Activities
We have a wide range of activities available at the Spicy Villa: culturally rich visits with Karen hill tribes in their village, cycling, mountain biking, bamboo rafting down the river, tubing and elephant trekking with local elephant trainers. The mountains outside Chiang Mai are covered in trails and studded with many gorgeous waterfalls. The Spicy Villas are the perfect place to explore all that northern Thailand has to offer.
Why with us?
* We cater to small and private groups
* Local staff with local knowledge
* All proceeds benefit the local community, with a percentage allotted to community development projects
* An escape from the big tourist crowds
* Environmentally friendly operations
* Reasonably priced activities and good time guaranteed
Trip code: TJEE | Area: Mae Wang | Fitness level: * Day 1: Day 2: Prices For 2 Days: 4pers $140/person, 3pers $160/person, 2pers $180/person, 1pers $270 Included: English speaking guide, 1 breakfast, 1 dinner and 2 lunches, elephant course, bamboo rafting, river tubing and 1 nights’ accommodation. Click here to close2 Day Elephant Experience
Overview: this special trip is perfect for elephant lovers! You will spend time studying basic elephant training, their way of life, and how to ride them bareback like the locals. You will get to know the elephant men (mahout) who train and care for the animals. You will learn how to cook northern Thai food, explore the local villages, shower in a waterfall and float down the river in tubes and on handmade bamboo rafts. Accommodation at the Spicy Villas included.
You’ll be picked up at 8.30am from either your accommodation or a convenient place, such as the airport or train station. We’ll make a short stop at a local market for an opportunity to buy some supplies for your stay, including cooking ingredients for the cookery class. You’ll then be taken up into the hills and dropped off at a hiking starting point. You’ll have the chance to go on a 3 hour trek through the jungle, which includes a stop at a waterfall and a hill tribe village along the way.
In the afternoon we’ll drive you down to the elephant camp for the first class. The elephant trainers (mahouts) and your guide will give you an introduction which includes information about how to communicate with the elephants and how to ride them correctly. You’ll get to ride the elephants bareback like the trainers and ride in the bush for an hour. During your walk you’ll get to see what the elephants like to eat and learn about herbal medicines. The class finishes with a bath in the river with the elephants.
At the end of the class you’ll be taken back to your bungalow for the evening where you’ll partake in your first Thai cooking class.
You may have to get up early so you can get to the elephant camp to collect them from the bush. For your second lesson you’ll get to ride your elephant through the bush on your own, with the mahout walking along beside you. After an hour long ride you’ll take the elephants down to the river to bathe them.
Once you get back to the bungalows you’ll get to enjoy your breakfast and have a chance to relax. At midday we’ll take you to the river for the bamboo rafting followed by a more exhilarating tubing experience. You’ll be taken to a local restaurant for a well deserved lunch, after which you’ll be taken back to the city.
We are able to tailor your trip to meet your own requirements, for example if you’d like to spend more time with the elephants please let us know.
Excluded: Drinks
What to bring: swimwear, bug spray, shorts to cover the top of your legs because elephants have quite spiky hair on their heads!
