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1 Day Nature Trek: The Abseil Explorer - Special Skills Required
Page content under revision. If you have an urgent enquiry for this programme please contact us on info@track-of-the-tiger.com
PSL 004
Designed especially for those who want a real adventurous exploration of the little visited areas of the forest, this 8km trek starts in the watershed forest of the Mae Lai stream and ascends through wild tea plantations along a pack pony trail formerly used to carry ore out of a long abandoned tin mine on the other side of the mountain. On reaching the mountain pass you climb up to the summit of a small peak before descending back down into the Mae Lai valley, through thick forest, traversing small cliff faces, using knotted ropes and safety lines and rappelling/abseiling down several waterfalls as high as 40 metres, all under expert supervision. A picnic lunch is taken en route, and is supplemented by food collected in the forest. Return to Pang Soong Lodge following an easy trail through the forest and, if there is time, make a short visit to the village to learn a bit more about the Khun Muang way of life.
You will be met at your hotel in the morning by an English speaking guide and a mini-bus. Drive for 45 - 50 minutes northeast of Chiang Mai through the plains and then up through winding mountain roads of Huay Kaew Subdistrict to Ban Mae Lai and Pang Soong Lodge.
At Pang Soong Lodge you will be met by a Khon Muang community forest guide. After a brief introduction to the Pang Song Lodge and its activities, the trip begins with a visit to the spirit shrine and sacred fig tree to learn a bit about the villager’s spirituality regarding nature and the forest.
Starting at the Mae Lai stream walk along the stream passing through coffee and wild tea plantations. Note that the trail at points is quite wide. This trail was once apart of the extensive caravan trail system in Northern Thailand. It was also used until about 20 years ago as the main pack trail for a tin mine now located on the other side of the mountain in Jae Son National Park. As you follow the trail up you will pass from the moist streamside forest to the chestnut forest, and then through abandoned tea plantations before returning to the stream to cross and make the ascent to the ridge. At the top of Sitting Horse Pass you will veer off the trail and head to the summit of a small peak.
At the summit enjoy a picnic lunch of local food amidst a panorama of forested mountains. Note how the village guide makes a small offering to the local forest spirit before eating.
After lunch begin the descent into the Houay Hawm catchment. You will descend down a small rock face by a knotted roped and then make your way down to the first of a series of waterfalls. From here you will follow an all-weather trail to the first of a series of waterfalls from which you will abseil through the waterfall itself to the stream below.
Once you have abseiled down the last waterfall, get a little chewing tea pick-me-up from your guide before heading back down the trail to the Pang Soong Lodge.
Reaching the lodge you will meander among some old orchards learning about some of the different fruits grown in the area as well as learning about rattan and other forest products.
The trip winds down with a visit to the village to learn a bit more about the people who have taken such good care of the forest over the centuries. You will have a chance to see how wild tea is processed, pickled and made into chewing tea.
The English speaking guide will accompany you in the minibus back to your hotel in Chiang Mai.
Prices on request
northern thailand map
Page content under revision. If you have an urgent enquiry for this programme please contact us on info@track-of-the-tiger.com