Thailand islands tour
| country: | Thailand |
| location: | Southern Thailand |
| departures: | 2009: 30 Nov 2010: 18 Jan, 22 Feb, 29 Mar, 1 Nov, 15 Nov, 29 Nov, 13 Dec, 20 Dec 2011: 17 Jan, 28 Feb, 14 Mar, 11 Apr |
| price: | From £1346 - £1895 (15 days) including flights from the UK. Price includes 11 breakfasts, and accommodation. From £826 - £995 excluding flights |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Southern Thailand is blessed with a rich diversity of natural and cultural splendour, from the vibrant streets of Bangkok, filled to overflowing with ornate palaces and bustling markets, to the sun blessed shores of the glittering islands that dot the Andaman Sea: pristine jewels of white beaches, remote coves and virgin rainforest. These smiling lands provide the perfect backdrop for a unique adventure amidst the jungles and islands of Southeast Asia.
Beginning our journey in the Thai capital we explore Bangkok’s eclectic streets by ferry and on foot, visiting the sumptuous elegance of the Grand Palace and seeing for ourselves the mystical Buddhas of Wat Phra Kaeo and Wat Po. From here we take a morning flight to Phuket, followed by a fast speedboat to the tiny island of Racha Yai, where we have 2 days to enjoy the sand and sea around this island paradise. Returning to Phuket, we then travel to Krabi, where we have some time to relax amongst the stunning limestone landscapes and pristine beaches of some of Southern Thailand most glorious landscapes. Then it is on to the towering cliffs and rich, forested islands of the Andaman Sea, where stunning beaches and clear blue warm waters await us.
Our first stop is the serene beauty of Koh Lanta, perfect for snorkelling, diving or just relaxing. There is plenty of time to enjoy the delights of the island at your own pace, including an option to visit the spectacular Koh Phi Phi islands, stunning setting for “The Beach”. Our third island destination is that of Koh Hai, a glorious jewel of white sand and verdant forests, where we enjoy a boat trip out to the staggering 'Emerald Cave' on Koh Muk and allow you plenty of time to swim, snorkel and perhaps enjoy a walk or two amidst the serene splendour of Koh Hai’s national park.
With time set aside for personal exploration and activities, you really can do as much or as little as you wish during your stay here. Then we return full circle, taking an overnight train back to Bangkok and journey’s end.
Highlights include:
Bangkok City tour by ferry and on foot: to include the Grand Palace, the Emerald Buddha and the temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Po). Koh Racha Yai - Snorkelling, swimming and relaxing on a tranquil island paradise. Krabi - Spectacular beaches and limestone landscapes. Koh Lanta - One of Thailand’s gems in the Andaman Sea. Koh Hai - Small and the least developed of all the islands with fine white sand and surrounded by a ring of coral. Also visit nearby Koh Muk and the secret ‘Emerald Cave’.
Beginning our journey in the Thai capital we explore Bangkok’s eclectic streets by ferry and on foot, visiting the sumptuous elegance of the Grand Palace and seeing for ourselves the mystical Buddhas of Wat Phra Kaeo and Wat Po. From here we take a morning flight to Phuket, followed by a fast speedboat to the tiny island of Racha Yai, where we have 2 days to enjoy the sand and sea around this island paradise. Returning to Phuket, we then travel to Krabi, where we have some time to relax amongst the stunning limestone landscapes and pristine beaches of some of Southern Thailand most glorious landscapes. Then it is on to the towering cliffs and rich, forested islands of the Andaman Sea, where stunning beaches and clear blue warm waters await us.
Our first stop is the serene beauty of Koh Lanta, perfect for snorkelling, diving or just relaxing. There is plenty of time to enjoy the delights of the island at your own pace, including an option to visit the spectacular Koh Phi Phi islands, stunning setting for “The Beach”. Our third island destination is that of Koh Hai, a glorious jewel of white sand and verdant forests, where we enjoy a boat trip out to the staggering 'Emerald Cave' on Koh Muk and allow you plenty of time to swim, snorkel and perhaps enjoy a walk or two amidst the serene splendour of Koh Hai’s national park.
With time set aside for personal exploration and activities, you really can do as much or as little as you wish during your stay here. Then we return full circle, taking an overnight train back to Bangkok and journey’s end.
Highlights include:
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Fly London/Bangkok |
| Day 2: | Arrive Bangkok |
| Day 3: | In Bangkok; city tour |
| Day 4: | Fly to Phuket; ferry to Koh Racha Yai |
| Day 5: | On Koh Racha Yai; boat trip around island for snorkelling |
| Day 6: | Ferry to Phuket; drive Nopparat Beach (Krabi) |
| Day 7: | At Nopparat Beach |
| Day 8: | Ferry to Koh Lanta |
| Day 9: | Optional boat trips, snorkelling, cookery or elephant rides |
| Day 10: | Ferry to Koh Hai island |
| Day 11-12: | On Koh Hai; boat trip to Emerald Cave, optional day trip to Phi Phi |
| Day 13: | Ferry to Krabi; drive Trang, overnight train Bangkok |
| Day 14-15: | Fly/Arrive London |
small group cultural tours
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 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 new people as well as experiencing new cultures.award winner
This tourism business won an Award in our 2008 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Daily Telegraph, World Travel Market, Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society and BBC World News.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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On this tour we use knowledgeable Thai tour leaders with a strong love for their own countries, their rich cultures and traditions, and a desire to share the wonders of their country with you. As an investment both in their future and ours, we run an annual dedicated training course for them, a strong focus of which is to raise their awareness of responsible tourism practices so they can ensure that our tours run in accordance with our code of practice. For example, at the start of each trip they are able to provide guidance concerning local customs and culture so as to ensure that local sensibilities are respected and advise re: wasteful use of air-conditioning in the hotels.
On the islands, where possible, we choose to stay in locally run accommodation, with a commitment to minimising the environmental impact of their operation. For example, where electricity is supplied by generator, it is not available during the daytime and we rely on sea breezes to keep cool. The island resorts provide employment opportunities for local people in an otherwise economically disadvantaged area. Passengers are encouraged to eat in a variety of different locally run restaurants where these are available to spread the economic impact of their visit. We limit the group size on this tour to 16 to assist in reducing both the potential negative cultural and environmental impact of our visit. As well as the above, we support a variety of charities and projects worldwide, which support vulnerable communities and habitats including Friends of Conservation and Send a Cow. We are also actively engaged with UK travel industry bodies, which promote best practice in responsible tourism such as the Travel Foundation and AITO. Our commitment to responsible tourism is not limited to our overseas operation and we have measures to ensure our UK office operates according to our responsible tourism policy. We offset the emissions of all our customer and staff flights through Climate Care. |
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. |