Family adventure holiday in Thailand
Highlights
Bangkok | train to Phitsanolok town | Central Plains | Sukhothai | Chiang Mai | Mae Charim National Park | Tha Ton | boat trip on Kok River | stay with Akha Tribe | Mae Salong | Chiang Rai | Mae Sai Golden Triangle | Wat Rong Khun TempleDescription of Family adventure holiday in Thailand
This two week family adventure holiday in Thailand takes you off the beaten track to the mountains, forests and villages of the far North. Thailand’s beaches and islands are rightfully popular, but the north of the country is much less visited, with a varied mix of activities and sights making it ideal for a family holiday.The holiday begins in Thailand’s capital Bangkok with an unusual day tour using public transport to discover its temples, markets and museums; its hidden corners and celebrated highlights. From here, head north, exploring Sukhothai, the ancient capital of Siam by bike, before arriving in Chiang Mai, Thailand’s northern hub. Spend some time visiting Chiang Mai’s temples, markets and shady lanes before travelling further north to experience the striking scenery and small villages of this remote region. You’ll hike and travel by boat to explore Chiang Rai’s beautiful landscapes, staying overnight in a hill-tribe village, and spend a day in the border territory of the Golden Triangle. Throughout, you’ll have lots of opportunities to meet the friendly Thai people and tuck into Thailand’s wonderful cuisine, eating in places local people favour.
If you have more time available and would like to spend a few days on the beach, too, we have various beach and island extensions, suitable for any time of the year.
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about this holiday or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
01273 823 700 Calling from outside the UK? rosy@responsibletravel.comDeparture information
Independent family adventure holiday
These family trips are designed for those of you who prefer to travel just with your family, and not in a group with other families. The itineraries are set but you can typically depart at a time to suit you.Responsible tourism
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we screen every trip so you can travel knowing your holiday will help support conservation and local people.
Group sizes: By limiting groups to small sizes we aim to reduce the impact on both local communities and the environment whilst allowing for greater genuine interaction with said communities. It also results in a higher guide/customer ratio thus greater facility for supervision and individual assistance and allows us to use smaller hotels and restaurants and employ the services of more genuinely ‘local’ operators perhaps not otherwise well equipped for larger groups. Destinations: We combine the well known tourist sites with many off-the-beaten-track, rarely visited destinations thus diverting tourist revenue and contact with responsible tourism into areas not usually benefiting as well as providing a more authentic view of the region visited.
Local products: As much as possible we aim to employ local personnel, (guides, drivers, agents etc), use local restaurants and smaller privately owned accommodation. Customers are also encouraged to buy and use local products and services as much as possible in order to support and stimulate the local economy.
Instruction: By explaining our methods and the reasons behind them local agents, guides and hotels are encouraged by us to adopt further responsible tourism practices themselves and guides and drivers are provided with additional training in this respect.
The Impacts of this Trip
This itinerary includes a fascinating look into one of the indigenous ethnic minorities of the region, with a home-stay at the Hmong village of Rom Klao.
As well as educating our passenger to the ways of life of another lesser-known people of the region, it provides income directly to the owners of the houses in which we stay as well as indirectly for other members of the village. Passengers are encouraged to make purchases, such as from the village shops and from individual crafts-people specifically, in this instance, embroidery from the women of the village.
We then employ villagers to guide us through the jungle, further enhancing the benefit for the village as well as helping us to build up respectful and trusting relationships with the villagers.
During an unusually cold winter last year we donated warm clothes and blankets to the village.
Information: Providing suitable, relevant information for our customers; to help them to gain a wider understanding of our style of tourism that focuses on learning, genuine interaction with the local communities, reciprocity and cultural exchange processes. To be aware of the potential impact of tourism on the local society, culture and environment, and to behave and dress appropriately with a respect and appreciation for local customs, mores and traditions and a respect for the ecology of areas visited. Our guides and leaders thus facilitate communication of our values to both travellers and local communities, educating them in sustainable tourism practices
Group sizes: By limiting groups to small sizes we aim to reduce the impact on both local communities and the environment whilst allowing for greater genuine interaction with said communities. It also results in a higher guide/customer ratio thus greater facility for supervision and individual assistance and allows us to use smaller hotels and restaurants and employ the services of more genuinely ‘local’ operators perhaps not otherwise well equipped for larger groups. Destinations: We combine the well known tourist sites with many off-the-beaten-track, rarely visited destinations thus diverting tourist revenue and contact with responsible tourism into areas not usually benefiting as well as providing a more authentic view of the region visited.
Local products: As much as possible we aim to employ local personnel, (guides, drivers, agents etc), use local restaurants and smaller privately owned accommodation. Customers are also encouraged to buy and use local products and services as much as possible in order to support and stimulate the local economy.
Instruction: By explaining our methods and the reasons behind them local agents, guides and hotels are encouraged by us to adopt further responsible tourism practices themselves and guides and drivers are provided with additional training in this respect.
The Impacts of this Trip
This itinerary includes a fascinating look into one of the indigenous ethnic minorities of the region, with a home-stay at the Hmong village of Rom Klao.
As well as educating our passenger to the ways of life of another lesser-known people of the region, it provides income directly to the owners of the houses in which we stay as well as indirectly for other members of the village. Passengers are encouraged to make purchases, such as from the village shops and from individual crafts-people specifically, in this instance, embroidery from the women of the village.
We then employ villagers to guide us through the jungle, further enhancing the benefit for the village as well as helping us to build up respectful and trusting relationships with the villagers.
During an unusually cold winter last year we donated warm clothes and blankets to the village.
Information: Providing suitable, relevant information for our customers; to help them to gain a wider understanding of our style of tourism that focuses on learning, genuine interaction with the local communities, reciprocity and cultural exchange processes. To be aware of the potential impact of tourism on the local society, culture and environment, and to behave and dress appropriately with a respect and appreciation for local customs, mores and traditions and a respect for the ecology of areas visited. Our guides and leaders thus facilitate communication of our values to both travellers and local communities, educating them in sustainable tourism practices
1 Reviews of Family adventure holiday in Thailand
Reviewed on 11 Jun 2010 by Simon Daniels
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Difficult to single anything out.....the whole holiday was very special. A lot of the credit for this goes to our guide (called 'Oh'). He was totally passionate about his country and went out of his way to make sure we experienced as many sights, sounds & tastes as possible. He secretly photographed and videoed us as we went along, presenting us with a CD at the end of the holiday....with the video all edited together.
If we were to single out one day it would probably be the day on the lake in Khao Sok National Park.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Go ahead & book.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
This is difficult to gauge, but I would like to think this was much more the case than with the more mass market holidays.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Wonderful. Travelling in a small group as a family with such a dedicated guide allowed us to see more & interact more. We were able to eat at small road side cafes and at the Phetchaburi night market, and wander around the Sangklaburi floating houses.....a bigger group just couldn't do this.
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