2 Days only walking in the Doi Inthanon Area

A two-day walking trek in the hills south of Chiang Mai, run by Maewin and Family, whose guides were born in the Mae Win area and walk these paths every week. The route stays in the northern part of Mae Wang National Park, on the border of Doi Inthanon, a less visited corner with Karen villages, rice terraces and a string of waterfalls. It suits people who want a real overnight in the countryside and are fit enough for a full day of walking with some steep climbs.

Pickup from your hotel is between 07:00 and 07:30, then about one and a half hours' drive south with a stop at a local market on the way. You get a walking stick before heading into the hills, and two guides walk with the group, one at the front and one at the back. Day one is the steeper day, with long ups and downs through real jungle to a waterfall where you stop for lunch and a swim, then on to a Karen village in the hills for the night. The guides cook dinner, and guests are welcome to help; the evening is spent around a fire, often with a guitar. Day two starts early for the sunrise and a good breakfast, then a longer but gentler walk through more forest and past more waterfalls, with lunch and a swim at a waterfall before you reach the truck and are driven back to Chiang Mai for about 17:00 to 17:30.

Accommodation is basic: everyone sleeps in one room on floor mattresses, each with its own mosquito net, with a cold shower or a stream to wash in and a simple toilet. Pack light, with a towel, a torch and toilet paper. The terrain is uneven and steep in places and slippery after rain, so shoes with grip matter.