Chiang Dao Nest 2 Day Treks - HT21

Highlights
- demanding hiking (about 5 hours each day)
- Explore two remote caves
- Stunning mountain views
- Catch glimpses of the Lisu hilltibe lifestyle
- Enjoy great hospitality
- Visit a Karen village
- Nature walks
- Visit a beautiful waterfall
- Clean, comfortable accommodation
- Very few visitors

Itinerary:
Day 1
7.30am - 8.00am
Get collected from your Chiang Mai Hotel / Guesthouse. (only applies to trekkers departing from Chiang Mai)
9.30am
Breakfast at Chiang Dao Nest (only included for trekkers departing from Chiang Mai)

10am Leave Chiang Dao Nest . Drive for about 30 mins up what must be one of the most spectacular mountain roads in Northern Thailand.

Stop at the top of a ridge and walk down a track for about 30 mins to Baan Pha Suay (Beautiful Sky Village), a Lisu hilltribe village, which is the base for the day.
In the morning walk approx 30 mins through the forest to an extensive cave.
Explore inside the cave for about 50 mins (25mins in - 25mins out). This involves crawling through some small spaces (only short distances) , so is unlikely to be suitable if you suffer from claustrophobia. (it is also possible to sit at the entrance enjoying the serenity of the forest while the others are inside). After caving return to the village for lunch and some relaxing.
After lunch walk in a different direction to a waterfall (much of the path is the stream, so walking sandals advised). It is not Niagara Falls but has a picturesque setting and a suitably adventurous route to get to it.

After the waterfall about an hour or so hike to the next village which will be the overnight stop.

The village is Baan Nalao Mai, a Lisu village, it has the most stunning views of Doi Luang Chiang Dao Mountain. Apart from the view, the people with the accommodation are great hosts and the accommodation itself is relatively luxurious for this type of thing (it is still very basic, and domitory-style!).

Evening meal, drinks(?!), sleep (pigs and chickens permitting!) and breakfast at this village.

Day 2

Hopefully not (too) hungover, after breakfast head across the other side of the ridge. Pass through a sparsely populated area, with a few huts dotted around, eventually arriving at another cave. This one is much bigger than Day 1's (no crawling) .

Have lunch nearby in the forest then walk onwards to a Karen Village, stop for a short while to look around the village, maybe check out the village school, before a good, solid, uphill hike back to the main road where the driver will be (should be!) waiting.
Back to Chiang Dao Nest in the afternoon of day 2.

Afternoon transfer back to Chiang Mai (for those departing from Chiang Mai)

Please note: while you will normally encounter some English spoken on this trek it will normally be very little and occasionally none at all. The emphasis for this trek is on the outdoor adventure, and hiking, while catching glimpses of simple mountain village life, in what is a beautiful area. We employ local guides from the villages who's English is mostly non-existant. We pay them well, as we want the local residents to benefit from the visitors. While they cannot speak English, they do know the way, know how to look after people and will communicate in other ways. It seems to work out ok for most people but we understand that this will not be suitable for all.

Price from Chiang Mai (Private Treks only)
5 - 8 People 3445 baht each
4 People 3495 baht each
3 People 3895 baht each
2 People 4545 baht each
1 Person 6895 baht
Maximum 8 People on the trek

Price from Chiang Mai also includes
- pick-up and return to your Chiang Mai Hotel / Guesthouse
- breakfast on Day 1 at Chiang Dao Nest - Homemade Bread Roll, 2 x eggs (scrambled), Jam, + Fresh Hilltribe Coffee, and English Tea