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The target about TMT.1 was to create a long hiking route from Chiang Mai to the biggest mountain range of Thailand, Chiang Dao. The 1st time we discovered this mountain in 2013, we were fascinated. Barely known from tourists and Thai at that time, we were struck by its beauty and its majesty. Standing out against the sky, with several summits at 2,000 meters high and a profusion of lesser peaks and ridges, Chiang Dao is definitely the most beautiful mountain in Thailand. where rock and jungle meet and blend.
Our only 5-day trip will offer the best of TMT.1 footpath, from Chiang Mai to Chiang Dao. First, we will hike for 2 days and 1 night in the Karen areas, close to Chiang Mai. In a wild country with deep jungle and bright green rice paddies, we will discover this ethnic minority famous to live in close relationship with the nature. The 2nd hike will be held in a fully different atmosphere in another area close to Chiang Dao. In 3 days and 2 nights, we will hike in the highest mountains of Thailand and will cross many remote hill-tribes and villages
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TRIP
17'500
PICK UP AT YOUR HOTEL (8.00-8.30 AM)
BAN SALUANG (45 MIN TRANSFER FROM TMT)
JUNGLE, RICE PADDIES
HILL-TRIBE VILLAGES, HIGH MOUNTAINS
NA LAO MAI (2H TRANSFER TO TMT)
DROP OFF AT YOUR HOTEL (5.00-6.00 PM)
ALL INCLUSIVE (SEE DETAILS) (LINK)
TWO NIGHTS IN HMONG & LAHU VILLAGES
5-6 HOURS TREKKING DAILY
80% SINGLE TRACK / 20% DOUBLE TRACK
AVAILABLE NOVEMBER > FEBRUARY
SUBJECT TO NP AUTHORIZATION
From the valley, we enjoy beautiful scenery before going deep in the jungle. We use an old path alongside a river created by Karen people to communicate with other villages. The trail might be difficult to find because it is not used anymore by locals. At some point we have to use a machete to move forward. We will hike in the morning in this atmosphere until a charming waterfall where we stop for lunch.
We will hike for several hours in this dense atmosphere, before the trail finally opens again. For us, it’s like breathing again after hours immersed in the green wilderness. Finally, after a steep and slippery descent, emerging from the forest, we discover the first rice paddies stretching for hundreds of kilometers in front of us. With the right balance we hike through these long fields and observe locals working.
At the first sight of the wooden houses, we understand the Karen village of Mae Kha Piang is not far away; the 1st hiking day is almost done. We have now time to enjoy the atmosphere of this charming village unknown to tourists. It’s a wonderful place surrounded by nature to stay overnight. Located 700m high, the weather is always good here. People live simply and in close contact with nature. After enjoying a deserved shower, we will share a meal for dinner with a local family and sleep in their house overlooking rice paddies.
The 2nd day, after breakfast and before trekking, we enjoy time with the local Karen family. The father will explain to us how they grow and harvest rice while the mother will show us the secrets of the traditional Karen weaving. In the middle of the morning, after packing, we finally quit the village with regret on one of its mountain slopes, gradually leaving its wattle and daub roofs behind us. All around is a beautiful and luxuriant tropical forest, and further down is the valley of Chiang Mai.
We hike again through rice paddies in the middle of the village in an enchanting atmosphere. Crossing the terraced fields requires some skills; to walk across the strips of grass without falling, we have to learn how to keep our balance. Finally, after passing the last field, the route starts to rise again. This is the most difficult part of the trip; it’s a steep, long (and sometimes slippery) way up to the summit of Doi Pha Dam (1400m).
We stop at the top for a deserved lunch. The most difficult part is behind us. We now must hike down to the finish point, the temple of Wat Prabat Si Roi that emerges suddenly down in the valley when the forest starts to open again. It is a shock to see such a big temple lost in the mountains. Known for its four Buddha footprints. it’s a famous place for Thai people and a privileged area for meditation. We will relax here before we take a taxi back to Chiang Mai.
After a night back to Chiang Mai city center, we start the 1st day by following the river of Mae Taeng. It’s one of the most beautiful in the province of Chiang Mai. Settled down in the valley and surrounded by a luxuriant tropical forest, the river is known for its rapids. It’s a great place for rafting but we will go down walking in the jungle alongside the river. It’s humid and it’s wild. Several times, we have to use the machete to clean the trail and move forward.
After 5 kilometers in one of the wildest jungles we know, we finally leave the main river and turn left to follow one of its streams. The trail is now wider; the pace is easier; we enjoy a comfortable hike on a flat path alongside the river. At several points we must cross the river until we reach a 15-meter-high waterfall. We will take a break there to recharge our batteries before the last difficult part of the day.
