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golden triangle hill tribe trek,
thailand
Your trekking challenge takes place amongst riverside, Karen hill-tribe village. You can warm
the spectacular mountain scenery of northern up with an elephant tour of the surrounding
Thailand, within the Golden Triangle region area and then it’s a climb on foot to the remote
close to the borders of Laos and Burma. Lahu village of Ban Yafu.
The area is named ‘Golden’ because of the You will trek through spectacular mountain
massive wealth generated by the widespread scenery to the Akha Village of Ah Yea. A
cultivation of opium poppies in this fascinating introduction to Akha culture with
mountainous area and ‘Triangle’ because of the the friendly inhabitants more than happy to
junction of these 3 countries. show you around their village and explain some
of the aspects of their culture and lifestyle in
Formerly a wild region of jungle and mountains this still very traditional village.
controlled by warlords, bandits and their
private armies, the Thai part of the Golden Your trek continues through bamboo forest and
Triangle has now been brought under the terraced rice fields, across streams and up and
control of the government, the opium crops down hillsides to the Lahu and Akha village of
destroyed and this beautiful region opened to Ban Law Sa. There are numerous waterfalls and
tourism. streams to cool down in and spectacular
mountain views as you continue to the rarely
The fertile valleys are home to Thai and Shan visited Akha village of Ban Par Leai situated
settlers whilst the surrounding rugged deep in the jungle.
mountains are inhabited by numerous ethnic
minorities or ‘hill-tribes’ such as the Hmong, There is also the chance to walk around the
Lahu, Lisu, Akha and Karen peoples. village of Mae Salong to see the colourful
morning market and truly spectacular views of
On this trekking challenge you will stay the surrounding mountains.
overnight in tribal villages and experience the
very traditional way of life that still exists in Finally, the expedition ends at the northern-
some of the more remote of North Thailand’s most point in Thailand, for a day tour of the
mountain villages. area and a visit to the meeting point of
Thailand, Laos and Burma before returning to
Starting in Chiang Mai, the scenic route heads Chiang Mai for a well-earned day’s rest and
north to the small border town of Tha Ton. This recovery!
picturesque village is situated on the banks of
the Mae Kok River some 3kms from the Day 1: International Departure
Burmese border. A short road journey down Meet at the Airport for your flight to Thailand. Our
the Mae Kok Valley takes you to Ban Pathai Charity Challenge representative will be there to assist
from where your mountain challenge begins you with the check-in and any last minute questions.
with a boat journey through some stunning
mountain scenery to the trekking point at a
Day 2: Arrival in Chiang Mai richly embroidered shoulder bags (yaam), which are
The flight arrives in Bangkok, where you will change widely available in Chiang Mai. The Lahu tribe in
planes for your internal flight to Chiang Mai, capital of Thailand is further split into sub groups consisting of the
Northern Thailand. With a population of about 250,000 it Red, Black and Yellow Lahu – named after the
charms many passing travellers with its traditional predominant colours of their traditional costumes.
wooden houses, quiet leafy gardens and elegant Overnight in communal village stilt house.
temples. A heaven for handicraft shoppers, you can find
beautiful silks, woodcarvings, jade and silver jewellery.
The rich cuisine, friendly people and riverside bars all
add to the city’s allure. After the transfer to your hotel
you will have the afternoon at leisure to recuperate by
the pool or explore the local markets before your
challenge begins. Overnight in hotel. If you want to
leave any shopping here or extra luggage you can as
you will return here on Day 9.
