Thailand tours, discovery
| country: | Thailand |
| location: | Golden Triangle, Northern Thailand, Central Thailand |
| departures: | 2009: 28 Nov, 26 Dec |
| price: | From £1775 - £1890 (16 days) including domestic flights only, as per itinerary, based on twin share. Maximum group size is 15 people. We can arrange flights from the UK from around £500 per person including taxes. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Welcoming people and buzzing cities are just the beginning.
This 16-day journey is an intriguing exploration of the culture, landscapes and history of Thailand. From bustling Bangkok we head out to the beautiful River Kwai area, where we will soak up the stunning natural surrounds and learn more about the region’s turbulent past. The atmospheric ruins of Ayuthaya and Sukhothai will give you an insight into the origins of Thai culture before you head to the mountains, markets and colourful hilltribes of Chiang Mai and the Golden Triangle. If you have the time, we recommend our 4-day extension that will take you deeper into the hills of the north, to Mae Hong Son and the village of Pai.
Price includes: 15 nights hotel accommodation (2 nights basic), flights as specified, all road transport by air-conditioned vehicles, all sightseeing as specified (excluding entrance fees), Western tour leader (7 or more travellers) and local English-speaking guides throughout, arrival and departure transfers, breakfast daily, 2 lunches and 2 dinners.
This 16-day journey is an intriguing exploration of the culture, landscapes and history of Thailand. From bustling Bangkok we head out to the beautiful River Kwai area, where we will soak up the stunning natural surrounds and learn more about the region’s turbulent past. The atmospheric ruins of Ayuthaya and Sukhothai will give you an insight into the origins of Thai culture before you head to the mountains, markets and colourful hilltribes of Chiang Mai and the Golden Triangle. If you have the time, we recommend our 4-day extension that will take you deeper into the hills of the north, to Mae Hong Son and the village of Pai.
Price includes: 15 nights hotel accommodation (2 nights basic), flights as specified, all road transport by air-conditioned vehicles, all sightseeing as specified (excluding entrance fees), Western tour leader (7 or more travellers) and local English-speaking guides throughout, arrival and departure transfers, breakfast daily, 2 lunches and 2 dinners.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-2: | Bangkok. Arrive in Bangkok and transfer to your hotel. This evening, meet your tour leader and group for a tour briefing and welcome drinks. While in Bangkok we will visit the Grand Palace, cruise the Chao Phraya River on a longtail boat, and explore one of Southeast Asia’s biggest and most impressive museums, the Thai National Museum. There will, of course, be time to savour some of the world’s best Thai cuisine and enjoy some of Asia’s best shopping. Hotel: Bel-Aire Princess. |
| Day 3-4: | River Kwai & Kanchanaburi. We depart Bangkok for the beautiful River Kwai region, enjoying an interactive cooking demonstration before boarding boats which will take us to our accommodation for the night – unique jungle rafts surrounded by towering mountains. The following day, we will discover some of the rich and turbulent history of the region, as we head to Hellfire Pass and the Bridge over the River Kwai. Hotels: Jungle Rafts, Felix River Kwai Resort. |
| Day 5-6: | Ayuthaya & Sukhothai. Today we travel east to the former Thai capital, Ayuthaya, stopping en route at Bang Pa-In, the former Royal summer residence. In Ayuthaya, we marvel at the impressive ruins, including the World Heritage-listed Wat Phra Sri Sanphet and Wat Mahathat. Visit the former Khmer outpost of Lopburi and the fascinating Folk Museum in Phitsanulok before arriving in Sukhothai, considered the birthplace of Thai culture. Hotels: Krungsri River Hotel, The Legendha Sukhothai. |
| Day 7-8: | Chiang Rai & Golden Triangle. Explore Sukhothai’s Buddha statues and atmospheric temples by bicycle then head to the mysterious Golden Triangle. Here we visit the local night markets, the Burmese border town of Mae Sai and the fascinating Hall of Opium. Hotel: Wiang Inn. |
| Day 9-12: | Lisu Lodge & Chiang Mai. Stop at the Chiang Dao Caves for a peak into these natural wonders. Then, deep in the countryside, you can ride elephants on a jungle trek, take a gentle rafting journey and overnight with the Lisu hilltribe at their award-winning ecolodge. Visit the local shaman, take some free time to absorb the countryside and enjoy some delectable dishes. Hotel: Lisu Lodge, Primping Village. |
| Day 13-16: | Mae Hong Son & Pai . A short flight takes us to beautiful Mae Hong Son, near the Burmese border. Visit the local market and some of the many beautiful temples in the town then head to your atmospheric eco-resort. Ride a longtail boat along a picturesque river to some fascinating caves then travel to Pai, a small village with a bohemian feel. From here we trek into some of the nearby Lahu and Chinese Kuomintang villages before returning to Chiang Mai, where your adventure ends with an aiport transfer on day 16. Hotels: Fern Resort, The Quarter, Primping Village. |
small group adventure holiday
These small group journeys have a maximum of 15 like-minded travellers which ensures that all travellers have an amazing overall experience with the destination and that they enjoy the flexibility that comes with the small group dynamic. On this trip you will stay at boutique accommodation with character. Our numbers are discreet enough for us to interact with local families in their homes and meet people in markets, bazaars and temples – something that’s just not possible when you arrive as part of a large tour group. Along with our unique combination of Western tour leader and local English-speaking guide this will ensure an unforgettable travel experience.how this holiday makes a difference
 We believe that travel should entail an exchange of knowledge and perspectives, a sharing of wealth, and a genuine appreciation of Thailand’s beautiful natural environment. This philosophy underpins the heart and soul of our style of travel. We recognise that poorly planned itineraries or poorly informed tourists contribute less to cross-cultural understanding and less to the livelihoods of local people. Travelling by road, rail, longtail boat and elephant – our most comprehensive Thailand journey is an intriguing exploration of the culture, landscapes and history of the Land of Smiles. A stay at the award-winning locally run Lisu ecolodge near Chiang Mai is a key feature of this journey. The Lisu people are one of the many hill tribe ethnic groups living in the north of Thailand who migrated from Tibet in the 1920s. The Lodge has won several awards for its wonderful mountain atmosphere, and its employment of local people as managers, cooks, and hosts. During our stay here we have tea with a village shaman (witch doctor) – with your guide acting as a translator you will learn a little more about the life of the fascinating Lisu people. In Chiang Mai you will also have the opportunity to learn something of the wonders of Thai cuisine in a local market visit to buy fresh Asian vegetables and in a cooking class run by a friendly Thai family set in a Thai style house. This journey also includes a visit to Baan Lorca village, a community-run tourism project with entrance fees going directly to the village. During this journey we actively encourage our travellers to patronise or financially assist numerous not-for-profit organisations in Thailand including Cabbages and Condoms in Bangkok (a restaurant which helps fund Thai family planning projects). On this journey our local guides are trained to share their knowledge of cultural and other local issues in a balanced, informative way; in this journey alone you are likely to meet several local guides from different provinces in Thailand. They share real experiences from their own lives and insights into their family life, influences and beliefs, thus providing our travellers with a deeper understanding of the places they visit. This is what motivates our guides, not shopping commissions. |
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. |