Bangkok Holidays

20 nights guided adventure tour of Thailand's northern mountains and southern beaches - full board

An ideal holiday for a first time visitor to SE Asia. This adventure vacation is an excellent introduction to diverse Thailand; travel to the remote forest clad mountains of Northern Thailand to the reef-fringed tropical islands of Southern Thailand, from hill-tribe villages lost in the mountains to the vibrant capital, Bangkok.

Highlights

• White water rafting
• Staying in tribal village
• Jungle trekking
• Canoeing in mangrove swamps
• Snorkelling on coral reefs
• Deserted beaches
• Kayaking
• Elephant riding
• Chiang Mai
• Bangkok’s palaces and temples
• Cookery lesson
• Thai food

Itinerary

• Day 1: Departure from London

• Day 2: Arrival in Bangkok, meet your tour-leader and transfer to a downtown hotel in the City's Banglamphu district. Relax, explore the area or check out some local markets.

• Day 3: City tour with a difference; Central Bangkok by riverboat, skytrain, tuk-tuk and canal - stop-offs including the Grand Palace and fabulous Wat Pra Kaew – Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

• Day 4: Morning departure by train; across the Central Plains and their emerald green rice paddies to up-country Phitsanolok town - "the Gateway to the North". Transfer to nearby Sukhothai Town with the afternoon to relax in our guesthouse garden or explore the local markets.

• Day 5: Bicycle tour of the ancient, ruined city of Sukhothai – former capital of Siam – which, with it's crumbling sandstone temples, towering Buddha statues and lotus covered ponds, is one of the country's most sacred and evocative sites.

• Day 6: Complete our journey northwards to remote Nan near the Lao border. This charming town, well off the beaten tourist trail, was an independent city-state until 1931 when it was finally incorporated into the Kingdom of Siam.

• Day 7, 8 & 9: A unique three day experience trekking through dramatic jungleclad mountains bordering Laos. Spend the first night as guests of a Hmong family in a tribal village and the second in chalets on the banks of the scenic Wa River. On day 3 a white-water descent of the river completes the expedition.

• Day 10:Scenic drive through the mountains to Chiang Mai, with the afternoon at leisure to wander the quiet lanes and picturesque temples of the Old Town. Evening tour of the City's famous Night Bazaaar.

• Day 11: A fascinating ‘hands on’ Thai cookery lesson: beginning with a guided tour of the markets bewildering selection of herbs, spices, exotic fruit and vegetables you’ll then head off to the kitchen to cook (and then eat) your own lunch..

• Day 12: Morning at leisure or time to explore the town’s quiet lanes and picturesque temples before heading south with a flight to Bangkok where we’ll connect with the night sleeper train for Nakhorn Si Thammarat.

• Day 13: Afternoon tour to discover this southern town’s bustling markets and temples & checkout some of the local handicrafts. Evening tour of the town’s lively night market.

• Day 14: Excursion to nearby Khao Luang National Park, site of the dramatic Kharom Waterfall – one of the highest and most spectacular in S.E. Asia. Bathing, hiking and scrambling up the falls.

• Day 15: Day trip to Thale Noi Bird Sanctuary; travel through the atmospheric marshes and water-lily covered lakes of one of South East Asia's most important water-bird sites. Evening arrival in Trang on the Andaman Sea coast.

• Day 16: Expedition to Ban-Traat Mountain. Trek through the rainforest, bathe in mountain streams, explore caves and visit a Sakai settlement, a hunter-gatherer, forest dwelling people.

• Day 17: Head to the coast at Chao Mai National Park where we'll canoe through mangrove swamps and along underground streams to visit the spectacular and mysterious, sacred sea caves. Afternoon transfer to Koh Libong Island for accommodation in a beachside resort.

• Day 18: Boat tour through the spectacular scenery of Chao Mai National Park, snorkel and swim on the archipelago's vibrant coral reefs.
  
  

• Day 19: Morning at leisure to explore the island or top up your suntan, before an afternoon return to Trang.

• Day 20 Cook your own lunch with a Thai cookery lesson in a local restaurant including a fascinating guided tour of the local market. Evening flight to London, via Bangkok.

• Day 21: Morning arrival in London.

• Day 21: Fitness level: Easy to moderate - Maximum hiking approx. 6 hours on day 8, rafting day 10 - medium, grade 3.

Accommodation: Hotel, guesthouse, hill-tribe village, raft house and beach chalets.

Transport: Minibus, boat, bicycle, train, pick-up truck, flights.

Useful information:

Currency:Thai baht

Language:Thai

Visa:Not required for British/EU passport holders

Time difference:Approximately 7 hours

Flights:

• Carrier: A scheduled airline
• From: Direct flights from London Heathrow to Bangkok
• Outbound: Various dates
• Inbound: Various dates
  
  

The tour operator is regrettably unable to advise any specific flight times for this holiday, as there are a number of alternatives. After you have made your request for booking the tour operator will endeavour to offer you flight times closest to your personal requirements.

Price includes: Flights, all meals, accommodation (based on 2 persons sharing), activities and full board.

Single supplement: No single supplement - single people are most welcome.

Ticketing information: You will be contacted by the tour operator after making your booking

1. Your confirmation email from us is notification that the tour operator has received your request and is processing it. The availability of this holiday is checked on a regular basis, however as the carrier is a scheduled airline we are regrettably unable to provide an instant confirmation.

2. If the holiday is available
   1. the tour operator will automatically process your booking and your credit card will be debited accordingly;
   2. once done the holiday will be ticketed and you will be invoiced, at this moment there is a binding contract between you and the tour operator for the holiday;
   3. if you wish to cancel the holiday after his stage you will be liable to cancellation charges as per the tour operator's booking conditions. These terms and conditions can be accessed via the link at the bottom of the page; and
   4. you will be contacted by the tour operator within 6* hours from the time the booking was requested. The tour operator will be able to answer any questions you may have.
3. If the holiday is not available
   1. the tour operator will contact you within 6* hours from the time the booking was requested to inform you of the nearest available alternative; and
   2. if the tour operator is unable to offer you an alternative which meets your approval you can cancel your request for a holiday without having to pay a cancellation fee.
4. Once you have purchased a holiday, any amendments or cancellations can only be processed through the tour operator directly. There may be a charge to effect these amendments.
5. The following extra charges will apply when booked by credit card: Visa/Mastercard - 1%, Amex – 1%. *This applies between the working hours of 9am - 6pm Monday - Friday - if your booking is received outside these hours you will be notified as soon as possible.

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