ECOTOURISM

Ecotourism - Introduction.
Overview of the Pang Soong Nature Trails Product.
A map of the trails
The tour options.
What to wear, and bring with you.
The pricing.
What is included in the price.
What is not included in the price.
Outline descriptions of the trails.
Detailed description – Trail 1.
Detailed description – Trail 2.
Detailed description – Trail 3.
Detailed description – Trail 4.
Detailed description – Trail 5.
Detailed description – Trail 6.
Make a booking.

Ecotourism - Introduction.

Overview of the Pang Soong Nature Trails Product

The Pang Soong Nature Trail is our pilot project – a community based ecotourism attraction, owned and operated by the villagers of Ban Mae Lai, and promoted by Track of the Tiger T.R.D. the private sector JV development partner. 

 

There are 5 additional ‘jungle trails’ in the immediate area, that have been surveyed and marked out at 25m intervals, and fitted with safety features (access ropes where needed), and there are several more trails already surveyed, but as yet unmarked, or with ‘safe access’ features installed, and they will be brought on line over the next 12 months. 

 

Beyond that, the entire mountain range bisects the Chiang Mai and Lampang valleys in a northeast to southwest direction and runs for at least 100 kms.,in length, with peaks up to 2’000 m.a.s.l. and represents a virtually unexplored ecotourism playground – with numerous valleys, caves, waterfalls and cliff faces that even the local have yet to explore.

 

A nature trail guide book, tree, bird, animal and insect lists for the immediate area is available to visitors. And some 300 tree species have been identified and tagged for cross reference. 

Studies of the biodiversity are underway (supported by the VWB Initiative), and detailed guides for each trail are being written to support the outline descriptions provided below. 

 

 

A map of the trails.

The Tour Options.

0800 hrs. Depart your hotel in the city accompanied by an English speaking guide and travel northeast through the fertile plains of the Chiang Mai valley, to Ban Huay Kaew, Mae On district, at the base of the mountains that form a protective ring around Chiang Mai, and in this direction, separate the city from Lampang to the south.

Departing the valley floor which is at an elevation of approximately 350 m.a.s.l. you ascend a steep winding hard surfaced road along the banks of the Mae Lai stream for a distance of 10 kms., traveling through isolated villages interspersed with weekend mountain retreats owned by the wealthy.

You pass one of His Majesty’s Royal Project’s that specializes in coffee and dragon fruit, before turning north, off on a smaller hard surfaced road leading up the Mae Lai valley.

You continue to climb, noticing the change in type and thickness of forest cover as you go.

After 6km you reach the village of Ban Mae Lai, and turn off into the Pang Soong Lodge, Outdoor Education and Research Centre – at 1’000 m.a.s.l. – some 50kms, 60 minutes drive, and at 700 metres above the Chiang Mai valley. 

0900 hrs. You meet your local community forest guide, are briefed on the trail or trails that you have selected to follow, and on general safety, and are then provided with a walking stick, a water bottle top up, and the chance to go to the toilet before you head out – you set off at app. 0930 hrs., along the trail(s) you have chosen to walk.

Unless otherwise arranged, you will be provided with a picnic box lunch, and the local guide will prepare ‘tea’ (using water boiled in bamboo) and a few forest food delicacies - to accompany your otherwise standard meal.

Onyour  return to Pang Soong Lodge, Outdoor Education and Research Centre, you are offered refreshments from the bar/snack shop, (at your own expense) and access to the bathrooms and showers if you so wish.

 

Depending on the time available to you, you may wish to make a number of stops on the return leg to the city, and our guide will accommodate your wishes as best he can, subject to time and access. The options are as follows: 

Visit the village of Ban Mae Lai and see how Chaa Mieng is made, (depending on the season) and how the villagers live.

Visit one of the schools we support in the Ban Huay Kaew area (depending on the day and time).

Soothe your feet – or your entire body – in one of the hot springs at the base of the hills (inexpensive and at guests direct cost).

Stop and sight see – at anything that takes your interest on the route back to the city. 

Your tour ends with a return to your accommodation in the city.

What to wear or bring with you. 

You will be in the jungle, so there are insects around and a small number of them bite or sting. There are also various plants that when brushed against may irritate the skin. At certain times of the year, there are leeches. 

 

None of these things present a problem if you dress for the environment that you will be in. You need to be fully covered - lightweight (cotton) but strong, long pants and long sleeved shirts are the best option, with either socks that can be rolled up over the bottom of your pants, or leggings (available in Chiang Mai).

