Trekking with Mae Yao Local

Ethical hilltribe treks

Mae Yao Local Ecotours run private trekking programmes which employ local hilltribe guides. Guests visit different communities and learn about their culture and lifestyles. With 17+ years experience, we believe we can offer you a great adventure!

Trek programmes

Learn about bamboo's many uses, and what it means to the hilltribe people in daily life. Ideal for c......

Akha hilltribe, Craft learning, Lahu hilltribe, No trekking!

Pickup truck, Walking

1 Day Learning: Bamboo

From 2,600THB

1 day

A long tailed boat ride before beginning the day trek ascending the hills to a remote Lahu village,......

Akha hilltribe, Boat rides, Day treks, Karen hilltribe, Lahu hilltribe

Boat, Pickup truck, Trekking

From 2,600THB

1 day

A programme for those who like to trek, are relatively fit, and interested in learning about the ver......

Akha hilltribe, Craft learning, Day treks, Lahu hilltribe

Pickup truck, Trekking

1 Day Trek: Bamboo

From 2,700THB

1 day

A programme for those who like to trek, are relatively fit, and interested in learning about traditi......

Craft learning, Day treks, Karen hilltribe, Lahu hilltribe

Pickup truck, Walking

1 Day Trek: Weaving

From 2,700THB

1 day

Meet the quiet, reserved, and shy Lahu people, in a remote village high in the hills above the Chian......

Akha hilltribe, Karen hilltribe, Lahu hilltribe

Pickup truck, Trekking

1 Night Trek #1

From 4,400THB

2 Days

For those who wish to homestay with a hilltribe family, but would prefer slightly less trekking in t......

Akha hilltribe, Homestays, Lahu hilltribe

Pickup truck, Trekking

1 Night Trek #2

From 3,800THB

2 Days

Enjoy two nights homestaying - in an Akha village and then a Lahu village - where you can compare t......

Akha hilltribe, Homestays, Karen hilltribe, Lahu hilltribe

Pickup truck, Trekking

2 Night Trek #1

From 7,000THB

3 Days

Experience three nights of Lahu hilltribe life, including two nights in a remote community with no e......

Boat rides, Homestays, Lahu hilltribe

Boat, Pickup truck, Trekking

3 Night Trek #1

From 8,400THB

4 Days

Trigfan Corris

2 weeks ago via

This was a private tour therefore we requested and got exactly what we wanted which was a lot more hiking than usual trip. The homestay was the cleanest place we have ever stayed in the middle of a jungle! Obviously cold shower and squat toilet. Food was considerably above average, especially the meal cooked using ingredients and tools he foraged for in the forest. Guide very pleasant. Incredibly quiet place to sleep and the stars were wonderful

See All Reviews Write a Review

Please read me

Friday, August 10, 2018 Thellie Preparation 3207

The sections below cover the basic information you need to know about our treks. If you have further questions please contact us via email or phone.

What to bring

Trekking - overnight treks

Trekking - day treks

What to wear

What to wear - overnight treks

What to wear - 1 day treks

Understanding the cultures

Northern Thailand is very conservative (small 'c'), very traditional, and the locals love a gossip. We recommend certain types of clothing for practical purposes when you book a tour with us, but we also advise dressing in a manner that is respectful of the local cultures, religions, and sites being visited. Continue reading to discover why clothing is an important part of preparation for our tours.

Cultureshock can be felt by those who have never experienced conditions found in the local villages. Please be aware that you will be staying in a family home - our homestays are based with a family with children, or a married couple. Please respect their home, their beliefs, and their culture.

We have set standards for our homestays, covering cleanliness, accommodation, and food... but, these are real homes in traditional communities - not model homes, guesthouses or hotels. Facilities are basic: squat toilets, cold showers, rudimentary electric power (no power at all in some villages), thin mattresses.

Food, language, and lifestyle, as well as etiquette can all be sources of cultureshock. We do our best to prepare our guests with information and photographs, and our guides are very helpful too. However, guests should research independently to understand what the experience is likely to entail.

