Hidden Jungle Trek in Mae Kampong
Price
Overview
Embark on a Scenic Forest Adventure in Mae Kampong
Venture into the heart of the forest, high in the mountains east of Chiang Mai, on a captivating day trip to Mae Kampong. Nestled amidst towering peaks, this picturesque village offers a unique opportunity to connect with the locals, explore the lush surroundings, and discover the wonders of the natural world—plus a chance to spot gibbons in the wild!
Tour Overview:
After we pick you up from Chiang Mai city, we’ll drive for about an hour east, towards the mountainous region bordering Lampang Province, to reach Mae Kampong, located at 1,300 meters (4,200 feet) above sea level. Before arriving in the village, we’ll embark on a short hike in search of the resident gibbons. These majestic creatures were reintroduced into the wild through a rehabilitation project and now reside in a secluded area known only to a few.
A portion of the tour price will be donated to the caretakers who provide food for the gibbons during times of scarcity, as well as ensure their safety and protection. This contribution also supports the livelihood of the caretakers and their families.
We’ll meet with a local caretaker, who will guide us to the best viewing area, where you’ll learn about the gibbons’ fascinating lives in the Chiang Mai forest. Please note that these are wild animals, free to roam the forest, so sightings aren’t guaranteed. The schedule may be adjusted based on the caretaker’s knowledge of their whereabouts for the best opportunity to see them.
Next, we’ll continue our journey to Mae Kampong, where you can stroll through the charming village streets before visiting the tranquil local waterfall. Following a coffee break with panoramic views of the village, we’ll head into the forest for a peaceful 3-kilometer (1.8-mile) hike along a secluded trail that’s off the beaten path and only known to locals.
Along the way, we’ll encounter one of the oldest trees in Chiang Mai, and a local guide will share insights about the flora and fauna surrounding us. You’ll have the chance to engage all your senses as you learn about the various plant species, and even sample some of the local flavors and scents along the trail.
After our forest adventure, we’ll enjoy a delicious local lunch before heading back to Chiang Mai.
Is this activity suitable during the rainy season?
Absolutely! The Hidden Jungle Trekking tour is a great experience year-round. During the rainy season, the jungle comes alive with vibrant colors, and the cooler mountain air offers a refreshing escape from the city heat. The waterfall is especially stunning at this time, thanks to the increased water flow. Just be sure to bring a rain jacket in case of a sudden downpour.
Included/Excluded
- Chance to see gibbons in the wild!
- Air conditioned transportation
- Pick up and drop off from your accommodation
- Lunch and snacks
- Gibbon caretaker fee and local guide
- Village fee to support local projects
- Guide gratuity
- Soft drinks, coffee / tea, smoothies
Tour Plan
08.00-8.30am – Hotel pick up
Pick up from your hotel and head to the village.
09.40am - Arrive in the village
Meet the local guide and wander through the village and forest learning about the people, culture and flora and fauna along the way.
11am - Coffee break
Enjoy a complimentary coffee in a cafe overlooking the village.
11.30am - Visit waterfall
Walk to a scenic waterfall stop for a rest / photos.
13.00 - 14.00pm - Enjoy a local lunch
Head back to the village and enjoy lunch in a local restaurant, plenty of vegetarian options and vegan options are available!
14.30pm - Visit gibbon area
We'll head to the area where gibbons live and look for the incredible animals in the jungle canopy. If the caretaker hears the gibbons at any point during the day we may adjust the schedule so not to miss the opportunity to see them. Please note they are wild and free to go where they like so don't book this tour expecting to see them!
15.00pm - Head back to city
We'll drive back to the city and drop you off at your accommodation and conclude the tour.
Additional Information
What to Expect
Mae Kampong has become a must see destination for many visitors to Chiang Mai and certain times of the year can be very busy. Despite this, it retains a wonderful atmosphere and charm with plenty to do and see. The vast majority of people will only stop in the village therefore we'll have the hiking trails to ourselves more often than not. The hike is very gentle so only moderate fitness is required, the trail is steep and uneven in places so sturdy shoes are recommended. We'll stop at plenty of places along the way to learn about the various uses of the plants and you'll have the chance to smell, touch and taste some of the plants.
The gibbons were once cared for by a local zipline operator which has since closed leaving no financial support. For every booking, we'll provide some food for the gibbons and funds to help the caretakers continue to protect these amazing animals. Please note, as with any wild animal, sightings are not guaranteed.
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19 Comments
5Sehr schöner Ausflug in eine nicht zu touristische Gegend und es wurde nicht versucht, einem irgendetwas zu verkaufen, wie bei vielen anderen Touren. Gibbons haben wir gleich zu Beginn gesehen. Guides sehr gut, sehr informiert und super freundlich! 🙂
5Besonders toll war, als die Affen über uns angeflogen kamen. Auch die vielen Erklärungen zur heimischen Pflanzenwelt haben mich sehr beeindruckt. Unsere Guides waren lustig und zuvorkommend. Alles in allem hatten wir ein tolles Erlebnis!
5We really enjoyed our trip today to Mae Kampong. Nee and Golf were great guides and hosts and made us feel very welcome! We saw the gibbons and enjoyed learning about different plants. When our son did not feel so well they kindly adjusted the programme a bit so he could still participate. It was great to get out of the city and be in nature with a bit cooler temperatures!
