Lisu Lodge
nr Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai & North, Thailand
Why we chose this partner
- We liked their low-key approach, with limited group numbers (often only 4-6)
- There's an amazing range of activities on offer, from cycling around a peanut plantation to lurching across a river on a raft
- The obvious experience and professionalism of the guides, some of whom are native hilltribe villagers, means guests are welcomed as friends rather than as gawpers
- We were impressed by their commitment to eco and social issues
Best time to go
Avoid March-June. In March, swidden-burning is in full swing - there's barely any green left and the sky is filled with smoke, reducing visibility to a few hundred metres. The waterfalls are nearly dry, and rafting is more a case of getting grounded. April-June may be freshened by the first rains, but the humidity and heat still make it uncomfortable.
July to September is green and lush but can be wet - you might typically get 2 or 3 dry days in a week, and 2 or 3 very wet ones - but if you are lucky it is very clear, with cooler air temperatures. Don't forget that mud and rain will add 50% to hiking times in the wet season.
Our top tips
Location
Lisu Lodge is 1-2 hours' drive north from Chiang Mai airport.
By Air:
Chiang Mai International Airport (100km) can be reached by internal flights from Bangkok and from several other cities in and around Thailand (Phuket, Luang Prabang, Yangon, Kunming, Chittagong).
By Train:
If you really enjoy train journeys, and/or you want to save money, there is a handy 'special express' sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai; but you will need to book a few days ahead (best done through your previous hotel). There are also daytime trains, including the 'Sprinter' which jogs out of Bangkok in the morning and hobbles into Chiang Mai around tea time.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to Thailand and getting around
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 3 independent reviews from i-escape guests
We loved the peace and calmness of Lisu Lodge for 2 nights. We went with our children 20,19 & 16 and it was the perfect place after Bangkok. My only other comment is that the ‘bamboo rafting’ trip whilst being great needs to be a explained more before booking. It is down rapids and therefore not suitable for everybody. It is not all calm and it is not for the faint hearted.
This is a really peaceful, simple and clean place to stay with excellent service. For us a welcome, relaxing, two nights after busy Chiang Mai. We enjoyed our day trip of a hike and then bamboo rafting back to near where we started. Then on our drive back, we saw plenty of elephants being walked back to their camps after their days with tourists. We didn’t do this, but fellow guests said they had enjoyed the elephant experience. There isn’t a huge amount to do, and the village, They admit, is becoming very quiet now all the young people are leaving to find work elsewhere, or even abroad.
We absolutely LOVED Lisu Lodge. We were initially worried that it would feel inauthentic - it's also quite close to Chiang Mai and its suburbs - yet it was a genuine Northern Thai country idyll - beautiful, peaceful, wonderful food (mostly from their organic gardens, home made bread etc.). It also was more luxurious (or, less rustic) than I thought - very comfortable rooms (even with A/C), plenty of space etc. The thing that made our stay special however was the staff - attentive, caring, eager to engage; and they were largely from the neighbouring Lisu village. Highly recommended is the complementary village walk (which definitely felt authentic) - our guide (Bovi?) was from the village and was wonderful - we got great insights into the local culture. Recommended also is the day trip we went on - cycling through the lush countryside to the local tea plantation, combined with adrenaline-fuelled white water rafting! Overall, Lisu Lodge is a 5-star recommendation for couples, and for families with children. I would recommend at least 2 nights here, ideally 3 (or more if you really want to de-stress!).