Thailand Adventure


	Relaxing on the beaches [Full Image]

This trip provides a varied and exciting journey into the real Thailand. After discovering the canals of Bangkok by boat, you take an overnight train north to Chiang Mai, "The Rose of the North", where you explore dreamy, golden-spired temples and cycle through hidden corners of the city and its environs. In complete contrast you embark on a trek through villages of the local tribal communities - a genuine experience of tribal life in a stunning mountain area. From Mae Hong Son you head south to Sukhothai, capital of Thailand in the 13th century and home to some of the Kingdom's best examples of Buddhist architecture. After a journey by converted rice barge you arrive at Kanchanaburi, home of the famous "Bridge over the River Kwai". Here there's plenty of free time to explore the river, to swim and relax as well as see the sites, before you return to Bangkok. Many travellers choose to extend their trip with a visit to Ko Samet Island or combine it with our "Rainforest and Island Safari" for an all-encompassing journey through the kingdom.

Details

Price Includes

(HK-5175-P)

Flights

Accomodation

4 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 2 evening meals

Price Excludes

Local Payment (150 USD), 4 Breakfasts, 4 lunches and 2 evening meals are included (8 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 2 evening meals if taking the Ko Samet Beach extension). You must pay for all other meals yourself (you can eat quite well for between Â£8-Â£10 per day). Optional Excursions.

Suitability / Level

Moderate

Max Group Size

Itinerary & Highlights

DAY 1 - DEPART LONDON

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 why not visit vibrant Chatuchak Market (optional). This wonderful market sells all manner of Thai goods, from baskets to vegetables, antiques and handicrafts. Alternatively jump in a taxi - incredibly cheap by UK standards - and visit 'Jim Thompson's House'. Thompson was a wealthy silk magnate who disappeared in mysterious circumstances. His house is now a museum containing superb examples of Thai art and furniture and is well worth a visit (optional). Hotel - 1 night

DAY 3 - BANGKOK; OVERNIGHT TRAIN TO CHIANG: MAI 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. You'll also 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! In the evening you board the overnight train to Chiang Mai. Berth on sleeper train - 1 night

DAYS 4/5 - CHIANG MAI: Arriving in the early morning, you have two full days in the charming city of Chiang Mai. With over 300 temples, a busy night market and some of the best food in Thailand, Chiang Mai is, for most, a highlight of the trip. The air here is cooler and less humid than in Bangkok and a slightly slower pace of life makes it far more pleasant simply to wander on foot. After a brief orientation tour of the city you'll make your way to the magnificent gilded temple at Doi Suthep, whose golden spires can be seen for miles around. You aim to arrive as the saffron-robed monks commence their ritual evening chanting. Next day you take to two wheels as you explore the back streets and quiet lanes of Chiang Mai and its outskirts. This is a fantastic way to discover a side of Chiang Mai few visitors see. You ride along the Ping River, over narrow roads through fruit orchards and vegetable gardens, passing local temples, markets and traditional northern Thai style houses. After visiting a local village where earthen pots are handmade, you return to the hotel. Guesthouse 2 nights

DAYS 6/7 HILLTRIBE TREK: This morning you catch a bus to the broad, gentle valley of Pai. The journey itself is a beautiful one; you pass through various villages, the road twisting and turning, through the straggly vegetation of the slopes and the thickly cultivated valleys. The small town of Pai has a very pleasant, relaxed atmosphere and the afternoon is left free to explore. You could visit Wat Luang, a large Shan-style temple in Pai. Your trek through the remote hills of northern Thailand is one of the highlights of this trip. Of the six major tribes who eke out an increasingly fragile existence on the fringes of the 'Golden Triangle', you should encounter at least two. The Karen - split into four distinct groups of Pwo, Black, White and Red - form the largest and most religiously diverse hilltribe in Thailand (they may be Buddhist, Christian or Animist), and inhabit mostly lowland areas. The original Tibetan Lahu - who may be Red, Black, White, Yellow or Sheleh - survive by growing and harvesting rice, corn and opium at an altitude of around 1,000 metres. Higher still, are the Yao, who rely on the same crops as the Lahu, and can be identified by their black or blue turbans and bright red collars. Originating from China, many still have Taoist beliefs, and Chinese characters are still used in the Yao language. You can be on the trail for up to seven hours a day (including plenty of breaks) in the cool season, five in the wet season. Although you carry only an overnight pack (see 'Baggage' overleaf), it is essential to be fairly fit - much of the walking is through tropical forest, whilst the trail itself can be steep (and in the wet season, slippery) in parts. The effort of walking is, however, minimal compared to the benefits - you will see and experience things that most Westerners are unaware exist. Village huts - 2 nights (Bx1, Lx2, Dx2)

