Thailand - Loy Kratong & Mae Jaem

Loy Kratong falls on the 5th November in 2006

This and our other community tours in Thailand are provided by grassroots groups and local development organisations. No commercial tour operator can match the intimacy of this authentic experience. As there are only a small number of visitors each year your experience is very special.

 

We will hike into the mountains, and also into the forest for an tour by our Karen hosts. We will enjoy herbal sauna and traditional massage. If you are energetic, we can provide a trek into the wilds almost every day.

We will learn about Lanna art and culture. We will visit a Karen village, see their ingenious irrigation system and learn something about their relationship with the forest and its utilisation of herbs and plants for food.

The village is beyond the day trippers in an isolated area of Mae Jaem, Thailand's Shangri-La. Mae Jaem awakens each day from a dreamy mist to a vista of day time colours; green fields, bright blue skies, the monk's yellow robes, the men's blue shirts and the women's embroidered teenjok cloth, and hair decorated with orchids.

This is a great place for anyone, who would like to know remote Thailand and her people. The hiking and rafting (subject to river conditions) through the countryside is easy to moderate on this trip, no special skills are needed. Just enjoy the nature and the friendliness of your hosts in this unforgettable visit to the ancient kingdoms of Lanna and Nan. The sophisticated residents of Chiang Mai look down on the villagers who live in Mae Jaem as they are seen as uncivilised. The Mae Jaem people have fought to retain the old ways, as they just know this is the best way of living.

We have chosen the dates as they tie in with Thailand's most spectacular festival. It is one of the world's most spectacular festivals. On three nights in November, the people throng to the riversides all over the country to place a boat into the water. The boat is made of banana leaves or similar and is highly decorated, and finished off with a candle. In Chiang Mai they also have large paper balloons that float up into the air by candle power, with a backcloth of the biggest firework display you will ever see. It is amazing, it is carnival time, it is sensory overload, but who cares.

Outline Itinerary

Day 1 (3rd November 2006) Arrive in Bangkok and we transfer you to your hotel near the riverside. The 4* Menham Riverside Hotel.

Day 2 Sightseeing in Bangkok with a guide. Based in a hotel near the river you can easily travel around to see the sights. As the Thais have always travelled by boat, all the main attractions are built near to the river. Travel by boat to various temples (Wat Phra Keaw, Wat Po, Wat Arun), a palace and flower market etc. We take an evening air conditioned sleeper train to the north. B.

Day 3 Today we can relax and enjoy the relative tranquility of Chiang Mai. Free time to visit such places as Wat Phra Sing and Wat Chedi Luang in the inner city. In the evening enjoy Loy Kratong Festival (festival of Lights), first from your riverside restaurant and learn how to make your own kratong (floating candle holder). Later we mingle with the celebrating locals. In Chiang Mai, where the festival is called Yi Peng, residents also launch hot-air paper balloons into the sky. There is an option during the day to do some bird watching on Doi Suthep for an extra £10 / $15 each. Overnight at the Galare Guest House. B, L.

Day 4 After breakfast, we set off travelling along the side of the Ping River. It will be difficult not to keep stopping to admire the beauty along the way. We will stop for lunch and also to see the work that is being done to retain traditional weaving methods. Ban Rai Phai Ngam is the house turned museum and research centre, where about 40 of the top weavers continue these age old methods.

We also stop at the Ob Luang National Park for a short walk and we visit Saeng Da, the traditional cloth museum.

We reach the village and take time to unpack and rest before dinner with our host community. The evening will be everything you could wish for, marvellous food, great company and some entertainment laid on by your hosts to welcome you. Homestay. B, L, D.

Day 5  Travel to Doi Inthanon, the highest mountain in Thailand at 2,596m. The area is a naturalist's dream, come true, with about 400 species of birds, mostly between 1,500m and 2,000m.

