The trip includes trekking through the mountains to Akha and Lahu villages as well as to waterfalls in the Mae Tang District and Chiang Doa Mountain Range ( ■ map ) an hour and a half drive north of Chiang Mai's Old City. It also includes elephant-riding/bathing in addition to bamboo/white-water rafting. This may sound obvious, but since this is an actual trekking tour, be prepared to hike through rocks and slippery paths. You'll be carrying all your stuff with you most of the time, so make sure you wear proper shoes and have plenty of water!
| What to bring : |
❑ sun screen
❑ insect repellent spray
❑ toilet paper!
❑ flashlight : pitch black after dark! no lights!
❑ change of clothes : shorts (hot during the day) / sweats (pretty chilly at night)
❑ hiking shoes : since this is an actual trekking tour
❑ money : to buy water / drinks / snacks
❑ flip flops / sandals : wear in the shower
❑ soap & shampoo : if you plan to shower
❑ towel : if you want to shower
❑ swimsuit : for rafting / if you want to swim in the waterfall
| D A Y 1 : |
| We were picked up by a songtaew ( pick-up truck taxi) just before 10 am. It was pretty tightly packed with 9 people. After a 30-minute drive, we arrive at an orchid & butterfly farm, a pretty but pointless tourist trap that seems to be on the itinerary of every similar tour. Spending 20 minutes here was completely unnecessary even if you like orchids. I counted maybe 7 butterflies. |
| Another 20-minute drive took us to a local market, where we had 20 minutes to stock up on water for the hike later. It's also the last chance for you to pick up toilet paper or other things you might need for the rest of the trip, as you'll literally be driving away from civilization after this. |
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After a half an hour drive on a windy bumpy road, we arrived at the Akha Hill Tribe Village and had lunch in a bamboo shack with the other trekkers. Lunch was fried noodles with tofu wrapped in leaves. You can buy bottled water here for 20 baht to take with you.
After lunch, the guide spent 20 minutes explaining the itinerary and talked a bit about the history of the area. |
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| At 1 pm, 20 of us started hiking towards the elephant camp. The 2-hour hike consisted of 40% uphill followed by 40% downhill and the rest of the time it was flat. It was a pretty fast-paced hike with a guide in the front and one at the back. First we climbed up some pretty steep rocks then went through some wild bamboo growths. Some people not wearing the right shoes had trouble not slipping while going down the very slippery downhill paths. During breaks, the rather informative yet eccentric guide in crocs told us some Buddhist stories — He is a contractor who occasionally leads tours for Jumbo Trekkers. |
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We arrived at the elephant camp at 3 pm. The camp is beautiful with a river and mountains in the background. Cute calves, chicks, puppies, and kittens wander around freely. After putting stuff away at the bamboo hut we would be spending a night in, we got ready for a 30-minute ride on one of the 6 elephants onsite. Even though the mahouts shouted commands at the elephants, they seemed to have good rapport with the elephants and genuinely enjoy being with them. Sometimes the mahouts get off so you can ride on the elephant's neck instead of the chair on its back.
The bamboo huts have thin mats with blankets and mosquito nets. There are 2 "showers" (pipe with very cold water) and 2 western toilets. At 5 pm, delicious green curry and vegetables were served over rice as dinner. There's not much to do other than stargazing or relaxing by the fire as it's pitch black and quite chilly elsewhere. You can get beer and snacks at the "7-11 in Jungle". |
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| D A Y 2 |
| D A Y 3 |
