Thailand Hilltribe Holidays - Tours of Northern Thailand

Chiang Mai Tours & North Thailand Tours

We specialise in authentic tours of northern Thailand and ethical tours to hill tribe villages. We aim to show you the real northern Thailand (not the tourist version of it), by observing and interacting with locals. We prefer to get off-the-beaten-path and explore rural areas away from the tourist crowds, delving deeper into the local culture and way of life.
On our private tours, our local hill tribe guides will become your local friends, sharing the beauty of their homeland with you. Just tell us what you
want to see and do. We can personalise the tour for your interests. Some of the activities your tour can include are; authentic hill tribe villages, local markets, traditional food, farming and photography.

" One of the greatest experiences you could do in your life. Melissa and our local expert guide, Pat, they don't just sell tours but they offer experiences from real life. Experiences you can not forget. We did the 2d/1n elephants and hill tribes and the only thing we regretted it was that we didn't stay for one more day."George Tsagkarakis, February 2023
" The Best Tour I've done in my 10 trips to Thailand. I will be back again ! " Tim, Syndey, 2018
" A Life Changing Holiday" Jo Barker, Australia, 2014
" This tour gave us a peek behind the curtain to see what Thailand was like before hordes of tourists descended on it. It was one of the more memorable things we did in the two weeks we were here " Curran, New York, 2017

To read more of our Tripadvisor testimonials click here

NORTHERN THAILAND TOURS

Here are some of the tours we offer. We can also customise tours and itineraries based on your needs and preferences. We can also provide special interest tours (ie: handicrafts, hill tribe silver, coffee). Whatever your interest, just let us know :) Please contact us for more information.

Personalized Experiences for you

Each of our trips is personalised to make it the best possible experience for you. This means that although we have standard itineraries, each trip is unique because of how our guides make it happen for you. Whether it be catching the best sunset shot over the mountains, an encounter with a village elder, or watching hill tribe village artisans at work…through our connections with the communities we visit, our local guides will make sure you have the most authentic experience in northern Thailand.

Travel that Gives Back

When you travel with us, its always more than just a tour. It's meaningful tourism... which means that you are positively supporting the local communities that you visit. Our tours are designed uniquely, to enable toursim to generate income for locals directly, for example through our homestays with hill tribes. To learn more please visit How your visit makes a difference and our Responsible Travel Policy.

Homestays with Hill Tribes

Our tours feature the chance to stay overnight with a hill tribe family. This gives you a deeper experience into their everyday life. From cooking dinner together over a handmade fire, to waking up to the sounds of village animals in the morning... you will come away with a full appreciation of the basic and traditional life that the hill tribes live. For more info please visit our Homestays Page.

NORTHERN THAILAND TOURS

Long Neck Tribe Chiang Mai

2 DAYS AUTHENTIC HILL TRIBE TOUR

CULTURAL IMMERSION EXPERIENCE
Get off the tourist trail and have an authentic cultural immersion experience with different hill tribe groups. We will visit their traditional homes and villages to learn about their way of life. Optional short trek to learn about the local ecology and how the hill tribes farm and live with nature. Enjoy cultural interactions in an authentic and ethical way.

OPTIONAL - KAYAN LONG NECK TRIBE HOMESTAY
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, to spend time with a Kayan Long Neck Tribe family and learn about their way of life. Your stay benefits your host family directly through income generation and English language practice.

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TAILORED PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS

CAPTURE THE BEAUTY OF NORTHERN THAILAND THROUGH A LENS
Whatever your photographic interests are, whether its mountain landscapes or portraits of hill tribes, we can tailor a photography tour to meet your needs. Our local guides will show you the best locales at the best times of day for the best shots. They can open up photo opportunities with locals in a respectful and natural way.

Golden Triangle Chiang Rai

3 DAYS AUTHENTIC HILL TRIBE TOUR

TRADITIONAL HILL TRIBE VILLAGES
Visit a wide variety of non-touristic hill tribe villages nestled in the mountains and valleys of rural northern Thailand. Learn about Karen, Lisu, Lahu, Palaung and Hmong culture in an ethical and authentic way. Optional short trek to learn with a village guide to learn about how they farm and live with nature. Enjoy cultural interactions in an authentic and ethical way.

