There are several attractions within easy walking distance of Maekok River Lodge i.e. (The Giant Buddha Images of Wat Thaton - The Thai-Burma border (2 kms) - A Shan village - A Lahu Hill tribe village - The Thai village of Ban Thaton.

Meal Code - (None)  Picnic lunch available on request.

Board a long tailed boat in Ban Thaton and travel 1.5 hours, 30 km, down river to a Lahu Hilltribe village called Ban Ton Pung. (Bee Tree Village). Cycle back to Ban Thaton through Lahu, Yao, Karen, Lisu, Akha and rural Thai villages.

Meal Code - (None) * Picnic lunch available on request.

Board a long tailed boat in  Ban Thaton and travel nearly 2 hours , 35 km, down river to the Lahu village of Ban Jakhua. Cycle back along dirt roads, through rural Thai villages  and through paddy fields to Ban Thaton. 

Tiger Tip

Meal Code - (None) * Picnic lunch available on request.

Travel by vehicle to the forest temple of Wat Tum Tubtao then cycle the return route along rural back roads that follow the base of the mountains, through rich agricultural land to a rare Palong Hilltribe village, and then reboard the vehicle to travel back to Ban Thaton.

The area within a radius of 50 km of Ban Thaton is more densely populated by a wide variety of hill tribes than any other area in Thailand. Whilst many roadside villages are used to tourists, the remote villages are not used to seeing more than  2 or 3 westerners (missionaries, NGO workers etc.) per year. Trekking options range from a full day of easy walking, returning to the Lodge, to 4-5 days of hard walking through mountains and remote jungle, with the option of staying in our own tented camps.

Traditionally, we never handle large trekking groups nor send more than a total of 60 people on treks in any year. Programmes are custom designed for each individual or group.

We have two categories of trek:

STANDARD  - Overnight in village, local food, carry your own pack.

V. I .P. -  Tented camp, porter carries your pack and food is provided from the Maekok River Lodge .

Meal Code - (Lunch)

Depart Ban Thaton by vehicle for the trek start point in the Black Lahu riverside village of Ban Pha Tai. Trek uphill through a Lahu village Pong Pa Kham then over the mountain with a stop at the Akha village ON-AIR before descending to he Kuomingtong village of Suk Re Tai. Board a vehicle for the short journey back to Ban Thaton.

Meal Code - (Lunch.)

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. Trek back down into the valley to the Akha  Hill tribe village of Ba La. Picnic lunch beside a stream before climbing to the mountain top village of Akha On Air. Descend 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.

Meal Code - (Lunch. Dinner, Breakfast, Lunch)

Depart Ban Thaton by vehicle for the Kuomingtong (Chinese) village of Ban Suk Re Tai on the foothills of the Mae Salong range. Trek uphill to the Akha village ON-AIR, then down into the river valley where you spend the night in the Black Lahu village of Pa Lo.

Meal Code - (Lunch. Dinner, Breakfast, Lunch)

Depart the Lodge by vehicle for the trek start point in the Black Lahu riverside village of Ban Pha Tai. Trek uphill through a Lahu village Pong Pa Kham then over the mountain with a stop at the Akha village ON-AIR before descending to spend the night in the Kuomingtong village of Suk Re Tai.

Meal Code - (Lunch.)

Depart Ban Thaton by vehicle for the bamboo raft boarding point in the Black Lahu village of Ban Pha Tai. Board one of these custom built craft accompanied by a knowledgeable English speaking guide for a delightful lazy day of rafting down this beautifully scenic river. Enjoy a picnic lunch onboard before taking an Elephant safari from the river bank through surrounding jungle to the Karen Village of Ban Ruam Mit. Return to Ban Thaton by vehicle.

Meal Code - (Lunch. Dinner, Breakfast, Lunch)

Depart Ban Thaton by vehicle to visit Shan & Lisu villages. Board our customized river barges in the Black Lahu village of Ban Pha Tai and raft down river through stunning scenery. Picnic lunch, canoeing, (optional) mini trek (optional) of 1.5 hrs to a Mussur Hill tribe village then onto our river base camp for an overnight stop. Bamboo bungalows, hot water, mosquito nets, BBQ, full bar and campfire.

Meal Code - (None)

Depart Ban Thaton by vehicle with an English speaking guide for a tour along rural back roads to a small hill top temple at Mae Sao. Travel through farmland with your guide explaining the local customs, agricultural practices etc. Visit a working rice mill for an explanation of rice production ‘ from the paddy to the packet’. Visit the local food market in Fang, and (should you wish) visit the local cottage industry of silverware (Jewellery made from Burmese and Indian Rupiah). Return by road to Ban Thaton.