A two day trip that combines all the highlights of Northern Thailand- great walking and cycling, majestic elephants and friendly locals. It’s a high energy, action packed option for guests. Area: Mae Wang | Fitness level *** Day 1: Day 2: Prices: 4 pers $120 pp | 3 pers $130 pp | 2 pers $150 pp | 1 per $250 Includes: accommodation (eco-lodge), local guide, transport from Chiang Mai, food and water, National Park tickets, cycling tour, elephant riding, bamboo rafting, cooking demonstration Click here to close Our three day trip offers the basics: trekking, bamboo rafting and time with the elephants. However, this trip offers guests a more in-depth experience. Guests are treated to trekking to a working village, an educational experience with the elephants, teaching in the local school and hands-on in the field learning about Lanna agriculture. Area: Mae Wang | Fitness level: *** Day 1: Day 2: Day 3: Prices: 4 pers $150 pp | 3 pers $220 pp | 2 pers $250 pp | 1 per $275 Includes: accommodation (eco-lodge), local guide, food and water, National Park tickets, cycling tour, elephant riding, bamboo rafting, cooking demonstration Click here to close A five day trip that takes in the best of northern Thailand, from bustling Chiang Mai to the misty heights of hill tribe homestay. This trip suits people who really want to get to experience Lanna culture and northern life. On this adventure guests interact and engage with the Thai minorities. Guests can participate in daily activities of the hill tribes, such as making a dry leaf roof, cooking Lanna food or offering alms to monks. Guests also get a chance to cycle through the countryside and learn how to look after the majestic elephant. Area: Mae Wang | Fitness level *** Day 2: Day 3: Day 4: Day 5: Prices: 4 pers $250 pp | 3 pers $300 pp | 2 pers $350 pp | 1 pers $450 Includes: accommodation (eco-lodge), local guide, food and water, National Park tickets, cycling tour, elephant riding, bamboo rafting, cooking demonstration, village visit, temple experience, farming experience: Click here to close Perfect for any couple desiring to celebrate a wedding ceremony with traditional Karen customs, festivities and dress. Trip Summary Day 1 – After being picked up from accommodation in Chiang Mai, guests will go to the local market for supplies. We continue our drive for about 30 minutes to the local elephant camp. The bride will wait here in the bush while the groom will come down to meet them riding bare back on an elephant. Proposal for marriage will take place and now together the couple will ride the elephant down to river, where they will enjoy bathing and riding back to elephant camp. After the proposal we drive to the local Karen village to stay overnight with host families. The couple stay separately. This evening you will learn about the culture and customs of a tradional Karen wedding ceremony as well as an explanation of festivities that will take place the next day. Day 2 – In the morning you will prepare for the wedding ceremony. Your host will help dress you in traditional Karen wedding clothing. After preparation and dress, the bride’s parade will start from the hosts home coming through the village. The main ceremony takes place at groom’s house where you will exchange the traditional elephant hair rings. Throughout the day the couple will be visited by locals from this and nearby villages, receiving blessing and gifts starting with the senior villagers first. In the afternoon, the bride and groom will have a few hours for rest and relaxing followed by the final ceremony that takes place in the evening. During this time the bride will change dress in the traditional way, symbolizing that she is now married. More blessings will follow and the couple will share a meal together with the villagers. Throughout the evening you will also be entertained by local children from the village with singing and dancing. Price: $1100 pp Click here to close Perfect for the customer looking to learn about the domestic customs… Trip Summary Day 1 -After being picked up from accommodation in Chiang Mai, guests will go to the local market for supplies before continuing the drive to the bungalows. Lunch and a hands on cooking class precedes the first session of weaving with a local weaver from the Karen Village. You will learn the basics of the loom and as well as begin to learn the weaving process through hands on experience. Day 2 – Enjoy breakfast at the bungalows followed by your second weaving session. You will be finishing your item that you will take with you. After the session you will visit the local Karen village and local waterfall. We drive back to the city in the late afternoon. Includes English speaking guide, private bungalow accommodation, transportation, all food except drinks, all activities and excursions, what you made (like a scarf for example) Prices: 4 pers $60 pp | 3 pers $80 pp | 2 pers $100 pp | 1 per $190 Optional activities on the way back: Elephants, rafting and tubing. Click here to close Click here to closeHands-On Culture
2-Day Lanna Adventure
Guests will be picked up from accommodation and driven to the cycle drop-off point in the countryside surrounding Chiang Mai. The track leads guests along small village roads and past fruit farms, rice paddies, seasonal crops and waterways. Depending on the season, guests may even get the chance to stop and help with planting or harvesting. Two hours in, guests will stop for a lunch break before being driven to the trek start point. A walk up to the Karen village offers opportunities to interact with the people of the local hill tribe. On the way back to the Spicy Villas, guests are led to the local waterfall. The day is rounded up with a Thai cooking demonstration back at the bungalows.
