Trekking In Chiang Mai, Thailand?

Question

Does anybody have any suggestions for a 2-day, 1-night trekking tour in Chiang Mai? I am looking for a trip with approx 2hrs or hiking a day, and during the trip an elephant ride, visiting local hill tribes, bamboo raft ride and/or white water rafting ride. Travel date will be in mid-April

Thanks!

Answer 1

Go to Chiang mai and buy it there.   There are kiosks everywhere with people selling the trips and the group I went with had 7 people.  These tours are really cheap but when you buy on line you think $57 dollars a day is OK and you get there and find out its about $20 you'll feel like you've been cheated.We did 3 days but 3 people were only there for 2 days.  When you get into the woods and they sell you bottled water and beer that's when you know its a tourist thing.

Yeah we got that phony raft ride and the elephant thing.  I paid 2X the price in Bangkok as I would have paid in Chiang Mai.  But its one for the memory book.

Answer 2

You're certainly going to the right place, but mid-April is Sonkran, the Thai New Year, and Chiang Mai will be throbbing. If you really want to do the trekking thing, arrange your visit to include the first or last week of April, but I'm sure you'll also enjoy the Chiang Mai New Year (five days of chaos around the 13th of April), and you certainly won't want to go trekking while that's on.

Treks are best booked when you arrive in Chiang Mai. You'll get a much better deal, and the guides who'll be looking after you will be the one's making the profit so they have a vested interest in making sure you get the real thing and have a good time. I would take your time and ask around a few of the small tourist restaurant/guest houses for recommendations. Don't get rushed into anything - anyone in Chiang Mai rushing to do anything is either a crook or a nutter.

Answer 3

April is the hottest month of the year in Thailand, so be prepared for that. http://www.visualthailand.com has 100's of current photos of Chiang Mai so you can actually see the place you will be visiting.

http://www.1stopchiangmai.com/  this site I find to have the most accurate and useful Chiang Mai travel information

Good luck with your trekking

Answer 4

Trekking is very popular out of Chiang Mai.  I'd recommend to pay for a guided trek if interested in exploring the jungles outside of town.  Not only are the guides informative and helpful, but they know exactly where they are taking their clients, and the prices are usually fair.  There are many options available, ranging from single day treks to multiple day/overnight treks, and can be booked through almost any hotel/guest house, as well as through tourist centers.  Many treks also involve elephant rides, and although the rides are slow and bumpy, they are truly a once in a lifetime experiences.  

If you love nature, check out the nation park at Jae Son National Park, best reached by passing the hot springs at San Kamphaeng (stop for a wee look) and carrying on up the 1317 and follow the signs to Mae Kompong, this takes you in the back way but the route allows for the most spectacular view acroos Chiang Mai and Lampang Mountain range.

Try this http://www.discovery-thailand.com for more Thailan info, they also offer online hotel booking with discount up to 75% off.  Have a nice trip!