Timeless Thailand holiday
| country: | Thailand |
| location: | Northern Thailand, Central Thailand |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2010: 2 Apr, 16 Apr, 14 May, 28 May, 11 Jun, 2 Jul, 23 Jul, 13 Aug, 27 Aug, 17 Sep, 1 Oct, 22 Oct, 12 Nov, 3 Dec, 24 Dec 2011: 7 Jan, 28 Jan, 18 Feb, 11 Mar, 25 Mar, 15 Apr, 6 May, 27 May, 10 Jun, 24 Jun |
| price: | From £750 (10 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to Timeless Thailand holiday
Discover the exquisite Land of Smiles in style. Thailand conjures up images of spicy delicacies, majestic elephants, golden Buddhas, colourful hilltribe villages, fantastic shopping and exotic hideaways - and we experience it all on this trip. Witness traditional hilltribe life in a H'mong village, support the rehabilitation of the endangered Asian elephant, step back in time in the ancient kingdom of Sukhothai and try your hand at whipping up some gastronomic delights - this is your chance to capture the adventure and essence of timeless Thailand.
day-by-day itinerary
| Days 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. Take a boat trip through the khlongs to witness the remarkable contrast between city and canal-side life. |
| Days 3-4: | Chiang Mai. Learn to whip up local delicacies at a Thai cooking class and afterwards taste the fruits of your labour. Alternatively, take a guided bike ride to the ruined city of Wiang Kum Kam to explore its well-preserved ruins. Also included in the cycling tour is the partially ruined Wat Chedi Luang temple complex, where there is the opportunity for a chat with friendly monks, and a visit to the local market. In the evening, climb up to Doi Suthep, a sacred mountain famous for its wonderful copper-plated chedi and its sweeping views out over the countryside. |
| Day 5: | H'mong Lodge. Travel to where the rice fields meet the forest and get acquainted with Thailand's second-largest minority group - the H'mong. Admire the embroidered aprons, colourful sashes and silver jewellery worn by many H'mong females, and gain a fascinating insight into local customs during a display of traditional song and dance. Complete the experience with a delectable barbecue dinner. |
| Day 6: | Sukhothai. Nicknamed the Dawn of Happiness, Sukhothai still recalls Siam's golden age with its superb statues, marvellous monuments and lotus flowers in full bloom. Be bowled over by cute baby elephants at the Elephant Conservation Centre and maybe even take a ride on an adult. |
| Days 7-8: | Kanchanaburi/River Kwai. A sobering morning visit to the Hellfire Pass Memorial, which was built to honour the Allied POWs and Asian conscripts who died in the construction of the Thai-Burma Death Railway, is followed by a saamlaw ride to the Jeath War Museum and the infamous Death Railway Bridge. |
| Days 9-10: | Bangkok. Returning to Bangkok, there is ample time to visit any number of sights before a cruise and farewell dinner on the mighty Chao Phraya River. |
traveller reviews for Timeless Thailand holiday
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.
award winner
This tourism business won an Award in our 2006 First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society. The central tenet of the Awards, in which winners are nominated by tourists, is that all types of tourism – from niche to mainstream – can and should be operated in a way that respects and benefits destinations and local people.
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. |
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