The Old Caravan Trail – Full Day Trek - Moderate

Page content under revision. If you have an urgent enquiry for this programme please contact us on info@track-of-the-tiger.com

PSL 003

This 9 km trail is just right for someone looking for a good amount of exercise, or for those wanting to experience a wide range of plant habitats while enjoying views of mountains and valleys. Trekking the mountain trails of a highland semi-evergreen temperate forest, learn about its unique ecology and how the local Khon Muang villagers have succeeded in preserving it.

Climb up from the moist forest of Mae Lai Stream following the 19th century horse caravan trail to Lampang. At the top of the pine tree forested ridge take in views of the surrounding valleys and Doi Lohn (or ‘Bald Mountain’). Trek the ridge forming the border between Lampang and Chiang Mai Provinces before descending back to the valley bottom by a different caravan trail. As you traverse a diverse range of habitat from wet stream-side forest to dry pine forest on the ridge, learn about the different flora and how the villagers live in and use the plants in the forest.

You will be met at your hotel in the morning by an English speaking guide and a mini-bus. Drive for 45 - 50 minutes northeast of Chiang Mai through the plains and then up through winding mountain roads of Huay Kaew Subdistrict to Ban Mae Lai and Pang Soong Lodge.

At Pang Soong Lodge you will be met by a Khon Muang community forest guide. After a brief introduction to the Pang Song Lodge and its activities, the trek begins with a visit to the spirit shrine and sacred fig tree to learn a bit about the villager’s spirituality regarding nature and the forest.

Start climbing up the ridge from Pang Soong Lodge by going through old fruit orchards. Along the trail you will see newly planted rattan, the beginnings of efforts to reintroduce rattan in the forest. As you are ascending to the ridge top you will notice that the trail can be quite wide and others deeply rutted. You are walking on what remains of a 19th century horse caravan trail. Your villager guide will tell you tales of transporting their chewing tea to markets in Lampang Province. Reaching the ridge top will find you wandering through a pine forest. Notice how the villagers keep the trees alive while harvesting the resin to kindle cooking fires and how they cut the bark from the ‘Aspirin Tree’. Continuing along the ridge top you will soon find yourself trekking along the border between Chiang Mai and Lampang Provinces, which also forms the border with Jae Son National Park. Enjoy a picnic lunch of local food while taking in the sweeping panorama of Jae Son National Park to the east, Doi Lohn to the south, Doi Suthep to the west and Doi Lanka to the north. Note how the village guide makes a small offering to the local forest spirit before eating.

After lunch your guide will lead you through Windy Pass, where the trees are bent from the incessant wind, and then Bamboo Pass, before descending from the ridge at Sitting Horse Pass. As you follow the old caravan track down and across Mae Lai stream you may notice the tracks of wild boar and barking deer, which are frequently seen in this area. If you need a little pick-me-up your guide will offer you some of the village’s chewing tea for your enjoyment. For the remainder of the hike the trail will follow the stream through wet highland riverine forest. Reaching the end of the trip you will walk through chewing tea and Arabica coffee plantations arriving back at the Pang Soong Lodge.

The trip winds down with a visit to the village to learn a bit more about the people who have taken such good care of the forest over the centuries. You will have a chance to see how wild tea is processed, pickled and made into chewing tea.

The English speaking guide will accompany you in the minibus back to your hotel in Chiang Mai.

Pang Soong Lodge

northern thailand map

chiang mai visitors guide

sponsors and awards

Page content under revision. If you have an urgent enquiry for this programme please contact us on info@track-of-the-tiger.com