Neil Aronson Visiting a Hill Tribe Village in Northern Thailand is a great way to experience some true local culture. Sure some have become exploited to tourism and tour groups. So you need to be careful where you visit them. The major hill tribes near Chiang Mai are the Karen and Hmong. These areas in this article are good to visit for them economically, as a large part of their income comes from tourism.
Two areas both north and south of Chiang Mai have several good ones you can easily visit with a tour group or on your own. Stay overnight in one of the many homestays and eat at their local restaurants. Shop their locally made products and learn about their way of life and how they support themselves.
Most are also located in some spectacular mountain scenery. One is Mae Klang Luang in Doi Inthanon National Park, with its popular educational coffee experience at Pati Non Roasting Plant. The other is up above Mae Rim in Mon Jam, about an hours drive north of Chiang Mai.
Two areas that are great for visiting hill tribes communities, not to mention great to visit anyway are Doi Inthanon and Mon Jam. The locals are very friendly and love to have visitors.
Resources
Agoda is the best place to book cheap affordable hotels in Thailand, especially near national parks. They also book flights as well.
Expedia is my favorite place to book flights, hotels, cars, and more. Their group includes Hotels.com and Vrbo for vacation rentals.
Viator is the top choice for activities. Book everything from a waterfall tour to scuba diving, jungle trekking to cooking classes.
12Go is the top transportation source for Asia. From busses to trains to regional flights.
Mae Klang Luang Hill Tribe Village
Located in the beautiful Doi Inthanon National Park. Probably you are visiting the park anyway, so this is an easy way to also visit a hill tribe. And even better Mae Klang Luang is located just off the main route 1009.
Ban Mae Klang Luang became the settlement region of Pga-gan Yaw, a Karenic tribe from Burma. Communities in Ban Mae Klang Luang can be divided into 4 villages, namely Ban Mae Klang Luang, Ban Pha Hmon, Ban Nong Lom, and Ban Ang Ka Noi. Each village comprises around 60-80 families. One of the distinctive activities to do when visiting here is to appreciate awe-inspiring views of terraced paddy fields.
Many visitors to Northern Thailand are looking for a Hill Tribe Village to visit and experience a real local culture, and discover how they live.
Mae Klang Luang Village (บ้านแม่กลางหลวง) is a picturesque Karen hill tribe village located in Doi Inthanon National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand. It is famous for its lush rice terraces, homestays, and locally grown coffee. The village offers a serene escape into nature with breathtaking mountain views. And it is easy to get to if you are visiting the park. Keep in mind this is not a Long-Neck village.
The Village is easy to get to just off route 1009 past Wachirathan Waterfall. Google Maps will take you there. A large amount of rice is grown, of course, but this village is well known for its coffee crop. The also graze water buffalo and grow strawberries. As part of a royal project research program, there is even a Siberian Sturgeon aquaculture facility.
The village has several great options for staying overnight in homestays. The owners are locals are super friendly as we spoke to many of them. Stay in a small house or a Glamping Tent. Prices are great, and this private house was only 1,400 baht (about $30).
One of the most popular attractions in the village is Pati Non Roasting Plant and Coffee Shop. Ironically Belle is friends with the owners. Many tours come here just to visit this coffee and tea plantation. We went on a slow weekday and this place was still full with about 60 tourists from tour vans.
What they do well and makes them popular is they are very educational. They give a short lesson to everyone that comes about how the coffee and tea is make and processed, and on the different types. And they give you a sample of three teas and one coffee. Of course they have a good sized gift shop where you can buy their products and other hand made products from the village such as candles.
The village is a good place to buy local products, walk around, and enjoy the views. There are several good local restaurants as well, including one Belle’s cousin owns by the Mae Klang River.
There are a number of natural trails, for example Doi Hua Sua route, Huay Nam Khun bird-watching route, and Pha Siew waterfall route. These trekking trails are ideal for naturalists seeking for peaceful moments or getting to know villagers’ way of life. Keep in mind some trails require a Karen tribe guide, and a small fee. Nearby is also one of the most famous hiking trails in Doi Inthanon, Pha Dok Siao Nature Trail.
Mon Jam
Mon Jam (also called Mon Cham) is a mountaintop farming community with panoramic views, accommodations, hilltribe shops & small local restaurants. It is somewhat of a side trip off the Samoeng loop route, but worth the visit. Beautiful views, local shops and local food. It is a well know area and considered up top for best day trips among Thai people, and a great day trip when visiting Chiang Mai.