Meal Code - (None)

Depart Ban Thaton by vehicle to visit the Shan village of Ban Mae Mokcham. On to see the village Shaman and musician in the Lisu village of Laota. From here a drive along rural back roads to a riverside Lahu  Hill tribe village. Return to Ban Thaton.

Meal Code - (Lunch.)

Depart Ban Thaton by vehicle to visit the Shan village of Ban Mae Mokcham. On to see the village Shaman and musician in the Lisu village of Laota. From here a drive along rural back roads to a riverside Lahu  Hill tribe village. Continue on up to Mae Salong for lunch. After lunch, take a stroll around the exotic market before a short walk (2 kms) into an attractive Akha Hill tribe village. On the return journey to Ban Thaton, take a further short walk (optional) 3 kms, into the hills to visit  the delightful Lahu Hill tribe village of Huai Tao (Turtle stream village).

Meal Code - (Lunch. Afternoon Tea)

Depart  Ban Thaton by vehicle accompanied by an English speaking tour guide. Travel up into the mountains to the ex-Kuomingtong mountain top refuge of Doi Mae Salong where the Yunnanese speaking locals run an interesting ‘exotic’ market. Continue after a brief stop via a Yao Hill tribe village market with some interesting products before climbing the mountains again to the Queen Mother’s Royal Garden Project on Doi Toong. Lunch  there and then set off for Mae Sai  (the Thai-Burma border town) via the very scenic mountain route over Doi Pa Mi that affords stunning views of the valley below. After a stop in Mae Sai, travel through to Chiang Saen and the Golden Triangle for an afternoon tea stop in a restaurant overlooking the river before returning via Mae Chan to Ban Thaton.

Meal Code - (Lunch.)

Depart Ban Thaton by vehicle to visit the Shan village of Ban Mae Mokcham.  On to see the village Shaman and musician in the Lisu village of Laota. From here a drive along rural back roads to a riverside Lahu  Hill tribe village. Take a long tail boat for a 2 hour trip down river to the Karen village of Ban Ruam Mit for Lunch and a 1 hour  Elephant ride. Board your vehicle and return via Ban Mae Salong the ex Kuomingtong stronghold with its exotic market to Ban Thaton.

Meal Code - (Lunch)

After breakfast, depart Ban Thaton at 0800 hrs by vehicle  accompanied by our local English speaking guide for the Lisu village of Laota where if the Shaman is home he will entertain you by playing various traditional Lisu musical instruments.

Trek from here for approximately 3 hours through Akha, Yao, Lahu & Karen Hill tribe villages. Reach the delightful Shan village of Ban Mae Mokcham around 1300 hrs after a 3-4 hour mini-trek. (can be shortened to 2-3 hrs by prior arrangement).

After exploring Ban Mae Mokcham, board one of our custom built bamboo rafts equipped with ice box, picnic lunches, life vests  etc. and fitted with a thatched roof, for a lazy 2 hour rafting trip down the scenic Kok river.

Disembark in the Black Lahu village of Ban Pha Tai where our vehicle awaits to transport you back to Ban Thaton.

Tiger Tip

Meal Code - (Picnic lunch, Dinner,) (Breakfast, Picnic Lunch)

Day One - Depart Ban Thaton by mountain bike heading east through paddy fields and rural Thai villages before following the river down stream to the Lahu village of Jakhua. Here you are met by a river barge  with picnic lunch and transferred 10 kms down river to the path leading up to the Mussur settlement of Kok Noi. Visit Kok Noi then cycle a loop through the hills on forestry roads arriving back at the riverbank directly opposite our river camp. Hot showers, BBQ dinner, drinks around the campfire, and overnight accommodation in delightful bamboo bungalows.

Day Two - Meal Code - (Breakfast, Picnic Lunch)

After breakfast board the river barge to travel 3  kms back upriver to the forestry station at Ban Pha Kwang where you disembark and cycle inland to a Lahu village. Return along the west bank of the river passing the river camp and meeting up with the river barge at a pre-designated picnic spot on the bank.

After lunch, continue cycling down the dirt roads on the west bank, through the Karen village of Ban Ruam Mit and on to a meeting point at the river boat landing stage in Chiang Rai. Here, collect your luggage and transfer by 4WD vehicle back to Ban Thaton.

Modification (B) allows you to take a transfer to  your chosen hotel in the city or in Chiang Saen..