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	---> MORE Destinations: _________________________________ New Perspective of Chiang Rai at Latitude 19 VISITING A BORDER TOWN: Mae Sot – then and now The Poy Sang Long Festival in Mae Hong Son The Samoeng Strawberry Festival Far Out and Cool in Fang District PICTURE PERFECT Mon Jaem Chiang Mai Reflections and a Night Safari Adventure Wat Palad: The Temple below the Temple The Bua Tong Waterfall Park The Cave and Hot Springs of the Mae On Area A DAY TRIP TO DOI INTHANON Two wheels good four wheels…er… The Sino-Thai Dragon Temple of Wat Tha Ton Doi Inthanon - Thailand’s Highest Mountain Kad Mua - an all-you-need market Chiang Dao High! Chiang Mai’s Red Cross and Winter Fair Loy Krathong at Tak A RETREAT TO... Kwan Yin Bodhisattva Hall Living with nature: Galyani Vadhana District Treasures of Myanmar A Journey to Shangri-La Pha Wing Choo – A Lover's Cliff Wiangtakan – The Past Remains Rural Life and Natural Mystery in Chaiprakarn Taking Aim at Chiang Mai's Shooting Gallery Chiang Mai - Maerim - Samoeng Route Hot Springs (and eggs) Ratchaphruek Festival 2009 The 5th Lanna - Japan Festival 2009 Make a Day of it at the New Look Night Safari Mae Sa Snake Farm Marine Lives in a Mountainous Zoo X-Centre Mae Hong Son, Pang Oong and much more along the way... Mae Kampong Village Tiger Kingdom Pai: The Hub of Joy Flower Festival Annual Bo Sang Umbrella Festival at Bo Sang Village Wiang Kum Kam: The Underground Ancient City Loy Kratong: The Town's Joyful Festival Monkey Centre Maerim, Chiang Mai Baankwai Thai Maerim Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden THE ROYAL PALACE ON DOI SUTHEP The Night Safari Ban Saonak Chae Son National Park Lamphun's Wat Chamathevi Doi Tao Lake Mae Sai Bai the Beautiful Wieng Kum Kam Mae Klang Luang Village Doi Pui - Hmong Tribal Village Nan Province Wat Suan Dok Chiang Saen: a city in myth and reality One Night in Chiang Rai and a day across the border A trip full of tour guides Two Days and a Night in the Country The Sumptuous Angkhang Gourmet Tour AWAY FROM IT ALL IN NEARBY MAE WANG Children's Day at the Westernmost Point of Thailand To Lamphun Along the Road of Histories ESCAPING TO PAI A WINTER TRIP ON THE PING RIVER To the Back of Beyond, right on your doorstep Visiting the Shrine of the Elephant-Headed God Visiting Samui Back to Nature at Opkhan National Park Lost in the Chiang Mai Zoo Three Days through the Northern Countryside DOING A NINE-TEMPLE KARMA TRIP - Right Here in Chiang Mai An Early Summer Trip to the Thi Lo Su Falls Nan: Forest, Temples and the Salt of the Earth TREKKING AND TUCKING IN: Wawee Coffee Plantation Mai Long Yee - Lovely Whatever Else You Call It Magnificent Creatures at Wat Changkham Off to See Some Mural Paintings in Lampang The Salawin and the People of Tha Tafang A Hike in the Forest A Journey back in time A Long Night of Luxury in the Chiang Dao Valley Ice-cold in Omkoy A Quick Visit to a Karen Wedding Strawberry Fields Forever A quick ride to Jaesorn National Park A Journey to Wawee A Birding Trip for Newbies Nam Bor Phi Cave A Breath of Sea Air Shopping With a Difference: Kad Luang Airport ELEPHANTS AND ORCHIDS AND THE SNACKS IN BETWEEN Monsoon Miscellany MAE RIM LAGOON AN IMPRESSIVE TRIP - to the Sukantara Resort Visiting Luang Prabang, the Pearl on the Mekong River Phrae: refreshing trip, auspicious visits Up on the Mountain (again) at Khun Wang UP THE MOUNTAIN TO THUNG LUANG SINGAPORE - City of Parks A Short Sight-Seeing Trip to the Monkey Centre GIVE PAI A TRY! You won’t regret it A BUSY DAY’S VISIT TO SANKAMPAENG A Rainy Day Outing to Phrao Monsoon Miscellany TRIPPING AND TASTING ALONG THE HANDICRAFT HIGHWAYS

DESTINATION:
Mae Klang Luang Village

Doi Inthanon, being the highest mountain in Thailand, has much to offer tourists visiting Chiang Mai. It has a wide spectrum of tourist attractions from the magnificent Vachiratharn waterfalls, the twin stupas - namely Phra Mahathat Napaphon Bhumisiri Chedi and Napamaytanidol Chedi - built in honour of the King and Queen respectively, the Royal Project stations and hill tribe villages, to name a few.

However, Mae Klang Luang village is a place that seems to attract many tourists, Thai and foreigners alike. Located at Km.26 on the road toward the top of Doi Inthanon, Mae Klang Luang village is being promoted as an ecotourism destination. This village belongs to an ethnic group, known as Pakakayor or Karen, a hill people who migrated from Burma some centuries ago.

What's special about this village is that all tourist activities are entirely managed by its people. This means that it's an ideal location for tourists who enjoy bird watching and trekking, as well as learning about the Karen way of life as it really is, through the homestay service.

If you plan to be in the Mae Klang Luang village quite a few days, you might find it interesting to follow the path to Pha Dok Seaw Waterfalls. The trek starts at Km. 30 on the road and requires walking some way down to the falls. Altogether there are ten different cascades and the 7th is the most beautiful. If you hire a guide from the village it won't cost much, and has the advantage that you'll be able to get lots of information about the localities visited. These include orange, flower and coffee plantations, as well as the villages of the people cultivating them.

Staying at Mae Klang Luang - usually in cottages for one to two people, or camping out - is pretty inexpensive. The biggest cottage costs B.2,000 per night, but camping only B.30 per night/person. Because the weather is so pleasant in the winter, December is an especially good month for visits. Since the homestay capacity is 60 persons at any one time, it's not a bad idea to book ahead. And while camping is especially cheap, it's worth noting that homestay gives you a much better chance to learn about hilltribe lifestyle and culture. At night, for example, local performances include sword-dancing, and recitals of Karen lyre and ocarina music.

For more info and directions as to how to reach Mae Klang Luang village contact the responsible persons at the village at 089-9520983, 081-9608856, and 081-0203615.

Text: Por & Kiaw
Photos: SP