Northern Hill Tribe Trek

Day 1: Bangkok

Your trip starts today with your arrival in Bangkok. No activities are planned until your evening group meeting, so you may arrive at any time. Please check the noticeboard in the hotel lobby, located on the ground floor, for a notice containing details of your tour. This will advise you of your tour leader's name, telephone number and the time and location of your group meeting. Normally this meeting takes place around 6pm. Until your meeting we encourage you to get out and discover the delights that Bangkok has to offer, including Thailand's famous cuisine. Make sure that you take a hotel business card so that you will be able to find your way back to the hotel.

Day 2: Bangkok

This morning sees us head out to face Bangkok's infamous traffic! Near our hotel is one of Bangkok's renowned waterways (klongs), where we jump in a boat and head off in search of the Grand Palace. Along the way we also introduce you to the local bus network - quite a different experience to your own local bus network! The Grand Palace and Wat Pho (which houses the magnificent Reclining Buddha) are fine examples of classic 'Old Bangkok' style of architecture. Resplendent in gilded stupas and mosaic-encrusted pillars, you will be amazed at their extraordinary beauty. When in Wat Pho, you may wish to have a traditional Thai massage, as this is the national headquarters for the teaching and preservation of Thai medicine. It comes thoroughly recommended! In the evening, we board the northbound overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai (approximately 13 hours). Thai trains have an open, relaxed feel about them and offer a great opportunity to mingle with fellow passengers. You may want to bring along your Thai phrasebook and practise speaking Thai with a local! You can purchase food and drinks on the train, but it is also a good idea to stock up beforehand.

Day 3: Chiang Mai

We arrive in Chiang Mai early in the morning (as long as our train is on time!) and transfer to our guesthouse, which is centrally located and close to the Night Market. The day is free to do as you wish, as there is much to see in this northern city, with over 120 temples in the centre alone. A visit to the Tribal Research Institute is an ideal preparation for your hill tribe trek, providing excellent background information on the cultures and customs of the various ethnic groups that inhabit the hill regions of northern and western Thailand. An excursion to the top of Doi Suthep offers fantastic views over the city and can be combined with a visit to the museum. It's best to visit Doi Suthep in the morning or late in the afternoon, to avoid the heat of the day, as there are over 300 steps to climb! You may also wish to get a traditional Thai massage before your trek, or even partake in a cooking class. Your tour leader will be able to offer other suggestions for things to see and do your free time.

Day 4-7: Hill Tribe Trek - Chiang Mai

Our four-day trek into the hills of northern Thailand gives us a unique insight into the lives of the local people. We can store excess luggage at our guesthouse in Chiang Mai before travelling, by songthaew, to the start of our trek. A local guide will assist with leading our trek and en route we meet and stay with several tribes, each of them unique with their own language and customs. The terrain is often steep so you'll need to be reasonably fit, as we trek between three to six hours per day. Along the way we pass through forests, rice fields and local villages. The terrain more rural rather than jungle, as the hilltribes grow crops on the hillsides. We also take our time to stop along the way, meet the local people and learn about their fascinating cultures. Our accommodation is in basic huts in the small local villages. Please note that the ground is muddy and slippery during the rainy season (from July to October, although this can vary slightly from year to year), but this is also the time when the scenery is most lush. The exact itinerary of the trek changes with every trip, as we need to take into account such things as weather and local conditions. At night we sleep in village bamboo huts, which are usually single all-purpose rooms where the local people live and sleep. Sleeping mats, trek packs and sleeping bags are available for hire in Chiang Mai however you may wish to bring a sleeping bag to ensure quality, as the nights can be quite chilly in the cool dry season (from November to February). There are no showers or other washing facilities and bathing is usually done in nearby rivers so bring some bio-degradable soap with you. You may see the word ''Ban' in many places - it means 'village' in Thai. During our trek, we may come across and even stay with Lisu, Lahu and Karen people. Please note that hill tribe people have conservative dress standards and it is inappropriate to wear revealing clothes, such as singlets. You should also ask permission first before taking photos of any villagers. On one of the days we take a break from trekking and hit the river for some bamboo rafting. It's great fun, as we make our way downstream running a few rapids along the way. We also get an opportunity to enjoy an hour-long elephant ride through the forest. Sitting on top of these magnificent animals, we make our way from the banks of the river and travel through the rice fields. Our trek finishes after lunch on Day 7 and we return to Chiang Mai by songthaew. The evening is a chance to head out on the town and celebrate your achievement and reflect on the experience, for the shop-aholics amongst the group the Night Bazaar will beckon.

Day 8: Chiang Mai

We have a whole day to relax after our trek. You can make the most of your free day by taking in further highlights of the city, enjoying a traditional massage or partake in a half day cooking school, a very popular activity with many Gecko's travellers. In the mid to late afternoon we board our overnight sleeper train for Bangkok (approximately 13 hours).

Day 9: Bangkok

You arrive into Bangkok early in the morning and you will be transferred to the hotel from where you started this tour. Your Northern Hill Tribe Trek trip ends after this transfer. Accommodation for this evening is not part of the tour; however, it is possible to book post-tour accommodation - please ask your agent for details. If you are departing Bangkok today, please do not book to depart before noon.

Tour Grade: Active

These trips involve some activity and occasional hard travelling days. Accommodation can sometimes be quite basic. Physical preparation is important and a flexible, open-minded approach is essential. On treks you may be hiking up to six hours a day through steep terrain, sometimes at altitude, and a good level of physical fitness is required.