OPTIONAL - KAYAN LONG NECK HOMESTAY
Stay overnight at our Kayan Long Neck Tribe homestay. Accommodation is basic (sleeping in a bamboo hut), but the family will do their best to make your stay enjoyable and comfortable. Your stay benefits your host family directly through income generation and English language practice.

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Golden Triangle Chiang Rai

4 DAYS AUTHENTIC CHIANG RAI & HILL TRIBES TOUR

THE BEST WAY TO DISCOVER CHIANG RAI !
This tour gets off-the-beathen path to explore the more hidden parts of Chiang Rai and its hill tribes who dwell in the misty and mountainous borders of Thailand and Myanmar. Experience their way of life, try their cuisine, jungle dishes and learn about the local culture in an authentic way. Optional - can include Chiang Rai's tourist highlights (Golden Triangle + White Temple + Blue Temple).

OPTIONAL - HILL TRIBE HOMESTAY
Stay overnight with a hill tribe family at their homestay. Your visit benefits the host family directly through income generation and English language practice.

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Mae Hong Son Loop

5 DAYS MAE HONG SON LOOP TOUR

EXPLORE NON-TOURISTIC MAE HONG SON
Explore one of the least touristic provinces in Thailand on our 5 days Mae Hong Son Loop Tour. This tour takes you through Pai, Ban Rak Thai, Ban Ruam Thai, Pang Ung Lake, Mae Hong Son town, Khun Yuam and Doi Inthanon. Explore this distinct and cultually unique part of Thailand, with its mix of hill tribes and influence from the Shan (ethnic minority).

VISIT COMMUNITY-BASED-TOURISM KAYAN LONG NECK ViILLAGE
Learn about the fascinating Kayan Long Neck tribe and support them in a sustainable way by staying overnight at the community-based-tourism village of Huay Pu Keng in Mae Hong Son.

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8d4n

1 DAY AUTHENTIC HILL TRIBE TOUR

VISIT NON-TOURISTIC HILL TRIBE VILLAGES
Explore the hill tribe way of life and go on a nature walk to learn about how the hill tribes farm and live with nature. Learn about life in the village and enjoy cooking lunch at a villagers home.

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8-9 DAYS NORTHERN THAILAND LOOP TOUR

THE ULTIMATE NORTHERN THAILAND EXPERIENCE
The most comprehensive way to see northern Thailand! Travel to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son. Experience all aspects of culture and life in northern Thailand, from remote hill tribe villages to densely forested mountains, local minorities, artisans and stunning mountain vistas

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Cultural Immmersion Experiences at our Hill Tribe Homestays

Welcome to our Kayan Long Neck Homestay ! If you are looking for an authentic hill tribe experience, and to learn more about the Kayan Long Neck tribe in an ethical way, then come and visit our Kayan Long Neck homestay.

At the homestay you will have the chance to learn about the Kayan Long Neck tribe, their culture and way of life. The homestay is set amongst the lush and fertile landscapes of rural northern Thailand. You can go on a short trek through the surrounding forests and farmland with a village trekking guide to learn about the local ecology, and how the hill tribes farm and live. Enjoy cooking local dishes together over a local-style fire pit.

The homestay is located around 3-4 hours drive north of Chiang Mai. So it can be enjoyed as part of our 2d/1n Authentic Hill Tribe Tour.

Host Family - Karen Long Neck Tribe Homestay

Safe & Child Friendly

Our tours offer a safe and comfortable way to explore northern Thailand. We understand your concerns about matters such as food hygiene and personal safety, and we minimise all these risks to allow you to have a cultural adventure in the safest possible way. Hundreds of families have travelled with us, and most have said it was the highlight of their visit to Thailand. The homestay is a particular highlight for many - watching and learning about how a hilltribe family lives and works, is a cultural eye-opener for many. The villages are always filled with children and animals, a great opportunity for children to interact and discover how people on the other side of the world live.Not sure which tour to choose?

