All about trekking and travelling in Northern Thailand

Northern Thailand tours and trekking

Chiang Mai is popular as a launching point into the mountainous wilderness and frontier of Northern Thailand, and tours and trekking within the region are a big reason why many come.

Elephants are best for the jungle

Experiencing the rural beauty and visiting the unique hill tribes of Northern Thailand is perhaps one of the area's biggest draw cards. Many Northern Thailand tours are offered by companies based in Chiang Mai, ranging from a single day to several nights in remote lodges. For trekking in Northern Thailand and Chiang Mai, you can walk into any of the many shops in the main tourist areas to arrange a trek of two to five days in length. You'll need to be mildly fit, and the best time to head for the heavily forested hills is after the rainy season (September onwards). Typically, these treks include elephant-back rides, rafting rivers on bamboo skiffs, visits to superb waterfalls and nights spent in villages of the colourful Hmong, Karen, Akkha, Mein and Lisu people - minorities who lead a subsistence lifestyle and follow unique, dying traditions.

Mountains stretch to Burma and beyond

Heading north from Chiang Mai is a rewarding drive as you come upon the unmistakeable peak of Chiang Dao. A remarkable complex of caves is buried beneath it. Continuing north, you can turn off the main route and meander through mountain passes to seek out Doi Angkhang - one of the last wildernesses in Thailand before the Shan State hills of Myanmar roll out before you. However, a popular option is to continue on to Tha Ton and catch an overnight raft trip to Chiang Rai. Others prefer to seek out the intriquing tea growing Chinese immigrant communities clustered on the hilltops around Mae Salong. Ten years ago this area was under the influence of drug barons and off limits to the public.

Rice harvesting is a
national activity

Chiang Rai is equally historic though less charming than Chiang Mai, and today offers a more realistic glimpse into a Northern Thailand city without the 'brass rubbing' of tourism. Many pass through en-route to Mae Sai on the Myanmar border - a popular run for renewing your visa for another 30 days and shopping for cheap Chinese goods in the market town of Tachilek. From Chiang Rai it's not far to the mighty Mekhong River and you can follow the banks of this important waterway for more than 100kms, passing through the former Lanna capital and port town of Chiang Saen. At Chiang Khong, further south, are a number of waterfront guesthouses which benefit from the steady stream of tourists setting out on the two day river boat ride to Luang Prabang in Laos.

Mae Hong Son's moody winter dawn

Pai is a particularly charming little town situated beside a river, among the hills to the north of Chiang Mai. The three-hour drive over mountain tops to get there is spectacular and the town has become a popular bohemian base from which to embark on hill trekking or simply lay about. The many guest houses are rustic and it tends to pack out with backpackers in the height of the cool season. Live music, quaint restaurants and cheap, simple, guest houses add to its appeal. The rollercoaster road continues from here to Mae Hong Son, a frontier town with a pretty lake in its centre, reflecting the uniquely-styled Burmese temple of Wat Jong Kham - typified by ornate filigree. One particular attraction of the area are the bizarre long-necked Paduang people, who have clung to an old tradition of extending their woman's necks using brass rings, mainly as a means of attracting tourists. More on pai

An hour's drive south of Chiang Mai is the superb Doi Inthanon National Park, a Northern Thailand treasure which boasts the country's highest mountain. You can drive all the way to the summit, which is often shrouded in mist. Two lofty modern-styled chedis to commemorate the 60th birthdays of their Majesties the King and Queen are found here. On the way up there are several fantastic waterfalls, including Mae Ya, Mae Klang, Wachiratan and Siriphum. The Park headquarters, halfway up, has chalets to rent and a campsite, and there are numerous points at which you can go walking to enjoy the lovely flora and gushing streams. Several hilltribes also live in the park, and visitors are encouraged to visit their villages, observe their traditional ways and buy their handicrafts. Many are now employed in the highly successful King's Project, which has substituted the growing of opium with more sustainable produce. More on Doi Inthanon

To truly escape the tourist path of Northern Thailand you may wish to venture further to the unspoilt provinces of Nan, Phayao or Tak. Hiring an Enduro bike is one popular way of doing this.