Tree House Chiang Dao Homestay + E-co Trek

Overview

The E-co Trek and Sticky Waterfall 2D1N is a family-friendly adventure that combines an ethical elephant experience, forest trekking, and authentic cultural encounters in Northern Thailand. Starting from Chiang Mai, the journey takes you to an animal-friendly elephant camp where you can learn about Asian elephants, prepare food, make herb balls, feed them, and bathe with them without elephant riding or shows. After a local Thai lunch and market visit, continue with an easy forest trek through scenic surroundings before reaching a Palong hill tribe village.

The adventure continues with a morning village experience, including meeting local weavers, visiting a community school, and learning about Palong traditions and daily life. After a short hike to a Karen village, enjoy another responsible elephant encounter at a sanctuary, where you can feed and bathe with the elephants. Combining nature, wildlife, culture, and hands-on activities, this 2-day adventure offers an engaging experience for families exploring Chiang Mai and its surrounding communities.

Highlights

• Enjoy a lovely trek through the forest
• Stay overnight in the unique Tree House and relax with Traditional Thai Massage
• Visit Chiang Dao Cave at Chiang Dao Valley
• Cool off in the majestic waterfall of Bau Thong
• Have a great panorama views from Wat Tham Pha Plong

Itinerary in Details

Day 1 Day 2

Day 1: Chiang Mai - Palong village (L/D)

Your guide and driver will meet you at 0800 at your hotel for your Family Fun with Elephants and Sticky Waterfalls adventure. You will drive to the north to the Mae Sa Valley. First stop will be the Thai Elephant Care Center, an animal-friendly elephant camp. You will learn about the Asian Elephant and its current status as an endangered species. At this camp, there is no show and no elephant riding. You will also get safety instructions before you meet the elephants up close. Although in captivity, elephants are still wild animals, and you have to be careful in their presence. You will change into a traditional Thai farmers tunic which is very comfortable. Then you will meet our elderly elephants and get close to them.

You will learn to make dried grass which you will later feed to the elephants. You will also visit the elephant cemetery and the place where the elephants rest at night time. Elephants love herb balls, and you will learn how to make them. Feed them to the elephants. Then you will bathe with an elephant. Elephants love to play in the water. It is a lot of fun to join them. Feed bananas to our elephants. Then it is time to say farewell to your elephant friends.

Market visit and Trekking
By this time you will be hungry. We will have a Thai lunch at a local restaurant. We can accommodate all food preferences, so please inform your guide. After lunch, we will continue to a local market where your guide will do some shopping. You can join him or explore this market on your own. Drive to the start of our afternoon hike. The trail through the forest is relatively easy. Enjoy the views and the sounds of nature. We will walk for about two hours, with many stops along the way. Your guide will explain about specific trees and plants in the forest. There will be time for taking pictures. Our destination will be a Palong village.

Fun activities for the young
After arrival in the village, the children can participate in fun activities in the village. These can vary from picking fruit, collecting vegetables for dinner, feeding the pigs or taking part in sports with children from the community. Then it is time for a cooking course. Your guide will teach you how to cook in a wok on a wood fire.
He will explain about the herbs and ingredients he uses. After dinner, your guide will take you to one of the village houses where you will meet some of the villagers. The Palong are originally from Myanmar and fled to Thailand in 1984. This tribe is known as Palong or Palaung, but they call themselves Dara-Ang. Overnight will be in one of the village houses.

Day 2: Palong Village – Chiang Mai (B/L)

Visiting a local school
The second day of your Tribes, Rivers and Elephants Family Adventure. After the sounds of nature and the locals woke you up, your guide will prepare breakfast. Villagers will organize a small local market. If you want to can buy some souvenirs. After breakfast, your guide will show you around the village. He will explain about the village shrine and the ‘huja rawl’, the ‘village heart’. The Palong women are incredible weavers. We will introduce you to the weavers. Then we will visit the local school. The children will donate pens and paper to the school. After this, we will say goodbye to the villagers and start our short hike to a Karen village where our van is waiting for us. The Karen are another of the ethnic minority groups in Thailand. They migrated centuries ago from China. Most of the Karen live across the border in Myanmar. They have fighting for autonomy against the government for decades.

Elephant experience
We sit down and drink a cup of tea before we continue to Chiang Dao to have lunch in a local restaurant. After lunch, we will continue to Kanta Elephant Sanctuary, an animal-friendly elephant camp. Before you meet the elephants, you will get a safety briefing. You will change into traditional clothing and prepare fruits for the elephants. Then you will meet the elephants. There is an opportunity for taking as many pictures as you want. You will walk with them to the river. They love playing in the water, and you can bathe with them. Be ready to become dirty and wet! There will be fruit of the season as well as coffee or tea. Then it’s time to say goodbye to your elephant friends. Take a shower and change back into your clothes. We will drop you at your hotel at around 1730. It is the end of your Tribes, Rivers and Elephants Family Adventure.

End of the program

Day 2: Palong Village – Chiang Mai (B/L)

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Accommodation

Muang Ngoy

Local guesthouse

Standard

Price information for this accommodation class is not available yet.

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Tree House Chiang Dao Homestay + E-co Trek and Sticky Waterfall 2D1N

Guide Included Pickup Included Private Tour

Cost in USD Per Person Based On Private Tour

From

$209

Season/ No of per.	2	3 - 4	5 - 7	8 - 10	Single Supplement
LOW SEASON from 1st January to 31st October, 2026	$357 Book now	$301 Book now	$245 Book now	$209 Book now	$0
HIGH SEASON from 1st November to 31st March, 2028	$437 Book now	$369 Book now	$300 Book now	$256 Book now	$0

Trip notes

Included:

English speaking guide
Transportation by AC minibus
Local Homestay
Two lunches, one dinner and one breakfast
Drinking water during meals
Coffee and tea
Limited medical insurance
Elephant Experience
Use of sheet bag or sleeping bag
Use of Mosquito net
Use of Backpack (on request)
Toilet paper & Soap
Towel
A flashlight is provided in the village

Excluded:

Other drinks except water during meals
Personal expenses
Elephant ride
Tips
Surcharge fees (tour guide, transfer, hotel…) for public holidays like: New Year Period, Christmas Holiday, Lunar New Year…
Compulsory Gala dinners on Dec 24 and 31

Customer Reviews