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: | Selected Saturday departures throughout the year |
| price: | From £520 (13 days) excluding flights, local payment Baht 10000 (approx £160). We can arrange flights from the UK. All departure dates are guaranteed |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Fancy some outdoor activity in a true paradise?
Northern Thailand plays host to numerous cultures and lifestyles that beg discovery.
Launch into remote highlands from one of Asia's most cosmopolitan cities, traverse dense tropical jungle 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 the saddle of a bicycle.
The diversity of exciting outdoor options makes Thailand a haven for adventurers.
Northern Thailand plays host to numerous cultures and lifestyles that beg discovery.
Launch into remote highlands from one of Asia's most cosmopolitan cities, traverse dense tropical jungle 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 the saddle of a bicycle.
The diversity of exciting outdoor options makes Thailand a haven for adventurers.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-2: | Bangkok. Take to the saddle on a cycle through the quiet back streets of this steamy metropolis. There is free time to visit Wat Pho and have your fortune revealed, tour the Grand Palace or enjoy a Thai massage. |
| Day 3-5: | Ban Pa Glui. Get your boots dirty and head out to the green forests of Thailand for three days of outdoor exploration. Trek through thick jungle, rice paddies and farms. Rejuvenate your body with a dip under refreshing waterfalls, a soak in hot springs or a tribal massage. Stay in the villages of the Karen, Lahu and Akha people and discover the intriguing traditions of these remote hilltribes. This is the best way to experience the northern highlands of Thailand. |
| Day 6-9: | Chiang Mai. Take the path less travelled and ride through Chiang Mai's neighbourhoods and out into the rolling countryside. At the end of a day's cycling there's nothing quite like a soak in a traditional mud bath! On the return journey, trade gentle hills for the flat wide landscapes of rice paddies. For those who can't get enough, there are mountain biking options back in Chiang Mai or simply wander the city and visit one of the 300 temples. |
| Day 10-12: | River Kwai. Pay tribute to lives lost on the 'Death Railway' at Hellfire Pass. Down at the River Kwai it's time for some fun in the water. Kayak down the river past farming villages and spend the night aboard jungle rafts. Celebrate our awesome adventure with a final night's dinner. |
| Day 13: | Bangkok. The trip finishes on arrival in 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. |