Chiang Mai Hill Tribe Tour: Discover Karen Life in Nature
チェンマイ坂田Step away from the noise and refresh your body and mind in the hills near Chiang Mai.
In a Karen village surrounded by nature, you join local daily life and feel the culture with all five senses — something you can only experience on this tour.
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3 Highlights of This Tour
1. Relax in a Village Full of Nature
About 1.5 hours by car from Chiang Mai, the village sits in the hills, surrounded by forests and green rice fields — a scene that feels oddly nostalgic.
2. Learn to Live with Nature
The Karen have long lived in harmony with nature. You learn their wisdom for using nature's gifts in daily life — with your own hands.
3. Delicious Home Cooking
Everything our host Yatee cooks is delicious. Grow, harvest, cook, and share a meal together — simple, everyday happiness.
The Village and Your Host
Location
About 1.5 hours by car from Chiang Mai, the Karen village lies on the way to Doi Inthanon.
Your Host: Yatee
Yatee, a Karen woman, is at the heart of welcoming our guests. She studied at university in Chiang Mai and now lives in the village where she grew up, raising two children.
She shows you the real, everyday life of the village — not a tourist show — and welcomes guests with natural kindness. She has even traveled to Hokkaido to introduce Karen food culture.
Itinerary (Day Trip)
* The program may change with the season and conditions on the day.
8:00
Depart from Chiang Mai
We pick you up by van. On the way, we can stop at a local market for seasonal fruit and snacks as a light breakfast (or go straight to the village).
10:00
Arrive at the village, welcome coffee
At Yatee's home, enjoy coffee and tea grown in the village. The warm welcome puts everyone at ease.
10:30
Village walk
Walk the paths villagers use every day: traditional bamboo houses, organic rice fields, flowers being packed for market. Along the way, we gather ingredients for lunch and the herbal foot bath.
12:30
Karen lunch
Enjoy Yatee's home cooking. The natural flavors of the ingredients satisfy body and soul.
14:00
Cultural activities (2–3)
Depending on the season and your wishes, you try parts of Karen daily life.
Natural dyeing: extract dye from plants and seeds gathered in the village and dye fabric to your liking.
Herbal foot bath: warm up from the inside with herbs you picked in the morning.
Village sweets: make steamed sweets wrapped in banana leaves or colorful rice-flour donuts with village ingredients.
16:30
Leave the village
The villagers see you off as you head back.
around 18:00
Arrive in Chiang Mai
A 1-night, 2-day version is also available
For a slower, deeper stay, we recommend staying overnight. Sample schedule for day 2:
- 6:00–7:00 Wake up, morning walk (optional)
- 8:00 Breakfast
- 9:00 Activities (village or temple walk, etc.)
- 11:30 Lunch
- 12:00 Leave the village → around 14:00 arrive in Chiang Mai
Prefer email? Use our inquiry form →
Tour Videos
Videos made by past guests.
Moeko, a nomad living in Chiang Mai
You can also see more of the tour in the highlights on Naoto Sakata's Instagram.
Guest Reviews
← Scroll sideways to read more →
The K family
We experienced the everyday life of local people — something you can't find at tourist spots. Seeing their homes, cooking and gathering food up close was a precious chance to learn how they live with nature.
M.Y.
With explanations of Karen history, we spent a whole day experiencing their culture — something hard to do without a tour. Yatee and her family welcomed us warmly with delicious home cooking. Fun for kids and adults alike!
The F family
Tasting wild fruit on our walk, cooking, making bracelets — every activity left an impression. Learning by doing was especially fun, and we had a very full day.
H.S.
I got to spend time with a village family and experience a life very different from Japan. The smiles of the kind villagers gave me energy and comfort. Five stars!
T.W.
Touching the rich life of the Karen, surrounded by nature, made me feel I could have more room in my own heart. Mountains, rivers, rice fields — the village scenery is wonderful.
S.K.
Walking through Yatee's fields and picking ingredients and herbs ourselves was fresh and fun. In the dyeing workshop we started by crushing the dye — not knowing how it would turn out was exciting.
Y.K.
It was wonderful to glimpse and actually experience a life in harmony with nature. Gathering ingredients and herbs for the foot bath was moving. Time in nature refreshed both body and mind.
