Karen Village Coffee Farm Tour in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Naoto
Visit an organic coffee farm on the outskirts of Chiang Mai and experience the full journey of a single cup of coffee. From harvesting coffee cherries to hands-on processing — a two-day trip to engage all your senses with aroma, flavor, and craft.
Connect with Karen people who live in harmony with nature, and rediscover what “real coffee” truly means. A truly extraordinary experience that refreshes both body and mind, and gives you space to reconnect with yourself!
目次
■ Chiang Mai Coffee Tour Highlights
① Trace the Full Journey of Coffee
You drink coffee almost every day — but do you know how that single cup is made?
On this tour, you'll experience the entire process up close — from picking beans off the coffee trees, through washing, fermentation, drying, and roasting, until they become a final cup of coffee. Discover the artistry of producers and the deep world of coffee in a way everyday life rarely allows.
Once you understand the process behind every cup, every coffee you drink afterward will feel truly special!
② Learn the Wisdom of Karen People Living in Harmony with Nature
Your host, Khui, has planted over 1,000 coffee trees while protecting the surrounding forest.
By cultivating coffee sustainably within the forest — without cutting any trees — you can learn so much about his environmental wisdom.
Beyond coffee, you'll also see how he weaves nature into every aspect of daily life.
③ Relax & Recharge in Countryside Nature
The village is surrounded by lush forests and rice paddies, welcoming guests with fresh air and a peaceful atmosphere.
Unlike the dramatic scenery of tourist hotspots, this is everyday natural beauty — a special time that refreshes you in body and spirit.
■ Your Host: Khui
Khui grows coffee, plums, and rice in Nong Tao village, a Karen community in northern Chiang Mai.
Committed to living in harmony with nature, Khui plants his coffee trees within the forest without cutting down a single tree.
He also has a strong environmental consciousness — for example, planting trees to offset the CO₂ produced by air travel.
■ Schedule
Day 1
8:00 Depart from Chiang Mai
Set off from the city toward the Karen village, where new experiences await.
8:30 Stop at a Local Market
Stop at a local market along the way, filled with fresh produce and the sights of everyday local life — a small but meaningful encounter with a different culture.
Try some local street food you simply won't find in any restaurant.
10:30 Arrive at the Village — Welcome Coffee
Upon arriving at the Karen village, enjoy a carefully brewed welcome coffee at Khui's handmade café.
Built from local timber, the café has a warm, inviting atmosphere where time slows down.
11:30 Lunch
Lunch in the village features hearty home-cooked dishes like stir-fried local vegetables with pork and Thai-style omelet.
Khui is quite the cook!
※ Menu may vary depending on the time of visit.
13:00 Coffee Harvesting Experience
Time to harvest! Hop on a pickup truck and head deep into the mountain farm.
Among approximately 1,000 coffee trees growing within the forest, you'll hand-pick only the ripest red cherries.
You'll quickly find yourself completely absorbed in the harvesting experience.
Picking only the fully ripe red cherries sounds simple, but it takes a little getting used to. Soon enough, your eye will know exactly which ones to pick.
After the harvest, ride back in the truck bed to the village.
Along the way, rice fields and wildflowers stretch out around you — breathtaking natural scenery unlike anything back home.
15:00 Coffee Processing ① (Washing & Drying)
Back in the village, learn the washing and drying stages of coffee processing.
Watch as the lighter, underripe beans are sorted out and the skin is removed.
After washing, learn about the different methods used to dry the beans.
17:00 Village Walk
Stroll around the village and soak in the local culture and scenery.
The warm smiles of the villagers and the beautiful natural surroundings will put your heart at ease.
18:00 Dinner Around the Hearth
In the evening, gather around the hearth and enjoy Khui's home-cooked meal. Share a slow, meaningful conversation about Karen life and his connection with nature.
Spend a heartwarming evening under a sky full of stars.
Day 2
7:00 Almsgiving & Breakfast
The village morning has a truly magical atmosphere.
In the early morning, join the almsgiving ceremony for local monks and experience Buddhist culture firsthand.
Afterward, enjoy breakfast together.
8:00 Coffee Processing ② (Roasting & Tasting)
This is the final step — roasting the beans you harvested. Listen to the crackling sounds and breathe in the incredible aroma as a perfectly roasted batch comes together.
Since roasted beans taste best after resting a few days, they'll be packaged for you to take home as a souvenir.
9:30 Village Walk (Weaving, School Visit & More)
After the coffee experience, visit a traditional Karen weaving demonstration and the village school.
Interacting with the children and experiencing village life will leave you with memories to last a lifetime.
※ The program can be adjusted to suit your preferences. Departing after lunch or combining with a nearby village tour is also possible.
11:30 Depart the Village
Leave the village, already looking forward to coming back.
Around 13:00 — Arrive Back in Chiang Mai
Return to Chiang Mai city and part ways, still savoring the memories of the trip.
Day-Trip Schedule Option
A one-night stay is recommended for a more relaxed experience, but a day trip is also possible. A sample day-trip schedule is shown below.
