1 Day Trek (Only Walk) 5 hr - Johnny Boy

This is a walking day with the Johnny Boy team in the hills of the Mae Wang district south west of Chiang Mai. The name says it: only walk. There is no elephant program and no rafting. You spend about five hours on foot on forest and village trails with a local guide from the Karen community that runs the sanctuary, with stops at three waterfalls along the way.

It suits travellers who have already done an elephant day, or who simply want to walk. Expect dirt paths, some climbing, stream crossings in the rainy season and the kind of quiet you do not get on the popular routes near the city. Your guide knows the area and the villages along the way and can explain what grows and who lives there.

Five hours of walking is a proper outing. You need closed shoes with grip, a small backpack with water and sun protection, and in the rainy season a light rain jacket. Pickup from your hotel in Chiang Mai, lunch during the trek and the return transfer are included. The drive to the Karen village where the walk starts takes about two hours each way, so it is a long day out.