2 Day adventure to the Lahu Tribe Village

For for the few days in Thailand I had been there, I mostly stuck to myself. That's nice and all, but it gets lonely at points.
The best decision I could have made while in Thailand (aside from not befriending any ladyboys of course) was go on a 2 day mountain trek North of Chiang Mai.

An hour long trip in the back of a pickup truck with 8 or so new friends, with a pit stop at a local food market, and we were headed up the hills on a road covered in elephant dung in a truck reeking of burnt clutch struggling to get us up the hills.
First highlight of this 2 day adventure: Elephants. Grabbed some bananas to satisfy them as we all rode a group of 5-6 elephants along a walking trail to the water and along a hillside. The guide on my elephant jumped off at one point and asked if i wanted to sit on its neck/head to ride it instead of the the standard (and safer) seat fastened on its back..... HECK YEAH? . It was a bit sketchy, a little hairy, and a lot dirty, but still a very unique and great experience. GoPro footage, as per always to prove it. I thought some of my friends passed gas in a serious way, but these elephants, they can sound like a brass band at times. Careful where you stand.

2+ hour hike up the mountain with a refreshing stop to slide down a natural rock waterfall, and we arrived at the very top to the Lahu Tribe Village. No running water, no electricity, just a small village of people living off the land with an incredible view from the top.
Standing on the bamboo balcony of our bambo hut on stilts looking out into the valley, and the sun set over the mountain and hills in the distance was another one of those, well, you know how it goes by now, kind of moments. Ah, the good life.

"You want maaaaasage?"

Our tour guid Nuun cooked a stellar pumpkin type curry among other curry dishes for us all, as well as a few cold Chang beers. Changs, guitar, and drinking games around the firepit inside the hut all night long with a group of new friends set the stage for the following week with the new group of Brits I stuck around with. "Absolutely brilliant".

Breakfast laid out ready to go after to coldest semi-sleep of my life under a bug net beside my UK buddy Scooter, and we were back down the mountain the next morning. Pit stop at another incredibly cold fun waterfall and then headed along the riverside for a while towards the white water rafting adventure ahead of us. Ever gone floating down a rapids with elephants on the riverside to your left, and a tour guide at your rear yelling at you to stop paddling like Ladyboys? Again, the GoPro was there to prove it all.
A few km down the river we switched gears and hopped on shady bamboo rafts and went a bit farther. Hardly impressive, but another check in life's TO DO box. Pad Thai spread laid out for us on shore and a little slingshot fun and it was time to head back to Chiang Mai.
Curious how much 4 meals, an elephant ride, night in a tribe village, 2 waterfalls, white water rafting, bamboo rafting, 2.5 hours travel by truck and meeting 6 of my best new travel buddies cost?






............All of $35