Price & Tour Details
Day Trip
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 1 person | 6,900 THB |
| 2 people | 5,000 THB |
| 3 people | 4,500 THB |
| 4 or more | 4,000 THB |
1 Night 2 Days
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 2 people | 8,000 THB |
| 3 people | 7,200 THB |
| 4 or more | 6,500 THB |
Children (elementary school age or younger): 1,500 THB off the prices above. Junior high to university students: 500 THB off.
Returning guests: 500 THB off.
For private tours or other requests, please contact us.
| Price | Day trip from 4,000 THB / person; 1 night 2 days from 6,500 THB / person (depends on group size) |
|---|---|
| Duration | Day trip: approx. 8:00–18:00 (9–10 hours) 1 night 2 days: back in Chiang Mai around 14:00 on day 2 |
| Minimum group size | Day trip: 1 person / 1 night 2 days: 2 people |
| Meeting point | We pick you up by van at your accommodation or a meeting point in Chiang Mai |
| Language | English / JapaneseGuided by the village host together with a Thai guide or a Japanese navigator. |
| Included |
|
| Not included |
|
| Payment | Cash (Thai baht), bank transfer within Thailand, credit card, or Wise (international money transfer service) |
Cancellation Policy
| Before the deposit is paid | No charge |
|---|---|
| After the deposit, up to 21 days before the tour | 50% of the tour price |
| 20 to 7 days before the tour | 75% of the tour price |
| 6 days before the tour or no-show | 100% of the tour price |
Bank transfer and remittance fees are non-refundable.
See our Travel Terms and Conditions for details.
What to Bring
Must-have
- Comfortable clothes you don't mind getting dirty (mud or dye; paths get muddy in the rainy season)
- Long-sleeved shirt and long pants (chilly mornings and evenings; protects from insects)
- Sneakers (recommended for village walks)
- Personal medicine
- Light clothes for the herbal sauna, sandals and a toothbrush (overnight guests)
Useful
Sunscreen / hat / small towel / small bag for drinks and valuables / sunglasses / shampoo and conditioner if you have preferences (overnight guests)
Rooms, Toilets and Showers (Overnight Guests)
Sample bedrooms. We adjust the arrangement to your needs.
The toilets and showers are cleaned but are not like those in a shopping mall. If the shower has no hot water, we provide heated water. In the cool dry season, you can skip the shower and use body wipes instead.
Important Notes & FAQ
Getting to the village / motion sickness
The village is about 1.5 hours from Chiang Mai, half of it on winding mountain roads. We carry motion sickness medicine, but please bring your own if needed.
What happens if it rains?
Light rain: the program continues with care. Heavy rain: we wait for it to stop and switch to indoor activities.
Are there insects or animals?
Pigs, chickens and dogs roam the village. They don't attack, but let us know in advance if you are uncomfortable with animals. Being near the forest, there are insects and lizards (mosquito nets are provided). In the rainy season, leeches live in the rice fields, so long socks and long pants are recommended.
Will it be cold?
The village is about 1,000 m above sea level and cooler than Chiang Mai in the mornings and evenings. From November to February, bring warm clothes; in other seasons, a light long-sleeved top.
Will I share a room? (overnight)
You may share a room with other guests. If you prefer a private room, please tell us in advance.
Is there internet or phone signal?
Mobile signal is weak in parts of the village. Enjoy a digital detox!
Valuables and guides
Please keep your passport, wallet and other valuables with you. The village host and a Thai guide lead the tour, and Naoto Sakata joins when possible.
Upcoming Dates
2026 (day trips)
- Saturday, November 14
- Monday, November 23
- Tuesday, November 24
- Thursday, November 26
- Sunday, December 6
- Monday, December 21
We can also arrange a 1-night, 2-day stay or other dates — just ask.
Booking & Questions
Just curious? That is perfectly fine.
Questions, dates, group size — send us a message on WhatsApp or use the inquiry form.
Message us on WhatsAppWe reply personally — questions are welcomeIn March 2025, the Myanmar earthquake damaged the village nursery school. With donations mainly from guests who had visited the village, the nursery was rebuilt for the children.
