MANITABI · CHIANG MAI & NORTHERN THAILAND

Beyond the usual journey.
Closer to local life.

Walk in the forest, share a village meal, try traditional crafts.
Discover a wider world in Northern Thailand.

Travel a little further into the places you visit.

Life and journeys in Northern Thailand
A MOMENT IN NORTHERN THAILAND
Beyond the scenery, there is everyday life.

ABOUT MANITABI

Go beyond the sights.
Meet the people.

ManiTabi comes from “Maniac Travel”: travel for the curious.
Take a step beyond familiar routes and popular spots.
Based in Chiang Mai, we introduce you to life in Northern Thailand.

Our journeys begin with relationships with local people.
Time with village hosts and hands-on experiences in nature
can change the way you see a place.

Life and journeys in Northern Thailand
01 / WHY MANITABI

Discover places through the people who live there.

Our village connections help you explore beyond the usual routes.

Life and journeys in Northern Thailand
02 / WHY MANITABI

Experience the gifts of the land.

Harvest, make and taste. Discover how nature and everyday life connect.

Life and journeys in Northern Thailand
03 / WHY MANITABI

Share a little of everyday life.

Walk, cook and talk together, and settle into the rhythm of the village.

VILLAGE TOURS

Village tours

Into nature, beside the craftspeople, around the village table.
Choose your next journey through the experiences that interest you.

View all tours

SEASONAL JOURNEYS

Seasonal journeys & village festivals

Meet a place at a special time of year.
Discover village festivals and experiences to enjoy around your lantern-festival visit.

Life and journeys in Northern Thailand

MANITABI SHOP · CHIANG MAI

Bring a little of the village
along on your journey.

Find Karen handwoven textiles, shade-grown coffee and cacao, and bamboo crafts made by the people we visit, at our small shop in Chiang Mai.

Drop in during your trip or before heading home.

OPEN
10:00–18:00 / Closed Sundays
LOCATION
Near Warorot Market

Just browsing is welcome. Come and share your travel stories.

TRAVELERS’ STORIES

What stays with you after the journey.

Stories from people who have travelled with ManiTabi.

Read more guest stories (Japanese)
Life and journeys in Northern Thailand
The generosity and hospitality of our hosts made this a wonderful visit. I recommend it to anyone interested in local ethnic communities.
Guest T
Life and journeys in Northern Thailand
I was deeply moved by a way of life that takes only what is needed and draws so much of its food, clothing and shelter from the village surroundings.
Guest A
Life and journeys in Northern Thailand
I learned how difficult coffee growing can be, and learned just as much from seeing the villagers live with freedom and happiness.
Guest N
Life and journeys in Northern Thailand
Seeing homes, cooking and gathering food up close taught us about the practical wisdom of living with nature.
The K family
Life and journeys in Northern Thailand
I felt gentleness and kindness in the village. It reminded me that richness can come from the heart, beyond earning money.
Guest K
Life and journeys in Northern Thailand
Experiencing everyday life and culture and getting to know the villagers like relatives was especially memorable.
Mr & Mrs N

YOUR LOCAL NAVIGATOR

Your local navigator

Life and journeys in Northern Thailand
CHIANG MAI, THAILAND

Connecting you with
life in Northern Thailand.

Naoto SakataChiang Mai Sakata / Founder, ManiTabi

I visit villages, meet local people and build trust over time. These relationships are at the heart of the journeys I create in Northern Thailand.

From village tours to fairly traded crafts and community projects, I hope to create encounters that stay with you long after the trip.

Read my story (Japanese)

MEDIA APPEARANCE

Featured on Yomiuri TV’s “Gutto Chikyubin”

Watch a Japanese-language programme about our work in Chiang Mai.

Watch on YouTube

JOURNAL & NEWS

Stories from Northern Thailand.

Explore Chiang Mai stories

LET’S PLAN YOUR JOURNEY

Let’s plan your next journey.

Tell us what interests you and when you are travelling. We are happy to help.

Talk to us about your trip