Baan Tong Luang
Baan Tong Luang
3.5
This location was reported permanently closed
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Baan Tong Luang and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
20 within 5 kms
Attractions
30 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
3.5
211 reviews
Excellent
55
Very good
80
Average
43
Poor
15
Terrible
18
andesitao
Denpasar, Indonesia236 contributions
Feb 2020 • Family
It’s an eco Village, where some of the Karen hill tribe are living. You have to pay for 500THB to get inside. You can see the traditional houses with its people wearing their traditional clothes. You’ll see 7 different tribes living in this place. They’re selling souvenirs or their traditional clothes or accessories. At the end of the tour, you can take a rest at the restaurant while overlooking the rice paddy field.
Written 12 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hauser Döme László
10 contributions
Jan 2020
We buffaloed around a village that consisted of small bamboo houses. It was a strange sight to see the satellite dish on a 10-12 square foot cottage.
Bivalykordén "utaztunk" körbe egy falut, amely kis bambusz házakból állt. Furcsa látvány volt a parabola antenna egy 10-12 négyzetméteres házikón.
Bivalykordén "utaztunk" körbe egy falut, amely kis bambusz házakból állt. Furcsa látvány volt a parabola antenna egy 10-12 négyzetméteres házikón.
Written 8 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fabianfred
Fang14 contributions
Feb 2014 • Solo
For all you tourists complaining about the cost of entry. Sure this is a village set-up especially for tourists...all in one place. You could hire transport and spend a week trying to go to all these hill-tribes in their own villages and it would be ten time the cost of this...and most hill-tribes villages have been improved their standard of living so they mostly do not live in bamboo and thatch huts anymore and also rarely wear their traditional costumes apart from when they have a festival.
If you want to see the tribes in their old style settings and still very poor then you need to go to Laos or Burma and go to villages far from the road...days of trekking.
I am fortunate to be able to speak Thai since I have lived here for more than 20 years and enjoy chatting with the people here. They are people...not just exhibits. The village is for the convenience of tourists who do not have the time or are too old to go trekking for days to reach villages. It is a taste of their cultures which are fast disappearing.
The entry fee goes to the organisers of the village...not the people in it. That is why they sell arts and crafts and their own weavings to make some money to live on.
I enjoy visiting hill-tribes whenever I can but still enjoy this village and other similar ones near my home in Fang. Take along some treats for the kids too and try to go at weekends when they are home from school.
If you want to see the tribes in their old style settings and still very poor then you need to go to Laos or Burma and go to villages far from the road...days of trekking.
I am fortunate to be able to speak Thai since I have lived here for more than 20 years and enjoy chatting with the people here. They are people...not just exhibits. The village is for the convenience of tourists who do not have the time or are too old to go trekking for days to reach villages. It is a taste of their cultures which are fast disappearing.
The entry fee goes to the organisers of the village...not the people in it. That is why they sell arts and crafts and their own weavings to make some money to live on.
I enjoy visiting hill-tribes whenever I can but still enjoy this village and other similar ones near my home in Fang. Take along some treats for the kids too and try to go at weekends when they are home from school.
Written 24 February 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robyn H
United States157 contributions
May 2015 • Friends
So I have read a lot of reviews on TripAdvisor calling this place a human zoo. I was in Chiang Mai for 2 months and one of our local Thai friends said the village is a good thing for the hill tribes and not a human zoo as some tourists have been calling it.
On this recommendation, we took a motorbike and went there on our own to check it out. We had a different impression. We went early and got there around 10am before the tour buses arrived. The first thing I noticed when we walked in was how friendly everyone was. Each hill tribe greeted us warmly, and they were happy to show us what they were making, and also invited us in to see their home. One hill tribe even shared their cherries and other fruit with us.
We met Sek from Karen Hill Tribe and he was happy to talk with us at length about the tribes. He said, like him, some of the Karen Hill Tribe also came to this location to be near the city. It’s better for medicine if someone gets sick. If they get sick in the mountains, they rely on herbs to help them get better. Another main attraction to move here is all the children of the hill tribes go to school and get an education. All of the other Hill Tribes that are here also came on their own accord for a better life for their children.