5journée agréable, on a pu voir les gibbons dans la nature. se balader et découvrir plantes et fruits au passage. voir une petite cacasde et découvrir le village de mae kampong. les guides étaient géniaux et avaient un super énergie et bonne humeur. je recommande mais c’est une balade je dirais pqs une rando
5It was the best tour ever! By far the best day of my Thailand trip! Everyone who is staying in Chiang Mai must put this on top of their list. The tour guides are amazing, enthusiastic, and so knowledgeable. Learned a lot about gibbons and jungle plants. Got to taste the best coffee, freshest fruits and healing plants. The tour guides went out of their way to personally drop me off at the station so I could make my train back to Bangkok in time. I was lucky enough to see the Gibbons. And I will tell you, you can get so close. It was so cool! But even if you fall out of luck and do not see the Gibbons, the walk is already worth the money. You get to see beautiful waterfalls, and cute villages with stunning views.
5Escursione memorabile, la guida TK meravigliosa ci ha spiegato tante cose della cultura Thai. Driver ottimo soprattutto per affrontare il pezzo finale di strada che prevede un po’ di curve. Paesaggio meraviglioso, villaggio immersi nella giungla stupendo, abbiamo avuto la fortuna di trovare i gibboni (ci hanno avvisato mentre stavamo facendo trekking, quindi abbiamo fatto un piccolo cambio di programma e non abbiamo visto l’alberi centenario). Vedere i gibboni è stato superlativo, la velocità con cui si spostano tra gli alberi è pazzesca. Il villaggio di legno e i paesi prima sono integrati nel contesto neutrale e anche questa è stata un’esperienza memorabile. La guida locale (di cui non ricordo il nome), è stata gentilissima ci ha fatto scoprire tanta flora locale, erbe che usano per cucinare, cannella, etc… abbiamo visitato anche una bella cascata. Unico neo se lo devo trovare i tempi un pochino dilatati, siamo arrivati circa un’oretta dopo l’orario previsto.
5This was our best tour! The guides were very knowledgeable about the forest, and equally informative. We enjoyed the identifying of flora and foraging aspects, including the use of citronella as mosquito repellent. It all felt very relaxed, authentic and well orchestrated throughout. The driving was smooth, and we were very well catered for with a great lunch, drinks and water provided. It was one of the more expensive tours, but definitely worth it. The small group atmosphere was great. The gibbons never appeared, but that did not diminish from the experience, even though I would’ve preferred to be hiking around instead of waiting for them in one location. There are some very impressive trees in the forest – a tropical jungle in its natural state. I might not recommend this tour if you’re in a wheelchair, due to the ground conditions, but I dare say if you did show up, one of the guides would happily carry you around the forest on their back, without any issue at all. A great trip
5fantastisk tur❤️ det var en kæmpe oplevelse at se gibbonerne og guiden TK var meget sød, behagelig og informativ. turen får mine varmeste anbefalinger 🤗
5Our trek was nothing short of amazing! From start to finish, the experience was well-organised, insightful, and truly immersive. TK was a fantastic guide—knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about sharing the beauty of the area. We were joined by a local guide who taught us about the fascinating local flora, adding depth to our understanding of the Thailand environment. Our lunch was at a café with stunning views of the valley. Delicious food paired with a serene atmosphere. To top off the day, we were incredibly lucky to spot gibbons in the wild, a magical and unforgettable experience! If you’re looking for an authentic and well-guided adventure in Thailand, I can’t recommend this tour enough. Huge thanks to TK for making it so special!
5The friendly, professional, and informative guide. The diversity of the experience. The social and environmental mission of the whole experience. All were wonderful. Thank you!
5super Ausflug in einer kleinen Gruppe. Top Guide, gutes Englisch, und hat sich echt viel Mühe gegeben, damit es uns gefällt. Es wurden uns allerlei Kräuter, Bäume, Blüten…erklärt sehr spannend. Vielen Dank, werde ich auf jeden Fall weiterempfehlen
5Our guide was great-had good English so could be easily understood, was enthusiastic and helpful. I was very excited to see the gibbons and learn about all the plants and their medicinal purposes on route.
5I was so impressed with this brilliant tour! TK was a fantastic main guide – so warm, charismatic and funny. I also really appreciated our other guides – our driver Mr Boon, our local guide and the caretaker. I think it shows how much emphasis this company put into boosting the local economy, and that felt really nice to contribute to. I loved every part of this day, especially seeing the gibbons!
5Nice walking and gibbons – all arranged in a confortable scenario. We travelled with 8 years old child and it was manageable for him too. Would definitely reccomend.
5One of the best days EVER! From the puntucal pick up with the charming driver and great transport, to the great group I was with (I know that was luck, but they were awesome). Then our guide, as well as being a beautiful and fun person was so knowledgeable about plants as well as our local guide. Then there was the gibbons and their caretaker. Oh my goodness – mind blowing! Seeing them shining through the trees, in the wild was such a highlight. Thank you everyone 🤩
5Hello
My boyfriend and I came on this amazing tour with the incredible Suwanus back in May and I am currently in Mae Kampong with my sister. I am just wondering if you are doing this tour tomorrow and whether we could join for the gibbons and the trek and how much this would cost 🙂
Kind regards
Leanne
5Golf is very nice, and his driving skills are also great~ During the itinerary, we will be accompanied by a local villager, and we have tried various local edible leaves, fruits or other herbs on the way. During the itinerary, I also learned about the changes in the lives of the local villagers, and tourists can help the local villagers live a better life. 10% of our travel expenses will be used to help gibbon, which is also a great thing.
5This was the best Airbnb experience I have done. Our guide made personalizations and accommodations for our group which were fabulous. Our guide was lovely and after a day of telling stories and laughing together we felt like old friends. It was a really wonderful day and I felt like I got a little window on a special part of the world. Our host had a good personal relationship with the locals which made our visit exceptional. Oh, and we also were gifted wonderful photos of our day!
5Wonderful day in the jungle around Mae Kampong village! We were lucky enough to see gibbons and hiked along a stunning trail with no other people around. The village was beautiful and we had some coffee, snacks and an amazing lunch to cap off a brilliant day. Highly recommended.