Preparation

How to prepare, what to bring, what to know, before your tour begins.

There are a few more points which will help your trip run more smoothly.

Please ensure that shoulders and cleavage are covered, and the length of trousers/shorts come down to, at least, your knees. Skirts are not advised, but if worn, should be calf length or longer. Read about the dress code here
Please understand that you carry your own bags, so don't pack too much - you are welcome to store your main luggage at our foundation while the programme is in progress, and we will bring it when we collect you.
Suitcases, and bags which use wheels, are extremly impractical for the trip - please use daypack/backpack only, and leave large luggage at your guesthouse or at our foundation.
There are no ATMs once we leave Chiang Rai town, so please have cash prepared in advance. This money can be used to buy souvenirs, snacks and drinks, which aren't included in the tour price. Please don't forget that we also need the balance of the fee paid in cash (Thai Baht) when we pick you up.
Electricity is limited in most villages, and non-existent in some, so please don't rely on being able to charge batteries during the programme. Make sure your phone and camera batteries are fully charged before beginning the tour.
We do not provide toiletries (soap, toothpaste, towel, etc), so please check the 'what to bring' section carefully, to ensure you have what you need.

Details: Category: Preparation; Published: 12 September 2016

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.

Details: Category: Preparation; Published: 12 September 2016

Read more: Dress code

Although our trekking routes are quite moderate, you should be relatively fit. It is very difficult to assess a trek's degree of difficulty, because we don't know your level of fitness.

We had a 73-year old grandad trek one of our 2 night programmes, without incident. We have had a number of groups with pre-teen children do the same. But we have also had 20-somethings go no further than the first hill, before they turned back.

So, for us, it is hard to be sure in advance whether a programme is suitable for the group. It's also difficult for you to know how tough or easy a trek will be - conditions play an important part, and the humidity or heat can be a surprise to some guests.

Our guides are trained to assess the group's capabilities, and change the route if necessary. The guide will also change the route if the weather demands it, or if the group ask for an easier/harder/shorter/longer route. We are flexible, understanding, and resourceful.