3-Day Chiang Dao Mountain Trek
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Chiang Mai, Thailand
- 3 days (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
In the highlands north of Chiang Mai, the Chiang Dao mountains are known for their stunning natural scenery and traditional hill tribe villages. This challenging 3-day trek will take you far from the tourist trail—hike along scenic mountain ridges, bamboo forests, and jungle trails; explore the villages of the Maetang River valley; and enjoy homestay accommodation and tasty Thai meals along the way.
- Guided hike through the remote Chiang Dao mountains
- Local experience: home-cooked meals and homestay accommodation
- Small-group tour with a maximum of 10 people
- Hassle-free hotel pickup and round-trip transport from Chiang Mai
What's Included
- Breakfast (2)Breakfast
- Lunch (3)Lunch
- Dinner (2)Dinner
- Beverages at local homestay, restaurants
- Gratuities
- Personal spendings
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Operating hours.9:00 am
Itinerary
Day 1
Pick up in the city. Drive North. Stop at market. Jungle trek to reach homestay for overnight.
2 Stops
Active Thailand Day Trips (Pass By)
Mae Taeng District Office (Pass By)
Accommodation: Homestay in a private house overlooking the valley. Rustic rooms or tent. Basic toilet facilities. Bedding provided.
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2
Longest trekking day (approximately 6+ hour's hiking) through scenic landscape down the valley and up again.
1 Stop
Mae Taeng District Office (Pass By)
Accommodation: You'll stay next to a Lahu village perched on the mountain top. Rustic dormitory home-stay. Shared toilet facilities.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3
Morning trek 3 hours, waterfall stop. Lunch and relax at river bank. Drive back to Chiang Mai
1 Stop
Mae Taeng District Office (Pass By)
Accommodation: Not included
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Trek not suitable for children under 10 years old, unless they are used to multiple hours of hiking
- Vegetarian meals need to be planned in advance, please advise at time of reservation.
- Participants should wear suitable outdoor clothing, including hiking boots or runners.
- Limit your personal effects to fit in a 45L backpack, which you will need to carry through the trek. Travel light!
- We will provide you with a kit list, according to the season.
- Participants should be able to hike 5 to 6 hours on undulating landscapes.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 3 days in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 36 reviews
Jennifer_F, Jan 2025
What an amazing 3 days we had in the Chiang Dao Mountain area with our phenomenal guide, Tan. And it was a special bonus to have Active Thailand's Alex and Tina along for parts of the trek as well. The scenery was spectacular - from bamboo forests to remote villages to temples, waterfalls, and river crossings. Tan happily pointed out the bounty both hard work and nature provide in the region. The hiking was strenuous at times but the pace was unhurried. We were rewarded with delicious food throughout as well as simple but comfortable accommodations and gorgeous views. It was a nice change of pace after several days in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Hi Jennifer,
Thank you so much for your lovely review! We loved having you with us. We will be sure to pass on your praise to Tan!
Thank you once again for your kind recommendation. We hope to have you back with us for another adventure! Best wishes from Tina & Alex
Elizabeth_H, Mar 2024
Our guide, Sap, was amazing! He was very knowledgeable and really knew a lot about the nature and people around us. He was very friendly and let us taste cool plants along the way. He was patient and kind. It is important to note that your guide will also cook for you. Our guide was an amazing cook and there was a ton of food. I do wish that our guide had been given more breaks along the way because I felt bad that he had to do such long hard hikes and then he cooked everything from scratch. He was absolutely amazing about it though and a really great cook. He is also really knowledgeable about local ways of life and local customs.
