Thailand holidays, tailor made
| country: | Thailand |
| location: | Thai hill tribes, Northern Thailand |
| departures: | This trip can be tailor-made and departures can be arranged all year. The sample itinerary below can be modified to your personal wishes including departure date, duration, accommodation used & how long you spend in each destination. |
| price: | From £2200 (17 days) including flights from the UK, private transfers, accommodation and services of an experienced driver/guide. This trip can also be booked without flights |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
This itinerary focuses primarily on the North of the country which is home to many of Thailand's indigenous tribes and some of the most verdant hill country in South East Asia. You will start your trip in a wonderful boutique hotel in the heart of Bangkok. A cycle tour will introduce you to a side of Bangkok unseen by the majority of tourists. From Bangkok you will travel North East to Khao Yai which is a great place to spot some of Thailand's native wildlife.
Then it's North through the heart of the country to The Sukhothai historical park where you can explore numerous temple ruins and statues. After Sukhothai Chiang Mai awaits with its wonderful moated city walls and beguiling night market. A side trip to Lisu Lodge will introduce you to local life and give you a taste of adventure with mountain biking and rafting available. Chiang Mai to Doi Angkhang is one of the most picturesque journeys in Thailand and leads to an area rich in natural beauty and populated by local hilltribe people. Your adventure will end with a 3 nights of luxury in the Anantara resort situated in the fascinating Golden Triangle region.
Then it's North through the heart of the country to The Sukhothai historical park where you can explore numerous temple ruins and statues. After Sukhothai Chiang Mai awaits with its wonderful moated city walls and beguiling night market. A side trip to Lisu Lodge will introduce you to local life and give you a taste of adventure with mountain biking and rafting available. Chiang Mai to Doi Angkhang is one of the most picturesque journeys in Thailand and leads to an area rich in natural beauty and populated by local hilltribe people. Your adventure will end with a 3 nights of luxury in the Anantara resort situated in the fascinating Golden Triangle region.
best time to travel
The best time of year to do this itinerary would be from November to the end of March when the weather will be warm and dry. It would be possible to do the itinerary year round but outside the dry season you should expect some humidity and wet spells while you travel.day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Fly to Bangkok |
| Day 2: | On arrival you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. You have the afternoon at leisure to explore your surroundings: Baan Chantra, Bangkok. Superior room. Breakfast is included |
| Day 3: | Just across the Chao Praya River in Bangkok lies the city's secret garden - Bang Krao Jao. This tour is a very easy ride along a maze of waterways and through lush urban jungle. Baan Chantra, Bangkok. Superior room. Breakfast is included |
| Day 4: | Leaving the hustle and bustle of Bangkok behind, you drive north to Bang Pa-in, for a visit to the beautiful grounds and buildings of the Royal Summer Palace. After being shown around by your guide, you continue on to Ayuthaya to visit some of the famous temples around the city. After lunch, you continue northeast towards Khao Yai National Park, where you arrive late afternoon. You will stay at the Kirimaya resort which is an oasis of calm on the edge of the national park. Kirimaya Resort, Khao Yai National Park. Plantation room. Breakfast is included |
| Day 5: | Your easy trek today will take you through some of the nature trails which will hopefully allow you to come into close contact with the local wildlife. Kirimaya Resort, Khao Yai National Park. Plantation room. Breakfast is included |
| Day 6: | A long but very interesting journey will take you North to Sukhothai. They will be plenty of opportunity to stop and sample some of the local highlights such as the Summer Palace at Lopburi. Tharaburi Resort, Sukhothai. Deluxe room. Breakfast is included |
| Day 7: | Enjoy a full day exploring the 13th century ruins of Sukhothai one of Thailand’s most impressive UNESCO World Heritage sites. Tharaburi Resort, Sukhothai. Deluxe room. Breakfast is included |
| Day 8: | Continue your fascinating journey through the heart of Thailand as you proceed north to the Northern capital: Chiang Mai. Kao Mai Lanna, Chiang Mai. Deluxe room. Breakfast is included |
| Day 9: | Today you will visit The Elephant Nature Foundation. This is a non-profit organisation that advocates and acts on behalf of rights for elephants in Thailand. The park offers visitors a rare experience to get involved with the elephants from an educational perspective. Visitors are not there to observe the elephants performing tricks, or to ride the elephants, but are there to observe elephants grazing, playing, interacting, and behaving as they would in the wild. Kao Mai Lanna, Chiang Mai. Deluxe room. Breakfast is included |
| Day 10: | This unique tour offers an insight into the Lisu and Akha tribal villages of Northern Thailand as well as appealing to your adventurous side with mountain biking, rafting and an elephant ride through the scenic Mae Tang valley. Kao Mai Lanna, Chiang Mai. Deluxe room. Breakfast is included |
