CHIANG MAI: Karen homestay experience

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Departure
1
Duration
3D / 2N
Up to
6 Guests
Board basic
Full board
from
239€
CHIANG MAI: Karen homestay experience
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CHIANG MAI: Karen homestay experience

Adults
239 €
Children (4-8)
* Valid for parties of 3+
120 €

Discount from: 3 adults -20%
Discount from: 5 adults -45%

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Description Program Advice Reviews

Description

An extraordinary adventure in Chiang Mai’s mountains and rice terraces

Live a rare and authentic experience in the lush mountains of Chiang Mai, in a traditional Karen village surrounded by deep forests and terraced rice fields. Here, everything is simple and rudimentary: you will stay in a wooden and bamboo house, with a roof made of typical mountain leaves, built according to Karen ancestral know-how.

You will share the daily life of a farming family: watching buffalo grazing near the houses, taking part in agricultural tasks, tasting local food cooked on a wood fire, and resting in a hammock under a bamboo shelter, with the jungle and the hills as your only horizon.

This stay is far from modern comfort or tourist circuits. It is a total immersion, a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, where every moment brings you closer to the essentials: nature, community, and the simple yet rich life of mountain villages.

Duration: 3 days / 2 nights

Program

Detailed Program :

Day 1 – Arrival and village life

  • 08:30 – Pick-up from your hotel in Chiang Mai (~70 km, about 1h45 drive)

  • Check-in at your rudimentary Karen homestay

  • Homemade lunch prepared by your host family

  • Village walk, meeting locals and discovering daily life

  • Karen cooking workshop

  • Dinner together and evening around the campfire

(Lunch and dinner included)

Day 2 – Sharing daily farming life

  • Breakfast with your hosts

  • Participation in farming and craft activities depending on the season:

    • Rice cultivation in terraces

    • Harvesting and taking care of plantations

    • Weaving, embroidery, or bamboo handicrafts

    • Discovering livestock and observing buffalo in the village

  • Local lunch

  • Afternoon of village activities or rest in bamboo hammocks

  • Dinner and second night at the homestay

(Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included)

Day 3 – Mountain trek

  • Breakfast at the homestay

  • Departure for a guided trek through jungle and rice terraces

  • Learning about local flora, introduction to medicinal plants and Karen survival techniques

  • Picnic lunch in nature

  • Return to Chiang Mai around 15:00

(Breakfast and lunch included)

Practical Information :

  • Departure: 08:30 from your hotel in Chiang Mai

  • Return: around 15:00 on the last day

  • Duration: 3 days / 2 nights

  • Guidance: Karen family and local guides

  • Small group: maximum 6 participants

Included in the stay :

  • Round-trip transfers from Chiang Mai

  • 2 nights in a rudimentary Karen homestay

  • Meals mentioned in the program

  • Farming and craft activities (depending on the season)

  • Guided trek in the mountains

  • English-speaking Karen guide

  • Non-alcoholic beverages

  • Insurance

Not included :

  • Tips

  • Personal expenses

  • Alcoholic beverages

  • French-speaking guide supplement

  • Personal travel insurance

  • Elephant option (to be paid on site): 1200 THB/person – 1/2 day with the village’s semi-free elephants

Advice

What to Bring :

  • Passport or ID card
  • Hiking shoes and water shoes
  • Swimsuit & towel
  • Toiletries
  • Comfortable clothes suitable for the season (bring a jacket for cool evenings)
  • Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses
  • Mosquito repellent
  • Camera
  • Open and flexible mindset

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Country Information

Catalog by destination

Thailand – Living Traditions and Endless Horizons

Thailand unfolds like a poem in four voices.
 In the South, islands follow one another, turquoise waters and karst cliffs rising like cathedrals. A longtail boat slips between two secret coves, sand crunches underfoot, and by evening the sunsets paint the sea in gold and rose.

Further north, the North breathes serenity. Morning mists linger on the hills, tropical forests murmur, and temple chants roll like a prayer. In Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai, artisans shape the soul of the mountains, lanterns ready to rise.

To the east, Isan tells a simple, proud life: endless rice fields, the lazy Mekong skirting villages, ancient Khmer temples lost in the light. You share a meal, a smile, and sometimes an evening to the sound of mor lam — music that quickens the heart.

And then Bangkok. Electric energy, street-food markets scented with basil and chilli, klongs where boats drift, rooftop terraces gazing at the city as it sparkles. Here, tradition and future walk hand in hand.

One country, a thousand journeys. Choose the one that’s yours.

 

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Your questions about Thailand,
our clear answers

Planning your trip to Thailand and still have a few questions? That’s perfectly normal! Between formalities, health, weather and local customs, travelling abroad often raises many queries. This section is designed to guide you step by step and clear up any doubts before you set off.

Here you’ll find answers to the questions travellers ask most often: visa, safety, currency, transport and appropriate behaviour. Our aim is to help you set off with peace of mind, well informed and ready to make the most of this exceptional destination. And if any question remains unanswered, our team is here to help!

Are there any special formalities for certain countries like Thailand?

Yes. For example, French travellers to Thailand must complete an online entry form (e-Arrival Card) No later than 78 hours before arrival. A passport valid for at least 6 months is also required.
 We recommend checking official embassy or government websites for the latest visa, health, and safety requirements.

Do I need a visa?

For stays under 30 days, French nationals don’t need a visa. Longer stays require one.

Are vaccines required?

None are mandatory, but vaccines for hepatitis A, typhoid, rabies, and dengue are recommended depending on the area.

Best time to visit?

November to the end of March (dry season).

Dress code?

Shoulders and legs must be covered when visiting temples. Sarongs are often provided at entrances.

Do I need a license to ride a scooter?

Yes, with an international license. Helmets are mandatory.

 

Currency & payment: which currency and can I pay by card?

The currency is the Thai baht (THB). Cards are accepted at many hotels, restaurants and tourist sites, but always carry some cash for small purchases and tips. ATMs are available; bank fees may apply. At the terminal, decline Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) to keep your bank’s rate.

Internet & phone: local SIM or eSIM?

Yes, you can buy a local SIM (passport required) or an eSIM. Main providers: AIS, TrueMove H, dtac. Coverage is generally good in tourist areas; more variable in mountains/jungle. WhatsApp is widely used.

Can you drink tap water in Thailand?

Best avoided. Choose sealed bottled water (or boiled/treated). Avoid ice unless you trust the source. Hot drinks are fine if the water has boiled. Be cautious with raw salads; prefer peelable fruit.

Safety & common scams: what should I watch out for?

Thailand is generally safe, but stay alert in very touristy areas. Be wary of ultra-cheap tuk-tuks, forced stops at “gem” shops, or the classic “the temple is closed” line. Use official taxis or PHV, keep belongings close, and never hand over your passport as security.

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