DAYS 8/9 MAE HONG SONG: You finish your trek this morning, after which the aim is to explore Tham Lot, one of the largest known caves in Southeast Asia. These 400-metre caves are filled with metre-thick stalagmites, which snake up towards the ceiling into 'Coffin Cave' - named after the remains of crude burial caskets discovered. You continue to the provincial capital of Mae Hong Son and its spectacular Burmese-style temples. Mae Hong Son was founded as a training camp for elephants, captured in the surrounding jungle by the Shan tribe for the princes of Chiang Mai. Various optional activities are available; you could hire a bicycle and explore the nearby countryside; travel by songthaew to Wat Phra That Kong Mu for great views or simply wander through the local market. Hotel - 2 nights (BL)

DAY 10 CHIANG MAI: You return to Chiang Mai by air and have the rest of the day free to explore or relax - your group leader will be able to advise about what to see and do. There are several optional activities to participate in, from Thai cooking classes to treating yourself to a traditional massage; treating stress and disease through massage is a typical Thai approach to common problems, and Chiang Mai is home to some of the country's finest practitioners. Guesthouse - 1 night

DAYS 11/12 ANCIENT SUKHOTHAI: Travelling south by train you arrive at Phitsanoloke, the jumping off point for Sukhothai, ancient capital of Thailand between 1238 and 1376. Sukhothai, means the ''Dawn of Happiness'' and was the first free Thai city. Two Thai chieftains, Khun Bang Klang Tao and Khun Pa Muang, founded the city in 1238, ending Khmer rule from Angkor Wat, today in neighbouring Cambodia. By the early 1300s, Sukhothai enjoyed sovereignty over the entire Chao Phraya River basin, westward to the Bay of Bengal and the entire Peninsula. The legacy of this domination is the walled royal city, defended by moat and ramparts. Within lie the remains of the dozens of temples that graced the city. The best way to explore is by bike, and that's just what you do as you cycle between the towering viharas and graceful buddhas that make this site so memorable. Guesthouse 2 nights

DAYS 13/14 - KANCHANABURI: This morning you transfer to Uthai Thani, around 5 hours south. You break the journey at Wat Kriang Kai Klang, a riverside temple with a large colony of crab-eating macaques! At Uthai Thani, you board a converted rice barge for a relaxing cruise along the Sakaerang River. You'll enjoy a very good lunch on board. Scenes reminiscent of Thailand past unfold as you cruise past bamboo forests, raft houses and fish farms before you arrive at Manorom, where the Sakaerang & Chao Phraya rivers meet. From here it's just a couple of hours or so to Kanchanaburi, location of the infamous "Bridge over the River Kwai". It is estimated that 16,000 Prisoners of War and 100,000 Southeast Asian labourers lost their lives while building the "Death Railway". Here you can take a samlor (3-wheeler) tour to the main sights, which include the famous bridge and the poignant War Museum (optional) and there's time for other optional activities such as a kayaking trip on the River Kwai itself or a visit to Erawan Falls. Hotel 2 nights (BL) DAY 15 - BANGKOK This morning you take a train back to Bangkok where you transfer to your hotel, where a day room will be provided for clients travelling on our group flights. This evening you transfer back to the airport ready for your overnight flight back to the UK. (B)

DAY 16 - ARRIVE LONDON: Arrive London.

(BLD = Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).

Accommodation & Centre Details

Transport & Accommodation: Riverboat, minibus, local bus, songthaew, train, bicycle, on foot. Hotels/guesthouses (11nts), overnight train (1nt), basic tribal houses (1nt). 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches & 2 dinners included. Flights (Schedules & airlines can change.) Indirect flights with Gulf Air from London Heathrow. Depart UK 10.00, Return UK 06.50. Direct flight 'upgrade' available. UK domestic add-on available.

Thailand Adventure

Relaxing on the beaches

Details

Itinerary & Highlights

Accommodation & Centre Details

Holidays Extras