Northern Thailand tour
| country: | Thailand |
| location: | Thai hill tribes, Northern Thailand |
| departures: | 2008: 22 Nov, 15 Dec, 24 Dec 2009: 11 Jan, 5 Feb, 2 Mar, 26 Mar, 23 Apr, 21 May, 14 Jun |
| price: | From £1280 - £1520 (12 days) including flights from UK, from £620 excluding flights. Price includes all transport, accommodation & activities specified in itinerary, all meals (except lunch on day 2 & dinner on day 10) |
| offers: | 5% off 15 Dec & 11 Jan departures |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Off the beaten track Northern Thailand tour
The delights of Thailand’s beaches and islands are world renowned – these mist shrouded mountains and lush forests of the far North are still waiting to be discovered.
Beginning in Bangkok we’ll head North via the ruined ancient Siamese Capital of Sukhothai to remote Nan Province on the Lao border to trek and raft through spectacular Mae Charim National Park.
Activities during the Northern Thailand tour include elephant riding, white-water rafting, overnight in tribal village, jungle trekking, Chiang Mai, Bangkok’s palaces and temples, ruins of Sukhothai, cookery lesson, and fabulous Thai food - something for everyone!
Please note: Extensions are available for the Northern Thailand tour, to Chiang Mai including cookery classes and spa stays.
The delights of Thailand’s beaches and islands are world renowned – these mist shrouded mountains and lush forests of the far North are still waiting to be discovered.
Beginning in Bangkok we’ll head North via the ruined ancient Siamese Capital of Sukhothai to remote Nan Province on the Lao border to trek and raft through spectacular Mae Charim National Park.
Activities during the Northern Thailand tour include elephant riding, white-water rafting, overnight in tribal village, jungle trekking, Chiang Mai, Bangkok’s palaces and temples, ruins of Sukhothai, cookery lesson, and fabulous Thai food - something for everyone!
Please note: Extensions are available for the Northern Thailand tour, to Chiang Mai including cookery classes and spa stays.
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: | Complete our northwards journey with a morning ride to remote Nan near the Lao border. This charming town, well off the beaten tourist trail, was an independent city-state until 1931 when it was finally incorporated into the Kingdom of Siam. |
| Day 7-9: | A unique three day experience trekking through the dramatic jungle clad mountains bordering Laos. Travelling by jeep and on foot, we’ll spend the first night as guests of a Hmong family in a tribal village and the second in chalets on the banks of the scenic Wa River. A white-water descent of the river on the final day completes the expedition. Return to Nan town on the evening of the day 9. |
| Day 10: | Scenic drive through the mountains to Chiang Mai with a stop-off for a visit and elephant ride at the Lampang Elephant orphanage. Evening tour of the town’s famous night bazaar. |
| Day 11: | A ‘hands on’ Thai cookery lesson: beginning with a guided tour of the markets bewildering selection of herbs, spices, exotic fruit and vegetables, you’ll then head off to the kitchen to cook (and then eat) your own lunch. Evening departure with a return flight to London via Bangkok. |
| Day 12: | Arrival in London. |
small group family 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 9 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. |