Beware that this is a VERY hard hike. It will take a lot of mental fortitude and you should definitely be at least somewhat fit. Highly recommend bringing hiking sticks. They pick you up at your hotel and you’re able to leave luggage with them in the van. Be prepared to hike steep inclines and very narrow spaces. It will be hot and buggy. There are showers and toilets at the home stays but no AC. At night, it is not that hot. You should also try to pack as light as absolutely possible because the hikes will be challenging, especially the second day. Bring lots of water because of the heat, you will sweat a lot and need to ration your water and snacks. Be prepared that the first and last days are medium level difficulty but the middle day is very difficult unless you’re a truly experienced hiker. For example, I am a day hiker and this was extremely difficult. My husband is a backpacker and this was medium to hard for him. Someone else in our group was a trail runner (and actually did Ironman) this was medium for them. You really need to go into this hike with a mindset that once you go in, you cannot get out of this trip so you have to be okay with pushing through.
All things aside, we enjoyed it a lot and the main reason is that you do see beautiful views and get to interact with locals. We also loved our guide. If the company is reading this review, Sap deserves a raise and a promotion! He was very very good.
Response from Host, May 2024
Hi Elizabeth,
Thank you for your wonderful review! It sounds like a great experience, we're pleased to hear you were in good hands with Mr Sap and I'm sure he enjoyed your company just as much.
We thank you again for sharing your feedback, and hope we have the chance to welcome you back with us.
Warm wishes from the Active Thailand team
Vern_D, Mar 2024
Great experience. Moderate hike & Mr. Tan is an absolute gem of a guide & master of the jungle. We had a very diverse group (2) mid-20 yr olds & (2) early 60 yr olds and Mr.Tan led the group / read the group to perfection. Great knowledge source & fabulous sense of humor. Have nothing but high praise & recommendations for taking the 3 day 2 night hike with Mr. Tan.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
Thank you for your great feedback! We're very pleased to hear you had a good experience
with our guide Mr Tan. (30 years+ as a trekking guide, and still going). We hope to welcome you back again in Chiang Mai.
Jamie_H, Oct 2023
This 3 day trek was the highlight of our trip. It is truly off the beaten track. Our guide Mr. Sap was laid back, very knowledgeable of the local plants and animals, and really made the experience extra special. Each day provided incredible experiences. Between the beautiful routes and scenery, hospitality in the villages, delicious and nutritional meals, it really felt we were a million miles from any tourist tracks. The hikes consisted of 4 hours day 1, 6 hours day 2, and 3 hours day 3 (excluding breaks). We recommend requesting specifically for the packing list. We highly recommend this tour, as we enjoyed it thoroughly from start to finish.
Response from Host, Oct 2023
Hello Jamie,
Thank you very much for sharing your lovely feedback! We're happy to hear you had a nice experience with us and Mr Sap. We hope it was memorable and do hope to welcome you back for a future visit. All the best to you!
Warmest wishes from the Active Thailand team
Marina_Z, Jan 2023
We had an amazing time on this trek. We came to Thailand wanting to do some serious trekking and this was it! The trip took us through dense jungle, up steep hills, and through local villages & farms. Furthermore, everything was organized and planned so it was all very hassle free. The accommodations we stayed in were beautiful and we spent both nights star gazing, which was a lovely experience.
But what made our experience absolutely magical was our guide Mr. Tan. It was such a privilege to see Thailand through his eyes! (+ he’s an amazing cook! His red curry that he made for us on night 1 was incredible!)
If you’re a nature lover who likes to be active, this is the trek for you!
Response from Host, Jan 2023
Hello Marina & James. Thank you for participating in our trek program. Mr. Tan was also amazed with you guys and it was definitely a great trip. A good challenging journey indeed. Thank you for your kind review, and perhaps come again for another adventure with us. Have a great travel to Thailand!
Maria_W, Jan 2023
We had a very nice hike. The trek was challenging and physically demanding, especially on day 2 with climbing up and down, but was worth it for the spectacular views along the trek. Our guide Tan is knowledgeable of the area. He is a good cook, he cooked us Thai meals that we enjoyed very much.
Response from Host, Jan 2023
Hello Maria. Thank you for joining our hiking trip. It is indeed challenging, but that is what we want to provide. A real hiking experience in scenic mountains of northern Thailand. Thanks for the informative review.
