Trip Overview
Departures
Click for Dates + Prices
Duration
11 Days
Activities
Boating/Rafting
Cultural
Hiking
Yoga
Physical Rating
Easy–Moderate
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Surprise Yourself
This itinerary is packed with the stuff of childhood dreams—float down the Kham and Mae Wang river on a bamboo raft! Climb the Sticky Waterfalls! Learn about Asian elephant behavior from the dedicated mahouts at ChangChill sanctuary. We also hop in a long tail boat and have lunch in the bamboo floating house village of Mae Ngat Dam Reservoir. This is a deep immersion in Thai culture, from secret temple visits to cooking demonstrations to an impactful overnight stay with the Karen hill tribe community.
Meet the Rescue Elephants of ChangChill
Recharge Your Senses
We walk century-old paths traveled by monks to secret temples and follow soupy jungle trails in search of rare endemic species. In our visit to the organic farms of Ban Pong Huai Lan, we learn about local sustainability projects. This adventure is deeply spiritual, enlightening and jammed with activity and unreal scenery! Our stay at UNESCO World Heritage site-designated Kaomai Lanna Hotel and Resort (a former tobacco farm) is a unique introduction to Northern Thailand’s fading tobacco industry.
I found this to be a life changing experience in a positive way. I also can’t wait to do another trip. Fa, our guide, was wonderful, and I would do it all again. Thank you for making trips like this available where a woman can travel alone, meet other like-minded women, and feel completely safe doing so!”
Karen A.
Itinerary
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Day 1
Chiang Mai
ยินดีต้อนรับ (Welcome) to Chiang Mai!
At Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX), make your way to the Starbucks located near the domestic arrival, where a Wild Women representative is there to greet you.
Hop aboard the group shuttle to the hotel. Alternatively, if you arrive earlier in the day (or 72 hours prior to Day 1 of the itinerary) a shuttle can take you to the rendezvous hotel.
At 4 p.m. we have a trip briefing and welcome drink in the Rachamankha Boutique Hotel lobby (where we are staying). This leading luxury hotel evokes Zen-like simplicity and the distinctive architecture is inspired by 11th century designs.
Afterwards we can refresh, recharge and revive before gathering together for a memorable dinner at 5:30 p.m. at The House by Ginger. Featured in the 2024 Michelin Guide, this bistro-meets-resto and cocktail bar fuses classic Thai dishes and artisanal spirits with modern quirk.
Included Meals
Dinner
Accommodations
Rachamankha Boutique Hotel
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Day 2
Chiang Mai
Spice of Life
After an early breakfast we strike out at 8 a.m. to reach the trailhead that leads to Wat Pha Lat (‘the monastery on the sloping rock’), one of Chiang Mai’s most surprising and mysterious temples. We follow the historic monk’s trail for one hour to the secret temple, tucked in a pocket of forest where we will participate in a lotus offering ceremony.
Lunch is at the Michelin-recommended Khaomao-Khaofang Restaurant. It’s celebrated for its imaginary jungle experience complete with a cascading waterfall, blooming flowers and soundtrack that adds to the vibe. It’s a Wild Women favorite!
In the early afternoon, we ooze into relaxation mode with a healing Thai massage at Fah Lanna Spa. Afterwards, we meet Mr. Prapat and his family for a walk through their robust organic gardens. Mr. Prapat will share stories of a typical Thai day, local traditions and architectural styles. There may be an opportunity to witness the intricacy of basket weaving, an impressive art that has remained unchanged for centuries.
After selecting some hyperlocal ingredients from the garden, we don aprons for an interactive cooking experience. The Prapat family will reveal recipe secrets and demonstrate techniques unique to the preparation of classic northern Thai dishes. We will sample our amateur efforts and enjoy dinner with the family in their home.