How our Tours are Different

We specialise in personal hands-on experiences that allow you to see the real northern Thailand through the eyes of a local
Our guides will take you on a cultural journey, to get 'up close and personal' to the local way of life, for example through activities such as offering alms to monks or helping out on the farm
Our itineraries are not fixed, this flexibility enables greater opportunity to explore local life along the way, without the restriction of schedules

We follow the rhythms of local life, and often come across unexpected local insights and surprises
We combine travel to well known places with off-the-beaten-path areas, this channels revenue to communities located off the tourist trail
Private tours mean that you receive the dedicated attention of our guide and driver, who can change the plan of the day to accommodate your interests and needs.

Not sure which tour ? Let us customise one for you :)

Not sure which tour to choose? No worries, we can customise a unique tour to suit your travel requirements and preferences. Just contact us to tell us more about your needs and we can advise accordingly.

     EXCELLENT  
     Based on 484 reviews 
    
 
 
   
 
 
        
   Marta R 
 2023-08-14
 
 
 Verified Amazing trip with great people
The tour was amazing, we did the 2 days tour with a homestay with a Kayan family. Our guide Surachai was really good and knowledgeable, and really made our trip a great one. He was a local from the Karen tribe. We started with a bamboo rafting, which was alright but if you are more into adventure could maybe skip and do something else. Then we drove to see the Hmong village and market and then to the Kayan village. There a local guide took us around to see the rice fields and the village, really nice scenery and he told us all about the local plants and crops. We even stopped at the local shop to have a local drink (a sort of rice liquor) and some snacks with him. When we came back we had dinner with the family and our guides, the food was delicious, our host Massu and her sister cooked a feast and it was all stuff they had gathered or grown. My partner and I stayed at the village , there is an option to go stay at a nearby hotel, which my parents did, but I would recommend staying with the family to both support and get a better understanding of their way of living. We stayed in a bamboo hut with no electricity, and overall it was pretty comfortable. We stayed up after dinner to chat and play uno with our host and her kids and had breakfast with them the next day. It was really nice to chat with them and they shared a bit about their experience as refugees. The next day our guide took us to do a short trek on a mountain where we were the only ones, had dinner at a local place and then waterfalls. Our guide took us to less touristy places which were less crowded but equally beautiful, and we were glad to support the locals. He even offered us to do a long boat tour near his village, which was on the way to our next destination and he then went to pick us up on the other side, saving us some driving which was replaced by a very enjoyable boat ride. Only thing I would add is that if you want to do elephant camp, check with them before to see where they will take you. Our bamboo rafting was in the same place as an elephant camp which offered shows and rides (which we wanted to avoid). We had done our elephant visit the day before at an ethical elephant sanctuary so it didn’t impact us but something to keep in mind. Overall a fantastic and authentic experience and would it a longer tour in the future. 10/10
  
 
       
   Amber W 
 2023-07-12
 
 
 Verified Highlight of not only our trip but of our life as a family
We have traveled all over the world, and this is one of the most magnificent things we’ve done. My husband and 4 children - ages 13, 11, 11, and 11 - did the 4 day 3 night adventure with a home stay. It was amazing and authentic from start to finish. Pat is an amazing guide who knows several languages and all of the locals, which means you get an experience that you absolutely cannot rival anywhere else. I can’t recommend this highly enough for adventurous travelers who want off the beaten path and want a REAL Thai experience. We will always remember it.
  
 
       
   Pau-Ling B 
 2023-07-07
 
 
 Verified Experience life as a local
Wonderful trip with my kids. Guide was so good. Showing us life as a local. We stopped often to see interesting non touristy places and ate like locals. We particularly enjoyed meeting the ‘lisu’ and Karen people and seeing their way of life. The home stays were our highlights. Our guide was warm and enjoyed showing us his country. He was genuine in his desire to help support these small communities. Highly Recommend.
  