Sophie_v, Nov 2022
Great experience! 10/10
We had a great 3 day hike with the lovely guide mr. Tan. He told us a lot about the plants on the trail and about the culture of the villages we passed. The hike was very beautifull and also challenging at times, which we liked! Mr. Tan cooked us some very nice food. The accomodations in the mountain villages felt very authentic and cosy. We would really recommend this trek to people who like a good hike and who want to experience the jungle and culture of the Chiang Dao region!
Response from Host, Dec 2022
Thank you for your positive and informative review. Our aim is to provide the best experience for our participants, and I think you state this well in your review. Thank you and please come back again! Each season is different in northern Thailand.
Tim_H, Sep 2022
This tour was amazing! It was challenging in some places because there was not always a way to walk and out guide had to cut free the way the way with his knife. But that made the tour even more extraordinary.
Our guide Sap was very helpful and took care of us very well. He offered a lot of information about the area and was an amazing cook.
The view at the end of the day and along the way were stunning and very peaceful. The accommodation were basic but nice.
Thank you for this great tour. We highly recommend this tour if you want to see some authentic rural area of Thailand far away from the touristic spots.
Response from Host, Sep 2022
Thank you for your descriptive review. Our trekking guides are back in action and they are all eager to show their favourite jungle to our participants. It is a great trek indeed, but it is challenging. The overgrown jungle trail is now cleaned up, after a few hacking days. Please come again. Thank you.
Alex_C, Jun 2022
Amazing experience ! Very knowledgeable guide - mr tan is a beast! 67 years old! Itinerary didn’t make much sense: 4 hours walking day 1, 9 hours day 2, 2 hours day 3. Food was good, and local hilltribe people were very friendly. Accomodations were clean but the chickens and dogs are very loud at night. All in all great experience, 9/10.
Response from Host, Aug 2022
Thank you for your descriptive review. Yes indeed, Mr Tan has been a trekking tour guide for 30 years, and still walking! Hiking time/distance is set according to the landscape in this mountainous area! Thank you for using our services and please come again for another great Active Thailand experience!
Daven_B, Dec 2021
We had a really great time on our tour with Tan and Tri. They explained many of the plants along the way and let us taste many of them, they were problably the best part of the trip and a lot of fun to talk to!
Due to Covid our route was changed a bit, but it was very beautiful nevertheless (check out the sunsets/sunrises!). First and Last day were about 2-3hrs of walking, the second day was a more challenging trek of about 17km/6hrs walking, so better pack light!
Accomodations are simple but clean, be aware that showers are cold water only and maybe bring earplugs.
The weather is perfect in winter, during the summer or rainy season it might get somewhat more difficult.
All in all this was probably the best tour I have ever been on, the combination of great guides, great planning, good food and beautiful sights was perfect!
Response from Host, Dec 2021
Hello guys. Thank you much for your very informative review, as we are certain this will help the tourism recovery in this country and elsewhere. Take care.
thompsw, Feb 2020
Thanks to Tan and his assistant/ trainee, this was a great experience. The hike for me was very challenging but Tan made sure I was OK. The scenery was beautiful and I learned a lot about the mountain people and there way of life. The first overnight was picture perfect and peaceful. They even built a fire for us. The second night was a bit noisy with singing, dogs barking and roosters but enjoyable anyway. The food that Tan made was absolutely fantastic. This was a most enjoyable 3 days. My only negative is that communication with the company before the hike was not good.
Cees_v, Dec 2019
We, my wife and I, had a great tracking with guide Than and driver/cook Room. Than realy nows everything about mountains, nature and wildlife. And Room did a good job concerning cooking, driving and making campfire.
Response from Host, Dec 2019
Thank you for your detailed review. We thrive to please and our team is always keen to provide
participants with an extraordinary trip! Please come back again.
