The Mirror Foundation

3 Night Trek #1

3 Night Trek #1
From: The Mirror Foundation, Chiang Rai
Categories: Boat rides Homestays Lahu hilltribe
Transportation: Boat Pickup truck Trekking
Two nights homestaying in an Akha and a Lahu village, where you can note the differences in cultures, dress, and how location impacts daily life. Moderate trek routes, with beautiful scenery.

We focus as much on experiencing life in the communities as we do on the hiking. You will be living in basic conditions - cold water showers, thin mattresses, squat toilets, but this is real life here. If you wish to get immersed in the different cultural lifestyles, then two or more nights homestaying in different tribal villages will give you a broader insight.

The programme begins at our foundation with the homestay orientation. From here we walk to a local waterfall, where you can rest before the main walk up to your homestay village. After dinner, some of the women and children of the village will put on a dance display for you, which you are welcome to join in.

After breakfast, a trip across the hill to a local viewpoint will give you the opportunity to sit back and take in the scenery, while our guide prepares lunch in the traditional way. You will also spend some time learning about weaving techniques before trekking to your next homestay, at the Akha village. Here, again, you will be entertained, this time with traditional Akha dancing.

Your final day is easier, as the trekking only lasts for the morning - walking from the Akha village to a Karen village near the Kok river. After lunch, we will collect you and drop you back at your accommodation so that you can relax and freshen up before enjoying the evening.

Day 1

  • Pickup from hotel
  • Orientation about our organization and hilltribe cultural traditions
  • Trek to a Lahu hilltribe village
  • Walk to waterfall and swim
  • Enjoy banana-leaf packed lunch
  • Trek to another Lahu hilltribe village
  • Dinner
  • Homestay

Day 2

  • Breakfast
  • An all-day trek to a very remote Lahu village (6-8 hours
  • Rest, relax, and tour the village
  • Dinner
  • Homestay

Day 3

  • Breakfast
  • Activities with the villagers
    • varies: from working in the fields, learning traditional weaving, bamboo crafts - farm work is seasonal, we cannot specify which activities will be available in advance. These activities are optional
  •  Dinner
  • Experience traditional Lahu dancing
  •  Homestay

Day 4

  • Breakfast
  • Walk two hours to a Karen village
  • Cross the bridge and board a longtailed boat
  • Ride to a mixed Karen/Akha/Mien/Lahu village
  • Lunch
  • Send back to hotel

Although we recommend a minimum of two people in a group - to reduce costs, but also so you have someone to share the experience with - we occasionally have requests from solo travellers who wish to book a tour. As our tours are private, the group would consist of the individual and our guide. We no longer offer to add a solo traveller to an existing group.
Solo travellers unfortunately have to pay a higher price as we have a number of set costs which we cannot reduce. This means that the per person fee is higher than the per person fee of a booking for 2 people.

  • Select the date you wish to begin your programme
  • Select the number of adults in your group
    • If there are children, check the box and then select the number of children by age
  • Once completed, the total price will appear at the top of the box
  • Click 'Book Now' button
  • Fill in the information fields
  • Only required fields are necessary - First name, Last name, Email
  • Add a username and password to access your private details
  • Fill in the personal information for every group member, including children
    • All fields are required
  • Check the 'I confirm to read...' box
  • Click 'Book Now' button
  • Choose your payment method - check to see when the deposit must be paid by

Please note, we do not confirm any bookings without a deposit payment.

All our treks and tours require a deposit payment
The balance must be paid in cash on the day of the programme (Thai Baht only)

Below is some basic information to assist preparation for your overnight tour. For more comprehensive information, please visit our main 'preparation' articles.
From / per person

Booking
Total:
8,400THB
Departs at
09:00

Need help booking? Talk to us!

0987599001 ecotours@themirrorfoundation.org
Important information
Price includes
  • Pickup and drop off in Chiang Rai town*
  • Meals
  • Homestay accommodation
  • Tribal dance
  • Boat trip
  • Filtered water
  • Tools and materials
  • Emergency medical insurance

*Accommodation outside town may incur an extra charge

Please have the following details ready when booking (for each person in your group)

  • First name
  • Last name
  • Gender
  • Diet (Meat, vegetarian, or vegan)
  • Passport number
  • Email a copy of each passport information page
Price excludes
  • Surcharge for Pickup/drop off outside Chiang Rai town
  • Snacks and drinks
  • Souvenirs
  • Extra options added to the basic tour
  • Tips and gratuities
Cancellation policy

Please not we do not book a guide until the deposit has been paid.If a guide is unavailable, we refund the deposit in full.

If a group cancels within 24 hours of the trek start, the deposit is lost.

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Technology & Innovation

 
 
 

The Mirror Foundation has always looked to technology and innovation for ways to solve problems, and improve peoples' lives. Using these techniques, coupled with traditional methods and community cooperation, makes for an exciting fusion of possibilities and problem-solving.

  • Our Volunteer Forest Firefighting project utilises drones to assess fire direction, potential dangers, and assist frontline teams.
  • We build machinery to shred and compress plastic bottles, which can be used in the community
  • Online databases ensure data collection is stored securely and can be accessed quickly by staff

Donations

Financial - we accept monetary donations from around the world. Donations can be made via Paypal or bank transfer.

Paypal

Paypal doesn't offer a donations button for Thailand currently, but we can sell you something!

Add info here for buying an eBannok clay whistle

 

Items - we accept all sorts of donated goods, which are either utilised by our team, or checked and then sold on at a low price to local villagers (profits going straight back into the foundation's fund)

Items range from: clothing; computers; TVs; washing machines; refrigerators; electrical tools; toys; books; and much more

Shipping address

The Mirror Foundation

  • 241 Moo 1, Ban Huay Khom
  • T. Mae Yao
  • Amphur Mueang
  • Chiang Rai 57100
  • Thailand

Please note that we cannot make any extra customs duty payments, or outstanding shipping costs.

3 prongs of Mirror, Chiang Rai

Our holistic approach to solving problems, and engaging with the local communities makes it much easier to bring people along as we try to improve daily life in general, and the future for all

Disaster management

The Disaster Management project looks to prepare communities, mitigate problems before they arise, and assist during and after a disaster hits - from forest fires to deadly floods

Agriculture & Environment

It is obvious to most people that climate change is having a devastating effect on life. Our work aims to inform communities, and to work together to deal with these issues on a local scale

Community based projects

Working with communities, not imposing solutions, is a fundamental rule here. Any innovations, improvements, or lifestyle changes, must be done hand-in-hand with locals