Timeless Thailand holiday
| country: | Thailand |
| location: | Northern Thailand, Central Thailand |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | Departs most Fridays throughout the year |
| price: | From £455 (10 days) excluding flights, plus local payment Baht 4250 (approx £65). Optional single supplement £95. We can arrange flights from the UK. All departure dates are guaranteed |
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the amazing things you'll be doing
Bangkok, River Kwai, Sukhothai, elephant riding, Chiang Mai, hilltribe villages, Thai cooking school, Kanchanaburi
Unearth the exquisite 'land of smiles' in style.
Thailand conjures up images of spicy cuisine, majestic elephants, golden Buddhas, colourful hilltribe villages, fantastic shopping and exotic hideaways - this trip has it all. Discover the traditional way of life in a H'mong village, support the rehabilitation of the endangered Asian elephant, step back in time to imagine the ancient kingdom of Sukhothai's 'Dawn of Happiness' and try your hand at conjuring up some Thai gastronomic delights.
All this while experiencing the warm, peaceful welcome of the Thai people.
Unearth the exquisite 'land of smiles' in style.
Thailand conjures up images of spicy cuisine, majestic elephants, golden Buddhas, colourful hilltribe villages, fantastic shopping and exotic hideaways - this trip has it all. Discover the traditional way of life in a H'mong village, support the rehabilitation of the endangered Asian elephant, step back in time to imagine the ancient kingdom of Sukhothai's 'Dawn of Happiness' and try your hand at conjuring up some Thai gastronomic delights.
All this while experiencing the warm, peaceful welcome of the Thai people.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-2: | Bangkok. Bursting with life and colour, Bangkok is a modern city with an ancient heart. Visit the Emerald Buddha, housed beneath the gleaming spires of the Grand Palace. Later, take a boat trip through the city's khlongs and observe the water-based life of the people who live here. |
| Day 3-4: | Chiang Mai. Learn the secrets of Thai cuisine and feast on the delicious results at a cooking school. Alternatively take a guided bike ride to the ruined city of Wiang Kum Kam. In the evening visit hilltop Doi Suthep with its wonderful copperplated chedi and views over the countryside below. |
| Day 5: | H'mong Lodge. We head out of Chiang Mai to the surrounding rural areas where we have the chance to vist some of the Royal projects. Continue into the hilly countryside to get an insight into the life of the H'mong ethnic minority. Enjoy a barbecue and a cultural show in the evening. |
| Day 6: | Sukhothai. Head south to Sukhothai which literally means 'dawn of happiness', an apt name for a city considered to represent the golden age of Thai art, architecture and literature. Explore the historical park and cycle among the atmospheric ruins and ponds filled with lotus flowers. |
| Day 7-8: | Kanchanaburi. A sobering morning visit to the Hellfire Pass memorial is followed by a visit to the Jeath War Museum and the infamous Bridge on the River Kwai. |
| Day 9-10: | Bangkok. Returning to Bangkok there is ample time to visit any number of sights before a river cruise and farewell dinner on the mighty Chao Phraya River. |
travellers' tales
The temples in Angkor Wat / Siem Reap were incredible. The roads in Cambodia were pretty memorable as well [though for a completely different reason!]. (more)
small group adventure holiday
This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more) Because of our small group size, we're able to guarantee departures for all of our trips. Once you have booked and paid your deposit, your trip is guaranteed to go!
highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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During our trip, our group leader and local guides take active steps to ensure our groups behave in an environmentally responsible manner, such as not leaving anything behind and not removing any plants in rural areas. They are also always eager to share information about their country and culture, and help you break down barriers in your interactions with local people.
We actively support Friends of the Asian Elephant, which aims to protect and conserve the welfare of elephants, both domesticated and wild and any contributions by travellers are gratefully accepted. At the end of our journey, travellers are encouraged to donate any unwanted clothing, medicines and bandages for distribution to local villages in the north of Thailand. |
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. |