Day 5: Waterfalls and Ban Ah Yea – 7hrs
trekking
You can enjoy fantastic early morning views from the
mountain top v illage before departing along a small trail
to some waterfalls where you'll break for a swim. You
will continue on to a nearby elephant camp for lunch and
afternoon trek to the Akha village of Ah Yea. The Akha
people, a Sino-Tibetan group originally from China’s
Yunnan region, migrated through Laos and Burma into
Day 3: Tha Ton areas of North Thailand during the last few decades due
After breakfast, you will transfer by minibus to the small to political strife in China and more recently Burma. The
border town of Tha Ton - some 170kms north of Chiang poorest of the hill-tribes the Akha are less open to
Mai on the Burmese border. A stop on the way to visit change than other tribes, and have maintained their old
the fascinating cave temples at Chiang Dao before agricultural methods of shifting, or slash and burn
checking out the spectacular views at Tha Ton Pagoda cultivation. The women wear distinctive and elaborate
situated high on a mountain top straddling the border. headgear – framing the entire face, it usually features
In the evening you will stay overnight in a comfortable white beads interspersed with silver coins, topped with
riverside resort in Tha Ton village – your last experience plumes of red taffeta and framed by dangling hollow
of ‘Western’ comforts before heading off for the rugged silver balls and other jewellery or strings of beads. The
mountains and remote villages. rest of their heavy costume is made up of decorated
tube-shaped ankle-to-knee leggings, and a loose-fitting
Day 4: Lahu Village – 5hrs trekking black jacket with heavily embroidered cuffs and lapels.
After breakfast you will be transported by pick-up truck The Akha of Ah Yea village are from the subgroup Padu
to the Mae Kok River from where you will travel by boat Akha and through contact with missionaries in Burma
for 2hrs through stunning mountain scenery to your during earlier times have adopted Christianity in place of
trekking point at a riverside Karen village. The Karen their animist beliefs. The very friendly villagers are more
people form by far the largest hill-tribe group in Thailand than happy to show you around their village and explain
with a population of about 500,000. Warm up with an some of the aspects of their traditional culture and way
elephant back tour (approx. 45mins) of the surrounding of life. Overnight in the village in a communal bamboo
area, then it’s a stiff, climb on foot to your first night’s long house.
stop at the remote Red Lahu village Ban Yafu, situated
at 1,300m (4265ft). With a population of about 82,000 Day 6: Ban Law Sa – 5-6hrs trekking
the Lahu are the third-largest hill-tribe group. Originating From Ah Yea village you can just make out to the south,
in the Tibetan highlands they migrated to southern on top of a high mountain, your next destination – the
China, Burma and Laos centuries ago; but only since the village of Law Sa but it will take you all day to reach it! A
end of the nineteenth century did they begin to enter tough climb across streams and through bamboo forests
Thailand from northern Burma. Village houses are built and terraced rice fields, will take you to the spectacularly
on high stilts with walls of bamboo or wooden planks, situated village of Law Sa. A mixed Black Lahu and
thatched with grass. While subsistence farming is still Akha village, the Black Lahu minority originated in Tibet
common, sustainable agriculture – plantations of tea and and have migrated down through Burma over the last
coffee – is becoming more prevalent, and cash crops 100 years or so to settle in the relative tranquillity of
such as corn, coffee, tea, oranges, ginger and so-on Northern Thailand. Formerly opium poppies were their
have taken the place of opium. The tribe is famous for its main cash crop until the Thai government recently
introduced crop substitution programmes so fruit and tea
are now more commonly seen in the region. Unlike
their cousins the Red Lahu of Ya Fu village the Black
Lahu have frequently adopted Christianity. However Law
Sa’s remoteness and inaccessibility means that it
remains one of the most traditional of the region’s
villages and facilities are correspondingly ‘basic’.
Overnight in Ban Law Sa village in local
accommodation.
Day 7: Par Leai – 7hrs trekking
The incredible mountain views continue on your fourth
day of trekking to the traditional and rarely visited and
very picturesque Akha village of Ban Par Leai, situated
deep in the jungle. Par Leai is an animist Akha village
and tradition mean separate bamboo sleeping quarters Day 10: International Departure
for males and females. Overnight in local village Your challenge ends with a day at leisure in Chiang Mai
building. before an evening return flight to Bangkok and on to
London. You can either relax by the pool, wander the
Day 8: Mae Salong – 5hrs trekking streets and markets of the Old City, or various options
An early start for the last leg of the trek with another can be arranged for the more energetic; with due notice
steep morning climb from Par Leai village taking you we can arrange for you to enjoy a Thai massage (£4 per
high up onto a ridge to a Thai army checkpoint where hr), an inexpensive 1-day Thai cookery course (approx
transport will be waiting to take you on to the £12) or a day tour of the surrounding area including the
mountaintop, Yunnanese settlement of Mae Salong. botanical gardens, orchid farm and elephant camp (£15).
