What to see:

One of the best places for trekking in Thailand is in the North West near the Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. Through the region runs the Mae Klong River, and the beautiful landscape is ideal for trekking and bamboo rafting. The scenery along the river is a stunning array of limestone cliffs, waterfalls, wild orchids and giant teak trees. While rafting you can enjoy the song of the birds, and if you are lucky, catch a glimpse of gibbons, snakes or giant lizards that inhabit in the dense surrounding wilderness.

The trek through the jungle takes us to Southeast Asia’s largest waterfall, Tee Loi Su (400 meters high), where you can enjoy a nice, refreshing swim when the weather permits. The sounds and smells of the jungle accompany us on the trek onwards through bamboo forests, dense growth and rivers. Along the way we will sleep in the Karen village of Kho Ta, where it is possible to gain an exciting insight into the tribe’s lives and culture. From here the journey continues through the jungle on the back of the village’s working elephants.

Start: Bangkok.
End: Mae Sot, Chiang Mai or Bangkok northern bus terminal.

Travel itinerary

Day 1: Bangkok – Mae Sot
We will meet at New Road Guesthouse around 20:00 (please ask the service guide about exact time the day before). From here we will go by car to the bus terminal and onwards with VIP luxury bus from Bangkok to Mae Sot.

Day 2: Mae Sot – Umphang
In Mae Sot we will be picked up by Mr. Lar and have the opportunity to sleep a couple of extra ours at a mattress in his guest house. After breakfast and a shower he will take us on a short ride to the Thai Burmese border market at the river Moi. After lunch we will go by public Songthaew (half open pick up truck) to Umphang together with the locals. It’s a very beautiful, around 4 hours ride through the mountains – and 1.219 curves! (if you suffer from motion sickness this would be a good time to take some medication to avoid feeling nauseous). Accommodation for the night will be in Mr. T’s traditional house on stilts.
(B,L,D)

Day 3: Rafting and trekking
After breakfast the bamboo rafting begins (or rubber dinghy in the rainy season – depending on the water-level) southwards along the Mae Klong. From the river side there are three-four hours
trekking to a camp area in Umphang Wildlife Sanctuary where the guides put up the tents and afterwards cooks dinner on open fire. (B,L,D)

Day 4: Trekking and Tee Loi Su waterfall
After breakfast on day four, we will take a walk to the

impressive waterfall Tee Loi Su, South East Asia’s largest waterfall. Afterwards we will walk through bamboo forests, across bridges and through the dense jungle to the Karen village Ko Tha where we spend the night in a traditional house on stilts.
(B,L,D)

Day 5: Elephant riding
After breakfast the trip will continue on the back of the villages working elephants steep up and down through the jungle. The ride takes around three-four hours. If you feel like it you can ask your Mahout (elephant leader) if you may try to control the elephant. Attention! It is normal and necessary that the Mahout pulls the elephant’s ear or hits it with a bamboo stick during the ride. When back at Umphang you can take a shower before heading back to Mae Sot. Bus from Mae Sot to Bangkok leaves at 8 PM and expected arrival on the northern bus station in Bangkok is around 5.30 AM the next morning.
(B,L,D)

If you want to continue to Chiang Mai the bus leaves the next morning at day 6. You will have a extra night in Mae Sot incl. in the tour. You also have the opportunity to take a local songthaew to Mae Sariang (6-7 hours) in the morning at day 6 and explore the Northern Thailand on your own.

What to bring:

• Good trekking shoes/boots, sandals (for rafting)
• Light and fast drying shorts and t-shirts for the trek
• Warm sweater/fleece for the songthaw ride in the mountains and during the nights in December-February
• Long sleeve shirts and pants for the night time (mosquitoes)
• Mosquito repellent and personal medication
• Your own sleeping bag or cotton sheet (mummy liner), as night temperatures during the winter months can drop to as low as 8 degrees (optional).
• Waterproof poncho and rubber boots in the rainy season (can be bought locally)
• Long socks for trekking in rubber boots during the rainy season
• Swimwear and a hat/cap, small towel, flashlight and batteries
• Toiletries and waterproof sun screen, camera and spare film/memory card
• Watertight bags for camera/video camera
• Money (remember that it is customary to tip the guides after the trip)
• Copy of passport for the trekking
• Motion sickness pills, if necessary
• Ear plugs (optional: there are animals in the village that make quite a bit of noise during the night)