The mist that often covers the slopes gives an ideal environment for orchids and epiphytes. We will visit Doi Ang Khang nature resource famous for the 'Thousand Year Rose' and stop for some bird watching and walking along a nature trail for 2-3 hours. We visit Saeng Da, the elder's traditional cloth museum. Dinner with host family. Homestay. B, L and D.

Day 6 Today we spend time sightseeing in the area around the village, visiting old temples and weaver's workshops famous for the teenjok (famous hand weaving of Mae-jam). At the Mor Meuang Centre you want to refresh your body with a herbal sauna and Thai traditional massage (optional at about £4 / $7 for both, paid locally). 

Learn about the nature cure system from the local doctor. Once you are nice and relaxed we will have dinner in a real Lanna atmosphere (Kun tok in north Thai language). After dinner we may discuss about the Mae Jaem lifestyle and culture related to nature and religion in Lanna. Homestay. B, L and D.

Day 7  Merit making to the monks before breakfast, sets us up for the day. Transfer to Mae Hong Son area by minibus (6 hrs), stopping for lunch along the way. Refresh yourself in the swimming pool of the "Fern Resort", a small eco friendly complex, 7 km outside of Mae Hong Son. The resort lies on the edge of a huge National Park. The scattering of wooden bungalow is built on rice paddies in local Shan style. 

You will experience the sights and sounds of unspoiled nature and friendly staff, all of them from nearby villages. Overnight at the Fern Resort (Bungalows with private bathroom). B, D.

Day 8  Today we go the Shan village which sits at the edge of the Pai River. Try rafting down the river fir about 2 hours on bamboo (optional extra at £5 / $7 each, paid locally). In the afternoon after a light lunch we have the option to ride an elephant (optional extra at £5.50 / $8 each, paid locally).  Relax in this beautiful area.  B, L, D.

Day 9 We drive to Soppong and one the way we visit Fish Cave, where many fish live in the sheltered waters. We continue and stop at Lahu Village, where we take tea and talk to the people.  Stay overnight at Soppong Guest House. B, L, D.

Day 10 We visit Pai and many other interesting places along this beautiful road on our way to Chiang Mai (arrive about 4 pm). Relax then transfer to the railway station, for the sleeper back to Bangkok. Travelling overnight we arrive at about 6.00 am the next morning. Overnight on the air conditioned sleeper train. B, L.

Day 11 Bangkok.  Depart from Bangkok for home or to your next Muir's Tour.

Dates - Loy Kratong falls on the 5th November in 2006

Price Indication Per Person:  GBP580 to GBP850 / USD880 to USD1250 dependent upon group size.

                                                      email for current price

You can book as an individual. We are expecting a group size of about 4 - 7.  We can plan a few additional private trips for smaller groups each year to this village, but we limit the total number of people over the year to 25. The maximum number on any single trip is 12.

What is included
Fully supported village homestay, which includes all the food you'll need and non-alcoholic drinks. All meals as stated by code - B, L & D. Internal transport in a air conditioned minibus and also an air conditioned second class sleeper train. Transfers to and from the Airport and railway station / hotel. Entrance fees to Wat Phra Keaw, Wat Po, Wat Arun. English speaking guide. Boat trip in Bangkok.

What is not included
The price allows for joining in Bangkok and does not include international airfare and departure taxes. Personal insurance, visa fees, vaccination costs, personal clothing and equipment, all items of a personal nature and all alcoholic drinks.

Airfare (from the UK)
As a guide, the international airfare should be about GBP450 - GBP650 (high season) economy class.

Visas
Visitors from most countries who arrive in Thailand without a visa will be granted a 30 day stay if they have proof of onward ticket and adequate funds.

Travel Insurance

Comprehensive personal insurance, including search and rescue is required on this trip. For UK clients we recommend the policies of the British Mountaineering Council, for their expertise in evacuation from remote areas worldwide. Details at www.thebmc.co.uk  As Insurance is always provided by a company based in your home country, we are unable to suggest suitable insurance companies unless you reside in the UK.