When asked about the 500 baht entrance fee, Sek did say the fee we paid to get in did not go directly to the tribes. Before I could get in an uproar about it, he let me know that all the tribes live on the land rent-free and all the goods they sell is their money to keep. The compound also provides transportation for the children to get to and from school, free of cost, which is 15km away.
The tribes hand make the items they sell. They are weavers, painters, wood carvers, and sewers. All the items they produce are very beautiful. Again, anything you purchase from them goes directly into their pocket.
So human zoo? If you go there, solely to take pictures and stare, without interacting with them. Then yes, I could see how some would call it that. But, if you take the time to stop, say hello, play with the children and ask what they do, you’ll look at it a bit differently.
On this recommendation, we took a motorbike and went there on our own to check it out. We had a different impression. We went early and got there around 10am before the tour buses arrived. The first thing I noticed when we walked in was how friendly everyone was. Each hill tribe greeted us warmly, and they were happy to show us what they were making, and also invited us in to see their home. One hill tribe even shared their cherries and other fruit with us.
We met Sek from Karen Hill Tribe and he was happy to talk with us at length about the tribes. He said, like him, some of the Karen Hill Tribe also came to this location to be near the city. It’s better for medicine if someone gets sick. If they get sick in the mountains, they rely on herbs to help them get better. Another main attraction to move here is all the children of the hill tribes go to school and get an education. All of the other Hill Tribes that are here also came on their own accord for a better life for their children.
When asked about the 500 baht entrance fee, Sek did say the fee we paid to get in did not go directly to the tribes. Before I could get in an uproar about it, he let me know that all the tribes live on the land rent-free and all the goods they sell is their money to keep. The compound also provides transportation for the children to get to and from school, free of cost, which is 15km away.
The tribes hand make the items they sell. They are weavers, painters, wood carvers, and sewers. All the items they produce are very beautiful. Again, anything you purchase from them goes directly into their pocket.
So human zoo? If you go there, solely to take pictures and stare, without interacting with them. Then yes, I could see how some would call it that. But, if you take the time to stop, say hello, play with the children and ask what they do, you’ll look at it a bit differently.
Written 12 June 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CKY281
1,046 contributions
As this was our first visit to Chiang Mai we decided to visit this supposedly eco -agricultural hill tribes village that's home to 7 tribes.
The first shock was the entrance fee of 500B per person which is exorbitant. We were informed that the fee goes towards the education and healthcare of the tribal people (like real).
The whole village is a prop to earn tourist money.
Those people were mostly illegal refugees from Myanmar who are permitted to live here for free as the Thai government refuses to issue identification documents.Even the children must pay school fees.
Real living does not happen here as home kitchens are either non-existent nor in working order. We noted that the stacks of fire wood have been sitting for a long time.Also noted the absence of planted herbals traditionally used for their cooking.
Lots of mass produced merchandise available for sale everywhere. Handcrafted goods are the exception.
We really felt cheated for paying an exorbitant entrance fee for a photo shoot event.
The first shock was the entrance fee of 500B per person which is exorbitant. We were informed that the fee goes towards the education and healthcare of the tribal people (like real).
The whole village is a prop to earn tourist money.
Those people were mostly illegal refugees from Myanmar who are permitted to live here for free as the Thai government refuses to issue identification documents.Even the children must pay school fees.
Real living does not happen here as home kitchens are either non-existent nor in working order. We noted that the stacks of fire wood have been sitting for a long time.Also noted the absence of planted herbals traditionally used for their cooking.
Lots of mass produced merchandise available for sale everywhere. Handcrafted goods are the exception.
We really felt cheated for paying an exorbitant entrance fee for a photo shoot event.
Written 9 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Barry L
Sydney, Australia216 contributions
Nov 2013 • Friends
We were fortunate to visit here with a local who explained the village purpose and had a great experience. It is misunderstood by most reviewers. This village is a replica of a traditional hill village. In fact the hill tribes live some 2-3 hours from here. It was built by the government as somewhere where the hill tribes could come to so they can earn money from tourism. There are not 5 tribes living here permanently, there are a number of tribes who spend a month or so at a time here and then return to their own villages. So the entrance fee is helping support the tribes. The range of handicrafts seemed genuine and reasonably priced with the money going directly to the villagers.
