EAGLE HOUSE TREKKING AND SIGHTSEEING GUIDES
All guides are authorized by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. They have successfully completed the 'Professional Guide Courses' and speak English, Thai and at least one Hilltribe languages. Eagle House guides can explain about the history, custom and culture of Thailand, Buddhism, Hilltribe people, the nature, etc. Every guide has their own personal interests and strengths, they are not usually the same.
CUSTOMISED TREKSDesign a trek! Treks may be arranged for any length, any time, anywhere walking only - hard, medium, easy, with or without elephants and bamboo rafting, visit the Hilltribes of your choice.
TREKKING IS walking from Hilltribe village to Hilltribe village following scenic local trails. Cosy evenings are spent by the fireside discussing, learning, exchanging experiences and information with your guide and fellow trekkers. Delicious meals, cooked by your guide, are eaten by candlelight as there is no electricity. Overnight in simple atmospheric Hilltribe houses. Hilltribe people live all over Northern Thailand, whether you recognise them or not. Staying in a Hilltribe village is comparable to Farmhouse holidays in Ireland, or homestays in other countries. The culture, customs, way of life, food and accommodation are different to what you would usually expect in your own country. This is an opportunity to open your minds, absorb the culture and learn something from this experience.
ALL TREKS ARE REGISTERED AND APPROVED BY THE TOURIST POLICE AND THE TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND
DAY 1: Pick up 8-8.30am. Drive South West to a local market to buy fresh fruit and vegetables for our trip. Drive 30 minutes through the mountains and meet your local guide. Change your clothes to spend time with elephants and learn about their lives and how to care for them. We will supply sugar cane and bananas for you to feed the elephants. Take your elephant to the river…walking side by side or bareback riding. Wash your elephant. (It is interesting for you to learn more about domesticated and wild elephants and their lifestyle and needs. We like to support the elephants to stay in the nature near the Karen village area, this is better for their health as there is not enough jungle area for them to survive in the wild. The Karen Hilltribe are the traditional owners of and carers for elephants in Northern Thailand). Lunch will be Thai food and fresh fruit, vegetarian or vegan is possible, please let us know in advance. After lunch, walk twenty minutes down to a waterfall for swimming. After your refreshing break, trek three hours through the jungle, passing rice fields, there are many scenic views. Stay overnight at White Karen Hilltribe village, relax and enjoy a delicious dinner cooked by your guide.
DAY 2: Breakfast. Walk through the village and observe local Hilltribe people living their daily lives. Get up really early if you want to experience more. Often the villagers will go out to the rice fields early which means that there seem to be very few villagers in a village, by the time you get up. Trekking for about 90 minutes to another waterfall. Break and refresh yourself. Walk one hour along the stream. Pick up from Shan Minority village by trekking truck, drive to the bamboo rafting camp. Bamboo rafting about 40 minutes (the time is really approximate as it depends on the season). Return to Chiang Mai.
Costs: B2,700 per person. Includes accommodation in simple Hilltribe houses. Food from first and including last lunch, special diets can be catered for. Transport by trekking truck, elephant (optional), bamboo raft. Professional Guide. Free use of Eagle House Store Room. Eagle House Safe deposit for valuables B50.
DAY 1: 9-9.30 am depart Eagle House. Drive one hour on Highway 107 to the North of Chiang Mai. Stop at Mae Malai Local Market where for about 30 minutes where the guide will pick up fresh supplies for the trek and you are free to wander around and buy any extras you may need. Drive one hour to the Doi Pui - Doi Suthep National Park and Mork Faa Waterfall for relaxing and swimming. Drive a short way to stop and rest for lunch at Baan Pang Lun village. Drive to Huay Nam Dang National Park. Trekking two hours to Baan Mae Jok, Karen Hilltribe Village. Arrive early evening depending on the weather. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 2: Breakfast and 9am departure. Trekking about three to four hours. Lunch will be cooked for you by your guide in the middle of the jungle. Spend time with elephants feeding and caring for them (optional activity, but it is good for you to learn more about domesticated and wild elephants and their lifestyle and needs. We like to support the elephants to stay in the nature near the Karen village area, this is better for their health as there is not enough jungle area for them to survive in the wild. The Karen Hilltribe are the traditional owners of and carers for elephants in Northern Thailand). Trekking to Baan Pakaolam Karen Hilltribe Village. Dinner and overnight. Walk around and visit the local people as you like.
