Thailand activity holiday, bike, hike & raft
| country: | Thailand |
| location: | Thai hill tribes, Northern Thailand, Central Thailand |
| trip type: | Moderate walking holidays Moderate cycling holidays |
| departures: | 2009: 21 Nov, 5 Dec, 19 Dec 2010: 2 Jan, 16 Jan, 13 Feb, 27 Mar, 10 Apr, 17 Jul, 14 Aug, 18 Sep, 16 Oct, 13 Nov, 18 Dec 2011: 15 Jan, 19 Feb, 12 Mar, 2 Apr |
| price: | From £550 (13 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Fancy some outdoor activity in a tropical paradise? Now's your chance as we launch into remote highlands from one of Asia's most cosmopolitan cities. Traverse steamy rainforests on foot to visit colourful hilltribes, cruise down the River Kwai on kayaks and explore the lesser-known side of Chiang Mai while observing life from a bicycle. The diversity of exciting outdoor options makes Thailand a haven for adventurers.
day-by-day itinerary
| Days 1-2: | Bangkok. Jump on a bike and cycle through the quiet backstreets of this steamy metropolis to gain a unique insight into city life. Riding around Bangkok is a fun and unusual way to see the city. There's free time to tour the Grand Palace, enjoy a Thai massage or to visit a fortune teller at Wat Pho. |
| Days 3-5: | Hilltribe Trek. Get back to nature in the thick, green forests of northern Thailand for three days of trekking through hilltribe villages. Wander beneath enormous trees, ramble between emerald rice paddies and dive under rushing waterfalls. Have a go at adventure bamboo rafting at Akha village or maybe hit the markets to see local handicrafts. Stay in traditional Karon villages to discover intriguing hilltribe traditions and make friends with the locals. |
| Days 6-9: | Chiang Mai. Pedal along paths less-travelled through Chiang Mai's seldom-visited surrounding neighborhoods, passing beautiful houses en route to the jade-green countryside. At the end of a day's cycling, there's nothing quite like a soak in a traditional mud bath. Chiang Mai offers a range of mountain bike options and for those who still can't get enough adventure, there's rock climbing in the Mae On district. Alternatively, head to the famous Night Bazaar for a green curry or to haggle over handicrafts. |
| Days 10-12: | Kanchanaburi/River Kwai. Stop to pay tribute to lives lost on the Death Railway before pounding the pavements, or jump into a saamlaw to explore tranquil Kanchanaburi. After getting a history lesson at the Hellfire Pass Memorial, it's off to the River Kwai to kayak through its many farming villages before spending the night under the stars aboard a jungle raft. Why not soothe those weary muscles with a final massage, then celebrate the end of the adventure with a final group dinner. |
| Day 13: | Bangkok. The journey comes full circle on the busy streets of Bangkok. |
small group adventure holiday
This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers 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 people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more) Because of our small group size, we're able to guarantee departures for all of our trips. Once you have booked and paid your deposit, your trip is guaranteed to go!
highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.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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During our trip, our group leader and local guides take active steps to ensure our groups behave in an environmentally responsible manner, such as sticking to established trails, not leaving anything behind and not removing any plants in rural areas. They are also always eager to share information about their country and culture, and help you break down barriers in your interactions with local people.
Our overnight train journeys are a great way to get to know some of the friendly Thai people and your leader will encourage you to practice your Thai or make the most of the opportunity to teach some English to people onboard. We actively support Friends of the Asian Elephant, which aims to protect and conserve the welfare of elephants, both domesticated and wild and any contributions by travellers are gratefully accepted. At the end of our journey, travellers are encouraged to donate any unwanted clothing, medicines and bandages for distribution to local villages in the north of Thailand. |
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. |