Do I trek Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai or Pai?

If it's only a single day trip, calling it "trekking" is stretching things a bit, but there are "1-Day-Trekking" options from all three places, but I doubt you'll notice the difference. They just take you somewhere with a forest and let you walk around and maybe ride an elephant. I'd recommend trying a slightly longer trip (2-3 days) and then location will make a bigger difference too. NB - there is no trekking "in" Chiang Mai - they all take place in areas 2-4 hours away, and overlap with treks booked in Chiang Rai. Pai might be a bit more "remote" feeling.

I'd agree with #1 in that for a one day trek then it probably doesn't make a lot of difference. If I had to make a choice I'd plump for Pai - less distance/ transport to get to real nature & most of the 2 or 3 day treks out of Chiang Mai go to the Pai area anyway.

There are many nice day walks and treks from THAM LOD (LOT) village near SOPPONG (40 kms from Pai) . Stay CAVE LODGE , its in guide book , rafting thru the cave is also possible there.
July is difficult time for walking , wet and muddy.

Hi,
I know nice way in Doi Inthanon Chiang Mai, if you like one day trek it's perfect!! just 4.30 hrs. but hard way.
Cheers

my sister was there in jan and reckons chiang rai is better as it is more cultural there?

some people on this forum are such travel snobs- "calling it "trekking" is stretching things " get over yourself.

Go to Luang Nam Tha in Laos instead! :-)

The treks organised by Green Discovery in Luang Nam Tha are very environmentally and culturally sensitive, unlike the circuses that some hilltribe villages in N Thailand have become. There are plenty of recent threads on TT on this subject.

To get there from N Thailand, cross the Thai/Lao border at Chiang Kong (easily reached by bus from Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai - see other recent thread), get your 15-day visa on arrival at the border. From Huay Xai (the town on the Laos side of the border) take a bus to Luang Nam Tha (about 7 hours).

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<hr>Go to Luang Nam Tha in Laos instead!<hr></blockquote>

For a ONE day trek? :)

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<hr>some people on this forum are such travel snobs- "calling it "trekking" is stretching things " get over yourself.<hr></blockquote>

I think you missed the point. It's not about snobbery at all. 'Trek' implies walking, hiking. For a one day trek, the focus IS on seeing as much as possible that day, which inevitably means spending more time in a minivan than on a mountain trail. Usually one day treks do manage to fit in a visit to a waterfall, hilltribe village, rafting and/or elephants. This does not leave a whole lot of time for 'trekking' as per the dictionary definition. So therefore, I personally opt to call one day treks 'one day TOURS' instead, which is what they are. That's all.

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<hr>my sister was there in jan and reckons chiang rai is better as it is more cultural there?<hr></blockquote>

It isn't.

If the OP is going to Pai anyway then I'd trek from there because you're closest to the mountains & villages. From Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai there will inevitably be a longer initial drive, OR you will visit more touristy spots.

Many thanks for all the tips. Just for the record, we ended up doing a one day trek (calling it a trek isn't stretching it either) from Pai with a company called Back Trax. They were excellent and also donate about 15% or more of the payment you make to the villages they take you to. We were in a group of just 4 people and didn't see a raft or elephant all day. And we were walking for a total of 6 hours in pretty challenging terrain and were taken to the start of the trail on a public bus and only saw a vehicle again when we were picked up at the end of the day. We visited a couple of villages and although they weren't very remote they knocked us up a good lunch there and were very friendly. Went to two waterfalls but the best part was just seeing so many rice paddies and great scenery. We were knackered at the end of the day, really enjoyed the walk and were totally satisfied with what we had seen. Most of the walking was through a bamboo forest and lots of challenging uphill and downhill sections too.