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Since the beginning of our research in 2013, Thailand Mountain Trail has investigated most of the hill-tribe areas around Chiang Mai. We have been in touch with the different ethnic minorities to help us discover all these footpaths previously used for communicating between mountain villages. The different hiking routes we now offer have been created from all the trails we relived and maintained.
This 2-day trip takes place in the heart of the Karen areas, the largest ethnic minority living in Thailand. Originally from Myanmar, they moved to Thailand during the 20th century and settled in the low mountains when they grow rice and vegetables. This hike will lead us in the deep jungle and through rice paddies to a magnificent Karen village where we will spend the night and discover their simple way of life. The best time is from July to December during the rice season.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TRIP
6'300
PICK UP AT YOUR HOTEL (8.00-8.30 AM)
BAN SALUANG (45 MIN TRANSFER FROM TMT)
RICE PADDIES, JUNGLE,
KAREN VILLAGE & EXPERIENCE
WAT PRABAT SI ROI (1H30 TRANSFER TO TMT)
DROP OFF AT YOUR HOTEL (5.00-6.00 PM)
ALL INCLUSIVE (SEE DETAILS) (LINK)
ONE NIGHT IN KAREN WOOD HOUSE
5-7 HOURS TREKKING DAILY
80% SINGLE TRACK / 20% DOUBLE TRACK
AVAILABLE ALL YEAR
RECOMMENDED TIME: JULY > DECEMBER
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 second 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.
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.