After breakfast, guests are taken to the local school in the village and have the chance to give back to the community and try being a teacher. A leisurely afternoon is spent before heading to the elephant camp to bathe and ride the elephants while learning about the lives of the elephant men (mahout). Guests will then be treated to bamboo rafting down the river. At the end of the day, guests are brought back to Chiang Mai city.
3-Day Lanna Adventure
Guests will be picked up from accommodation and driven to the cycle drop-off point in the countryside surrounding Chiang Mai. The track leads guests along small village roads and past fruit farms, rice paddies, seasonal crops and waterways. Depending on the season, guests may even get the chance to stop and help with planting or harvesting. Two hours in, guests will stop for a lunch break. More cycling leads guests to a local waterfall for a swim and some relaxation. Guests are then driven to the Spicy Villas to unwind and learn some authentic Thai cooking.
After an early start and a hearty breakfast, guests head down to the paddy fields to learn about traditional Thai agricultural practices which have been in use for centuries. Get up close and personal with the buffaloes and learn about rice farming. After lunch, guests will head out for a trek to a waterfall and the local Karen village, where there will be an overnight homestay experience, during which guests can learn about this ethnic minority’s way of life.
After breakfast guests go to the local school for the morning and then trek back to the Spicy Villa. Later in the afternoon guests go to the elephant farm and learn from the elephant men (mahout) before riding and bathing the elephants. The day is finished with some bamboo rafting before heading back to the city.
5-Day Lanna Lover
Day 1:
Guests will be picked up from accommodation and driven to the cycle drop-off point in the countryside surrounding Chiang Mai. The track leads guests along small village roads and past fruit farms, rice paddies, seasonal crops and waterways. Depending on the season, guests may even get the chance to stop and help with planting or harvesting. Two hours in, guests will stop for a lunch break. More cycling leads guests to a local waterfall for a swim and some relaxation. Guests are then driven to the Spicy Villas to unwind and learn some authentic Thai cooking.
After an early start and a hearty breakfast, guests head down to the paddy fields to learn about traditional Thai agricultural practices which have been in use for centuries. Get up close and personal with the buffaloes and learn about rice farming. After lunch, guests will head out for a trek to a waterfall and the local Karen village, where there will be an overnight homestay experience, during which guests can learn about this ethnic minority’s way of life.
After breakfast guests go to the local school for the morning and then trek back to the Spicy Villa. Later in the afternoon guests go to the elephant farm and learn from the elephant men (mahout) before riding and bathing the elephants. The day is finished with some bamboo rafting before heading back to the bungalows for some cooking demonstrations.
Guests head back out to the paddy field to prepare it for seed plantation. In the afternoon, guests learn how to gather leaves and weave them into a traditional Lanna-style roof. Guests also learn about the versatility of bamboo as they create dinner and dishes with it.
Early morning, guests cook up a Thai breakfast and head out to the local temple to give alms and make merit. Following there’s an opportunity to give back to the local community and go to the mixed minority school, where the children learn skills crucial to their futures. Later in the afternoon guests make their way down the river on bamboo rafts before heading back to the city.
2-Day Karen Wedding Experience
2-Day Karen Weaving Experience
The price is dependent upon the season, size of group and accommodation option. If you are interested, please contact us and we will provide further information. Area: Spicy Villa Bungalow, Mae Wang | Fitness level *2 Days 1 Night Bungalow Stay Cooking Class
In this cooking class you will learn to prepare Thai and northern Thai dishes.
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Yoga and Meditation Retreats
Spicy Villa Eco-Lodges are a perfect setting for yoga and meditation retreats!
For more information about the retreats we offer, visit retreat.chiangmaiecolodges.com.
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