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Our group leaders work as partners with an exceptional team of local guides to give travelers an insight into stunning Western and Southern Thailand - a unique crossroads of culture, custom, jungle, mountains, marine life and islands
Traveling from the Thai / Burma border region of Sangklaburi, back towards Bangkok, we use a variety of local transport which includes trains, buses and boats and offers the opportunity to meet many locals along the way. You will be introduced to a fascinating diversity of Thai, Mon, Karen and Burmese peoples and take part in activities that are of direct benefit to the community: All of our hotels & guesthouses are locally owned and our guesthouse in Sangklaburi has been built with local river rocks which keep the rooms at a cooler temperature during the warmer months.
The highlight of this trip is staying in a traditional style Thai house.
This trip discovers the riches of Thailand's tropical south on this tantalizing journey. Take sun-drenched beaches and warm turquoise seas and add village visits, temple excursions and a myriad of cultural delights. If you like the sound of tranquil mountains, hidden coves, a kaleidoscope of colorful marine life and the opportunity to experience the diversity of Thai culture.
Using the local tourism infrastructure we are helping to retain revenue in the local communities. Travelling on local public transport, not only gives you a fantastic opportunity to mingle with the locals, but also reduces fuel usage. This trip is one of our Carbon Offset trips and by choosing to travel on this trip, you are travelling in a way which dramatically reduces your net carbon footprint.
In Sangklaburi you will meet the magical Didi and the family of 'Baan Unrak' - home for abandoned mothers and children. They will present their masterful display of Yoga and meditation and also offer you the chance to purchase handicrafts made by elder residents of their home.
In the Karen village of 'Tiphuyea' you can help teach the local children English, share a fruit feast and stop for a snack at the village community shop. Here the profits are shared amongst the villagers and pay for school lunch for all the students. You will also be introduced to the nimble fingered finery of the Royal silk weaving project, which teaches local ladies new ways to employ ancient skills.
In Kanchanaburi you'll meet 'Uncle Prawet' and 'Uncle Kiow' the kings of the samlor, 3 wheeled bicycle taxi. Peddlars of peddle power - these local friends enjoy regular work with us, and will spin you a yarn or two about local life. In the evening, if you’re game try the traditional dishes with the locals of bugs and insects! After exploring Thailand’s beautiful countryside and visiting charming cities and villages it’s time to hit the spectacular islands and white sands of Southern Thailand. Our travels down south give you plenty of free time for relaxing on the beach or for exploring the island's fishing villages, temples and waterfalls.
On the delightful little island of Ko Tao, famous for its undeniably spectacular coral reefs, we immerse ourselves in the tropical waters on a snorkeling trip, exploring the seas around the island, where fish are a plenty and there’s the remote chance of seeing timid reef sharks amongst mesmerizing coral formations. Fancy a spot of scuba diving, to discover the deeper depths of abundant marine biodiversity and natural underwater beauty, then diving with our local operator that supports marine conservation and aquatic preservation through the project aware foundation is highly recommended. We encourage our travellers to snorkel without flippers as snorkeling in shallow waters can damage the coral when standing upright.
From the more renowned Ko Samui we take a day trip by speedboat out to Thailand's largest national marine park. This reserve is an archipelago of around 40 pristine islands, one of which is home to the famous Emerald Lake, and there are many spectacular lookouts to which you can climb. We island hop Koh Yao Noi. and whilst on Phuket we stop at a waterfall for a refreshing swim and visit Phuket's Gibbon Rehabiltation Centre, which is operated by a local NGO to help ensure the continued existence of our furry little friends.
At the end of our journey travellers may donate any unwanted clothing, medicines and bandages, which are distributed to appropriate local charities.
This company started in 1989 with a passion to get travellers off the beaten track. It was started by best friends who wanted to develop a style of travel that was all together different; wanting travellers to become a part of a country - and not just tourists looking in. Wanting them to have fun, meet people, learn things, explore, and do stuff they could never do at home, to travel by anything and everything, and stay anywhere and everywhere! Fast forward two decades and they now travel to more than 110 countries and offers over 800 itineraries however their philosophy on travel is unchanged. Their core purpose is to enrich people's lives by creating unique, interactive travel experiences. Providing fun, affordable and sustainable travel adventures that are beneficial to local communities.
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
