I live in Chiang Mai so when friends visit I always take them on this trip.
We first traveled to the Friends of the Asian Elephants Conservation Center and Hospital in Lampang. We learned that veterinarians treat sick elephants free of charge. This is also where old elephants can live out the rest of their lives.
Then on to Sukhothai for the evening. The next morning we walked among the ruins in the UNESCO World Heritage Park in Old Sukhothai and departed for Umphang, stopping for lunch in Mae Sot. Overnight was at a resort in Umphang in nice cabins.
The next morning we boarded the raft for a leisurely 3-hour journey through canyons with high limestone cliffs and many waterfalls. We then traveled by 4-wheel drive to the forestry camp, then walked to Thee Lor Su Waterfalls, the largest in Thailand. Here we had lunch, then started our 3-hour leisurely walk through bamboo forest and along a beautiful stream with many colorful birds, butterflies and wildflowers. Dinner and evening was in a Karen Village.
Next day we rode elephants and hiked over the mountain and through the rainforest and across the river to another Karen village for overnight. We had an excellent all you can eat family style Thai dinner prepared.
This morning we experienced 4 hours of exciting whitewater rafting. We passed many beautiful waterfalls and wild animals such as gibbons, lemurs, and deer while rafting to our campsite, stayed overnight in comfortable tents and had a delicious dinner beside the river.
next morning we rode elephants and hiked for 4 hours to reach our camping spot along a clear stream with small waterfall excellent for wading and swimming. We camped overnight here.
Next morning we walked and rode elephants for about 2 hours to our pickup point, then returned to Umphang to shower and lunch, then on to Mae Sot for the evening before returning to Chiangmai.
For a more detailed description of this adventure please read my travel Journal
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on Jul 31, 2005
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