A Chiang Mai Retreat in a Karen Village: Healing for Mind and Body
チェンマイ坂田Step away from "always online" for two days and heal body and mind.
City noise, endless social media, work tasks that never leave your head. Leave them behind for a retreat in a Karen village surrounded by nature near Chiang Mai.
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3 Highlights of This Tour
1. Traditional Karen Wellness
Herbal sauna and foot bath with herbs from the village. Let the power of nature gently wash away your tiredness.
2. Healed by Nature
Unwind in a Karen home surrounded by rice fields. Give yourself to the quiet and slow time you can't find in the city.
3. Herbs from the Inside Out
Cook with Karen villagers using Thai herbs said to be good for the body, and learn gentle, healthy food.
Recommended For
- Anyone tired of staring at phone and computer screens
- People who want "nature × wellness" on a short break
- Those who want to bring home healthy habits and wisdom, not just a reset
Your Host: Yatee
Your host is Yatee, a mother of two living in a Karen village 1.5 hours from Chiang Mai. She studied in Chiang Mai and now lives in the village where she grew up.
She shows you the real, everyday life of the village — not a tourist show — and welcomes guests with natural kindness. (Yatee's Instagram)
Itinerary
Day 1
9:00
Meet in Chiang Mai or at the airport
Meet at the Three Kings Monument or Chiang Mai Airport. With a short market stop and breaks, we drive about 1.5 hours to the village by private vehicle.
11:00
Arrive, welcome drink
Relax with coffee and tea grown in the village.
12:00
Lunch
Enjoy Yatee's home cooking and local flavors.
14:00
Gather herbs around the village
Walk the village to find herbs for the sauna and foot bath. Plants that look like weeds to us turn out to be healing herbs in Yatee's eyes. Walking past rice fields and gardens recharges you naturally.
16:00
Karen herbal sauna & foot bath
Warm up to the core with the herbs you picked, and refresh body and mind.
19:00
Dinner, campfire and stargazing
Yatee's cooking with organic village vegetables, then a fire around the hearth and the stars — a quiet night far from the city.
Day 2
6:00
Wake up, morning walk and sunrise
Rise a little early and walk through the village. If the weather is good, we go to see the sunrise.
7:30
Breakfast and rest
9:00
Make your own "ya dom"
Ya dom is a herbal inhaler full of Thai traditional medicine wisdom. Blend natural ingredients to create your own scent and take it home.
10:30
Cook traditional Karen herbal dishes
Lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, coriander, turmeric and Karen herbs you won't see in the city. Cooking with your own hands shows you how it is made.
12:00
Lunch
Dishes full of village vegetables.
13:00
Leave the village
A last group photo before saying goodbye to Yatee's family.
around 15:00
Drop-off in Chiang Mai or at the airport
Prefer email? Use our inquiry form →
Guest Review
H.S.
I got to spend time with a village family and experience a life very different from Japan. Nature, herbal foot bath, the warmth of a mother's wisdom, cooking together, babies and kids, warm Karen smiles… maximum healing! Five stars!
Price & Tour Details
1 Night 2 Days
| Group size | Price per person |
|---|---|
| 4 people | 6,900 THB |
| 5 people | 6,500 THB |
| 6 or more | 5,900 THB |
The price depends on the total number of participants.
For private tours or other requests, please contact us.
3% of the tour fee goes to a fund for improving the village environment and children's education.
| Price | From 5,900 THB per person (depends on group size) |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 night 2 days (meet 9:00 on day 1 → finish around 15:00 on day 2) |
| Minimum group size | 4 people |
| Meeting point | Meet in Chiang Mai (Three Kings Monument) or at Chiang Mai Airport. On day 2 we drop you off in the city or at the airport |
| Language | English / Japanese |
| Included | Please ask us |
| Not included | Please ask us |
| Payment | Bank transfer within Thailand, cash (Thai baht), or credit card |
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.
Special Rules for This Trip
- Nicknames: like Thai people, everyone takes a nickname — a switch to leave everyday life behind.
- Digital detox: if you like, we can keep your phone for you.
What to Bring
Must-have
- Comfortable clothes you don't mind getting dirty (mud or dye)
- Long sleeves and long pants (cool mornings and evenings; protects from insects)
- Sneakers (recommended for village walks)
- Clothes for the sauna (thin T-shirt, pants, etc.)
- Personal medicine, sandals, toothbrush
Useful
Sunscreen / hat / small towel / small bag for drinks and valuables / sunglasses / shampoo and conditioner if you have preferences
Rooms, Toilets and Showers
The toilets and showers are cleaned but are not like those in a shopping mall. If there is no hot water, we provide heated water. In the cool dry season, you can skip the shower and use body wipes.
Notes
Getting there / motion sickness
The village is about 1.5 hours from Chiang Mai, half on mountain roads. We carry motion sickness medicine, but please bring your own if needed.
Weather
The program may change with the weather. In light rain we continue with care; in heavy rain we wait and switch to indoor activities.
Animals and insects
Pigs, chickens and dogs roam the village but don't attack. Being near the forest, there are insects and lizards (mosquito nets are provided).
Cold weather
The village is about 1,000 m above sea level and cooler than Chiang Mai in the mornings and evenings. Bring warm clothes from November to February and a light long-sleeved top in other seasons.
Room sharing
You may share a room with other guests. If you prefer a private room, please tell us in advance.
Valuables and internet
Please keep your passport and wallet with you. Mobile signal is weak in parts of the village — enjoy the digital detox.
Upcoming Dates
No dates are fixed at the moment. Tell us when you'd like to go.
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 welcomeManiTabi also supports the villages that welcome our guests. After the March 2025 Myanmar earthquake damaged the village nursery school, donations mainly from our guests helped rebuild it.
