Tour overview

This 5-day short break is an independent trip without a tour leader: local guides lead the trek, and you have free time in Chiang Mai either side. You stay two nights in a Chiang Mai hotel and two in simple village homestays, with most meals included on the trek.

After a day in Chiang Mai, the cultural capital of the north, you travel by songthaew into the hills for a three-day trek through forest and farmland to remote hilltribe villages.

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Nights are spent with local families in traditional wooden and bamboo houses, sharing meals cooked over the fire, before walking out and returning to Chiang Mai.

The physical rating is medium. This break suits active travellers who want a short taste of village life in northern Thailand.

Trip highlights

  • Chiang Mai (Day 1)
  • A guided hilltribe trek (Days 2–4)
  • Homestay in Baan Phalai (Day 2)
  • Homestay in Baan Pang Dan (Day 3)

Your route

4 stops from Chiang Mai to Baan Pang Dan

5-day route: Chiang Mai – Baan Phalai – Baan Pang Dan – Chiang Mai
  1. Chiang Mai Days 1 & 4–5
  2. Mok Fah Waterfall Day 2
  3. Baan Phalai Day 2
  4. Baan Pang Dan Day 3

Why choose this tour

Daily departures and a short, affordable trip. Real village homestays.

Best suited to

  • Active travellers
  • Short-break seekers
  • Solo travellers
  • Add-ons to a longer Thailand trip
An Akha woman in traditional dress in northern Thailand

Day-by-day itinerary

5 days from Chiang Mai, Thailand to Chiang Mai, Thailand

  1. Day 1 · Chiang Mai Chiang Mai

    Welcome to Thailand.

    Hotel
    Hotel
  2. Day 2 · Baan Phalai Baan Phalai

    Into the hills.

    Hotel
    Homestay
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  3. Day 3 · Baan Pang Dan Baan Pang Dan

    Village to village.

    Hotel
    Homestay
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  4. Day 4 · Chiang Mai Chiang Mai

    Back to the city.

    Hotel
    Hotel
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  5. Day 5 · Chiang Mai Chiang Mai

    The trip ends.

    Meals
    Breakfast
Trekkers looking out over misty mountains near Chiang Mai

Where you stay

  • Chiang Mai (1 night) Hotel
  • Hilltribe villages (2 nights) Homestay
  • Chiang Mai (1 night) Hotel

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 2 hotel nights and 2 homestay nights
  • Meals 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners
  • Airport transfers in Chiang Mai
  • Transport by songthaew and private vehicle
  • Three-day guided trek with local guides

Not included

  • Flights
  • A tour leader
  • Meals not included 2 dinners
  • Travel insurance and personal spending
Rolling hills near Chiang Mai from above

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want a tour leader
  • You want hotel comfort every night
  • You dislike basic facilities
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

Meals by day Breakfast: Days 2–5 · Lunch: Days 2–4 · Dinner: Days 2–3
FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Thailand
A wooden stilt house in the Thai countryside

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £410 per person, twin share, tour only. 413 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

Do I need a visa for Thailand?

UK citizens can currently enter Thailand without a visa for short holidays; check the latest rules before travel.

Is there a tour leader?

No. This is an independent trip; local guides lead the trek.

What are the homestays like?

Simple village houses with shared squat toilets and basic washing facilities.

Which meals are included?

4 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 2 dinners.

When can I start?

Departures run almost every day.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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