Satiated and inspired, we transfer back to our hotel to rest and anticipate our visit to the national park in the morning.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Rachamankha Boutique Hotel
The Hike
1 hour
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Day 3
Mae Ngat Lake Reservoir
The Bamboo Floating Houses
After breakfast, we make a beeline for Sri Lanna National Park to visit the park’s famed Bua Tong (“Sticky Waterfalls”). The name of the falls is derived from the mineral deposit that makes the surface of the rocks super grippy. The limestone feels like a hardened sponge—no algae adheres to the rock allowing the falls to be ascended like Spiderwoman (there are also ropes and steps alongside the waterfall for the less daring).
We will enjoy the peaceful surroundings with local fruits, sweet cake and strong coffee before visiting the bamboo floating houses of Mae Ngat Lake Reservoir. Here, we climb in the narrow hull of a long tail boat for an exhilarating ride out onto the lake’s placid waters for lunch in one of the houses. After lunch we can swim or kayak before a 45-minute transfer to our hotel.
Tonight we are hugged by the wild and natural surroundings of our rural resort in Chiang Dao. At Azalea, the pool awaits!
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Azalea Village Wellness Resort & Residence
Travel
2 hours of driving
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Day 4
Chiang Dao
Moving through Mountains
After an early bird breakfast, we leave the resort at 8:00 a.m. and transfer to the small village of Ban Yang pu Toh which sits in the foothills of the cone-shaped limestone mountain known as Doi Luang Chiang Dao.
Ban Yang Pu Toh Village is adjacent to the tall stands of evergreen forest that envelop the Doi Chiang Dao Wildlife Research Station. We follow the San Kang Jong – Huay Mae Mad trail with a female hill tribe guide through the sanctuary for two to three hours (depending on the group’s pace) shaded by enormous trees. Here, we may be lucky to see rare, endangered species.
We end our Chiang Dao loop back in Ban Yang Pu Toh village where we will be invited by locals to relax in the communal hot spring, an enterprise managed by the village. Lunch will be at a local restaurant before we continue onward (3 hours driving) to our slice of heaven stay (and dinner) at Phu Chaisai Mountain Resort in Chiang Rai.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Phu Chaisai Resort & Spa
The Hike
The San Kang Jong–Huay Mae Mad trail is a moderate hike that takes approximately 2 to 3 hours (depending on group pace).
Travel
3 hours (driving)
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Day 5
Chiang Rai
Rivers and Ranges
We have a relaxed morning at Phu Chaisai. There are complimentary yoga classes available or you can follow the trails around the hotel grounds. Or, indulge in time by the pool! Lunch will be independent today.
At 2 p.m. we take part in a bamboo rafting experience on the Kham River in Chiang Rai. It’s an authentic and playful way to see the towering mountains and lush vegetation that fringes the shoreline. This is a leisurely float, not a Class V Colorado River experience!
We can stop to walk to a nearby waterfall and enjoy tea in the shade (and sounds!) of the jungle.
This evening, we have dinner and a fire at Khon Phu Khao, known for its authentic Thai menu and ambient panorama of the undulating hills and mountain ranges that stretch across Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.
Included Meals
Breakfast and dinner
Accommodations
Phu Chaisai Resort & Spa
Travel
2–3 hours (driving) to Chiang Rai and 50 minutes from Hloyo village to Phu Chaisai Mountain Resort
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Day 6
Phu Chaisai
Mud Museum and Farm Visit
After breakfast, we will make tracks for Chiang Rai at 9 a.m. to meet the hill tribes around Chiang Rai in Mae Salong. In Hloyo Village, we are welcomed by the headman and residents of the Akha hill tribe. Here, we learn about Akha beliefs, religions and the traditional way of life and tour a Yohan Akha home. The local museum, located in a mud house, is filled with insightful displays about the history of the village and its bamboo house architecture.
Under the careful tutelage of local artisans, we learn how to make crafts with simply sourced materials. After this lesson, we step into the kitchen for a cooking demonstration by the mother of the house who will prepare typical Akha dishes using local ingredients and generational techniques.