DAY 3: Breakfast and depart from village by customized bamboo raft. Rafting for about one to two hours on the Mae Taeng River to Baan Pong Ngan Lahu Hilltribe village. Continue by raft on the Mae Taeng River to Sopkai Shan Minority Village (the time is really approximate as it depends on the season). Lunch. From here our trekking truck will pick you up and take you back to Chiang Mai. Return by about 5pm or a little earlier or later.
Costs B2,500 per person. Includes accommodation in simple Hilltribe houses. Food from first and including last lunch, special diets can be catered for. Transport by trekking truck, elephant (optional), bamboo raft. Professional Guide. Free use of Eagle House Store Room. Eagle House Safe deposit for valuables B50.
DAY 1: Pick up 8-8.30am. Drive South West to a local market to buy fresh fruit and vegetables for our trip. Drive 30 minutes through the mountains and meet your local guide. Change your clothes to spend time with elephants and learn about their lives and how to care for them. We will supply sugar cane and bananas for you to feed the elephants. Take your elephant to the river…walking side by side or bareback riding. Wash your elephant. (It is interesting for you to learn more about domesticated and wild elephants and their lifestyle and needs. We like to support the elephants to stay in the nature near the Karen village area, this is better for their health as there is not enough jungle area for them to survive in the wild. The Karen Hilltribe are the traditional owners of and carers for, elephants in Northern Thailand). Lunch will be Thai food and fresh fruit, vegetarian or vegan is possible, please let us know in advance. After lunch, walk twenty minutes down to a waterfall for swimming. After your refreshing break, trek three hours through the jungle, passing rice fields, there are many scenic views. Stay overnight at White Karen Hilltribe village, relax and enjoy a delicious dinner cooked by your guide.
DAY 2: Breakfast. Walk through the village and observe local Hilltribe people living their daily lives. Get up really early if you want to experience more. Often the villagers will go out to the rice fields early which means that there seem to be very few villagers in a village, by the time you get up. Trekking for about 60 minutes. Rest and then trek another 90 minutes to a Red Karen village. Lunch will be cooked for you by your guide. After lunch trek one hour to the waterfall camp. Relax, bathe and help your guide to cook dinner. Overnight.
DAY 3: Enjoy your breakfast near the waterfall. Trek 90 minutes along a stream. Pick up from Shan Minority village by trekking truck, drive to the bamboo rafting camp. Bamboo rafting about 40 minutes (the time is really approximate, as it depends on the season). Lunch. Return to Chiang Mai.
Costs: B2,900 per person. Includes accommodation in simple Hilltribe houses. Food from first and including last lunch, special diets can be catered for. Transport by trekking truck, elephant (optional), bamboo raft. Professional Guide. Free use of Eagle House Store Room. Eagle House Safe deposit for valuables B50.
GENERAL TREK INFROMATION
CLIMATE
Thailand has three seasons, March - June, hot and dry, July - October, hot, humid, wet (in the North, however, it tends to rain late in the afternoon for a short time, and in the middle of the might so you can always get out and about), November - February, cool and dry. Treks are run twelve months of the year, each season bringing a cornucopia of fresh beauties, fragrant flowers in vibrant colours to see in the jungle.
HEALTH
Eagle House welcomes trekkers of all ages in good health, but we must be informed of any disabilities, phobias, allergies, health issues etc. Thailand has a tropical climate so wear a hat, use a high factor suncream and drink plenty of fluids regularly. Supplement your diet with electrolytes to prevent dehydration. On longer treks participants have ranged from age 3 to age 84!
