Thailand holiday, Northern Mountains, Southern Beaches
| country: | Thailand |
| location: | Thai hill tribes, Southern Thailand, Northern Thailand |
| departures: | 2009: 22 Nov, 15 Dec, 24 Dec 2010: 17 Jan, 11 Feb, 6 Mar, 27 Mar, 24 Apr |
| price: | From £2055 - £2580 (21 days) including flights from the UK, from £1495 - £1700 excluding flights. Price includes all transport, accommodation & activities specified in itinerary, all meals (except lunch on days 2, 12 & 18, dinner on days 6, 10 & 18) |
| late availability: | Late availability for Christmas departure |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
Ideal for the first time visitor, offering an excellent introduction to diverse Thailand; from the remote, forest-clad mountains of the Golden Triangle to the reef fringed tropical islands of the South and from hill-tribe villages lost in the mountains to the vibrant capital Bangkok.
Highlights include:
Highlights include:
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Departure from London. |
| Day 2: | Morning arrival in Bangkok - meet your tour leader and transfer to a downtown hotel in the City’s lively Banglamphu district. Afternoon to relax or explore the area. |
| Day 3: | City tour with a difference! Central Bangkok by riverboat, skytrain, tuk-tuk and canal boat! Stop-offs include the Grand Palace, fabulous Wat Phra Keow - “Temple of the Emerald Buddha” and the fascinating ‘Jim Thompson House’ Museum. |
| Day 4: | Morning departure by train; across the Central Plains and their emerald green rice paddies, to up-country Phitsanolok town – the Gateway to the North. Lunch time arrival and transfer to nearby Sukhothai town with the afternoon to relax in our guesthouse garden or explore the local markets. |
| Day 5: | Bicycle tour of the ancient city of Sukhothai, former capital of Siam, which, with it’s crumbling sandstone temples, towering Buddha statues and lotus-covered ponds, is one of the country’s most sacred and evocative sites. |
| Day 6: | Scenic drive through the mountains to Chiang Mai. Check in to our centrally located hotel and time to relax by the pool or explore the area before an evening tour of the town’s famous night bazaar. |
| Day 7: | Departure for the far north with a scenic drive to the remote border town of Tha Ton, including a stop on the way to visit the fascinating cave temples at Chiang Dao, before checking out the spectacular views at Tha Ton Pagoda situated high on a mountain top straddling the Thai/Burmese border. |
| Day 8: | Beginning with a descent by boat of the scenic Kok River we’ll trek on foot and by elephant through the region’s dramatic mountain scenery with an overnight stay as guests of a Red Lahu minority family in a rarely visited, and still very traditional village. |
| Day 9: | Morning hike and transfer to nearby Mae Salong Town for some R & R by the resort’s swimming pool. Originally founded by Chinese Republican soldiers, (Kuomintang), who took refuge in the area after defeat by Mao Tse Tung’s communist forces, the town was off limits for many years due to its role as a centre for the opium trade but is now known for tea plantations and spectacular scenery. |
| Day 10: | Morning to visit the fascinating town of Mae Salong which retains much of its Yunnanese character – check out the hill-tribe market plus an opportunity to partake in a tea tasting ceremony before a return by road through the mountains to Chiang Mai for our night’s accommodation. |
| Day 11: | Cookery class. Interesting, unusual and fun – a one day ‘hand’s on’ Thai cookery class including visit to the market to discover the bewildering array of local herbs, spices, fruit and veg! |
| Day 12: | Morning at leisure in Chiang Mai, check out the local markets, some last minute shopping or relaxing by the hotel pool, with an afternoon departure for Bangkok where we'll connect with the night sleeper train for Nakhorn Si Thammarat. |
| Day 13: | Morning arrival and afternoon tour to discover this southern town’s bustling markets and temples & checkout some of the local handicrafts. |
| Day 14: | Excursion to nearby Khao Luang National Park, site of the dramatic Kharom Waterfall – one of the highest and most spectacular in Thailand. Bathing, nature hike and scrambling up the falls! |
| Day 15: | On to Thale Noi Bird Sanctuary – one of the region’s most important water-bird sites – where we’ll travel by boat through the atmospheric marshes and lily-covered lakes. Afternoon visit to the Wat Tham Sumano cave temple complex and an evening arrival in Trang Town on the Andaman Coast. |
| Day 16: | One day jungle expedition to Ban-Traat Mountain. Hike through the rainforest, bathe in mountain streams and visit a Sakai settlement – a former hunter-gatherer, jungle dwelling people. |
| Day 17: | Head for the coast to Chao Mai National Park where we’ll canoe through mangrove swamps and along underground streams to visit the spectacular and mysterious, sacred sea caves. Afternoon transfer to Libong Island for accommodation at a secluded beachside resort. |
| Day 18: | Leisurely day on this tranquil island; make the most of the turquoise waters and sandy beaches, sling a hammock between a couple of palm trees or visit the local fishing village. |
| Day 19: | Boat tour through the spectacular scenery of Chao Mai National Marine Park, snorkel and swim on the archipelago’s vibrant coral reefs. |
| Day 20: | Morning at leisure to explore the island or top up your suntan, before returning to Trang or Krabi* for an evening flight to London via Bangkok. (*From Trang or Krabi depending upon schedules). |
| Day 21: | Morning arrival in London. |
travellers' tales
The elephant riding and the Thai cooking was the most memorable part. (more)
small group holiday
This is a 'small group adventure' - you will be sharing your experiences with like minded people. Group sizes are limited to a maximum of 11 persons, a genuinely small group. Experience has taught us that smaller groups are less intrusive to local cultures and environments whilst allowing more interaction with local people. Furthermore it means greater flexibility on a day to day basis and on a social level it proves to be fun. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends/family its good value, and a great way to meet new people! The intention is to travel as a group of friends rather than a typical tour group, so don't expect stick-on name badges or any following the umbrella. how this holiday makes a difference
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This itinerary includes a fascinating look into one of the indigenous ethnic minorities of the region. The home-stay at the Hmong village of Rom Klao. As well as educating our passenger to the ways of life of another lesser-known people of the region, it provides income directly to the owners of the houses in which we stay as well as indirectly for other members of the village.
Passengers are encouraged to make purchases, such as from the village shops and from individual crafts-people specifically, in this instance, embroidery from the women of the village. We then employ villagers to guide us through the jungle, further enhancing the benefit for the village as well as helping us to build up respectful and trusting relationships with the villagers. During an unusually cold winter last year we donated warm clothes and blankets to the village. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |