Pai River Cruise, Long Necked Tribe And Elephant Riding

General information

DestinationCategory
Mae Hong Son, ThailandSightseeing Tours

Program details

Mingle and interact with Thailand’s most populous minority group, the hill tribe known as the Karens, on this delightful multicultural tour. In Thailand there are about 300.000 Karens altogether. Learn all about these people, their culture and traditions right in the midst of one of their villages.

Climb onto a local truck to drive off towards Ban Nai Soi, a small village inhabited by the Karen tribe. Karen villages are mostly located in the west and in the north of Thailand and they can be subdivided into various different groups. You might recognize the Padauns, or “long-necked” people, from photographs or TV documentaries. The women constrict their necks with many consecutive bronze rings from a very young age. This practice is shrouded in myth: only women born during a full moon wear the rings and it is common belief that if they were to ever take them off they would soon afterwards die. Rich families wear more rings than poorer ones and some women accumulate a breath-taking – literally – amount of 25 rings.

After learning about these people, begin the second part of your trip. Clamber onto the back of an elephant and enjoy an hour-long ramble through the Thai forests, an unparalleled vantage point of the scenario. From atop an elephant, not only do you feel more regal, everything somehow looks more beautiful. And after dismounting the elephant, hop into a boat ride to contemplate the lush scenery surrounding the Pai River. This tour is a true triple-decker of experience.



Meeting/ Pick up point: Major hotel in Mae Hong Son.
Duration: 5 hours approximately.
Start or opening time: 8.30am.
End or closing time: 1.30pm.
Languages: English.
Others: Transportation in an air-conditioned transportation, local English speaking guide, admission fees and lunch (food only) are included.