| 1. Who will be your guide? Your trekking guide is one | | | | the trek? How many hours of walking will there be |
| of the most important factors in determining your | | | | everyday? What is the terrain like? Is it uphill or |
| trekking experience. If possible try and arrange a | | | | downhill? Will most of the walking be on paved roads |
| meeting with your guide beforehand so you can get | | | | or through forest with no trail paths? Most treks |
| a sense of his or her style and if you will get on or | | | | even the easy ones require a moderate amount of |
| not. Often trekking guides work freelance, so if your | | | | fitness. |
| friends recommended an agency or guesthouse to | | | | 6. What will you see along the way? |
| book a trek with you might not necessarily get the | | | | Ok so aside from the walking and physical exertion |
| same guide. Better to find out the name of the | | | | you will get, what kinds of things are there to see on |
| actual guide they had, and seek him or her | | | | the way? Will there be waterfalls? Caves? Rivers? |
| specifically. | | | | Wild animals? Rice terraces? |
| 2. Who else is in the group? Spending days in the | | | | 7. What to bring? |
| jungle with people you don't get along with is | | | | Sounds like common sense but be clear on what |
| nobody's idea of fun, so try and get an idea of who | | | | exactly will be provided so that you can prepared |
| else is on the trek. Ask how many others are in the | | | | and pack your bags well. For example will bedding, |
| group? How old are they? What countries are they | | | | food, drinking water be provided? |
| from? If you don't fancy the idea of going in a group | | | | Will there be a porter? In most cases porters are |
| and don't mind paying a bit more, consider a private | | | | provided but it's always worth checking. |
| tour option instead. | | | | What will the temperature be like? The climate can |
| 3. Is the agency reputable? Just about any man and | | | | vary enormously during the year, and at different |
| his dog can sell treks in Thailand, be sure that your | | | | times of day, especially if trekking in higher altitudes. |
| agency is a reputable one. Does it have a T.A.T | | | | Ask what the minimum and maximum temperatures |
| (Tourism Authority of Thailand) license? Can it show | | | | will be so you can bring appropriate clothing. |
| you previous comments from past groups? A | | | | 8. Will there be elephant rides? |
| professional outfit will have a briefing session about | | | | Often options can be added on such as elephant |
| the trek beforehand. Note that guesthouses will also | | | | riding and bamboo rafting. How long will they last? |
| advertise treks - this does not mean they actually | | | | And is this included in the total price? |
| run their own treks, but sell places on treks run by | | | | 9. What about the hill-tribes? |
| other companies. | | | | If one of the highlights for you is seeing the hill-tribes, |
| 4. What are you looking for? | | | | ask - How many and what kinds of hill-tribes will you |
| A common reason for being disappointed with a trek | | | | see? How much time will you spend in each village? |
| is having pre-conceived and romantic notions about | | | | Will there be a chance to engage with locals? |
| delving through the wild jungles of Thailand like a | | | | 10. How much? Of course one of the deciding factors |
| nomadic tribesman. Most treks which start out of | | | | on whether to choose a trek is the price. With so |
| tourist areas are a pretty 'canned' experience - the | | | | many backpackers in Thailand looking for the |
| route has been trodden on by hundreds before you, | | | | cheapest treks, agencies have suffered by |
| and the villagers will be expecting your visit, you | | | | competing on price to the point that local guides can |
| might even pass other trekking groups on the way! | | | | earn as little as $17 a day. As with most consumables |
| If you really seek something more authentic then try | | | | in life, a cheap price won't guarantee you great |
| heading to quieter less touristy areas such as Mae | | | | quality. In most cases you will pay a total fee to the |
| Sariang and Nan and signing up for a trek from there. | | | | agency, but if you're happy with your guide, driver |
| 5. How difficult is the trek? | | | | and porter services at the end of the trek, |
| Some companies will offer different levels of trek; | | | | remember to tip them well! |
| easy, medium and difficult, so ask - How difficult is | | | | |