In terms of photos with the long neck ladies, it is expected that a small payment is appropriate. We gave 20 Baht to one lady for a photo which she gratefully accepted (and refused another 20 Baht that we offered).
All in all I thought it was a very interesting experience.
In terms of photos with the long neck ladies, it is expected that a small payment is appropriate. We gave 20 Baht to one lady for a photo which she gratefully accepted (and refused another 20 Baht that we offered).
All in all I thought it was a very interesting experience.
Written 9 December 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Waypoint
Louisville, KY194 contributions
Dec 2014 • Couples
This goes way beyond a “tourist trap”. The weight of the coils on the women and young girls place pressure on the clavicles and cause deformities to create an impression of a longer neck. Supporting this place supports the torture of young girls who have rings put on their necks to attract tourists. Nothing seemed authentic about the “village”. We had a guide for the day, and while I stressed I did not want to see the Long Neck Karen tribe, he told me the hill tribe people were all in the same area. I did not understand that there would be an admission fee that 100% supports the Long Neck Karen tribe. From the looks of the place, it appears that they go buy goods in town to sell as their own. It was explained to us, that the other tribal people do not benefit from the admission fee, but hope to make sales from the tourist traffic that the Long Neck Karens generate. I travel experience I truly regret.
Written 26 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
daynagso
Greensboro, NC18 contributions
Jul 2015 • Friends
My friend and I came in a Sunday morning. Hired a taxi to bring us here and the handicraft village from the Old City for just 600 baht for the day. We arrived around 10 am and there were only two other non-villagers there.
I read the reviews ahead of time and came excited to learn and engage with the folks in the village, not just walk through.
As we tried to strike up conversation with the various villagers, they would only ask us to buy things. Even when asking questions about how they make items, etc, it was quickly turned back to purchasing. I do believe that many of the items were handmade (they demonstrate there), however there were also items that were widely available at various night markets.
I think we might have had a better experience with a guide - the only way to learn on your own is to read the very brief signs posted along the way. Also, I think it'd be neat if they offered more ways to learn, i.e. learning how to weave or other hands-on inclusive demonstrations.
The whole thing just felt awkward. We genuinely hoped to have conversations and learn about the various tribe cultures.
I read the reviews ahead of time and came excited to learn and engage with the folks in the village, not just walk through.
As we tried to strike up conversation with the various villagers, they would only ask us to buy things. Even when asking questions about how they make items, etc, it was quickly turned back to purchasing. I do believe that many of the items were handmade (they demonstrate there), however there were also items that were widely available at various night markets.
I think we might have had a better experience with a guide - the only way to learn on your own is to read the very brief signs posted along the way. Also, I think it'd be neat if they offered more ways to learn, i.e. learning how to weave or other hands-on inclusive demonstrations.
The whole thing just felt awkward. We genuinely hoped to have conversations and learn about the various tribe cultures.
Written 8 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tom S
London, UK79 contributions
If what you want is a completely staged taster of these tribes then that's what you'll get. This was not for us and not what we had been told. Hence my review.
You are basically paying 500baht per person to walk through a market that sells the same stuff you see at every other tourist stop in Thailand. This just feels like exploitation if I'm honest. Exploitation of the tribe people and of tourists when you are required to pay that much.
Some things are better left unseen or for those that can adventure far enough to see life in its natural environment. This is one of those things.
If you are a fan of bus tours and the like then this is for you but do not expect to come and feel realism because you will not get it. What you get is tourists posing beside tribespeople with their trade and then walking away with their picture....very very disappointing. I just hope the 500baht entry actually goes to the people!
You are basically paying 500baht per person to walk through a market that sells the same stuff you see at every other tourist stop in Thailand. This just feels like exploitation if I'm honest. Exploitation of the tribe people and of tourists when you are required to pay that much.
Some things are better left unseen or for those that can adventure far enough to see life in its natural environment. This is one of those things.
If you are a fan of bus tours and the like then this is for you but do not expect to come and feel realism because you will not get it. What you get is tourists posing beside tribespeople with their trade and then walking away with their picture....very very disappointing. I just hope the 500baht entry actually goes to the people!