We exchange stories and compare informal tasting notes over lunch with our gracious host. Afterwards, we walk through the village’s pastoral area and observe how farmers and locals harmoniously coexist with the land, animals and forest of this region.
Tonight’s dinner is independent and the Phu Chaisai restaurant offers authentic Northern Thai, Burmese and Akha regional cuisine in addition to vegetarian dishes, freshwater fish and pizza from the wood burning oven.
Included Meals
Breakfast and lunch
Accommodations
Phu Chaisai Resort & Spa
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Day 7
Chiang Rai
The White Temple
Following breakfast, we will depart the resort at 8 a.m. and drive one hour to Wat Rung Khun (the “White Temple”), an ornate contemporary temple with vivid murals and an eccentric sculpture garden. It’s one of the most famous and instantly recognized buildings in Thailand for its prevalence of white plaster representing the purity of Buddha. We spend two hours exploring the controversial and evocative art of the temple before pressing on to lunch and our accommodations.
Tonight’s stay is at Kaomai Lanna Hotel and Resort in the Sanpatong district. This boutique property has been designated as an UNESCO World Heritage site for its ode to northern Thailand’s tobacco industry. The former tobacco farm and 18 curing barns have been converted into thoughtfully curated guest rooms with colonial-style furnishings. Tobacco curing barns are fading from the landscape of northern Thailand as real estate projects and orchards replace them. Kaomai Lanna serves as a reminder of yesteryear, shadowed by old-growth trees.
Upon arrival, Kaomai’s architecture expert will walk us through the evolution of the property and the transition from a tobacco farm to a resort on a 30 minute tour.
After the tour, we can take five by the poolside, wander around the gardens or visit the Tao Cah cafe, which serves house-blended herbal teas picked from the estate’s own garden. Dinner will be at the resort tonight.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Khao Mai Lanna Hotel & Resort
Travel
4–5 hours of driving
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Day 8
ChangChill
Meet the Elephants of Changchill
Today we meet the mahouts and four magnificent Asian elephants of ChangChill during a private tour. Supakorn Tananseth, the owner of ChangChill, comes from a family that has worked with elephants for several generations. Here, his wish was to provide his elephants better, ethically-sound living conditions by offering a 100% touch-free elephant experience. ChangChill’s resident elephants have a more natural, free-roaming life where they can bathe, graze and socialize with each other, versus with humans.
We learn pachyderm personalities and behavior before joining a mahout on a short forest walk. Back at the pavilion, we can help feed the elephants (this is a touch-free experience) before having our own lunch and learning how to make a simple medicine and supplement for the elephants.
Afterwards, we transfer to the hill tribe community village of Baan Mea Sapok for a slow walk, traditional dinner and impactful homestay experience with the Karen tribe.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Karen Hill Tribe Community Village (Single-day private upgrade not available)
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Day 9
Rafting along the Mea Wang River
Bamboo and Bazaar
After breakfast, in Mae Wang National Park, we follow a path across Mae Wang mountain for two hours to Mae Win village, passing several waterfalls en route for a quick splash. Now that we are expert bamboo rafters after our Kham River experience, we will enjoy another raft along the Mae Wang river. Depending on water levels, we should enjoy the thrill of a few rapids on our one-hour float before a riverside lunch.
We return to Rachamankha Boutique Hotel in the early afternoon and have time to journal, catnap or AirDrop photos of elephants and the Sticky Waterfalls.
Later, at the Chiang Mai Night Market and Bazaar, our guide will provide a helpful orientation walk and can offer some suggestions on the best genuine street food to try. *Note: Tonight’s dinner is not included and we are free range to order whatever tempts us in the market!
Expect to see the unexpected—everything is for sale here! Football jerseys, noodles, furniture, samurai swords, sarongs…it will be one memorable shopping experience! If you’re seeking local woven or embroidered textiles, fabric, dyed silks or sterling silver jewelry to remember your Thailand experience, this is the place to find it! Thailand is home to some of the biggest silver mines in the world and the historical threads of traditional textiles play a significant role in Thai heritage.
