virginiafish

We are thinking of going to Thailand in November and want a 3-5 day tour in the North. Has anyone used Trekking Collective or Thailand Hilltribe Tours or another guide/organization. Ideas and advice welcomed!

Kathie

Sgt. Kai is the one who is usually recommended for Hill Tribe treks. Be aware that you will need to do at least one overnight (in very primitive conditions) in order to get to areas where you can see hilltribes living in traditional ways. Many of the so-called hilltribe visits are to "villages" you drive to and are offered the opportunity to buy things - that's all. Others promise you a chance to see the long-necked women (Padung from Burma) which are more akin to human zoos. So choose your tour operator carefully.

So decide what you want out of your days in northern Thailand. There is lovely scenery and interesting sights to be found that does not require an overnight trek.

virginiafish

Hi Kathie, I appreciated your advice. Who is "Sgt. Kai"? We are not adverse to "primitive conditions", as we are rent campers, but very adverse to the long-necked women or shopping, so I need direction. Also, what are the pros and cons of trips out of Chiang Mai vs. Chiang Rei?

Kathie

Here is the website: www.chiangmaitours.com/about.html

Chiang Mai is a very large, sprawling city. Chiang Rai is a much smaller place. I like the far north, the Golden Triangle area better than the CM area. But if you can get Sgt Kai, I'd go wherever he wants to start your trek.

virginiafish

I am feeling uncomfortable because, according to this website, Sgt. Kai visits Long Neck villages.

rhkkmk

of course he takes people there from time to time..many people want to visit with them.. doesn't mean you have to go there

BeniciaChris

I highly reccoment Sgt Kai-He will take you where ever you want. If you don't want to see the long neck women you don't need to.
His E-mail is [email protected] Please tell him Chris said hi
We had him guide us for 5 days 5 years ago to Chaing Mai-Changai Rai & the Golden Triangle. He arranged all our lodging, and we had a wonderful boat ride and a stop at a mineral spring.

virginiafish

Thanks for your responses. You are correct. I am emailing him presently. I am looking forward to asking more questions as we plan. This forum has helped us plan many wonderful trips.

crellston

To get anything remotely "authentic" and to avoid the rampant exploitation so prevalent these days you really need to get away from Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. Mai Hong Sorn and Soppong offer some great trekking opportunities, either purely nature based or including visits to and stays in, a number of minority peoples villages. Do not bother with 1 or 2 day trips out of CM as you will almost certainly be disappointed (unless of course you have nothing to compare it with)

There are a number of Community Based Tourism (CBT) operators around MHS including http://www.tourmerngtai.com/green_cbt_homestay.htm which offers a number of different trips of varying length and types and who work with the local communities who also profit from the operation. http://www.fernresort.info/index.php is a great place to stay and works on similar principles.

MHS is a day's drive from Chiang Mai although it is a very scenic drive and well worth the time. There are also flights from CM if you are limited on time.

Soppong is a small village not far from MHS and also worth a look for trekking ops - Soppong River Inn would be a good place to start (an added bonus is that it has some of the best food in Northern Thailand!).

An overnight stay at a village is an interesting experience as long as you are not too concerned with creature comforts. Communal rooms are the norm at some of the more remote places. The day is very much early to bed, early to rise but it is a hugely rewarding and sometimes humbling experience to see how hard the people work just to survive. They are also some of the friendliest and most welcoming people I have ever met (sadly, definitely not the case with paces closer to Chiang Mai/Chiang Rai.

If you have the time then I would also recommend looking into the far north of Laos around Muang Sing /Phongsali. It is harder to get to but so worth it as the scenery is spectacularly and as yeat still relatively unspoiled. It does hover need 7days +.

virginiafish

crellston-your reply is very helpful. Yes, we want authentic (which is why we chose Thailand and not China for this trip). We want to trek, and do hike, but cannot do strenuous, long days with hills. Guess we are talking about shorter, nature trails. We may get a 3 flight pass/package from ThaiAir. We are happy to stay at a village (we have slept in tents many times before). Does this trip seem as though it could be altered to meet these requirements? http://www.thailandhilltribeholidays...Loop-Tour.html I also have emails in to a few other guides in the area recommended on the forums.

crellston

virginia - the trip you linked to is basically the whole of the MHS loop and looking at some of the video clips provided, I doubt that this is what I would describe as authentic. The section of the loop from Chiang Mai to Doi Inthanon is pretty ordinary but Inthanon NP is a nice enough stop off on the way and there are a number of places to stay around the park headquarters (do check that they have heating - the thermometer in our room read 4degrees C at night!).

Mai Sariang is a lovely riverside town with some good eating places, a decent market and some good handicraft shopping. No longer the sleepy village it was 10 years ago but still a nice place to stay. Soppong is a really nice place. Small but with a very busy market where the minority peoples come from far and wide to sell their wares and produce. We stayed at the Soppong River Inn from where there are some decent walking trails along the valley and it its close to the many caves in the area. I am sur they will be able to sort out tours/guides for you.

As I mentioned, the Fern resort is a good place to start and, if you are looking for just a few days then I would be inclined to fly to MHS and then get Fern to sort out your travels with http://www.tourmerngtai.com/green_cbt_homestay.htm in and around MHS. There are a couple of walking nature trails directly from the resort 1-4 hours which take you through the forest around the resort. You can do these either unaccompanied or with the resident guide dogs (if they can be bothered!) one of the staff will also guide for you if required.

Pai is an alternative but has become very commercialised and busy. i loved it 10 years ago but moved straight through when we visited last year.Alternatively, if you are happy to drive then a hire car would give you the opportunity for a "leisurely" drive from CM. It is a spectacular drive in parts that wind through the mountains but there are so many sharp bends that it is probably not for the nervous or those that suffer from motion sickness.

crellston

Sorry, I meant to add: have alook at http://nest.chiangdao.com/ It is closer to CM and offers a variety of different treks and activities. It is a very long time since i have been so i con't really comment on what they are like these days but I am sure TA will provide some current info.

virginiafish

Has anyone used the services of Charlie [email protected]?

virginiafish

BeniciaChris - where did Sgt. Kai take you on the 5 days trip?
Thanks!

Kavey

Sorry to resurrect an ancient thread but it has a good deal of helpful information already here.

Thailand Hilltribe is already the website I'd found via other searching and am thinking of contacting them to organise a customised tour, however mobility issues mean I'm no way going to be able to go trekking. I could probably do two or three short walks (by which I mean half an hour to an hour) a day, and that's a push.

Given that restriction, does anyone have any thoughts about what may be a good compromise?

We currently have a flight from Bangkok into CR, 7 nights to play with, and then a flight out of CM down to Phuket for a land transfer to Khao Sok.