Chiang Dao - Two Days Trekking
Local guide, Mr. Deecha will take you trekking for two days in one of Thailand's most beautiful national parks, the Pha Daeng National Park in Chiang Dao, Northern Chiang Mai province. Staying overnight in the house of the guide in Mae Mae village, on the foothills of Doi Luang, will be one of the highlights of this trek. This cute little village is located in the forest, surrounded by green hills and coffee plantations. Chiang Dao is the home to the 3rd highest mountain in Thailand, Doi Luang, 2225 meters above sea level. During the trip, you will see spectacular views of Doi Luang in the distance. We will follow ancient opium trade trails and visit a Lahu tribal village, waterfalls, and coffee plantations without other tourists in sight. Enjoy the beauty of this rain-forest and its diverse flora and fauna, with big old trees and beautiful vines and bamboo growth. This two-day trekking will give you an authentic experience, unlike any other.
The hike will be 9 - 12 kilometers per day, depending on the weather and season. A medium to high fitness level is required!
Please note that we will not climb the summit of Doi Luang with this hike.
“The guide, Dechawat, was wonderful. A very experienced guide with a huge amount of knowledge of the area. He showed us plants, let us taste different things he collected in the forest for cooking purposes later on and even showed us how to make coffee cooked in a piece of bamboo.
The hiking itself is definitely not an easy one. We hiked for about 5 hours with breaks inbetween. The second day was a bit more intense with about 7 hours of hiking, also with some breaks. We’ve climbed some serious height and the paths were quite rough sometimes. We slept in tiny village of about 125 people in a wooden house where the guide’s wife cooked an amazing dinner for us. If you are looking for a authentic, non-touristy trekking experience, definitely go for this one!”
Itinerary & Practicalities
Price: 2700 THB
Day 1:
Pick up from your hotel between 8:00 am – 8:30 am.
Drive for approximately one and a half hours to Pha Daeng National park in Chiang Dao.
Start the trek at Mae Mae Village and hike for 1 hour following a dirt trail passing coffee and tea plantations.
We then continue our hike into the forest, walking up to the mountain for about 2 hours through beautiful scenery.
If we are lucky, we can spot wild boars, monkeys, gibbons, snakes, and colorful birds.
We will have a break on the mountain for a well-deserved lunch.
After lunch, we will hike following ancient trails to the Lahu village. These trails were used in the past by opium smugglers, who went buying their goods at the village.
When we leave the village we follow the dirt road up to the viewpoint and enjoy the views of Doi Luang, the third highest mountain of Thailand in the distance.
Next, we will continue our trek in the forest for another hour to the Pang Tad waterfall. We will pass some smaller falls and a Karen village on the way.
Bathe, relax, and refresh at the Pang Tad waterfall.
In the last hour of the hike, we will follow the stream through the forest back to the Mae Mae Village and end the day with a visit to the local school. A Japanese charity organization built this school to support the children of the nearby tribal villages.
Spend the night at the guides house in Mae Mae village and enjoy dinner and drinks on the balcony.
Day 2:
Wake up and enjoy the refreshing and foggy morning weather of Chiang Dao.
Breakfast is served at 8 am.
Start walking around 9:30 am for about 4 hours in the forest alongside Doi Luang. See the views of Doi Luang in the distance.
Stop for lunch on the mountain and relax enjoying the nature around you.
After lunch we will continue hiking through the rain forest until we reach the Sai Lod Bueng waterfall.
Bathe and cool down at the Sai Lod Bueng waterfall.
Walk back to the Mae Mae village for another hour and get in the car to drive back to Chiang Mai
Arrive in Chiang Mai around 6:30 pm.
*Important: This itinerary is not always 100% correct as the guide adjusts the trek to weather conditions and the fitness level of the group.
Included in the price: Transportation, local guide, lunch, breakfast, dinner, water, fruit, National park entrance fees, and overnight stay.
What to bring: Small backpack, tissue paper, money to buy drinks (300 THB), walking shoes, bathing suit, towel, insect spray, sunscreen, rain jacket, change of clothing, toothbrush, warm clothing (it can get cold at night).
How can I book this tour? Please fill in the booking request at the bottom of this page. We will do our best to respond as quickly as possible.
Would you like to visit Chiang Dao for one day instead? Check out the one day tour >>
