Northern Thailand tour
| country: | Thailand |
| location: | Thai hill tribes, Northern Thailand |
| departures: | 2009: 22 Nov, 15 Dec, 24 Dec 2010: 17 Jan, 11 Feb, 6 Mar, 27 Mar, 24 Apr |
| price: | From £1580 - £1880 (12 days) including flights from the UK, from £800 - £900 excluding flights. Price includes all transport, accommodation & activities specified in itinerary, all meals (except lunch on days 2 & 11 & dinner on days 6 & 11) |
| late availability: | Late availability for Christmas departure |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
The delights of Thailand’s beaches and islands are world renowned – these mist shrouded mountains, lush forests and remote villages of the far North are still waiting to be discovered. Beginning in Bangkok we’ll head North via the ruined, ancient Siamese city of Sukhothai to Chiang Mai, Thailand’s Northern capital, from where we’ll continue into the infamous Golden Triangle Region for an exciting journey by foot, elephant and boat.
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 Banglamphu district. Afternoon free 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 including 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 discover the local markets. |
| Day 5: | Bicycle tour of the nearby, 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 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: | Day at leisure in Chiang Mai, check out the local markets, some last minute shopping or relaxing by the hotel pool, with an evening departure for London, via Bangkok. (Note on this day an optional Thai cookery lesson can be arranged if desired.) |
| Day 12: | Arrival in London. |
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 Northern Thailand tour includes a fascinating look into one of the indigenous ethnic minorities of the region with a 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.
During the Northern Thailand tour 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. |