Passport02801842404, Jan 2019
Very nice trek. First homestay was extraordinary. Our guide Tam spoke good English, gave a lot of info and cooked awesome meals. No mosquitoes in January.
Response from Host, Jul 2019
Thank you for your kind review and let us know you had a great time. We hope you have the opportunity to come again, and try one of our other great adventure tours. See you, thanks.
Bob T, Jan 2018
Great times with our guide Tan and trainee Mac! Tan knew a lot about the nature and once in a while he stopped to explain things, let us taste fruits etc. The hike itself was challenging at times but very do-able! First night homestay was great! Bring earplugs for the 2nd one (dogs/roosters)No Joke!
Response from Host, Jan 2018
TOUR OPERATOR COMMENT: The above guest is referring to the overnight stay in the hill tribe villages. Dogs, roosters, and perhaps pigs are part of the life in the villages. It can be difficult to control the noise nuisances - So, yes, bring ear plugs!
Britt_V, Jan 2025
Echt een top ervaring. Het was veel wandelen en soms intens door de hoogte meters (ook juist naar beneden is zwaar voor je knieën). Gids was aardig en kookt heel lekker. Overnachtingen basic maar goed te doen!! Als je actief bent, doen!
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Thank you for your review! We’re glad to hear that you had a great experience. We’ll also pass on your compliments to the guide for the great meals!
Thank you again for your recommendation. We hope to see you again for another adventure!
Sine_S, Jan 2025
Eine unvergessliche Wandertour, die Natur pur bietet! Unser Guide war fantastisch – er hat uns nicht nur die beeindruckende Vielfalt der Pflanzenwelt nähergebracht, sondern auch köstliche Mahlzeiten direkt vor Ort zubereitet. Die Tour überzeugt durch Authentizität: Kein Massentourismus, keine Elefantenattraktionen – stattdessen intensives Wandern durch die unberührte Wildnis. Absolut beeindruckend und für uns die beste Tour, die man in Thailand erleben kann. Uneingeschränkt empfehlenswert!
Response from Host, Jan 2025
Hello,
Thank you so much for your kind feedback! We're happy to hear that you had a nice experience on the trek tour. It's wonderful to hear that you enjoyed the authenticity of the journey.
We truly appreciate your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure in Thailand soon!
Nathalie_O, Jan 2023
Die 3tägige Wanderung kann ich jedem empfehlen, der zumindest etwas Erfahrung hat mit Wanderwegen und eine Grundfitness aufweist. Es war das Highlight unserer Reise und hat einen sehr authentischen Eindruck von Thailands Norden vermittelt. Unser Guide Sap war sehr herzlich und hatte Spaß daran uns alles über die Natur im Dschungel zu erklären und Einblicke in die Landwirtschaft und das Leben der Bevölkerung zugeben. Die Unterkünfte waren wunderschön mit Blick in die Berge und tollen Sonnenaufgang und -Untergängen. Sap kochte fanatisches Essen für uns und die Unterkünfte hatten durch Solarenergie sogar Strom. Es war alles sehr gut organisiert und es ist schön, dass es sich bei der Tour um keine Massenabfertigung handelt.
Response from Host, Jan 2023
Vielen Dank für Ihre freundliche Bewertung und Ihre Kommentare. Unser Trekking-Führer Mr. Sap ist immer sein Bestes tun, um unsere Kunden zu gefallen. Gut angemerkt, dass dies kein Spaziergang im Park ist. Es ist eine anspruchsvolle Erfahrung für Teilnehmer in guter körperlicher Verfassung. Bitte kommen Sie wieder für ein weiteres Abenteuer! Vielen Dank und eine tolle Reise in Thailand.
Lukas_B, Jan 2020
Tolle Tour durch die erhebungen in thailand. Unser guide war selbst local und nahm sich die zeit auch die Natur zu geniessen. Er war gleichzeitig ein sehr guter Koch.
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