 

Note* Lightweight cotton flight suit style one piece outfits are a good option, they can be made with elasticized cuffs, and legs, and a close fitting collar. They also come with numerous pockets in which you can store stuff you want quick access to.

 

Shoes should be either boots or running shoes, and expect to travel through water on the jungle trails (but not on trail number 1 which has a concrete pathway). 

 

A sunhat is optional, most trails have a lot of shade cover, light cotton gloves are optional, and we provide walking sticks – which minimize the need for you to grab hold of things to keep your balance. 

 

A daypack is worthwhile carrying, with equipment that needs protection from water carried in zip lock plastic bags, and a refillable water bottle is essential.

 

The Pricing:

Per person In Thai Baht – valid until October 31^st 2008

No of pax	2 pax	3 pax	4 pax	5 pax	6 pax	7 pax	8 pax
Baht	3'773	2'981	2'621	2'405	2'261	2'158	2'081

 

Pricing includes:

All transport as specified in the itinerary.
English speaking guide fee.
Local community forest guide fee.
Trail access fee.
Lunch box and tea.
Water – decanted at the start of the trail.
Access to the main trail guide book (tree, bird, animal insect lists etc.)
Use of walking sticks.
A written trail guide (where they have been completed for the trail you have chosen).
Basic Thai tour accident insurance cover.

Pricing does not include:

Refreshments purchased from the Lodge.
Access to hot springs or other attractions on the return trip to the city.
Meals other than those specified in the itinerary.
Donations to the VWB Initiative fund – (optional and preferred to the tipping of individual staff members.)

Outline descriptions.

Trail 1 – The Main Trail – Easy/Moderate – 2-3 hrs. – 5-6 km. roundtrip.

Trail 2 – The Blue Trail (short) – Easy/Moderate – 3-4 hrs. – 7 km.

Trail 3 – The Blue Trail (long) – Easy/Moderate – 5-6 hrs. – 11.5 km.

Trail 4 – The Red Trail (short) – Difficult – 2.5-3 hrs. – 5 km.

Trail 5 – The Red Trail (long) – Difficult – 7 hrs. – 13 km.

Trail 6 – The Green Trail – Very Difficult – 8-9 hrs. – 10 km.

Detailed descriptions. 

1. The Main Pang Soong Nature Trail (short)

Estimated time:         2-3 hours

Distance:                    5-6km round trip.

Difficulty:                   Easy/ Medium

The main Pang Soong Nature Trail – a paved walkway along the Mae Lai stream and one of its tributaries, that extends from the Pang Soong Lodge, Outdoor Education & Research Centre, at 1’000 m.a.s.l. for 4kms through excellent forest and stunning scenery, over and around some 17 waterfalls as it climbs up to a point some 1’500 m.a.s.l. up into the mountains, and connects to other trails.

 

Leaving Pang Soong Lodge you take a *concreted path that follows the Mae Lai stream upwards through Chaa Mieng (fermeted tea) plantations, and through the more recent addition to the area – coffee plantations.

 

Note* This section of the concrete path was put in place by the local council in order to improve villager’s access to their tea plantations, and make it easier for them to bring their tea harvest home.

 

Leaving the Mae Lai stream the path continues up a steep section of the trail before leveling off at a village owned tea plantation. From here, you follow the newly constructed section of the trail through thicker jungle and across the first of several man made bamboo bridges over a tributary that feeds the Mae Lai stream.

 

The path hugs the mountainside as you travel on up reaching a second fallen tree and bamboo bridge at the entrance to a coffee plantation.

 

Note* They grow Arabica coffee here, a sunrise industry for them given the recent development of the ‘coffee culture’ in the west, and now east.

 

You leave the agricultural area behind you as you move forward from the coffee plantation into thicker jungle where the path criss-crosses the trail using both fallen log and bamboo bridges, as well as step to negotiate you way around a waterfall.

The path gets steeper, the sides of the gorge close in,

and you must negotiate a bridge through the spray of

a waterfall, then ascend some steep steps that carry

you around and over the waterfall to the next level.

There is thick bamboo here and debris from fallen

trees, on the approach to a bamboo and wire sling

‘Burma bridge’ across a 10 metre deep ravine.

Crossing the bridge, you follow a path cut into the side of the cliff around an overhang and through a clearing to the base of the first of the big waterfalls – a 40 m high drop ending in a pool of water, scoured out at the base.

