Joanna James
Lush rainforests, verdant hillsides and beautiful coasts make Thailand the kind of place you want to explore on your feet. Adding excitement to your journeys are the locals, do read on and enjoy.
Explore the Northern hills of Thailand, which were once rife with merchants using the popular trade route in ancient times. Today the area is visited by trekkers out to enjoy the misty hillsides of Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai. Typically the trek should start in Chiang Mai, each day you will trek for about six to eight hours across beautiful ridges, down into tranquil valleys and up again into the misty folds of the Chiang Mai hillsides. There you can visit the traditional village of Huay Hee Karen; home to nomadic hill tribes. Spend the night in a traditional hut and chat to the tribe about hills, traditions and customs of the people. The trek takes about eight days and is dosed with loads of culture at the various villages, as well as, fabulous vistas of the surroundings.
This northern trek is a slow paced walk that has you staying with locals each night. Nothing is more rewarding in terms of experiencing foreign customs and environs, as this trek. The walk starts at Baan Tha Sob Van in the district of Chiang Kham, to end in the North's capital Chiang Mai. Promised are experiences of the Thai Lue community and a scout of the organic farming community of Ban Dok Bua.
Koh Samui is just four hours from Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villas, hence this trek is ideal for those of you planning to spend a few days on the beautiful island. Start off at Khao Pom, which is more than a beach resort, trek through the wilderness consisting of crisscrossing trails that will lead you across mangrove forests, to climb, over 600 metres to the island's centre. Ideal for the nature lover, these treks take you to the summit of the island, where the best lookout spots will reward you with unbelievable vistas of the area. Looking forward to retiring at your Koh Phangan resort is an added boost.
Cover 8kms of wilderness across the Sri Phang Nga National Park. This is one of Thailand's largest parks, which strives to protect its rainforests. The hike is very rewarding taking you across gorgeous waterfalls; navigate your way by swimming through parts of the forest that have no footpath and make your way through the thick foliage with the help of a bamboo cane. That's right folks, a real Indiana Jones adventure awaits the hard-core trekker on this verdant trail.
Take on this trek and you will be given the opportunity to delve deeper into the long-necked Karen Tribe of Thailand. The ringed neck tribes' people will prove to be a fascinating discovery on this trek, which offers an insight into their lifestyles, traditions and customs. Look forward to sleeping in rustic bamboo huts, cooking local meals on open fires and relaxing in the evenings to sights of traditional Karen dances.
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