I have heard a lot about the Chiang Mai hill tribe resort and the day excursions - I am looking for something a little longer and more authentic - any suggestions?

Lilly

This might be what you are after, they pick you up from main Chiang Mai hotels, Empress/Amari etc and take you to the Hilltribe Sanctuary, their packages include accommodation on a half or full board basis, treks and stuff. Gets good reviews and quite reasonable in price.

http://www.r24.org/huahin.20m.com/ch...tribe/details/

Let's get real. If they're organizing tours and treks to the place don't expect it to be "authentic." Tours and treks to the hilltribes are BIG business in Thailand. Anyplace you can reach so easily is going to be far from "authentic." More like tourist traps rather than something out of a National Geographic Special.

I'm not saying don't go. What I am saying is to keep your "authentic" expectations in line with reality.

Kenstee - a little harsh. I have done a little more research and apparently their is a big difference between close commercial hill tribe locations and those a little more remote. That was my question. I am aware that I am not going to be discovering a new civilization - just trying to plan well.
I thought that someone might have experienced something a little more remote and could make a recommendation.
Lilly

Lilly..Didn't mean to be harsh. I've found that people tend to have unrealistic expecations about these "treks." Authenic? You'll see what I mean when you get there.

No worries Kenstee!- I have done a little more digging and I am starting to get the "10 batt mister" picture. But it still sounds like if you go a little farther north or on a little longer of a trek the villages can be a little less commercial. Even along the Inca trail into Machu Picchu we found people still going about their daily lives and not so interested in pressing us to purchase. Can anyone else comment on this?

Thanks

You have to make a balance. If you truly want to find 'deep jungle' authenticity then add to that poor non existant raods, no suitable accommodation plus possible dangers. I see nothing wrong in going to places that provide what the visitor wants to see in order that people can obtain a desperatly need few baht. The Hillstribe Santuary in my opinion does this very well and very balanced, you get as close to authentic yet still within the realms of a well organised operation.