Coffee farm & traditional village visit in rural Chiang Rai

Visit a family-run coffee farm in the highlands of northern Thailand before embarking on a guided tour of a traditional village.

Tucked away in the mountains of Chiang Rai province, Doi Chang is a fertile hinterland draped with shadowy canopies of thick broad-leaf forest. Led by an expert guide, you’ll see for yourself how these rich conditions produce speciality coffee. Then, on a visit to a remote village, you’ll have the chance to learn about and experience the culture of the Akha and Lisu communities who live there.

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel in Chiang Rai and take you to Doi Chang. The journey takes around 90 minutes and crosses a scenic route fringed with mist-shrouded forests and limestone silhouettes.

Once in the area, your first stop is Doi Chaang Coffee Farm. Named after the region (with a distinguishing extra “a”), it was formed by a local resident with the joint purpose of producing delectable Arabica coffee and providing fair wages for local hill tribe communities. On your tour, you’ll learn all about the intricacies of coffee production through hands-on experiences, such as coffee-cherry picking and coffee-bean sorting, which change depending on the season.

With your fix of caffeine obtained, you’ll head to a rural village inhabited by Akha and Lisu communities. Here, your guide will introduce you to the customs of the two cultures — you might also meet some residents dressed in traditional garments.

To finish, you’ll have the opportunity to explore a local macadamia plantation (another important crop in the area) and take in panoramic views at a hilltop temple. You'll return to your hotel in the late afternoon.