Small group holiday to Thailand, rainforest and islands
| country: | Thailand |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2009: 24 Dec 2010: 11 Feb, 1 Apr, 27 May, 29 Jul, 21 Oct, 23 Dec 2011: 17 Feb, 9 Apr, 26 May, 28 Jul, 20 Oct, 20 Dec |
| price: | From £1429 - £1899 (12 days) including flights from the UK. From £849 - £1199 excluding flights. Local payment $150 USD. |
| late availability: | Late availability on 24th December departures |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Journey into stunning little-visited parts of southern Thailand
Khao Sok Rainforest
After a day exploring Bangkok you board the overnight train south to Khao Sok. You’ll discover some of the best remaining rainforest in Thailand - with superb trails, rivers and cliffs. From your base you’ll walk to nearby waterfalls and learn about the flora and fauna. There’s also the chance to go ‘inner-tubing’ down rivers and to ride elephants.
Escape to the Islands
In addition to a sea kayaking expedition, you'll have plenty of time to relax and enjoy the lively atmosphere of Ao Nang as well as the opportunity to enjoy SCUBA diving (optional). You also head to Koh Lanta, considered one of Thailand’s most eco-friendly resorts. From your small beach villa you can explore the deserted coastline spotting hornbill, sea eagle, heron and maybe giant sea turtle (Jan to May). You'll enjoy a boat trip to snorkel near surrounding islands discovering a treasure trove of beautiful marine life.
Khao Sok Rainforest
After a day exploring Bangkok you board the overnight train south to Khao Sok. You’ll discover some of the best remaining rainforest in Thailand - with superb trails, rivers and cliffs. From your base you’ll walk to nearby waterfalls and learn about the flora and fauna. There’s also the chance to go ‘inner-tubing’ down rivers and to ride elephants.
Escape to the Islands
In addition to a sea kayaking expedition, you'll have plenty of time to relax and enjoy the lively atmosphere of Ao Nang as well as the opportunity to enjoy SCUBA diving (optional). You also head to Koh Lanta, considered one of Thailand’s most eco-friendly resorts. From your small beach villa you can explore the deserted coastline spotting hornbill, sea eagle, heron and maybe giant sea turtle (Jan to May). You'll enjoy a boat trip to snorkel near surrounding islands discovering a treasure trove of beautiful marine life.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Depart London Fly to Bangkok on overnight flight. |
| Day 2: | Bangkok After your flight you transfer to your first night’s accommodation and check in. Bangkok is the epitome of the modern, steaming Asian metropolis; no matter what your interests, there is something here for everyone. With time to relax and get over any jet lag there are several optional visits you could make. A visit to Wat Trimit will reveal a solid gold Buddha image weighing a staggering 5½ tonnes! Alternatively, the house of the wealthy silk magnate, Jim Thompson - who disappeared in mysterious circumstances - is now a museum containing great examples of traditional Thai furniture and is well worth a visit. All the above trips are optional and are a great introduction to this fascinating city. Hotel – 1 night |
| Day 3: | Bangkok; overnight train This morning you set off by boat to explore the waterways of Bangkok. Life along the canals, or klongs as they are called, is totally different from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the city - it’s like entering a different world. After taking lunch –perhaps at a waterside café, you’ll visit the Grand Palace, with its many spectacular temples, the most famous of which is the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. This spectacular collection of buildings was once the seat of power and was built to be self-sufficient. You also visit Wat Po, home of the Reclining Buddha - 46 metres in length! Tonight you board the overnight train to Chiang Mai. Berth on sleeper train - 1 night |
| Day 4-5: | Khao Sok National Park Arriving at Surat Thani early in the morning, there’s time for breakfast at a café near the railway station, before you drive for a couple of hours to Khao Sok National Park. Here you find some of Thailand’s best remaining rainforest, which is an incredible 150 million years old! Here amongst the giant tropical hardwood trees the limestone ‘karst’ formations stretch up from the jungle floor. This exciting national park is home to some of the country’s rarest animals, including leopard, Malayan sun bear, elephant, langur and even tiger, though they are elusive and rarely seen. During your two-day stay you have plenty of time to explore. Included is a half-day walk to learn more about the tropical rainforest ecosystem and perhaps visit incredible stalactite caves. Although the walking is not difficult and you carry only a daypack, it can be tiring, as conditions are hot and underfoot it’s often wet and slippery. In the rainy season you may be able to take to the river in inner tubes and float downstream through the rainforest (depends on water level), listening to the calls of gibbons and the other sounds of the jungle (optional). As you would expect in the jungle, facilities are basic; however the setting of superb limestone cliffs, mountains and rainforest more than makes up for any lack of western comforts. There is the opportunity for those who wish to, to take a short elephant ride during your stay (optional.) Lodge - 2 nights |
| Day 6: | Discover village life From the rainforest, you’ll head to the rural village of Ban Talae Nok on the Andaman coast. After a welcome and introduction to this fantastic Community Based Tourism initiative, you'll meet your host family and what follows will be a positive cultural interchange where you’ll experience what life is like in this Thai village community. You can participate in an array of everyday life activities, and you'll enjoy a boat trip through mangrove forest as well as sunset on the beach and sharing meals with your host family. Homestay – 1 night (LD) |