TREK GROUP SIZE
Minimum seven persons, maximum twelve persons. Private treks may however be arranged on request. Our guests find it stimulating to be in a group with people of different nationalities, ages and backgrounds. All Eagle House guests have in common their love of nature and a great interest in all things 'Thai' - social, cultural, environmental.
ACCOMODATION
Trekkers overnight in the simple bamboo homes of the Hilltribes. Showers are taken in waterfalls or rivers, your bathroom is the jungle. You will be awoken by the dawn chorus and the sound of the rhythmical beat of the Hilltribe women husking rice.
FOOD ON THE TREK
Hearty meals are provided. For example, a western style breakfast of brown toast, butter, jam, eggs / fruit / pancakes and tea or coffee. Lunchtime:- perhaps stir fried noodles, noodle soup, fruit. Dinner:- choices of a variety of tasty dishes and locally grown rice for you to devour. Snacks, fruits and other items en route.
INCLUDED IN THE TREK
COST
Professional Licenced Tour Guide. Accommodation. Transport. Meals. Food from first lunch up to and including last lunch. Vegetarians/vegans/special diets can be catered for, boiled water, tea, coffee and snacks. Food porter. Bamboo rafting, optional elephants, accommodation and transport to and from Chiang Mai. An English speaking Eagle House Guide will accompany the trekkers during the whole trek. Blankets and mosquito nets in the villages. Free use of the Eagle House Store Room for luggage while away on trek. Truck and trek accident insurance. Treks are payable in advance in Thai Baht only, no refunds can be made. We recommend leaving your valuables in your hotel safe, or in the Eagle House safe (there is a nominal fee for this), a receipt is given and your valuables are sealed in an envelope which is signed by you. It is impossible to break this seal. Take around B1,000 (in small notes) with you on the trek and it will make less of a difference between you and the local Hilltribe people, you can buy bottled water along the way and sometimes local handicrafts.
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Small rucksacks, light sleeping bags(Inthanon treks), mosquito nets (Inthanon
treks) and blankets are provided by Eagle House. From November to February
it is the cool season and you should bring your warmest clothes and your
own four seasons sleeping bag for the chilly nights.
VALUABLES
Please leave all items of value sealed in our safe. Valuables are sealed in an envelope which you must sign. It is impossible to tamper with the seal. A receipt will be given for the safe. You are responsible for all your belongings and valuables on the trek. Take about B1,000 with you, you can buy some handicrafts along the way and bottled drinks. It will make you feel more at home with the Hilltribes as the only difference between you and them is that you have a camera and they do not.
LEFT
LUGGAGE
Labled luggage may be left in our supervised store room while you are on an Eagle House trek only. Eagle House takes no responsibility for loss or damage to luggage items. We have never had any problems with luggage and don't intend to start.
HILLTRIBES OF NORTHERN THAILAND
KAREN
The Karen are the largest Hilltribe in Thailand numbering approximately 300,000. They originally come from Burma where there are still 4.8 million of them living there. They are renowned for their fine weavings.
HMONG or MEO
Hmong come from Southern China. In Thailand there are 70,000 of them. They are famous for their intricate embroideries and indigo tie dyeing.
MUSER or LAHU
The Muser originate in Yunnan in South West China, there are still 250,000 of them left there. In Thailand their population is 55,000 and in Burma 150,000.
AKHA
The Akha come from South West China and can be recognised by their elaborate silver headdresses. There are 28,000 of them living in Thailand.
YAO or MIEN
The Yao originate in Southern China where there are 1.3 million today. In Thailand there are 40,ooo and in Vietnam 200,000. They can be recognised by their finely embroidered trousers.
LISU
The Lisu originally come from Eastern Tibet. There are 24,000 living in Thailand today.
