I was just up in Chiangmai a couple of weeks ago and found it a beautiful place, but unfortunately I didn't get to spend time in the mountains, it was more of a city tour.

Anyways I was hoping to get up there the week after next just for a weekend and was wondering if anyone knows of any good spend the night hikes that you get to stay in a karen or shan or other tribal village, I know there are a million of these planned tours but that is not what we are looking for, I am bringing an inexperienced hiker, but by no means incapable (nepalese) and it would be nice to see if something was not to far out in the province but beautiful and cheap, none of this ridiculous $250 a person white water rafting, flying gibbon nonsense. just go up the mountain chillout with the locals and enjoy natures beauty.

thanks in advance,

There is this place: http://www.thailandclimbing.com/ (ive never been)

But also check out Cave Lodge

http://www.cavelodge.com/

Highly recommended, but book first, maybe see if you can get advice from the owner for treks.

I wonder if this site can be of some help. At least its local. Cave Lodge , mentioned above, is a 4 and a half hour journey. Interesting, but maybe a bit too far for a weekend. I don't think you need go so far to be in the mountains.

http://chiangmaihiking.wordpress.com/