Day 1. At 8.00 we leave by mini-bus to drive for one hour to visit an elephant camp at Maesa to see the elephants doing their work routine. We see them performing a musical talent show and dancing, then a demonstration of how the elephants sleep, play football and work with paint brush and easel. This elephants show has now been entered into the Guinness Book of records. After the visit we go to the local market at Mae Ma Lai. Here we can see the hill-tribe people of Lisu and Lahu selling their handicrafts. At the market we buy food for our dinner. Next we drive to Chiang Dao cave, featuring spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. In addition to being of geological interest, this cave also features a Buddhist Shrine built in the classical Burmese style. Here we have lunch at a local restaurant. Afterwards, we drive for another 30 minutes to reach our trekking starting point. This is a 3-4 hours trek across lovely landscapes, on the way visiting Red Lahu, White Karen, Akha and Lisu hill-tribe villages. We will stop and have dinner at a Palong village. Where we will stay overnight. |
