Trails of Thailand tour
| country: | Thailand |
| location: | Khao Sok National Park, Northern Thailand, Central Thailand |
| departures: | 2008: 31 Aug, 28 Sep, 26 Oct, 23 Nov, 14 Dec |
| price: | From £1260 (11 days) excluding flights, single supplement £260. We can arranage flights from the UK. Maximum group size is 15 people. |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Paddle your canoe through the serene waterways of a beautiful national park, the excitement of Bangkok just days behind you and nature walks through pristine jungle ahead.
In just 11 days you will experience the energy of Thailand's largest city, as well as the tranquility of her two most beautiful national parks. Begin in Bangkok, one of Asia's most exciting and intoxicating capitals, and explore the evocative scenery in the River Kwai region. You will find the real highlights on this journey occur when you get off the beaten path. Khao Yai's lush forests and varied wildlife, and Khao Sok's waterfalls will keep you on the edge of your seat, canoe or pachyderm!
Accommodation is in hotels, Thai-style village, tented eco-camp & beach resort and travel is by modern air-conditioned vehicles, trekking, boat, canoe rafting and elephant ride. Our price includes breakfast daily, 5 lunches & 4 dinners, a tour leader and local English speaking guides, but not entrance fees (US $15, collected at the beginning of the trip).
In just 11 days you will experience the energy of Thailand's largest city, as well as the tranquility of her two most beautiful national parks. Begin in Bangkok, one of Asia's most exciting and intoxicating capitals, and explore the evocative scenery in the River Kwai region. You will find the real highlights on this journey occur when you get off the beaten path. Khao Yai's lush forests and varied wildlife, and Khao Sok's waterfalls will keep you on the edge of your seat, canoe or pachyderm!
Accommodation is in hotels, Thai-style village, tented eco-camp & beach resort and travel is by modern air-conditioned vehicles, trekking, boat, canoe rafting and elephant ride. Our price includes breakfast daily, 5 lunches & 4 dinners, a tour leader and local English speaking guides, but not entrance fees (US $15, collected at the beginning of the trip).
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-2: | Bangkok. Arrive in Bangkok and absorb the energy of the megalopolis as you explore the Grand Palace, the Chao Phraya River, Wat Arun and the Royal Barges Museum. In your free time enjoy Asia’s best shopping and restaurants. |
| Day 3-4: | River Kwai & Kanchanaburi. The beautiful wilderness area surrounding Kanchanaburi is where you will discover spectacular scenery and a fascinating recent history. Take a ride on the ‘Death Railway’ and explore Hellfire Pass and Museum. Your trek to the seven-tiered waterfalls at Erawan National Park is sure to be memorable. |
| Day 5-6: | Ayuthaya & Khao Yai National Park. In Ayuthaya see ancient monuments and temples. Continue on to Khao Yai in time for sunset. Here you might spot a wild elephant on guided nature drives and walks. A jungle trek is the best way to acquaint yourself with this pristine environment. |
| Day 7-11: | Khao Sok National Park & Phuket . Fly to Phuket and continue on to your comfortable tented jungle accommodation for nature walks and canoeing. A Burmese boat will bring you to ideal swimming and snorkelling venues. Get ready for a jungle trek and an elephant ride before you return to Phuket. Depart on day 11. |
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. The focus of this journey is on Thailand’s wildlife and national parks, discovering the Land of Smiles from her centre to the south for a jungle adventure. This journey includes a stay at Elephant Hills, a landmark eco-resort set in Khao Sok National Park which is dedicated to the concepts of local village employment, waste reduction, the use of solar power, and the protection of surrounding fauna. We are also proud to announce that we recently donated two computers to a local school project supported by Elephant Hills. 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. |