Written 31 August 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jimandcarolstravels
San Diego765 contributions
Feb 2014 • Couples
For an entrance fee of 500 THB you can walk through three small villages and see their homes. Each home is selling souvenir items, some of which they have made themselves.
What made the biggest impression on us was the ladies and children of what is called the longneck tribe. These ladies and girls have the rings around their necks and above their knees so that they must remain with their tribes forever. To actually meet and experience these people was very touching.
It is staged in the sense that the villagers are trying to get you to buy their merchandise and hope you will take their photo and give them some money. But, it is their homes, and their families. We travel a lot and would count this as one of our favorite experiences.
What made the biggest impression on us was the ladies and children of what is called the longneck tribe. These ladies and girls have the rings around their necks and above their knees so that they must remain with their tribes forever. To actually meet and experience these people was very touching.
It is staged in the sense that the villagers are trying to get you to buy their merchandise and hope you will take their photo and give them some money. But, it is their homes, and their families. We travel a lot and would count this as one of our favorite experiences.
Written 14 February 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How much time do we usually spend in this place? Is there somewhere to have lunch?
Written 7 January 2019
What is the best way to get to this location? How much is the transfer? Would this place have a parking lot? What would be the cost?
Written 7 January 2019
I'm visiting Chiang Mai early next year and would love to visit Baan Tong Luang village. Could you tell me if there is a way of getting there by public transport please. Pete
Written 13 December 2017
I did not see any signs of public transport in the immediate area of this village. We hired a driver in an air conditioned van to take us. A tuk tuk would also take you there. Transportation is not too costly in Chiang Mai area. For instance, our driver would drive us wherever we wanted to go for the whole day for 1500 baht. We were easily able to visit 4 different sites in a day and could have likely done more if needed.
Written 15 December 2017
oi, vc tem o contato desta guia de Chiang mai? obrigada
Written 29 October 2017
Many reviewers mentioned "their guide". Are there guides there to take us around and share information if we come on our own or are these guides from a tour company that brought people?
Written 4 February 2017
I have been there many times by myself and has never been offered guide's services, so I assume that guides are from tour companies.
Some of the younger people in the village speak English and all speak Thai. There are also explanation boards in English.
Written 6 February 2017
How do you get from Chiang Mai to the Baan Ton Luang? Can you take a taxi? Do they have taxis there at the village to take you back to Chiang Mai?
Thanks.
Written 28 January 2017
Michael O
Adelaide, Australia
1,023 contributions
Your best option would be by private car, or tuk tuk from Chiang Mai & have your driver wait for you. Neither one of these options are expensive. This is in the Mae Rim area & there are many things to do there, zip line, Bungy jump, shooting, ATV's, elephant rides, tigers, monkey shows, snake shows, a really good insect museum & much more. Probably best to plan a full day of activities out there & choose your mode of transport. I have used both. A private car is more comfortable, but a tuk tuk is a lot cheaper & a bit more fun.
Written 28 January 2017
If I go here without a chartered vehicle, could I hail some type of transportation to go back to Chiang Mai? I plan to go here after a half day visit to the elephant sanctuary.
Written 14 June 2016
It is a little way off a main road but if you dont mind the walk then I think it would be relatively easy to hail a tuk tuk or songthaew ( red pick up truck) or even a local bus. We hired a songthaew for the whole day and we went to the Tiger Kingdom, Elephant Camp, Wat Doi Suthep,and Baan Tong Luang and it cost us 800baht. Hope this helps.
Written 14 June 2016
We will be carrying our backpacks, do they have lockers or somewhere to leave them? Thanks
Written 15 March 2016
I didn't see lockers but there is an office building at the entrance where the admission ticket is purchased. It was a building, not a booth so there may be room there if you inquire.
The terrain is largely level except for the slight incline leading up to the old church so from a exertion standpoint, carrying the backpacks wouldn't require more effort than walking in town with them. Good luck, and enjoy. The Maesa elephant camp is quite nearby and worth a visit, too.
Written 16 March 2016
Showing results 1-10 of 11
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing