3-Day Chiang Dao Mountain Trek

Overview

Day by day itinerary

1. 1Pick up in the city. Drive North. Stop at market. Jungle trek to reach homestay for overnight.⌄

   Pick up at your hotel in Chiang Mai city (within the second ring road radius)

   Pickup (8:30am) from your accommodation in Chiang Mai before driving north to escape the city and experience the beautiful Chiang Dao area. Along the way we will stop at a local market where your local guide can introduce the ingredients they will use for cooking delicious Thai meals over the next few days. Our next destination is a peaceful valley further north and the start of the trek. After a short briefing, we’ll set off on an hour’s trek and you will have your first close encounter with Northern Thailand’s natural environment. Next we make a lunch stop at a peaceful fruit orchard before continuing our hike, gaining altitude and a noticeable change of flora. We will cross a large tea plantation under the shade of tall mature trees and eventually arrive at a local homestay to spend the night. Your guides will cook a tasty Thai dinner for tonight, then you have the evening to relax and soak up your new surroundings. Today’s hike is approximately 4 to 5 hours, mostly ascending.

   Meals: Lunch: Pack lunch or lunch at local restaurant · Dinner: Thai food dinner prepared by your guides in the village

   Overnight: Homestay in a private house overlooking the valley. Rustic rooms or tent. Basic toilet facilities. Bedding provided.

2. 2Longest trekking day (approximately 6+ hour's hiking) through scenic landscape down the valley and up again.⌄

   Wake up to the mountain melodies and enjoy breakfast with locally grown tea or coffee from the surrounding plantation. Today you are in for a challenging day through a variety of jungle and criss-crossing trails. We will follow mountain ridges under the jungle canopy, with occasional clearings offering breathtaking panoramic views of the lower valley. Around noon, refuel with a packed lunch in a nice spot along the trail. The afternoon trek will bring more bamboo forest, shade under tall jungle trees and a refreshing river crossing. The last climb for the day will take us to our overnight destination, a tiny Lahu village where you can interact with local people and learn a bit about their way of life. Once again, your guide will prepare Thai cuisine for your dinner while you put your feet up after a long day! Tonight you will be staying in basic accommodation (dormitory house) and be able to get a feel for village life. Today’s hike is approximately 5 to 6 hours, mountain trails with mix of ascents and descents.

   Meals: Breakfast: Breakfast with tea or fresh locally grown coffee · Lunch: Basic pack lunch taken enroute · Dinner: Thai set menu

   Overnight: You'll stay next to a Lahu village perched on the mountain top. Rustic dormitory home-stay. Shared toilet facilities.

3. 3Morning trek 3 hours, waterfall stop. Lunch and relax at river bank. Drive back to Chiang Mai⌄

   Enjoy breakfast on the mountain before we start our final leg of the trek. Today is a three-hour descent to the Maetang River valley below where you will notice a change in scenery. Stop at the waterfall for a break. Lunch in a tranquil riverside setting. Drive back to Chiang Mai and drop off at your city accommodation. Today’s hike is approximately 3 hours, mostly downhill.

   Meals: Breakfast: Breakfast, Thai rice congee or toasts · Lunch: Thai food lunch at local restaurant