Day Walks, Nature Trails, and Trekking

Depart the resort by vehicle after an early breakfast for the Fang National Park. Starting from the valley floor and escorted by a forest ranger you set off along a well marked trail that takes you up some 1250 metres in a loop through stunningly beautiful mountains.

En route you go through 11 nature stations each with something different to offer. They cover; a rainforest with diverse bird and insect life, teak and other commercially forested trees, the marriage of trees and their parasitic creeper systems, trees and creepers bonded to - almost an integral part of the rock face, a bamboo forest with a wide range of examples of this fantastic grass, an area that highlights how the rainforest collects and holds rain water, and much more.

On return to the valley floor you head for the hot springs for a dip in the hot pool and a natural sauna. Reboard the vehicle for the short trip back to the resort.

You start the walk from the resort itself crossing the main road to join a single track that runs northwest along the bank of the Kok river. Passing through a lychee plantation the track leads to the crest of the hill.

Once at the top take a short break to enjoy the panoramic views back over the village to Ban Thaton in the valley below, Burma to the north, and the river disappearing from view as it threads its way to join the infamous the Mekong river some 250km to the north east. Continue along a trail that leads down into the next valley and to a small (seasonal) waterfall.

Follow the well worn track from the waterfall to a small Lahu hill tribe village, then on to the top of the hill to the temple overlooking Ban Thaton. Walk back down to the village through the temple lands stopping at each of the 3 giant Buddha images to enjoy the view. Return the short distance to resort.

After breakfast depart for The Fang National Park for what must be one of the best ‘easy to medium’ category one day walks in the north. Following well maintained trails through stunning scenery as you are led by your guide and a forest ranger up into the mountains. The trail winds along through varied types of flora, and you may see the ‘lady of the mountain flower’ (Maenoliacae) so rare it is forbidden to pick them.

The next natural wonder you come across an immense limestone bridge, studded with small trees, the bridge is presumed to have been created a few thousand years ago. In another area, you find ferns as high as coconut palms, a rare species little seen in Thailand any more. In yet another area you come across several species of banana rarely if at all seen elsewhere.

You pass through forest cover so dense that smaller trees have evolved as ‘parasites’, climbing the larger trees to reach sunlight. Our guides will show you how villagers have used the Buddhist faith to protect trees, and how they have used natural means to channel water from one place to another.

You will visit the noisy falls, a spectacular geographic feature encompassing a multi cascade waterfall. Finally,a giant cave hides numerous clear water pools within a giant the cave. On leaving the cave you board your vehicle and return to the resort.

Depart Ban Thaton by vehicle for the Kuomingtong (Chinese) village of Ban Suk Re Tai in the foothills of the Mae Salong range. Trek uphill to the Lisu Hill tribe village of Hua Nam, then descend back down into the valley to the Akha Hill tribe village of Ba La. Enjoy a picnic lunch beside a stream before climbing to the mountain top village of Akha On Air.

Descend again into the Kok river valley arriving in the Black Lahu village of Pong Pa Kham then onto your vehicle pick up point in the Karen hill tribe village of Muang Ngarm. Return the short distance to Ban Thaton and the Maekok River Village Resort by vehicle.

Travel by vehicle from the resort to the day walk start point in the village of Mae Ai. Follow a hunters trail that starts behind the village and runs through rice paddy and lychee plantations, crisscrossing a mountain stream as you climb up into the foothills of the Poo Muen range.

Soon after leaving the valley floor, you will walk along narrow footpaths on steep sided slopes before reaching a rest point on the banks of the stream. Continue on up, using the stream bed to negotiate a series of small waterfalls, through lush jungle vegetation that boasts numerous species of trees, and diverse jungle flora. On some sections, a secured rope is employed to facilitate a ‘safe’ climb to the next stage.

Stop for lunch, in a beautiful natural jungle setting next to a waterfall. (Make sure you bring a swimming costume). After lunch return along the hunters path for a short distance before branching off on a downhill trail through virgin bamboo forest, eventually returning to the stream and the rest point you stopped at earlier.

You again use the stream as a trail then walk through paddy field paths to the pick point.

After an early breakfast, board a vehicle and set off to Huay Bon Dam, the start of the trail. From the dam walk through farm land as you leave the valley floor and climb up into the Poo Muen range.

You enter a cave complex and clamber over slippery surfaces, through fantastic rock formations lit only by the guide’s lamp and your own torch.As you go deeper into the mountain you travel between caverns, each as big as a football field, some filled with Buddhist relics and artifacts.

Emerging from a side entrance the trail continues through thick bamboo forest, then crosses back and forth over a mountain stream as it passes through classic jungle vegetation.

The trail leads you to the head of the beautiful 'Hoy Hean' waterfall, a five cascade fall some 25 metres in height. Using ropes, and instructed by our guide you negotiate the climb up the steep trail next to the falls. Once at the top, take a one hour break for lunch and a swim.

After lunch, continue up steep trails through a wide range of flora, emerging at a Red Lahu hill tribe village.

You then start your descent through dense jungle, criss-crossing streams until you reach the valley floor at a natural hot spring where you may soak those tired limbs for a short while before boarding the vehicle and returning to the resort.


	108/2 Charoenphratet, Tambon Changklan ,MuangChiang Mai 50100 Thailand Tel: (053) 308 775-6 (Mon -Sat )0800-1700 hrs Fax: (053) 818221 E-mail: tiger@loxinfo.co.th


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