 
       
   Brian D 
 2023-07-01
 
 
 Verified Wow fantastiske oplevelser med fantastisk guide, der selv var fra bjergområderne
Vi var på 4 dages tur fra Chiang Mai og op i den nordligste del af Thailand. Afhentning i lufthavnen af Surachai, vores guide. Han talte ok engelsk, og vi forstod stort set alt. Han var den bedste guide, der gav os nogle fantastiske oplevelser og informationer. Største øjeblikke på turen: Ophold og Overnatning i bambushytte i Hilltripe hos Masu) Besøge den gyldne trekant Trekke opad Thailands 2. højeste bjerg Doi Ang Khang (det var ret udfordrende og man skal ikke være bange for højder eller være usikker på benene) Grænsen til Myanmar Grotten hvor fodboldholdet blev reddet Bådtur på flod Gå opad vandfald (Buaton waterfall) Vær forberedt på at du bliver spurgt meget til hvad du har lyst til - så lidt forberedelse hjemmefra kan være smart. Eneste minus ved turen var sidste overnatningssted - Chiang dai in love. Toilet var beskidt, der var små insekter/biller i sengene og området var meget forfaldent, så jeg ville bede om et andet hvis du bliver forslået at overnatte der (bambushytte var bedre) Vi var totalt overvældet allerede efter de 2 første dage og 4 dag var vi lidt mættet og droppede bambusrafting.
  
 
       
   Maria Fernanda G 
 2023-06-25
 
 
 Verified An inspiring family experience!
So inspiring!! I travelled alone with my two four-year-old twins for the first time, and this 3-days tour was such a fantastic experience. Our tour guide, Surachai, from the Karen tribe, explained a lot about the hill tribes, their differences, origins and culture, and organised all the details so we could have authentic encounters with these beautiful people. He was so patient with the kids and flexible also to organise seeing some nature wonders such as some fantastic waterfalls and caves. We stayed with a Kayan Long Neck family one night and it was so inspiring. I was unsure about visiting the Kayan Long Neck tribe, so I looked for an ethical and sustainable tour company. But the visit was worth it. The family have created a beautiful homestay. I learned from their resilience and awareness, and hopefully, my children also discovered a new perspective on life, and as a family, we will cultivate a new friendship. Everyone in "Thailand Hilltribe Holidays, Responsible Tours for Northern Thailand" was so responsive. I admire their work, and definitely, their purpose goes beyond any traditional tour company to change the status quo and give local northern hill tribes an opportunity to share who they are and have a sustainable income. Again- as a family- it was just inspiring.
  
 
       
   Claire 
 2023-06-20
 
 
 Verified Wonderful, authentic experience!
We loved our authentic home stay experience. Thank you for arranging everything Melissa and a big thank you to our private guide, Pat for his insights, knowledge and big, generous heart. I love that he is trying to change lives through training and teaching. Our driver also provided excellent, kind service. The highlight was being able to meet Masu and her beautiful family. We loved speaking with her and getting to know them. Her story is heartbreaking. And she served incredibly delicious food which we all thoroughly enjoyed. Your tour was exactly what we wanted…exploring and meeting people off the tourist path and not going to a “human zoo”. The home stay was a deeply meaningful experience for my kids as well. We included the elephant sanctuary and we also really enjoyed the waterfall stop! Thank you again!!
  
 
       
   George T 
 2023-02-11
 
 
 Verified One of our best experiences
It was a reals life experience and not just a tour. Melissa and Pat our trying to do something out of ordinary and. They are showing you how is really the north thailand.
  
 
       
   Andrea A. 
 2023-01-25
 
 
 Verified Amazing tour by expert guide
What an amazing experience! Anan was our guide. He is also a part of the tribe and is the perfect guide for this tour. The itinerary was perfect. It is customizable and he helps make sure you have a great time. We loved every part of this tour, from the elephant sanctuary, to the visit to the villages, the homestay, the food, farm tour, market tour, and seeing the waterfalls, and many more! We did so much within 2 days and it was just perfect. I will definitely do another experience with Anan and this tour agency in the future. Thank you so much and all the best to you!
  
 
       
   Vicky 
 2023-01-17
 
 
 Verified Recommended!
We had a wonderful time exploring part of Northern Thailand. We visited many hilltribes in a very respectful and authentic way. We would definitely recommend this company for your travels. Thank you again!