| Day 7-8: | Ao Nang After a morning's activities you say your farewells to the villagers at Ban Talae Nok and head south to the lively resort of Ao Nang. With its many bars and restaurants and superb coastal views Ao Nang is the perfect place to let your hair down and explore by sea kayak. The timing (either morning or afternoon) of your sea kayak adventure depends on the tides as you set out to paddle around some of the dramatic, looming limestone monoliths that rise out of the sea in Phang Nga Bay. Hundreds of years ago, Krabi province's waters were a favourite hideout for Asian pirates because of its intricate coves and hidden caves; the islands provided safe moorings for these corsairs. If time permits the more adventurous could take the short hop across to stunning Raileh Beach, famous the world over amongst serious rock-climbers (optional). Non-climbers too will be staggered by the setting of this famous beach. Nearby to your base is also the majestic Tiger Cave Temple known in Thai as 'Wat Tham Sua'. It's unique because the monks worship in a labyrinth of underground caves. The highlight for many visitors is the climb up more than 1200 steps for panoramic views of the Andaman Coast (optional). Another option that may be possible for qualified scuba divers time permitting is exploring beneath the waves as well as above. Non-divers have the option of a 'try dive' to discover the underwater marine world (all diving activity is optional). Please note divers require their proof of qualification and log books. Hotel – 2 nights (Bx2, Lx1) |
| Day 9-10: | Koh Lanta Leaving Ao Nang, you head southwards to the provincial capital of Krabi. You catch a ferry here, from the Jao Fah Pier, and make the 1½ - 2-hour crossing to Ban Sala Dan on the island of Koh Lanta Yai. Koh Lanta is made up of a colection of 52 islands in total and is considered one of Thailand’s most eco-friendly resort areas. Here you can expect to see hornbill, sea eagle, heron and if you’re lucky, perhaps a Giant Sea Turtle (Jan-May). From the ferry dock it’s a 10-minute drive to your hotel on Kaw Kwang Beach. Accommodation here consists of simple, Thai style beach bungalows. You have the rest of the afternoon to make yourself at home and, after checking in, enjoy the stunning vistas of this island paradise. Next day you cross the beautifully clear water of the Andaman Sea to explore the quiet, tropical islands nearby. You explore with your guide, then swim and snorkel from the boat amongst colourful fish before enjoying a delicious lunch. Bungalow – 2 nights (Bx2,L) |
| Day 11: | Bangkok This morning you’ll take a flight to Bangkok for a free afternoon and final night's stay in the capital (B) |
| Day 12: | Fly to London Those on group flights will be transferred to the aiport for the morning flight back to London whilst the trip ends for Land Only clients on checking out of the hotel in Bangkok. |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its 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 new people as well as seeing new places. how this holiday makes a difference
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On this trip: Our small group adventures are designed to impact as little as possible on the regions through which we travel – this trip is no exception. We work with a Thai owned local agency that employs local guides, drivers and the Group Leader on our behalf. Money from our visit reaches a wide range of people from local hoteliers to restaurateurs. Our small groups have minimal impact on the environment, and our interaction with local people helps demonstrate the importance of preserving the region’s cultural heritage whilst protecting sites of historical and natural importance.
Our Responsible Travel Code: Clients who travel with us will automatically receive a copy of our Responsible Travel leaflet. This contains details and advice on how you can make a positive difference when you travel. If you would like a copy in advance of travel please contact us. Charity Partnerships: We work in partnership with Plan International. Plan works with some of the world’s poorest communities where three out of four children die before the age of five. We also support Friends of Conservation – an international charity committed to working with local people to develop a balance between their needs and the wildlife with which they share the natural habitat and ecosystems. Other charities that we work closely with include Born Free Foundation and The Travel Foundation, a UK charity that has been established to promote responsible travel practises throughout the whole of the travel industry. Carbon Balancing: Global warming is a real issue and is a direct result of your travel. We have teamed up with Climate Care to give you the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions from your flight. You’ll be asked upon booking if you want to donate – with set amounts from £5. As a company we offset the carbon emissions from all staff travel in full. Our Foundation: We’ve highlighted a few of the ways in which we offer our support, financially or otherwise, and now you can, too. We have set up our own foundation, which will administer funds donated by you. A small donation of £1 per person will be taken when booking a holiday and that money will be put to good use by one of our carefully selected projects. If you don’t want to make the donation, just tell us when you book. |
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. |