| Day 11: | Your morning will begin with a visit to the Baan King Kaew orphanage. It was opened through the generous donations of a Thai Lady and will give you an opportunity to play with and spend time with the orphans. Further assistance can also be given through child sponsorship and donations.Later you will take one of the most scenic roads in Thailand to the beautiful region of Doi Angkhang. Angkhang Nature Resort, Doi Angkhang. Mountain View. Breakfast is included |
| Day 12: | Today you can discuss with your guide on the excursion which appeals to you most. This morning you can begin the day with a two hour trek with your guide through the lush mountainous region to a view point nearly two kilometres above sea level. If you would rather cycle, you could choose to spend the morning with your guide on a one and a half hour bike ride around the King's Royal Projects. In the afternoon you will visit the hill tribes of Palong, Nor Lae and Lahu Khob Dong. You then head back to your accommodation for an evening meal and overnight stay. Angkhang Nature Resort, Doi Angkhang. Mountain View. Breakfast is included |
| Day 13: | Today you depart the mountain region of Doi Angkhang and take a 45 minute car journey to the provincial town of Thaton. On arrival at Thaton you will board your private boat with your guide and meander along the Kok River stopping off at a Lahu village and/or Karen village depending on the height of the river. This journey can take between three and five hours subject to the rainfall at that time of year. It is a most interesting journey that takes you through rural, untouched scenery. Anantara Resort, Golden Triangle. Deluxe room. Breakfast is included |
| Day14: | A day to spend at your leisure at the stunning Anantara Resort. Anantara Resort, Golden Triangle. Deluxe room. Breakfast is included |
| Day 15: | Today you will visit the fascinating opium museum which will guide you through the history of the Golden Triangle Opium trade which has now been irradiated from the region. Anantara Resort, Golden Triangle. Deluxe room. Breakfast is included |
| Day 16: | You have the morning at leisure before taking a road transfer to Chiang Rai Airport where you will catch your flight to Bangkok. International Flight |
| Day 17: | At Bangkok airport you will transit with your flight back home to London |
tailor made holidays
This trip can be tailor made to create a unique holiday for your individual requirements by travel experts with intimate knowledge of the destination. It is a more individual trip that will suit those who enjoy immersing themselves in new cultures and environments, with the flexibility to plan a trip at your own pace. Quality and value are the hallmark of these trips, with most services being provided on a private basis.how this holiday makes a difference
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Environment:
We have tried to ensure all elements of the itinerary have a nod towards the responsible tourism practices. The resort promotes many natural pursuits such as hiking ,jogging, mule riding, mountain biking, birdwatching, a visit to hilltribe villages and a visit to the Royal Angkhang Agricultural Research Station. The Anantara in The Golden Triangle is affliated with The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation. This was set up primarily to help elephants that cannot help themselves, those that find themselves through abuse or through circumstance unable to provide and maintain an income for themselves, their mahouts and their families. The resort runs and maintains an elephant camp where visitors can interact and learn more about these gentle giants. All the excursions have been chosen with the intention of educating the visitor to the RT side of Thailand as well as providing a wealth of unforgettable experiences. The exploration in Khao Yai will take you to the national park headquarters where you will learn more about the conservation measures which are being implemented in the park. In Chiang Mai we have recommended a visit to the Elephant Nature Foundation. This is a non-profit organization which advocates and acts on behalf of the rights of Asian elephants in Thailand. Its mission is to increase awareness about the plight of the endangered Asian elephant, educate locals on the humane treatment of their elephants, and provide sanctuary for rescued elephants at the nature park. You also have an opportunity to visit the Baan Kingkaew orphanage which has been open since 1966. With the assistance of your guide you can volunteer your own time to feed and play with the 50 orphans. This will be an unforgettable opportunity to truly connect with the people of Thailand. We have avoided internal flights wherever possible. As well as working well from an RT perspective we also believe this will allow you to experience Thailand from a more direct perspective. Community: The hotels we have used are all smaller locally owned properties who employ locals from the surrounding areas. The Tharaburi Resort enourages visitors to cycle around the historical park and promotes visits to the local community market. The Kao Mai Lanna hotel in Chiang Mai has been built by rennovating old tobacco curing barns which had lay unused after the Northern Thai tobbacco industry died out twenty years ago. The Doi Angkhang Nature Resort has been developed as part of the Royal Angkhang Research Station, under the Royal Project Foundation. The vast majority of the guides and drivers used in the itinerary are local. |
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. |