| Thailand tour - descriptions of options and side trip choices | ||
| Mae
Mae Long Stay Village: This village is located about one and one half hours drive from Chiang Mai, near Chiang Dao Mountain. To get to the village requires driving on a dirt road for about 15 miles. The village has dozens of picturesque bamboo cabanas which visitors sleep in. These huts are raised above the ground. The floors are made of split bamboo. If you choose to do the Village overnight stay, you can enjoy a relaxing Thai massage for 100 baht ($3 US or 1.50 UK pounds). Then finish things off with a true forestside herbal sauna. All the herbs are collected from the forest around the village. I find this overnight stay to be relaxing and rejuvenating. I look forward to staying there again soon. This village is recognized as a working example of a true eco-lodge. Other tribes from different locales in Thailand have studied the set up here in hopes of starting a similar program in their own villages. |
 Above: photo of Mae Mae Village accommodations. Below: Sauna in the jungle |
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| Mountain
trek and overnight stay at remote mountain village: This hike begins at the Mae Mae Village. On the first day you will have a hike of about five and one half hours. This 15 (9 miles) kilometer hike will be mostly uphill. The village has no roads and no electricity. The villagers live much as they have for hundreds of years. You will sleep in one of the village homes. Bedding is provided. If you like a little adventure, don't mind a good stiff hike, then you might want to consider this overnight option. The second morning you have another 4 hour hike, mostly downhill, to get back to civilization. Those group members who chose to stay in Mae Mae Village will meet you at the end of your trek. |
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| Elephant
Rescue Camp overnight stay: This elephant rescue operation has quite a few elephants. Your work involves walking the elephants from their base out to the edge of the wild forest. There the trainers will turn the elephants loose overnight. In the morning you help the mahouts round up the elephants and walk them back to the base. |
Click here to view a page of tiger cubs born November, 2006 | |