Trek TMT.1 in Northern Thailand between Chiang Mai and Chiang Dao

After breakfast, you'll have time to chat with your Karen host family. The father will explain the cultivation and harvesting of rice, while the mother will introduce you to the techniques of traditional weaving . Mid-morning, you'll leave the village via one of the mountain slopes, leaving behind the wooden houses and rice paddies.

You cross the terraced rice paddies one last time, where balance is sometimes necessary to make progress on the narrow strips of grass. Then the trail gradually climbs, becoming more demanding. The ascent of Doi Pha (1,400m) is the most strenuous part of the trip: a long, steep, and sometimes slippery climb through the heart of the rainforest.

At the summit, you can enjoy a lunch break overlooking the Chiang Mai valley. The descent then leads you to Wat Prabat Si Roi temple , which suddenly appears as the forest opens up. Isolated in the mountains, this place, renowned for its four Buddha footprints, offers an atmosphere conducive to contemplation.

This trek begins on the Mae Taeng River , renowned for its rapids and considered one of the most beautiful in Chiang Mai province. Rather than rafting down the river, you'll hike through the tropical jungle that borders it. In some places, your guide will have to clear the path with a machete.

After 5km through dense vegetation, you leave the main stream to follow a narrower tributary. The terrain becomes more comfortable, and you progress at a steady pace alongside the water, with several fords. A 25m waterfall provides a welcome respite before the main effort of the day.

A long climb of 600 to 700 meters leads you to the Lahu village of Kup Kap , where you have lunch overlooking the valley. In the afternoon, the trail becomes easier and takes you to the Lahu village of Pha Daeng , nestled in the heart of the mountains.

Perched on a ridge at an altitude of 1,100m, the village of Lahu offers an unobstructed view of the surrounding valleys. At sunrise, you enjoy breakfast on the terrace facing the mountains, before leaving the village via a path that winds through fields and hills.

The day begins with the main challenge of the trip: a 700m ascent to the summit at 1,650m. The climb is long and sustained, winding through rainforest and mountain pines , following a sometimes steep ridge. The final meters lead to a panoramic view of a succession of verdant peaks, with the Lahu villages left behind that morning in the distance.

The descent marks a change of scenery. You walk along a wide ridge carpeted with pine needles, through a bright and pleasant coniferous forest . After several kilometers, the Hmong village of San Pakhia appears at the foot of the Chiang Dao massif. You spend the night in a bamboo house built with the village chief.

In the morning, you begin with a long descent on a track before tackling a steep path through the forest , considered the most demanding section of the day. The path climbs straight up the slope, alternating between gentler sections and steeper stretches until you reach the ridge. The effort is sustained but gradual.

At an altitude of 1,500m, you reach the summit where you have lunch overlooking the Chiang Dao Nature Reserve . You then continue along a long panoramic ridge. To the south, the Hmong village of San Pakhia appears in the distance; to the north, the limestone hills of Chiang Dao unfold, with Lady Mountain as a landmark.

The final part of the route consists of a steep and technical descent into the valley, requiring concentration and vigilance. You pass through a first Lisu village, then a final climb leads you to the finish village, with a last view of the Chiang Dao massif.