Lisu Lodge & Lahu Outpost: Rural Northern Thailand Trek

The countryside of northern Thailand is picturesque and serene, with gently rolling mountain ranges dotted with traditional tribal villages and covered in thick forest. You’ll stay in beautiful mountain lodges, which have been built in a traditional style, yet are updated to modern standards of comfort.

Lisu Lodge has plenty of traditional character, with bamboo walls and local tribal weavings decorating the bed.

Lahu Outpost is modelled on a traditional Lahu house, and is simple and comfortable, with amenities such as western-style toilets, showers and mosquito nets.

Like the accommodation, food on the trek is authentic and traditional, with Thai dishes often accompanied by traditional tribal music and dance performances - and you’ll have the opportunity to learn how to cook some of the dishes yourself. Lunch will normally be enjoyed while trekking, in the form of a hearty picnic. You’ll also stop off at a tea plantation on the way, enjoying a cuppa straight from the source.

A range of wellness treatments are on offer to help keep you energised and rejuvenated after a long day’s trekking, including steam baths and traditional massages.

On your first morning,  hike through lush jungle trails to the remote hill tribe village of Hmong Pha Mieng, where you'll meet members of the local tribe. After a picnic lunch in the forest, head to the top of the mountain to the Red Lahu village of Pha Daeng, and continue along the mountain ridge to the Lahu village of Kup Kap, where you’ll find stunning views of the countryside and Chiang Mai beyond - and across the mountain peaks lies Burma (Myanmar). You will then make your way to Lahu Outpost, your base for the first night. 

The next day, after an early breakfast, hike down a steep and scenic jungle path, past tumbling waterfalls. After a breather and a picnic lunch on the banks of the river, enjoy an exhilarating whitewater rafting trip. En route to Lisu Lodge afterwards, you'll stop off at a tea plantation for a guided tour and the opportunity to pluck some tea leaves for a fresh (and well-earned) brew.

On arrival at Lisu Lodge, a villager will accompany you to the Ton Lung temple, the herb and vegetable gardens and around the village, where you'll have a cup of tea with the village shaman as he regales you with tales about his beliefs, curing rites and Lisu traditions. You’ll also visit the rice paddies and learn about the traditional techniques of cultuvating rice, and at the Himmapaan nursery, you'll find out about the local flora and the forest ecosystem, as well as its enviornmental projects with local communities. There will be time to relax before tucking into a Thai dinner, acommpanied by traditional Lisu dancing. 

On the final day, choose from a wide range of activities, such as a cycling tour around the village, an ox-cart ride through farmland and orchards to the village of Baan Pang Mai Daeng, or a tea plantation tour - or simply unwind with a massage.