1 Night Trek #1
The programme includes learning about traditional weaving techniques, and enjoying a lunch made in the rural style by local farmers - using bamboo and other natural materials. Surrounding the homestay timeout, is plenty of trekking and sightseeing. Make sure you are prepared - fairly fit, equipped with good walking shoes, water bottle, and ready to glow with perspiration!
The day begins with a picturesque 25 minute drive to our foundation in the heart of the countryside, for your programme orientation. From the foundation, you will trek to a local village to learn about the skills and techniques of weaving traditionally. This is followed by a rambling walk through hilltribe communities, leading up the hill to your homestay for the night.
After dinner, watch and join in a Lahu dance - Lahu men only dance for ceremonial purposes, so the participants will be women and the children. The following day is spent trekking through the countryside, including cooking a lunch using traditional methods (and learning how to make a cup from bamboo!).
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Exactly what we wanted
- Friends
- 2
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 wonderful10.0 / 100 0
Day 1
- Pickup from hotel
- Drive to our office
- Visit the eBannok Handicrafts shop (Mon-Fri)
- Chat about the programme
- Trek to a local Akha village
- Packed lunch
- Trek through a national forest (approx 3 hours)
- Homestay at a hilltop Lahu village and learn about traditional weaving
- Dinner
- Traditional Lahu dance
Day 2
- Breakfast
- Trek through forest to a view point
- Visit a waterfall
- Enjoy a traditional lunch using bamboo to cook ingredients
- Learn how to make bamboo cups
- Trek to a Karen village by the river
- Pick up and return to hotel
Although we recommend a minimum of two people in a group - to reduce costs, but also so you have someone to share the experience with - we occasionally have requests from solo travellers who wish to book a tour. As our tours are private, the group would consist of the individual and our guide. We no longer offer to add a solo traveller to an existing group.
Solo travellers unfortunately have to pay a higher price as we have a number of set costs which we cannot reduce. This means that the per person fee is higher than the per person fee of a booking for 2 people.
- Select the date you wish to begin your programme
- Select the number of adults in your group
- If there are children, check the box and then select the number of children by age
- Once completed, the total price will appear at the top of the box
- Click 'Book Now' button
- Fill in the information fields
- Only required fields are necessary - First name, Last name, Email
- Add a username and password to access your private details
- Fill in the personal information for every group member, including children
- All fields are required
- Check the 'I confirm to read...' box
- Click 'Book Now' button
- Choose your payment method - check to see when the deposit must be paid by
Please note, we do not confirm any bookings without a deposit payment.
All our treks and tours require a deposit payment
The balance must be paid in cash on the day of the programme (Thai Baht only)
Below is some basic information to assist preparation for your overnight tour. For more comprehensive information, please visit our main 'preparation' articles.
What to bring
There are a number of necessary items to bring when you join one of our overnight programmes, so please continue reading to checklist them before you set off.
Recommendations
- Daypack/small backpack
- Spare clothes
- Torch/flashlight
- Toiletries
- Towel
- Sunglasses
- Sun cream
- Insect repellent*
- Water bottle
*Malaria is not an issue in this region, but there are cases of Dengue Fever from time to time. We recommend using insect repellent, and top up regularly. A mosquito net is provided at your homestay.
Advice
- Suitcases, and bags which use wheels, are extremely impractical for the trip - use daypack/backpack only. You are welcome to leave large luggage at our office.
- Please don't forget that we need the balance of the fee paid in cash (Thai Baht) when we pick you up - there are no ATMs once your trek begins, so please have it prepared in advance. This cash is used to cover fees incurred during your trip, such as the homestay.
- Electricity is limited in most villages, and non-existent in some, so don't rely on being able to charge batteries during the programme.
- We do not provide items for rental, so please check the 'what to bring' section carefully, to ensure you have what you need.
What to wear
When you join one of our overnight programmes, you need to consider the cultures of the homestay villages as well as the weather and terrain. Please continue reading to make sure you are prepared before you set off.
Recommendations
- Trekking boots - covered trekking shoes/trainers at a minimum.
- Some trails have grasses with small thorns which can irritate bare skin, especially in rainy season.
- Change into flip-flops once you arrive at the village (optional)
- Long sleeved tops and long trousers (because of thorny grass)
- Comfortable and cool clothes
- Enough changes of clothing for the whole trip
- Please note, we have a dress code that we ask you to respect
Advice
- Pack waterproofs during rainy season (approx June-Oct)
- Pack warm clothing for the evenings during winter (approx Nov-Feb)
Passports
For overnight treks, we are legally bound to send the passport information of all guests to the Thai Immigration Department. Therefore, an overnight programme cannot begin until we have received this information from all group members.
We require the full name and passport number of each member of the tour. These details are entered when you book the programme.
Insurance
Our public liability insurance coverage requires that we send the company the passport number and full name of everyone in the group.
We don't need photocopies, or even to see the original passport - just put the nationality, passport number and full name of each participant into our online form.
If you have any concerns, please email us to discuss the issue.
Pickups & Drop offs
Chiang Rai
We pick you up, and drop you off, anywhere inside Chiang Rai city, for free. This includes the new bus station (#2) and the airport, which are both located slightly outside town.
However, for other locations outside the city, we may charge an extra fee to cover costs. Please enter your accommodation name when booking and we can let you know if any extra fees will be charged.
Accommodation located outside town can also impact on the pickup and drop off times, or reduce the amount of time on the trek.
Chiang Mai
We no longer arrange pickups from Chiang Mai
To avoid extra charges, and early pickups, we strongly recommend staying in Chiang Rai city the night before your programme begins.
Guides
Our guides were trained by us, and each holds a TAT guide licence (Tourism Authority of Thailand). We also taught them English (one speaks Japanese too), which helps them to converse with the guests during the trip. But please understand that the standard of language varies - English will be at least their 3rd language, after their tribal and Thai language.
The guides were born and raised in the villages in our programmes, so you can be sure that the information you receive from them about local culture and tradition is authentic - many travel agencies and tour operators use Thai guides who have no firsthand knowledge of the hilltribe communities. Our guides are encouraged, once they have experience and self-confidence, to work for themselves or other agencies, whilst still freelancing for us.
Other information
- While we do everything we can to keep the itinerary as advertised, we reserve the right to change without notice
- Weather conditions may force route changes or removing an activity for safety reasons
- The guide may shorten or lengthen the route according to the wishes, fitness or ability of the group
- A community may be holding an event which will impact the programme's schedule.
Price includes
- Pickup and drop off in Chiang Rai town*
- Meals
- Homestay accommodation
- Tribal dance
- Filtered water
- Tools and materials
*Accommodation outside town may incur an extra charge
Please have the following details ready when booking (for each person in your group)
- First name
- Last name
- Gender
- Diet (Meat, vegetarian, or vegan)
- Passport number
- Nationality
- Please also email a copy of each passport information page
Price excludes
- Surcharge for Pickup/drop off outside Chiang Rai town
- Snacks and drinks
- Souvenirs
- Extra options added to the basic tour
- Tips and gratuities
Cancellation policy
Please note we do not book a guide until the deposit has been paid. If a guide is unavailable, we refund the deposit in full.
If a group cancels within 24 hours of the trek start, the deposit is lost.
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