Cultural dress code

Although we now only offer trekking tours, to focus on the local communities, it is still good to know about the wider Thai culture and how not to offend in terms of what you wear. Below covers the general dress code and why it is more conservative than in western society.

Modesty and respect

Life in the north of Thailand is largely traditional, conservative, and rural. Our dress code is designed to cause minimal offence to locals, and also so that our guests don't feel self-conscious or embarrassed during the day. Thais and hilltribe villagers are unlikely to mention anything directly, but there can be plenty of discussion if a guest is dressed in a manner which goes against the social convention.

Some programmes include visiting local temples, and it is important not to offend the Buddhist religion or culture. Dressing politely is as important as behaving respectfully. Some temples enforce these standards - the White Temple employs staff to hand out shawls and sarongs to wear if they consider a visitor inappropriately dressed, but many temples do not have the capacity to do this. Self-awareness and respect for the culture is very important here, much more so than in western countries.

Cultural clothing checklist

Trousers: long, down to the ankles preferably
- No leggings or yoga pants
Footwear: Covered shoes
- Flip flops are considered impolite at temples
Skirts/shorts: We strongly recommend against wearing skirts or shorts
Shirts/Tops
- Shoulders need to be covered (no strap tops)
- No cleavage should be seen
- A bra should be worn at all times

Practicality

There are a number of practical reasons too. Nature and the elements can make the trip awkward, and sometimes painful, if inappropriate attire is worn. Along the trails, at certain times of the year, grass with tiny thorns can irritate your legs and feet; the sun can beat down and burn the skin in a very short space of time; it can also cause dehydration and sunstroke if a hat is not worn.

Summary

We recommend certain clothing because we have years of experience running tours, and native knowledge of the cultures and taboos in this region.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask us.

Fitness

Fees

Deposit

Remaining balance

Our fees

Refund policy

Cancellation policy

Change of date or programme

Passports

Pickups

Guides

Vehicles

Cultureshock

Homestays

If you are western, and this is your first trip for a hilltribe homestay (or even just to Thailand), you may experience cultureshock - there are many cultural differences to adapt to - food, dress code, manners and respect, are just a few topics which foreigners can trip up on.

Generally, if a visitor is trying to do the right thing, then the locals appreciate it - so, don't worry too much if you get something wrong.

Heads up - what to expect at your homestay

Please be aware that you will be staying in someone's home - our homestays are based with a family, or a married couple, depending on who is next on the house rotation.
We have set standards for our homestays, covering cleanliness, accommodation, and food... but, these are real homes in traditional communities - not model homes, guesthouses or hotels.
Facilities are basic: squat toilets, cold showers, rudimentary electric power (no power at all in some villages), thin mattresses. Remember to check where the bathroom is before dark.
Food at the homestay is freshly cooked, and dishes are typically hilltribe fare, not Thai cuisine. Lots of vegetables are used, and the meat is usually pork. Dairy products are not used at all, although eggs are a staple part of the diet.
The family will probably not sit with you for meals - this is not rudeness, but culture. The family waits until the guests have eaten their fill, before they sit down to eat.
Chickens, specifically roosters, will likely wake you occasionally through the night. This is rural life, after all.

What is expected of guests

As mentioned above, you will be staying in a family home. Even though the family is being paid to host you, normal standards of etiquette remain:
- Please go to bed when the hosts do - usually around 21:00 (9pm), as the adults in the household usually get up about 05:00 (5am) to begin preparing breakfast (Don't worry, you're not expected to rise this early).
- Once in bed, please don't talk loudly or for too long, so that the rest of the household can sleep.
- Please do not play cards during your homestay programme. Gambling is illegal in Thailand, and cards are viewed as a form of gambling - this is especially important for families which are stateless (without citizenship) as they are vulnerable to arrest and large fines.
- Please do not get angry, complain, or treat anyone with disrespect - it is completely against the cultures here, and will be viewed with shock no matter how justified you may feel it is. If something occurs which upsets you, ask the guide to contact us so that we can solve the issue tactfully.
- It is the culture, and polite, to roll your mattress up in the morning. The house is generally one large room, and so bedding is packed away during the day.

Notes