THE ROUTE
Since the beginning of our research In 2013, Thailand Mountain Trail has investigated most of the hill-tribe areas around Chiang Mai. We have been in touch with the different ethnic minorities to help us discover all these footpaths previously used for communicating between mountain villages. The different hiking routes we now offer have been created from all the trails we relived and maintained.
THE TRIP
This trip will lead us at the top of the Hmong area to the beautiful summit and the village of Mong Ngo located 1450m above sea level. This is a hike of intermediate difficulty that is perfect to discover the high evergreen mountains of Chiang Mai. The 1st day is a long way up to the summit where we will stay for one night. Cross the pass of Mong Ngo, the 2nd day is a long way down to the wild gorges of Kio Bua Ha.
THB 6,500
DURATION
2 DAYS
DISTANCE
22K
ELEVATION GAIN
1’300M+
DIFFICULTY
2 PEAKS
TRIP TYPE
TREK & DISCOVER
PICK UP AT YOUR HOTEL (8.00-8.30 AM)
HUAY NAM SAI (1H TRANSFER FROM TMT)
JUNGLE, HMONG VILLAGE,
SUMMIT WITH VIEW, GORGES
KAI NOI (1H30 TRANSFER TO TMT)
DROP OFF AT YOUR HOTEL (3.00-4.00 PM)
ONE NIGHT IN TENT AT THE SUMMIT
4-5 HOURS TREKKING DAILY
60% SINGLE TRACK / 40% DOUBLE TRACK
AVAILABLE ALL YEAR
RECOMMENDED TIME: JULY → DECEMBER
12K
1’100M+
We start the 1st day by tackling a remarkable, dense bamboo jungle, acting as a natural frontier between Karen country and Hmong country.
While the former live in the valley, the latter live in the high country. It seems Hmong people were quieter at the foothills of the summits to grow different varieties of crops.
Suddenly we emerge from the depths of the forest, the horizon opens widely, and we can observe the green hills all around.
After a long slow climb in a beautiful bamboo jungle, we hike up in the forest. The slope gets progressively harder and becomes so steep that we have to use our hands to help us at some points. We still need one more hour hiking to reach the village of Mong Ngo with its bamboo houses nestling against the mountainside and its summit located at 1450m above sea level.
Filled with a delightful setting and a great meal, we will spend a night with the head in the stars.
The final part to the summit is very steep but it’s worth it. At the top we are surrounded by an ocean of greenery. The view all around is imposing, far and wide. We observe precisely the next mountains of the TMT.1 footpath further north. In the foreground the green hills pave the way to Chiang Dao, the highest mountain range of Thailand that appears clearly in the back. We will stay at the summit for dinner and the overnight.
10K
200M+
In the morning of the 2nd day, we will enjoy again the scenery while having breakfast. Fortunately, this setting will accompany us a few kilometers further on the dirt road we take down. We will stop there for lunch on a bamboo platform overlooking the small village.
When we plunge suddenly into the tropical forest, it’s a charming and wild trail that leads us to the village of Kio Bua Ha.
After lunch we must tackle a difficult part alongside a river inside small gorges. The best solution to move forward is to walk down directly in the river. It requires vigilance and tires the body. We have to rest at some points, but we appreciate the sense of adventure brought by this part of the route. When we finally leave the gorges, we arrive at the final village of Kai Noi.
The atmosphere is humid and closed; vegetation is dense.
HMONG NGO SUMMIT
Accommodation is at the top of Doi Mong Ngo located at 1450m high. We will sleep in tents and cook dinner at a fireplace. It’s a unique setting for a night. The view is wide and far to the North where we will continue our trip on the 2nd day. We can see clearly the summits we must reach before joining Chiang Dao so that we can observe its mountain range as well. If we are lucky, in the morning we will wake up with a sea of clouds below our feet and will enjoy a cup of local coffee.
Our tours are all inclusive. From the pick-up at your hotel in the city center until your return, there is nothing to pay in addition. We provide all meals (at restaurants, in villages or to take away with local quality food) and all snacks during the trip. We manage our own accommodation in mountain villages with local people. Our exclusive homestays have all the comfort needed, with private rooms, real beds, clean sheets and blankets, hot showers. All National Park fees and insurance are included as well. Joining a TMT trip is a guarantee to get the highest attention and the best service possible.
Routes we reopened ourselves and no one else runs.
Small enough to move fast and stay welcome in a village.
Licensed, local, and running these hills for years.
Local quality food, cooked fresh, morning to night.
Fruit, water and refuel stops carried for the whole day.
Our own houses with private rooms and hot showers.
Real beds, clean sheets and blankets — not a mat on a floor.
Door to trailhead and back, every day of the trip.
National Park fees and trip insurance already covered.
