My Hill Tribe Trek Northern Thailand

I'm handed an info sheet on what to expect when trekking in northern Thailand for the next three days. I've never encountered freaky creatures, but now I feel a need a get real and admit I have a fear o spiders and snakes. I suddenly feel a little sweaty and light-headed. Am I coming down with some exotic disease?

As the nine of us start down a track in Pongdeud, north of Chiang Mai, frogs hop across the path. I wonder whether one might be my prince, but my first fairytale shatters as we have our first half-hourly leech check. We walk for hours up and down hill, and at dusk reach a village of Karen people – who originated from Tibet – where we'll stay the night. Chicken, cows, water buffalo and pigs roam free under the wooden houses on stilts. I'm keen to wash my mosquito repellent off before going to bed under nets. I end up in a cubical staring at a container of chilly water and yell as I chuck bowlfuls on myself.

In the morning our guide, Nun, says he watched a snake eat a frog outside his room last night. Great! After thanking the villagers, we set off over the hills. It's not long before we spot a big, ugly spider... a tarantula. Ugh!

We get to an elephant camp and our eyes light up as we see elephants grazing. While lunch is cooked, we take a dip in the river, and the beasts join us for a bath. Unreal.

Bellies full, we're helped onto the elephants' back and we trek along the river. Suddenly the elephants at the head of the herd start dancing. My driver jumps down and starts bashing the ground with a stick. He walks back holding a large snake and hops back on my elephant. We carry on trekking while he holds it. As we get further down the track, I can't believe my eyes – the snake just moved! Are my nerves playing tricks on me? NO! He didn't manage to kill it properly! He jumps down and runs into the bushes. My elephant starts to take its own path. The other elephant drivers yell at it, but he just keeps taking me in the wrong direction until my driver comes running back – luckily, he's dumped the snake.

That night, in another village, I dream that a snake has bitten my hand and won't let go. The next morning, Nun tells me dreaming of a snake bite means you'll meet your soul mate. I plan to keep on high – never know who you might meet in the Thai jungle!

Our group jumps on rafts to set off down a river. When we hit white rapids, I discover we're in for a ride. Soon we get used to riding them and scream with excitement as we see them coming, but then my raft flips over. I end up stranded on a rock as I watch everyone disappear around the corner. All I can think about are water snakes and I imagine being rescued – if I'm lucky – by the local tourist police. But soon enough, Nun climbs over the rocks to help me back to the raft.

That night we catch a train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. Arriving at our luxurious hotel, I realize how bad I must have smelt during the past few days – everything I've worn has a jungle funk. No wonder I didn't find my soul mate...Before you go trekking in North Thailand, talk to your doctor about getting vaccinations for diphtheria, TB, hepatitis A and B, malaria, typhoid and tetanus, and ask if there are others you need.