After the longest ascent of the day (600-700m elevation gain), we arrive at the Lahu village of Kup Kap where we stop for lunch. We will enjoy a traditional Thai meal on a platform with a wonderful view over the valley of Mae Taeng. Refreshed by food and drinks, we can now tackle the second part of the hike to the final Lahu village of Pha Daeng. It’s easier with only a few easy ascents that give us the opportunity to enjoy a continued open view of further mountains and the objective of the day.
The village is located on a ridge at 1100m with open views of valleys and mountains all around. In the morning of the 2nd day, after a refreshing night, we will enjoy breakfast on the terrace of the house in front of green mountains with a beautiful sunrise in the back. Warmed by the first rays of the sun, we will leave this enchanting place with regret to run a path up through fields and hills. When we reach a tiny Lahu village, we can see in the distance the summit of Doi Pha Sam Liam the objective of the day.
The biggest challenge is now waiting for us: 700m elevation gain to conquer the summit of Doi Pha Sam Liam (1650m). It’s a long climb in a mix of tropical forest and pine trees. We follow a steep ridge until the foothill of the summit then turn left for the last meters. At the top of the peak, the reward is huge and eases fatigue immediately. As far as our eyes can see, it’s a sea of green mountains all around and down below in distance the 2 Lahu villages we come from.
Going down the peak, it’s a total change of atmosphere. We enter a magnificent forest of pine trees. The ground is soft covered with millions of pine needles. It’s a real pleasure to hike there. For a couple of kilometers, we walk through the trees on a large ridge. Arriving in Doi Pakhia, we observe now very clearly the massive mountain range of Chiang Dao. We will sleep there in a Hmong village with this beautiful view in the distance.
In the morning of the last day, after a long way down on a dirt road, we must tackle a steep path in the forest. This is the most difficult part of the route. For some unknown reasons, local people have traced their path straight up in the mountains. Until we reach the ridge of the mountains, it’s a long succession of soft and steep slopes. It requires some strength to finally stand at the top. That’s where we will have lunch, on a summit at 1500m high with an open view of Chiang Dao wildlife sanctuary.
At the top, we hike on a long ridge with a beautiful view of the mountains around. At the beginning of the ridge, on the South side, we can observe the Hmong village of San Pakhia that we left in the morning. We will be surprised to see how far we hiked! At the end of the ridge, the North side suddenly offers a wonderful panorama, with the Lady Mountain that stands in the distance on the left, and the Chiang Dao mountain range that offers its best side on the right.
The last part of the route is a long way down back to the valley. This is a last technical and steep descent we must tackle before the finish point. It’s important to stay focused and watchful to avoid any mistakes or failure. After two full days of challenging trekking, bodies and legs start to feel the pain. We reach a 1st little Lisu village, but we must hike up again to reach the 2nd final village, Na Lao. We will enjoy a deserved rest and stunning view of Chiang Dao before driving back to Chiang Mai.
1ST NIGHT - MAE KHA PIANG KAREN VILLAGE
The Karen village of Mae Kha Piang is one of the most beautiful villages we know in Thailand. And hopefully it is not visited by any tourist. Arriving there after a long 1st trekking day, we will immediately appreciate the quietness, the freshness as the beauty of this village surrounded by jungle and rice paddies. We will spend the night with a family we have known for 10 years and who we have built our own bungalows with. The cold shower, the welcome and the smile of its people, the delicious food and the night in local wood houses will leave an unforgettable memory and give us strength back before the 2nd day of our trip.
2ND NIGHT – CHIANG MAI CITY
After the 1st hike in the Karen valleys, we will go back to Chiang Mai city for one night. You will stay in Vieng Mantra, a comfortable 3-star boutique hotel located 50m far from our agency in the same street. It has a fresh swimming pool as many restaurants and massage places around, where one can recover and relax from the hike. The next day, we will pick you up there for our second hike in the Chiang Dao area.
3RD NIGHT –PHA DAENG LAHU VILLAGE
Located on a ridge at 1100m high, it is a very small and remote village. No tourists come here, so we can enjoy the quiet place just for us. The view of the valleys and the other mountains around is wide and impressive, with stunning sunrise and sunset. We will sleep in bamboo huts in comfortable rooms and beds that we have built with a local family. We have known them for more than 10 years. They will cook delicious food for us; it’s almost like home here!
4TH NIGHT - SAN PAKHIA HMONG VILLAGE
Located at 1400m high, San Pakhia is one of the few villages located in the controlled Chiang Dao area. It’s a Hmong village where about 80 families live. They used to grow opium on the high Chiang Dao plateau, but this time is now over, and they live from traditional agriculture. TMT has established long relationships with local people since 2013. Thanks to this, we have been the one and only foreigner (Thai included) to be allowed building our own bungalows by the head of the village. We will spend the night there in premium conditions. enjoying delicious Thai food and comfortable rooms with a view.
