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The first stage of our journey will leave from Chiang Mai and finish 49k and 3000m+ further in the Karen village of Ban Mae Kha.
The route will pass through the pilgrim trail that goes up through jungle to the magnificent temple of Wat Palaad and Thai Buddhist sacred site of Wat Doi Suthep. With a good weather the view on the Chiang Mai valley is beautiful. The route then enters the jungle where a more dense and confined atmosphere will contrast with the bustle of the busy Wat Doi Suthep. We will reach the 1st tribe village of our race, the Hmong village of Khun Chiang, before starting a very steep climb to Doi Pui summit, the highest mountain near Chiang Mai (1668m). After crossing the ridge also called “Buddha footprint” due to its shape, the track will go down into the valley of orchids and elephants, Mae Sa.
Leaving Mae Sa Valley, we will take a path that crosses a wild tropical forest then a humid jungle. It will be very dense on some parts and the atmosphere will be amazing while running alongside a small stream. Getting closer to the wonderful Karen village of Mae Khan, our stopover, we will discover a series of small valleys surrounded by rice paddies and mountains. We’ll spend the night there before attacking the second day.
- Montathan waterfalls on the way to Wat Doi Suthep
- Crossing rivers and jungles
- During rainy season the rivers are full and the jungle saturated by humidity
- View on Wat Doi Suthep and Chiang Mai at the back
- Hmong Kids at Wat Doi Suthep
- Arriving in Hmong village Chan Khang
- Look down the valley from oi Pui
- Looking back at Doi Pui
- Rice paddies near Mae Khi
- Walking in deep jungle before reaching Mae Khi
- Rice paddies before arriving in Mae Kha
- Way down to Mae Kha
- Rice fields
- Here we are in Mae Kha
- Mae Kha traditionnal Karen village