Cultural Immersion among the Karen

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Experience an Unforgettable Journey with the Karen Tribe

Immerse yourself in an authentic two or three-day adventure deep in the mountains with the Karen tribe, while enjoying the comfort of a guesthouse.

Share their daily life, participate in their activities, and meet elephants in an ethical and respectful setting. A memorable journey awaits you!

Unlike the basic accommodations often associated with immersion stays, this unique experience allows you to live alongside the Karen community while staying in a charming and comfortable guesthouse.

Your host, Pen, a Karen woman married to a Westerner, will warmly welcome you into her home, the only one in the village run by a mixed couple.

You will be picked up from your hotel in Chiang Mai, the train station, or the airport, and driven through picturesque landscapes to the Karen village nestled approximately 70 km into the mountains.

Arrival and Settlement

Upon arrival, settle comfortably into your guesthouse and enjoy a local lunch.

Whether you choose to stay for three days (highly recommended) or two days, the remainder of your stay will be spent immersing yourself in the daily life of the Karen community.

Enjoy the surrounding natural beauty, take an easy hike along the river, and meet friendly locals eager to share their way of life with you.

Activities and Community Participation

Varied activities depending on the season include:

  • Rice planting or harvesting
  • Crayfish fishing in the river
  • Vegetable picking in the garden
  • Bamboo cutting for house construction
  • Feeding pigs
  • Traditional weaving

Always in good spirits, you will have the opportunity to participate in a Karen cooking class for dinner, using ingredients you’ve harvested.

End the evening around a campfire, perhaps accompanied by a villager playing the Thai guitar for an impromptu concert.

Meet Elephants and Explore Nature

This immersion stay also allows you to hike into the neighboring forest with semi-free elephants.

Swim in a waterfall (depending on the season), feed the elephants before they roam back into the forest. There are no shows or elephant rides here.

Each stay is unique and filled with shared moments, creating unforgettable memories. You are welcome to return as many times as you like!

The stay includes full board. Your English-speaking host on-site can be accompanied by a French-speaking guide for an additional fee.

Discovering the Karen Tribe

The Karen tribe is the largest in northern Thailand.

Deeply committed to environmental preservation, the Karen mainly live off agriculture.

They are the only hill tribe in Thailand to cultivate rice in terraces during the rainy season from July to November.

Elephants, considered family members, have lived with them for generations.

A Unique and Ethical Journey

Experience an immersive, respectful, and enriching journey with the Karen tribe. This stay is a rare opportunity to discover an authentic culture, forge connections, and leave a positive impact. Join us for a journey that will leave a lasting impression on your mind and heart.

Price per person

  • 2 persons: 7800 bahts/p.
  • 4 persons: 6400 bahts/p.
  • 6 persons: 5700 bahts/p.

Photo gallery

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