Thailand adventure holiday, Rivers & Tribes
| country: | Thailand |
| location: | Thai hill tribes, Northern Thailand, Central Thailand |
| trip type: | Moderate walking holidays |
| departures: | 2008: 13 Dec 2009: 24 Jan, 14 Feb, 4 Apr, 9 May, 25 Jul, 26 Sep, 13 Dec |
| price: | From £999 (14 days) including flights from the UK, from £629 excluding flights. Local payment US $150 - US $200 |
| offers: | If you organise a group of 6 – 9 people onto one of our adventures we will give you £50 off per person. If you organise a group of 10 or more people onto one of our adventures one person will go FREE. Offer can not be combined with any other promotion. The booking must comprise of a minimum of 6 people, with 1 lead passenger who all the booking correspondence will be sent to. Adult prices must be more than £900 per passenger. Valid on all trips departing before 30 Sept 2009. |
the amazing things you'll be doing
This adventurous journey provides a real insight into Thailand's varied culture. You'll visit ornate temples and ancient cities as well as coming face-to-face with tribal villagers, Buddhist monks and seeing simple dance rituals and perhaps festivals. You can also extend your trip with a relaxing few days on the island of Ko Samet or even combine with our 'Rainforest & Island Safari' trip in the south of Thailand.
Chiang Mai: After exploring the canals of Bangkok by long-tailed boat we board the night train and head to Chiang Mai. Here we visit the golden temple of Wat Prathat on Doi Suthep Mountain, and enjoy a day cycling along narrow roads through orchards and vegetable gardens, past Chinese-style temples and traditional teak houses. Each evening the streets come alive with a night market.
Hilltribe trek and Sukhothai: Heading into the hills we trek among villages of the Karen, Shan, Lisu and Lahu tribes. Each has its own distinct language, customs and beliefs. Returning to Chiang Mai from the quiet frontier town of Mae Hong Son, we take the train south. At Sukhothai – ancient walled capital of 13th century Thailand – we take to two wheels again to explore the countless temples that dot the city.
Rice barge and River Kwai: Next we board a converted rice barge to cruise the quiet waters of the Sakaeerang River. At Kanchanaburi we'll have an opportunity to walk along the Bridge on the River Kwai – there's plenty to see and do in the area: you could hire kayaks, take a samlor tour or even a Thai cooking lesson! At the end of your trip we recommend an extra couple of days on Koh Samet island, where palm trees and sandy beaches provide a relaxing end to this incredible trip.
Chiang Mai: After exploring the canals of Bangkok by long-tailed boat we board the night train and head to Chiang Mai. Here we visit the golden temple of Wat Prathat on Doi Suthep Mountain, and enjoy a day cycling along narrow roads through orchards and vegetable gardens, past Chinese-style temples and traditional teak houses. Each evening the streets come alive with a night market.
Hilltribe trek and Sukhothai: Heading into the hills we trek among villages of the Karen, Shan, Lisu and Lahu tribes. Each has its own distinct language, customs and beliefs. Returning to Chiang Mai from the quiet frontier town of Mae Hong Son, we take the train south. At Sukhothai – ancient walled capital of 13th century Thailand – we take to two wheels again to explore the countless temples that dot the city.
Rice barge and River Kwai: Next we board a converted rice barge to cruise the quiet waters of the Sakaeerang River. At Kanchanaburi we'll have an opportunity to walk along the Bridge on the River Kwai – there's plenty to see and do in the area: you could hire kayaks, take a samlor tour or even a Thai cooking lesson! At the end of your trip we recommend an extra couple of days on Koh Samet island, where palm trees and sandy beaches provide a relaxing end to this incredible trip.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Join trip Bangkok |
| Day 2: | Bangkok: explore canals, Grand Palace and temples. Overnight train to Chiang Mai |
| Day 3-4: | Chiang Mai: visit Doi Suthep. Cycle through villages |
| Day 5-6: | Trek to hilltribe villages |
| Day 7-8: | Complete trek; free in Mae Hong Son |
| Day 8: | Fly to Chiang Mai; free |
| Day 10-11: | Train/drive to Sukhothai; explore temples by bike |
| Day 12: | Rice barge trip; drive to Kanchanaburi |
| Day 14: | Trip ends Bangkok |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its 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 new people as well as seeing new places.how this holiday makes a difference
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On this trip: We work with a Thai owned local agency who employs local guides, drivers and the group leader on our behalf. Money from our visit reaches a wide range of people from local hoteliers to restaurateurs. Our small groups have minimal impact on the environment, whilst reinforcing the need to maintain a strong cultural identity, protecting sites of historical and natural importance.
We are usually able to visit a hilltribe orphanage in Chiang Mai. This is an optional trip, the charge from which goes to the orphanage. We also donate $5 per person who visits. Our Responsible Travel Code: Clients who travel with us will automatically receive a copy of our Responsible Travel leaflet. This contains details and advice on how you can make a positive difference when you travel. If you would like a copy in advance of travel please contact us. Charity Partnerships: We work in partnership with Plan International. Plan works with some of the world’s poorest communities where three out of four children die before the age of five. We also support Friends of Conservation – an international charity committed to working with local people to develop a balance between their needs and the wildlife with which they share the natural habitat and ecosystems. Carbon Balancing: Global warming is a real issue and is a direct result of your travel. We have teamed up with Climate Care to give you the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions from your flight. You’ll be asked upon booking if you want to donate – with set amounts from £5. As a company we offset the carbon emissions from all staff travel in full. Our Foundation: We’ve highlighted a few of the ways in which we offer our support, financially or otherwise, and now you can, too. We have set up our own foundation, which will administer funds donated by you. A small donation of £1 per person will be taken when booking a holiday and that money will be put to good use by one of our carefully selected projects. If you don’t want to make the donation, just tell us when you book. |
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. |