[Sample Day-Trip Schedule]
- 07:30 Depart from Hotel
- 08:00 Breakfast at the Market
- 09:30 Arrive at Village — Welcome Coffee
- 10:00 Coffee Harvesting Experience
- 12:00 Karen-style Lunch
- 14:00 Coffee Processing (Washing, Roasting & Tasting)
- 16:30 Depart the Village
- 19:00 Return to Chiang Mai City
Check out the video below to see the Coffee Tour in action 👇
■ Additional Info
What to Bring
Here is the packing list. Please bring anything else you may need.
| Priority | Item | Notes |
| Essential | Comfortable clothes that can get dirty | Mud is possible, so wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty. |
| Long sleeves & long pants | It gets cool in the mountains, especially morning and evening. Also helps protect against insects. | |
| Sneakers / hiking shoes | Proper footwear is recommended. | |
| Personal medication | ||
| Sandals | ||
| Toothbrush | ||
| Recommended | Sunscreen | |
| Hat | ||
| Small towel | ||
| Body wipes | Useful if it's too cold to shower. | |
| Small bag | 飲み物、Small towel、貴重品などが入る程度 | |
| Sunglasses | ||
| Shampoo | Bring your own if you have a preference. | |
| Conditioner | Same as above |
Accommodation & Shower
You will stay in a one-story wooden house built by Khui himself.
The village shower facility is as follows.
The shower is cold water only. During the dry season (November–February), it can get quite chilly, so using body wipes instead of showering is also a good option.
If you have any concerns, please feel free to get in touch.
Important Notes
- Weather: Depending on conditions, the program may not proceed exactly as planned. In light rain, we proceed carefully with safety in mind. In heavy rain, we wait for it to pass and move to indoor activities.
- Insects & small animals: Since the forest is nearby, insects and lizards may appear. They are generally harmless. Mosquito nets are provided for sleeping.
- Valuables: Please take personal responsibility for valuables such as passports and wallets.
- Internet: Mobile signal may be weak in parts of the village. Enjoy the digital detox!
■ Participant Reviews
M.S.
Being able to witness up close the passion and dedication of a coffee farmer was truly a special experience. This tour opened my eyes to a world I never would have discovered otherwise!
Stepping out of my everyday routine into something truly extraordinary was wonderful. I was able to relax both physically and mentally, and I was reminded of how much this kind of time recharges me.
M.K.
I joined the coffee farm experience in northern Chiang Mai, Thailand. Over one night and two days, I got a glimpse into the life of a Karen farming family.
We harvested coffee from trees growing in the mountain forest, and afterward were shown demonstrations of washing, fermentation, and drying — giving us a real sense of just how much work goes into it.
We were treated to warm home-cooked meals, spent the evening chatting around the hearth, and visited a neighbor's home to watch weaving and hear fascinating stories from the elders.
S.Y.
Chiang Mai is a well-known destination for many Japanese travelers, but joining this local tour let me create memories that are uniquely my own — things you simply can't experience anywhere else.
Experiencing the effort and hardship behind Thailand's beloved coffee made me want to savor every single cup with much more appreciation.
I could really feel the trust between Sakata-san and the local people. I'd love to go again!
Y.H.
This was a tour I was truly satisfied with — an exciting experience that simply isn't possible back in Japan!
Even without knowing English, I felt completely at ease because our guide carefully translated everything for us.
The interactions with local people and being taken to off-the-beaten-path places made this a trip I'll never forget. Thank you so much!
F.N.
Honestly, many overseas trips are great fun in the moment, but once you're back home and in your routine, they quickly fade from memory.
This trip was different. Even back in everyday life, the memories are vivid — that wonderful time comes rushing back clearly and immediately.
■ Bonus: How the Karen Coffee Tour Began
It all began when ManiTabi founder Sakata made the decision to start a local tour business. However, with no connections in Chiang Mai, he was at a loss for where to even begin (August 2023).
He turned to Mari Okamoto, a senior acquaintance living in Chiang Mai, who introduced him to Khui — a Karen man who deeply respects nature and understands Japanese culture.
Aiming for a trial tour at the start of 2023, Sakata held online meetings with Khui and in early December conducted a whirlwind 4-day scouting trip over a weekend.
After much trial and error, the long-awaited trial tour came to life over the New Year period. Though the number of participants was limited, Sakata came away with a deeply felt sense of the value of 'experiencing life as the locals do.'
This experience ultimately led Sakata to resign from his previous job and make the decision to move to Chiang Mai.
Read about the New Year trial tour on this blog post
チェンマイの少数民族のコーヒー農園にホームステイ！満足度★5！｜チェンマイ起業日記
コーヒーを普段全く飲まない者として、今回の体験をするにあたっての個人的なテーマは「コーヒーの魅力を知るきっかけづくり」で
チェンマイ起業日記 
■ Closing
If you're interested, please reach out via the inquiry form below or through ourofficial LINE.
※ The coffee bean harvest season runs from mid-November to the end of February, so harvesting is not currently available. Roasting, drip brewing, and village walks are still possible — please contact us via the link below if you're interested.
We also share tour updates and Chiang Mai travel tips on ManiTabi Instagram. We'd love it if you followed us!
Check out our other local tours from ManiTabi 👇
ManiTabi 
【少数民族ツアー】自然と共生するカレン族の暮らし体験
チェンマイの自然豊かなカレン族の村で、少数民族の伝統的な暮らしや自然を感じるツアー。料理からハーバルサウナ、染色体験も楽しめます！
