4 Days & 3 Nights – THE OLD TRADE ROUTE

Depart Chiang Mai and head north to the Fang valley and the forest temple of Wat Tum Tubtao. Cycle along rural back roads through rolling agricultural landscapes to a rare Paulong hill tribe village. Re-board the vehicle after your 2- to 3 hour cycle stage and head off to check into Maekok River Village Resort. After dinner, enjoy drinks around the campfire ( if the weather is cool enough) at guest expense.

After breakfast, depart the Resort by vehicle to a drop off point from where you commence a full day walk through scenic jungle, climbing hills and visiting hill tribe villages. Picnic lunch. Continue your walk, arriving late afternoon at a vehicle pickup point for the short journey back to your overnight stop Maekok River Village Resort. Enjoy dinner followed by drinks around the campfire ( if the weather is cool enough) at guest expense.

After breakfast, an (optional) visit to the Giant Buddha images overlooking the valley from nearby Wat Thaton. At 1000 hrs, depart the Resort to visit several ethnic minority villages. (Shan, Akha, Yao, Karen). Board a river barge for a lazy rafting trip down river; canoes are available for those who want to try canoeing. Picnic lunch on the river bank, then (optional) 1.5-hour walk to a Mussur (Lahu) hill tribe village. Overnight in a jungle river camp, accommodation in comfortable bamboo bungalows. BBQ dinner & campfire.

After a full breakfast, continue your river barge trip down river. Hill tribe visits; (optional) canoeing is again optional for those who want to try it. Take a 1- hour Elephant Safari from the Karen village of Ban Ruam Mit. Lunch, followed by a trip through the Thai-Burma border town of Mae Sai, then a drive through the Golden Triangle and on to Chiang Rai.

Then;

• Those on tour SA404A travel back to Chiang Mai with a tea / coffee stop en route.
• Those on programme SA404B leave the tour here for either the airport or for their chosen hotel in the city.