Settled by fleeing Kuomintang soldiers during the civil Overnight, on your flight.
war in China this spectacularly situated village (at
1,400m/4593ft) still has a very Chinese feel to it, Day 11: Arrive Home
surrounded by cherry orchards and tea plantations. The flight arrives back in London.
There will be time to relax at the resort with a well
earned dip in the pool before a stroll around the
picturesque village where you can partake of a tea N.B. The itinerary is there as a guide and may change due to
tasting in one of the town’s Chinese tea shops. Oolong unusual weather patterns, the strength of the group and so on. We
will do our very best to keep to the set itinerary, however we
is the region’s speciality but numerous other tea
cannot be held responsible for any last minute changes that might
varieties are grown as well as coffee. Tonight you will occur. In all such circumstances, your expedition leader will have
enjoy some well deserved comfort after the mountains’ the final say.
rigours at a charming ridge-top resort with real beds, hot
showers and a swimming pool.
Day 9: Golden Triangle
Before breakfast you can walk around the village to see
the colourful hill-tribe early morning market and views of
the valley and mountains. You will continue by minibus
(6-7hrs) to the Northernmost point in Thailand, right
across the Sai River from the Burmese trading post of
‘Takhilek’, and on to the Golden Triangle itself – the
meeting point of Thailand, Laos and Burma at Sob
Ruak. You will visit the Opium Museum and some local
temples before returning by road via Chiang Rai to
Chiang Mai. Overnight in hotel.
optional koh chang / koh samui extension Day 14: Koh Chang or Koh Samui to Bangkok.
summary: Fly to UK.
At the end of your Golden Triangle Hill Tribe Trek why Spend you final morning on Koh Chang or Koh Samui
not reward yourself with a well deserved rest on the making the most of your last minute Thai sunshine.
beautiful island of Koh Chang or Koh Samui. This afternoon transfer to the island domestic airport for
your flight back to Bangkok, connecting with your flight
Koh Chang is a tranquil, jungle clad island lying in the to the UK.
Eastern part of the Gulf of Thailand. Snorkeling, boat
trips, elephant rides and spa massage treatments are Day 15: Arrive Home
just some of the options available during your relaxing Arrive at London Heathrow Airport.
extension.
Cost: £380 per person sharing (based on 2 or
Enjoy Koh Samui, Thailand’s most famous island from more people in twin accommodation)
the beach side resort of Lamai. This beautiful area has Single Supp: £105 (NB: there must be a minimum of
great access to the main town of Chaweng with its 2 persons for this extension to run)
shops and bars yet is quiet and peaceful itself. Take an
optional trip to Ang Thong Marine Park for some
snorkeling or scuba diving.
Day 10: Bangkok. Overnight Bangkok
After your day’s sightseeing in Bangkok and the rest of
your group have flown back to the UK you will spend the
night in Thailand’s capital city. Overnight hotel.
Day 11: Fly Bangkok to Koh Chang or Koh
Samui
This morning you will fly from Bangkok to Koh Chang
(fly to Trat with public boat transfer to Koh Chang) or
Koh Samui and transfer to your beach side resort for
some well earned rest and relaxation after your jungle
expedition. Overnight in a deluxe beachside room.
included
? Transfer to Bangkok airport for domestic flight to
island
? Return domestic flights in Thailand with
Bangkok Airways
? Accommodation in deluxe beachside room on a
bed and breakfast basis
? Extension on travel insurance policy
excluded
? Tips for local staff
? Transfer to and from island airport to local
island accommodation (approx £5pp one way)
? Meals other than breakfast
Day 12-13: Koh Chang or Koh Samui N.B. This extension is unescorted.
Spend the next two days on your island in the sun. Koh Chang available November – April
Enjoy snorkelling or scuba diving and maybe even enjoy Koh Samui available May – October
a local Thai massage (extra cost). Spend the evening
peacefully at your resort or head into one of the larger If you would like to book either of the above
towns for a slice of Thai night life. Overnight in a deluxe extensions or have any extension enquiries please
beachside room. call the Charity Challenge office on 020 8557 0000
or email flights@charitychallenge.com All
bookings are subject to availability and group
booking limitations. We therefore ask you to
consider your travel plans as soon as possible and
if you want to extend your challenge, please put in
your request immediately