Mon Cham is located on a hill ridge in the area of Mong Nong Hoi village, Mae Rim. It is 40 minutes far from the central of Chiang Mai. The area was previously a desolate forest and was named as Kiu Seau. Later, villagers came over the area and turned it into an Opium farm. But, finally, the Royal Project took over and changed the area into Nong Hoi Royal Project. The main tribes here are Hmong and Karen.
The weather up here in Mon Cham gets chilly all year around and you will get to wake up to an early morning fog. Besides, there are many view points up here where you can spot the spectacular view of green mountains. Also, on the top of the mountain on the east, there is a view point called ‘Mon Long’ which is a perfect spot for seeing the whole area of the Royal Project.
If you turn around to the southern part of the area, you will see Mong Nong Hoi village and the development center of Royal Project which is surrounded by vegetable bed for the purpose of researching such as Artichokes, Lemon thyme, Mint, Camomile, Rosemary, Plum, Seedless Grapes, Strawberry, Red Olive, Tomato, Doi Kham.
The most spectacular part of Mon Jam are the views, which is why most people make the drive up. Another popular thing to do is go ‘Glamping’, at one of the dozens of luxurious tent camps. More info below.
Beside Glamping, there are lots of activities to do. Shopping for locally made products, hiking, restaurants and coffee shops, hiking, and photography. Another big attraction is riding Go Carts, and if fact annually there is a World Formula Hmong Racing event in January.
Shopping
Locally made products line the streets on the way up and in a large parking lot, giving you the opportunity to support the hill tribes and get some gifts.
Have A Coffee
You can have a cappuccino at one of the many coffee shops. In fact, I was a little surprised how many there were. At the summit there are two really great ones with panoramic views of the valley below. YODDOI is this picture. A short distance away by the Sky Walk flower fields is another nice coffee shop with great views as well.
Visit Flower Gardens 🌸
Colorful seasonal flowers bloom year-round, making it a great spot for photography. At the top main tourist area are several flower gardens with walkways to explore and take your selfies. There is a small fee to enter.
Adventure Activities 🚴
Next to YODDOI Coffee you can take a ride down the dirt hill on a Go-Kart. As I said they even have races in January. ATV riding, trekking, and zip-lining are also available for thrill-seekers. Before you get all the way up to Mon Jam, there is a fun place for the entire family.
Pongyang Jungle Coaster Zipline Camp & Resort (Mae Rim/Mon Jam) is an extremely popular place for kids and families. Getting there is a little bit of a drive however as it is located on the mountain on the way up to Mon Jam. Built for kids and families, enjoy zipline courses, small roller coasters, jungle courses, and lots of other activities. My nephews loved this place when they were younger. Stay overnight with different room options, and are available to book on Agoda.
Top Places To Stay
You can definitely go to Mon Jam on a day trip from Chiang Mai, however I would recommend staying overnight to really explore the area. Mon Jam has famous for its Glamping, while down below in Mae Rim we love to stay overnight here. If you stay in Mae Rim you will need transportation. Here are our top choices. We always use either Agoda or Expedia.
Phu Morinn Cafe & Camping Very popular unique ‘glamping’ experience. A recently renovated homestay, Phu Morinn Cafe &Camping Monjam offers accommodation in Mon Jam. Book on Expedia.
Hmong Hilltribe Lodge Beautiful setting in the hilltribe village. A great opportunity to stay and learn the culture. Nestled among the mountains and rice fields of Mae Rim, Hmong Hilltribe Lodge offers rooms, spread throughout 10 main houses. Book on Expedia.
MonLannaHomesty offers accommodations in Mon Jam, 6.7 miles from Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden.
Phu Fahsai Homestay features a garden, terrace and of course amazing views. The resort features a hot tub, room service and free WiFi. Book on Expedia.
Mae Rim Valley is also a great area to stay in and visit Mon Jam during the day. Here are some of our favorite options.
There are a couple exceptions if you want ultra luxury in the Mae Rim Valley. The Four Seasons Resort is located right in this area. Book on Expedia.
Cool Downs Resort is a place we just stayed at recently. It is a small boutique hotel just off route 1296 and in a perfect location to access all the attractions. The staff, pool, rooms, and breakfast were great. I highly recommend staying here. Book on Expedia.
We hope you get to visit one of these areas and really experience Thai culture. For more on nearby Doi Suthep-Pui National Park read here.
