05 Days Hmong Lodge - Mae Hong Son - Pai

Pick up passengers from hotels, airport, railway station and bus terminal in Chiang Mai. Depart Chiang Mai by 4-WD Land Rover or similar to visit the hill-tribe museum at Mae Rim and a local market at Mae Malai. Then continue to Ban Mae Taman of Mae Tang. Take a one-hour elephant ride through the rainforest, which for most people is an exciting and unforgettable experience and ride on a typical northern ox-cart through rural landscape. After a picnic lunch, embark on inflatable rafts for an adventurous journey down the rapids in the white-water and scenic Mae Tang River for about an hour (During mid-March to June the water levels might be too low and the river-journey will be replaced by a floating down the river on bamboo rafts). Continue by 4-wheel drive to Baan Pang Hai, a simple village situated 850 metres above sea level. Check-in at the Hmong Hilltribe Lodge (standard room), B.B.Q. dinner at the lodge, followed by a presentation of the Hmong dances and songs and overnight.

After breakfast, drive to a small village of Baan Teen Doi where you take a short stroll to Baan Mae Pa. Get into action by mountain biking to Baan Palan. Visit a small village reservoir and continue biking to Baan Pong Kwaw, where there is an old temple with beautiful wall paintings. Picnic lunch. Drive by 4WD on mountain roads through Baan Pok, Baan Pang Kwai and Baan Nong Hoi Mai. Then get into action again by trekking or mountain biking from Nong Hoi Mai to Mae Khi village, where you can have coffee or tea in the Hmong's kitchen. Return to Hmong Hilltribe Lodge for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, depart on a full day excursion to Mae Hong Son via Ban Wat Chan. The journey takes you through rolling terrain and countless steep hills. In some areas the road cuts through the forest, passing local people and hilltribe villages. A brief stop is made at Luang Mae Saab Cave. Upon arrival at Wat Chan, lunch is served in a simple restaurant. Continue by car to Ban Huey Tong and Ban Huey Pu Loei there will be opportunities to observe the farmers, mostly of the Karen tribe, pounding rice and weaving clothes using manual simple equipments. Dinner at Bai Fern restaurant in Mae Hong Son and overnight at Golden Pai Resort (standard room).

Early risers may visit the bustling fresh market and observe the locals making merit by offering food to monks. Return to hotel for breakfast, then tour the landmarks of Mae Hong Son, Wat Phra Thart Doi Kong Moo for a panoramic view of the valleys, and Wat Jong Kham and Wat Jong Klang, Burmese-style ancient temples. Depart Mae Hong Son for Ban Nai Soi to visit the Khaya, one of the long-necked Padong Tribes living in the area. Along the way, stop at Phu Klon Country Club, famous for its therapeutic clay. Lunch at Ban Rak Thai, a former settlement of the Chinese Imperial Army (Kok Min Tang), who fought against the Chinese Communist Army and refused to surrender and retur to China. Nowadays, the village is famous for its tasty Yunan dishes and Chinese teas. Continue to Lod Cave where the river runs through the cave from one side of the mountain to the other. Arrive in Pai and check in at Mai Hotspring Spa Resort (standard room) for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, tour Pai town and visit Wat Nam Hoo where water pours from a Buddha image’s head, Wat Hua Na, surrounded by rice fields and known for its local arts, Mor Pang Waterfall, Tha Pai Hotspring and the Iron Bridge built during World War II by Japanese troops stationed at Pai. After lunch at a local restaurant, depart for Chiang Mai. Transfer to hotel, airport, bus terminal or train station in Chiang Mai.