 

There is seating here, and you can rest in front of a continuous flow of cold air from the waterfall – jungle air-con.

 

The trail cuts back to a junction from where you start climbing the steps cut into the mountain side to allow access around the waterfall to the next elevation.

 

From here the trail criss-crosses the stream as for climb higher for a kilometer or more through dense jungle and patches of bamboo over an around waterfalls until you reach one that we have designated as a suitable for a picnic lunch spot.

 

Enjoy lunch here, whilst the guide makes jungle tea.

 

Relax for a while, dipping your feet (if not your whole body) in the stream, and listening to the sounds of the jungle, before continuing up to the current end point of the trail.

 

The trail itself is an ongoing development and will eventually loop back around linking into one of the other trails to provide a different return route.

You return back down the trail at a leisurely pace to The Pang Soong Lodge, Outdoor Education and Research Centre.

2. Blue Trail (short)

Estimated time:         3-4 hours

Distance:                    7km

Difficulty:                   Easy/ Medium

The “Blue Trail —short” is an exciting trek up, along and down the lower

ridge north and east of the lodge. It provides some beautiful views looking across into Chiang Mai as well as that of the eastern ridge that divides Chiang Mai and Lampang province.
The ascent consists of a gradual slope leading up to the ridge line. It provides no real physical challenges.

The walk along the ridge which then leads into the descent provides a welcoming breeze as well as some of the best views along the trail.

Up here is where many locals come to “tap” the pine trees for their oils.( see images) They do this by lighting fires at the base of the tree so as so allow the oil to excrete out.

The final part of the descent becomes steeper and can be quite slippery.

The last stretch of the trail runs high but parallel with the “Nam Mae Lai” stream, which leads through areas used for farming fruits before returning back to the lodge.

The trail begins at the northwest corner of the lodge and meanders its way up a gradual slope for about 2km. This should take about an hour.

Turning right at the top, you follow the ridge line with easy walking for about 1.5 km.

After this you have the choice of either turning left, which follows the “north ridge—long” trail or turning right and following the yellow markers which lead back to the lodge. 

Following the yellow markers, the descent down to the “Mae Lai” stream takes about 1¼ hours and is approximately 2.5 km long. Within the last 500 metres or so, the path becomes fairly steep and can become quite slippery!

Upon reaching the path overlooking the stream, it is a 20-30 minute walk back to the lodge

3. Blue Trail (long)

Estimated time:         5-6 hours

Distance:                    11.5km

Difficulty:                   Easy / moderate

The Blue Trail (long) is an extension of the short trail. It contains some of

the best views any of the trails have to offer. On a clear day you can see Chiang Mai city!

If instead of following the yellow markers back to the lodge, you continue on

and follow the red trail back, you will have walked what is undoubtedly one

of the best trails Pang Soong has to offer.

The trails essentially take you up north of the lodge onto a ridge line.

This then heads east up to the Chiang Mai - Lampang border. You then follow

the border south before taking a ridge line west to join up with the nature trail, and back to the lodge.

The “blue into red” route is an entire day of trekking that offers stunning views, amazing   bamboo forests, pine forests, cloud forests, waterfalls, abseiling and a huge variety of wildlife. This truly is a “classic” amongst the Pang Soong Nature Trails.

As for the start of the blue short trail, you head north for about 2km until you reach the ridge. Then you follow this until you reach the yellow markers, this should take about 1½ hours.

 

Turn left and continue to follow the blue markers. This will take you north—east and up to the

view point. Approximately 2 km brings you to the  border.

From this point you turn south-east and follow the ups and downs of the border for 2.5 km.

You will meet up at a junction with a big tree marked with red, yellow and blue markers.  Here you turn right and head west down hill if you are going to follow the yellow markers back, or straight on if following the red  route or are doing the “Pang Soong Loop”.

The return trail is about 5km long.

 

 

 

 

 

4. Red Trail (short)

Estimated time:         1.5 to 2 hours

Distance:                    3.5 km

Difficulty:                   Easy/Moderate

“Pang Mano Hill” is more of a “nature” walk. What it lacks in views it makes up for in the abundance of flora and fauna to be found.

Throughout the entire walk, someone with a keen eye will discover all sorts of things.

Fruits and nuts of various kinds to eat along the way, wild vegetables to take back for cooking, tea and coffee plantations, rose wood trees for  building houses, tiger balm trees for medicine, an abundance of  bamboo shoots; all are just an  example of the many things the guide can point out for you along the trail.

