Day 1 - Chiang Mai - Karen Hill Tibe Lodge (Wat Chan) (L,D)

Pick up by private transport and head north for 250km to the Karen hill tribe lodge (approx.3.5-4 hours) deep in the heart of the mountains. En-route through beautiful mountain scenery you will visit a local Thai market and Baan Chan Temple before enjoying lunch at a natural pine forest. Head into the mountains with 4x 4 over narrow mountain roads to the unique Karen Hill Tribe Lodge at a Karen village. Relax at the lodge or take the opportunity to explore the surrounding hill tribe village.

Overnight: Karen Hill Tribe Lodge (Wat Chan)

Day 2 - Karen Hill Tibe Lodge (Wat Chan) (B,L,D)

Breakfast at the lodge and explore the village to see hill tribe daily activities, then a short trek to the elephant camp. Experience an elephant ride, before stopping to enjoy a 'jungle' lunch prepared by your guide in bamboo hollows over a camp fire. After lunch visit a Lisu hill tribe village and the Royal Project. Here non indigenous fruit and vegetables are grown. Then visit the hill tribe school to see how hill tribe students are taught. Return to the lodge to enjoy afternoon of optional activities such as fishing, cooking, photography.  Alternatively just sit back and relax amongst the surrounding ricefields and forests of banana, palm and sugar cane trees. After dinner, enjoy a Karen cultural dance where you can join in the dance.

Overnight: Karen Hill Tribe Lodge (Wat Chan)

Day 3 - Karen Hill Tibe Lodge (Wat Chan) - Pai (B,L)

After an early morning walk to the reservation area for Bird watching and Gibbon spotting, head back to the lodge for a great breakfast. After breakfast observe hill tribe women weaving traditional cotton cloth and pounding rice with primitive implements then transfer (1.5 hours) to the picturesque riverside town of Pai. The afternoon will be spent exploring nearby waterfalls and natural hot springs! The evening will be free time to independently wander the colourful night markets.

Overnight in Pai

Day 4 - Pai (B,L)

After breakfast enjoy a morning casually floating down the Pai river on a bamboo raft. Rafting is a great way to see the river and local countryside. Bamboo rafting takes you at a slow pace downriver on rafts made of bamboo poles lashed together with a guide who propels the raft along with a long pole.  Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before an afternoon at leisure swimming in the resorts natural hot springs or hiring bikes for a leisurely ride around town.

Overnight in Pai

Day 5 - Pai - Tham Lod (B,L,D)

This morning you will transfer (1.5 hours) to Tham Lod caves near the Burmese border for another exciting days adventure. On arrival explore Tham Lod village and Tham Lod cave, complete with stunning limestone formations, three cavernous chambers and a river running through the entire length of the cave. The cave is beautifully decorated with stalagmites and stalactites. Lunch is provided at a local restaurant. Free at leisure for the rest of the day.

Enjoy a dinner of traditional Shan recipes unique to this remote highland area

Overnight: Tham Lod

Day 6 - Tham Lod - Mae Hong Son - Chiang Mai (B,L)

Wake to the sound of cowbells, birds and the smell of fresh mountain air! Following a leisurely breakfast of homemade bread at the lodge, transfer to the lake side town of Mae Hong Son (2 hours) for a short domestic flight (45 minutes) - air ticket not included to Chiang Mai. A transfer will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to your Chiang Mai hotel.

Please note you may like to extend your stay in the serene lake side town of Mae Hong Son or transfer by road back direct from Tham Lod to Chiang Mai instead (5 hours)