depart no earlier than: 18:00 on Day 5

• On all tours all travellers must have received a full COVID-19 vaccination with the final dose given at least 14 days before the start of the tour.

• For a tour departing between January 19, 2022 and April 30, 2023, travellers will be permitted to cancel their confirmed tour services, pre- or post tour accommodation services, extra services, or transfer services at any time prior to 14 days from the date of tour departure at no charge if they also rebook another tour service and/or reschedule travel to a later date, which later date must be within two years of the initial departure date.

• The traveller must rebook their deferred travel at the same time as their cancellation in order for the policy to be applicable.

• For tours booked to depart between January 19, 2022 and April 30, 2023, the traveller will be responsible to pay the difference if the rebooked tour is priced higher than the original tour and will receive a travel credit for the difference that will be kept on file with The Supplier for two years from the date of rebooking if the rebooked tour is priced lower than the original tour.