The final section of the walk brings you out along the Huai Hom stream, here you can take an easy walk back on the recently constructed pathways and bridges on the main trail created by the local villagers; allowing you to enjoy the sights of the waterfalls along the way.

 

The largest of the waterfalls makes for a great abseil. (not included). This activity can be pre-arranged with an instructor from “Track of the Tiger T.R.D”.

 

The walk itself.Starting from the lodge, go back to the tarmac road and follow it west, going left up the second turning. Follow this road up hill to the start of the red trail.

 

For 800 metres the trails goes up through a tea plantation

until it reaches the start of the steep hill section.

20 minutes of steep climbing brings you to the crest of the first hill. A further 25 minutes will get you to the top most part of the trail. 

The trail descends fairly sharply and then turns left near the bottom to follow the contours of the hill you just came down. This then comes out at a “T” junction in the path.

Turning left, the path goes for just over 1 km before reaching the “Huai Hom” stream. Cross the stream and turn left.

The last 40 minutes of the walk follows the main nature trail along the stream going past the waterfalls, before returning back at the lodge.

 

 

5. Red Trail (long) 

Estimated time:         7 hours

Distance:                    13km

Difficulty:                   Difficult

The “Mae Mon Peak” is a great all round trek that

includes everything you would expect from such a trip. Amazing views, ridge walking, waterfalls and abseiling!

The trek follows a trail going east for 5 km that ends on the eastern ridge between Chiang Mai and Lampang province. It then follows the border line south before descending down a westernfacing ridge to reach the Huai Hom stream.

A rock face sits high above thestream that makes for a superb view out into the jungle basin.

At present, abseiling is the only way off the rock! 

Lunch is eaten up in the cloud forest of the highest peak which is around 1,700 metres. The temperature drop is welcoming and the breeze is refreshing.
The trek begins by following the nature trail south east of the lodge. Half way up the paved footpath you turn left along a small trail to follow the Nam Mae Lai stream.

Following the winding contours upwards, the trail heads east, to join the Chiang Mai – Lampang border. The final few hundred metres can get fairly steep.

This section should take about 3 hours.The trail then follows the ups and downs of the eastern ridge going south for about 3 km finishing at the top of Mae Mon Peak, in the cloud forest. 

The descent goes down a ridge line west, with again the first few hundred feet being fairly steep and slightly slippery.

A 2.5 km walk from the top to the rock face should take around 40 minutes. At the bottom of the rock turn right and follow the hand lines and red markers to the bottom of the waterfall.It is then a 2 km walk back to the lodge following the stream which joins the nature trail further down.

6. Green Trail

Estimated time:         8-9 hours

Distance:                    10km

Difficulty:                   Very difficult

The “Green Trail”  is the most adventurous route.Pang Soong has
to offer. Here you get to experience jungle trekking in its original form,
and as it the purists think it should be.

There are no footpaths, no trails to follow, just a marked route through the jungle, that more often than not needs cutting through.

Armed with a good machete and a keen sense of adventure your effort will not go unrewarded.You will get to experience the largest waterfalls in the area, and be blown away by the mountain top views.The only other people to experience this are the local Lahu hill tribe hunters!

The route follows the Nam Mae Lai stream, weaving its way up the valley East of the lodge.It is a very physically demanding trek due to the steepness of the landscape.

 
The trek begins by following the nature trail south east of the lodge. Half way up the paved footpath you turn left along a small trail to follow the Nam Mae Lai stream.

 

 

The route goes along a used trail before descending right to get to the stream.

Keeping a sharp eye out for the green markers you make your way up and down the contours criss-crossing over the stream until you reach the “Mae Lai waterfall”. This should take about 3 hours.

Climbing round to the top of the waterfall you follow the stream to more and more falls, continuing the pattern of then climbing round to the top of each one.

You keep heading south east finally leaving the stream behind you to the left while you climb out of the valley to reach the west facing ridge that leads back to the lodge. 

From there, it is a 4km walk back down the ridge and along the Huai Hom stream.

 

 

Make a booking

Email us stating:

1. Your name.
2. The number of adults in your group.
3. The number of children, aged 12 or under in your group.
4. The date you want to walk the Pang Soong Nature Trails.
5. The trail you want to follow. (i.e. Trail 1).
6. The hotel you should be collected from.
7. Whether or not anyone in your group has any medical ailments that we should know of prior to your undertaking an arduous walk.

Payment.