Included Meals
Breakfast and lunch
Accommodations
Rachamankha Boutique Hotel
The Hike
2 hours
Travel
1.5 hours of driving
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Day 10
Chiang Mai
Hands-on Handicrafts
At 9:30 a.m. we will make our way to Ban Pong Huai Lan. In this small village we learn about the Royal Initiative Project and the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy, which revolves around primarily growing enough to eat and selling off the surplus bounty.
We visit Grandma Som’s Farm, and enjoy a simple lunch cooked by the community. Later, we learn about handlooms, weaving and how to make a tiny rice box mobile. We also try Kanom-Khee-Maeo or “cat poop dessert.” The sweet rice flour and coconut dessert is the cat’s meow, no shit!
Mid-afternoon, we’ll transfer to Baan Kang Wat, a small crafts village where we can take part in various workshops. Alternatively, there are cafes, smoothie joints and clothing shops if you’d prefer to wander.
Tonight’s farewell dinner will be at the artsy Lamour Cafe and Restaurant in Chiang Mai. The garden setting, punchy fusion of northern and southern Thai flavors and art make for a lively night.
Included Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodations
Rachamankha Boutique Hotel
Travel
2 hours of driving
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Day 11
Chiang Mai
Journey’s End
Our trip comes to an end in a physical sense, but Thailand’s powerful effect is guaranteed to stay deeply stitched in our DNA. We can enjoy breakfast at the hotel and nurse one last cup of Chiang Rai coffee.
It’s time to say goodbye to your Wild Women tribe, swap contact info and future travel plans. Where next? You can book your departure flight anytime today. Please note, it’s a 25 minute transfer to Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX).
Included Meals
Breakfast
Take a Deeper Dive
Want all the details in one handy package? Download the full itinerary here.
What’s Included
- 10 nights’ shared accommodations in cool eco-lodges and rustic resorts
- A divine Thai menu, with daily breakfasts from Day 2 onwards, seven lunches and nine dinners
- Drinking water and a reusable water bottle
- Admission to Sri Lanna and Chet Si Fountain National Park
- Private tour at ChangChill Elephant Sanctuary
- Cooking classes
- Airport transfer upon arrival and departure
- Tips for porters, restaurants and drivers
Please Note:
All applicable taxes are included in the trip price.
Optional single private upgrade, subject to availability.
Itineraries may be subject to change without notice due to weather and other environmental conditions. Please review our Booking Terms.
Trip Details
Know Before You Go
Click HERE for all of the logistical details you’ll need to know prior to departure—including the packing list, arrival and departure details and suggested tipping information.
This trip starts in Chiang Mai, Thailand (airport code: CNX) and finishes in Chiang Mai, Thailand (airport code: CNX).
Homestay
The night before the homestay experience, you will need to repack. In your daypack, you will only need to pack pajamas and toiletries for the overnight stay. The remainder of your luggage will stay securely locked in the van for the evening.
The Wild Women Way
If you’re wondering how we roll, it’s together. The Wild Women Way is our modus operandi, our mantra and our rock solid foundation. You can learn more about our Wild Ways HERE.
How We Support You
Ready for a big adventure? We’re in it together. On this trip, we walk over uneven terrain, head into the mountains and raft along a river. Yes, it can be a challenge, but you’re never alone. Like thousands of women before you, you’ll draw on strength you didn’t know you had and come out feeling like the goddess you are.
Like all our trips, this trip can be scaled to suit different abilities and comfort levels. If you have concerns or reservations about your ability to complete or enjoy this trip due to any physical or medical reasons, please contact us and let’s talk about it.
What the Trip Entails
- Walking up and down hills, over uneven terrain for 4–5 hours
- Being in and on the water, as there may be unexpected swims
- Not comfortable swimming? Please let us know!
- You may encounter a menu and flavors that are unfamiliar to you
- Physical Rating: Easy – Moderate (Trips typically involve 3 to 5 hours of daily activity.)