Discover the historic Golden Triangle region by trekking through remote Karen, Lahu, Akha and Shan hilltribe villages. The 3-day experience will take you from Chiang Mai up to the Golden Triangle on the border of Thailand and Laos, then back again with plenty of opportunities to meet with local communities, savour delicious Thai food, soak up the natural scenery and simple see a different side of life in Thailand’s mountainous north.
TOUR PROGRAMME
Day 1: CHIANG MAI – THATON (-/L/D)
Depart Chiang Mai by van and drive to Thaton via Chiang Dao. En route, visit Fang district, 150 kilometres, and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Depart Thaton by motorboat for a picturesque 3-hour journey down the Kok River. Visit a Karen village and hike uphill for 2 hours to a Lahu village where you’ll have dinner and spend the night.
Day 2: THATON – CHIANG RAI (B/L/D)
Start the day with a 2-hour hike visiting a waterfall along the route where you’ll stop for lunch. In the afternoon, walk to a Karen and Lahu village. Next, continue on foot for another half hour to an Akha village where you have dinner and stay overnight.
Day 3: CHIANG RAI – CHIANG SAEN – CHIANG MAI (B/L/-)
Take a short walk to a Shan village from where you will take a local truck back to the main road and continue by private van to Chiang Saen, the former capital of northern Thailand’s ancient Lanna kingdom, located in the Golden Triangle. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant then continue to Chiang Mai with a short break at natural hot springs along the way.