Chiang Mai Off The Beaten Path Tips by SumTingWong Top 5 Page for this destination

Doi Inthanon National Park Jungle Trek Review

Doi Inthanon National Park is in the heart of the jungle of northern Thailand. Here many hilltribe villages dwell, as well as all of northern Thailand's flora and fauna. Many good trekking companies will take you deep into Doi Inthanon National Park to see more authentic hilltribe villages (Hmong and Karen), however due to the high levels of tourist many of the villages have been "more westernized".
Doi Inthanon National Park is also home to Chiang Mai's mountains and waterfalls. Mount Doi Inthanon is located here and is the highest mountain in Thailand (2565 meters). The Mae Ping River also runs through the National Park, providing a waterway and lush green surroundings.

To get here you need entrance passes (normally you have to be with a trekking company see www.3rdeyetravel.com). (Along Highway 107

Basket weaving Sangkhaphaeng Review

If you make it to Sangkhaphaeng you should try your hardest to visit the village of Ban On Luai Mae On!!! This is a small, friendly, and traditional village. Here you will find many interesting craftsmen, including a famous, old, and friendly basket weaver. If you ask him to show you how to make a basket he will be more than glad to spend time with you (note that he only speaks Thai). He makes some amazing baskets and sells them for literally nothing (20-60 Baht per basket). The experience is great!

Sangkhaphaeng umbrella painting factory Sangkhaphaeng Review

If you want to see how umbrellas are page and painted you can visit the Sangkhaphaeng handmade umbrella-painting factory. It is quite interesting to see and if you want you can buy some of the umbrellas also.

Other Contact: Sangkhaphaeng

Sangkhaphaeng Hot Springs Sangkhaphaeng Review

The area of Sangkhaphaeng is beautiful, located about an hour south east of Chiang Mai. Sangkhaphaeng is home to me and many beautiful sights of Thailand. One of these sights is the Sangkhaphaeng hot springs. The admission is cheap and you can have fun relaxing in the gardens, swimming in the pools (cool pools), dipping your feet in the 40-degree water! It is traditional to eat hard-boiled eggs that you can buy past the entrance. The place is a really nice spot to relax right outside of Chiang Mai!

Chiang Mai Trekking (5) Jungle Trek Review

To experience some Thai trekking and see and interact with some of Thailand's minority groups a Chiang Mai trek is perfect. I'll have a bunch of tips coming up on trekking with photos. I really recommend this. It is a great way to have some hiking and adventure travel in the green mountains of northern Thailand. Bamboo or rubber rafting was fun as well. Elephant riding is only OK, it is really a cruel practice to the poor elephants and really isn't as good as it may look. Visiting and sleeping in minority camps and villages is a must on any trek (if you have more time go to MeaHongSon, excellent trekking there also). When you visit these villages make sure to bring pens, paper, and stickers for the local children!!!!

Chiang Mai Trekking (4) Jungle Trek Review

To experience some Thai trekking and see and interact with some of Thailand's minority groups a Chiang Mai trek is perfect. I'll have a bunch of tips coming up on trekking with photos. I really recommend this. It is a great way to have some hiking and adventure travel in the green mountains of northern Thailand. Bamboo or rubber rafting was fun as well. Elephant riding is only OK, it is really a cruel practice to the poor elephants and really isn't as good as it may look. Visiting and sleeping in minority camps and villages is a must on any trek (if you have more time go to MeaHongSon, excellent trekking there also). In a ceremony these village elders had a bit too much rice whisky (strong stuff).

Chiang Mai Trekking (3) Jungle Trek Review

To experience some Thai trekking and see and interact with some of Thailand's minority groups a Chiang Mai trek is perfect. I'll have a bunch of tips coming up on trekking with photos. I really recommend this. It is a great way to have some hiking and adventure travel in the green mountains of northern Thailand. Bamboo or rubber rafting was fun as well. Elephant riding is only OK, it is really a cruel practice to the poor elephants and really isn't as good as it may look. Visiting and sleeping in minority camps and villages is a must on any trek (if you have more time go to MeaHongSon, excellent trekking there also).
If you are lucky you may get the chance to participate in some local animist ceremonies. Like completely devouring a pig head (ok...that one was a little tough and gross).

Chiang Mai Trekking (2) Jungle Trek Review

To experience some Thai trekking and see and interact with some of Thailand's minority groups a Chiang Mai trek is perfect. I'll have a bunch of tips coming up on trekking with photos. I really recommend this. It is a great way to have some hiking and adventure travel in the green mountains of northern Thailand. Bamboo or rubber rafting was fun as well. Elephant riding is only OK, it is really a cruel practice to the poor elephants and really isn't as good as it may look. Visiting and sleeping in minority camps and villages is a must on any trek (if you have more time go to MeaHongSon, excellent trekking there also).
Enjoy the mountains, patties, and trees as you trek through them!

Chiang Mai Trekking Jungle Trek Review

To experience some Thai trekking and see and interact with some of Thailand's minority groups a Chiang Mai trek is perfect. I'll have a bunch of tips coming up on trekking with photos. I really recommend this. It is a great way to have some hiking and adventure travel in the green mountains of northern Thailand. Bamboo or rubber rafting was fun as well. Elephant riding is only OK, it is really a cruel practice to the poor elephants and really isn't as good as it may look. Visiting and sleeping in minority camps and villages is a must on any trek (if you have more time go to MeaHongSon, excellent trekking there also).

Thai life

While in Chiang Mai and the Chiang Mai area you should come and check out Thai life in a small town. Many of the most beautiful towns in the area are located about an hour and a half from Chiang Mai city (and about forty minutes from Lamphun, off of the highway from Chiang Mai to Lamphun). SANGKAPHAENG is the most beautiful district in my opinion because of two major reasons: people and scenery. The villages/towns are surrounded by palms, rice patties, and mountains. It is very green and lush, with LomYai trees all over the place. The people are so nice as well. They want to show you things and interact with you. Why not volunteer in a local school and teach English for a day, there is already a great shortage of teachers. These are great villages best seen by bicycle. The people and land are excellent and unspoiled by tourism.

See my travelogue and other tips for some more photos!