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Jungle monkeys and snorkelling bays
This holiday in Thailand offers a comprehensive Thailand experience, while keeping travel travel time to a minimum. Immerse yourself in the Thai way of life among the busy street stalls and serene Buddhist temples of Bangkok. Via floating bamboo huts and waterfalls on the River Kwai you’ll travel to the ancient ruins of Ayutthaya. In Khao Yai you’ll witness a spectacular bat exodus and go in search of elephants on a night safari. Finally you’ll round off your trip with your toes in the sand on the paradise islands of Ko Tao and Ko Pha Ngan. |
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Duration |
18 days / 17 nights Departs Bangkok every Saturday & Tuesday |
Accommodation |
15 nights in characteristic hotels, 1 night in couchettes on sleeper train, 1 night in overnight bus. Comfort levels 1,2 and 3 (see accommodation) |
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| Price | £775 per person - based on 2 people |
Includes |
Transport, accommodation with breakfast, excursions, English-speaking guide, meals as described in daily itinerary |
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Transport |
Bus, sleeper train, boat |
Excludes |
International flights, drinks, extra meals, excursions not listed, entrance fees. Bus from Trat to Bangkok |
Day 1: Arrival in BangkokWhen your international flights arrive into Bangkok, you'll be met at the airport and transfered to your comfortable hotel in central Bangkok. The hotel is located in the lively Banglampoo district, one of the most popular areas in Bangkok and within walking distance of the Khao San Road. Once you've freshened up and acclimatised it’s time to kick off your three week Thailand itinerary and head into the city. For an instant cultural fix, visit the Royal Palace, home of the Thai king. Doors are open until 3:30pm and remember to dress appropriately - knees and shoulders must be covered. Next door to the Royal Palace you’ll find the Reclining Buddha at the Wat Po temple complex. |
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Day 2: Bangkok - Tuk Tuk and Long-Tail boat tourThis morning you'll be met by your guide in the lobby of your hotel, and together you'll embark on an exciting drive through Bangkok by tuk-tuk. You'll travel to Thewet river pier where you will first visit the local 'fresh market and then board a classic longtail boat!Your boat journey will give you a great insight into how much the city life still revolves around the river and its network of 'klongs' (canals). In some ways it is a trip through the past where you'll see wooden houses on stilts, local folks doing their laundry in the klongs, monitor lizards suddenly swimming by, and lots of other fascinating sights. Back at the pier again your guide will return you to your hotel by tuktuk! You should be back before noon, and the rest of your day is free to explore the city. |
Day 3: Bangkok - River KwaiYour holiday in Thailand continues this morning onto the Kanchanaburi province and the famous River Kwai. You'll be collected early this morning by your English speaking guide in a minibus and be taken to visit the local train market at Samut Sakhon. Here, you can wander around the stalls trying the exotic fruits and local snacks on display in-between the rails. Next you'll continue on to the Bridge over the River Kwai, for a spectacular train ride along a stretch of the infamous Burma Death Railway. The train rolls over a spectacular viaduct still made of wood as they were when first constructed. The best views are on the right of the train. After the end of the train ride you’ll have lunch (included) at the small train station before boarding a longtail boat. After travelling approx 40 minutes upstream, you'll reach your floating bamboo bungalow on the river. You'll have your own room with a swimming jetty and a hammock. There’s no electricity and once it gets dark oil lanterns are lit, giving the whole place a romantic atmosphere. |
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Day 4: River Kwai - KanchanaburiAfter a night in the jungle, you’ll take the boat back down river and an hour’s drive to the Erawan Waterfalls (entrance fee 400 Baht, approx £8 paid locally). The waterfall has seven different levels, dropping a total height of 1500m. It’s one of the natural highlights on your holiday in Thailand. You can reach the top in about 1½ hours depending on your walking speed, but you'll be duly rewarded for your efforts. Sparkling water cascading down into bright turquoise pools against a backdrop of smooth limestone rocks. You'll have approx three hours here, so don't forget your swimmers and sunscreen.At the end of your time here your guide will drop you off at your friendly hotel with swimming pool in Kanchanburi. It's only a short walk to the JEATH War Museum and the Memorial Cemetery to victims of the infamous Burma Death Railway. |
Day 5: Kachanaburi - AyutthayaAfter breakfast you'll be picked up from your hotel by minibus, this time without accompanying guide, and transferred to Ayutthaya. At the end of the 3 hour transfer you will be dropped off at your accommodation; a charming bungalow with private veranda.You'll have the rest of the afternoon to explore the area on your own. Ayutthaya is a UNESCO world heritage site and in the 12th Century it was one of the most powerful kingdoms in Southeast Asia, with magnificent temples and palaces covered in gold. Eventually the city lost its power and the once lavish temples and palaces fell into disrepair. Wandering around the immense temple complex today you still get a sense of the city’s former glory. We can also arrange an optional sunset tuk tuk tour around Ayutthaya, just let us know and we’ll add it into your holiday in Thailand. |
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Day 6: Ayutthaya - Khao Yai National ParkAfter breakfast we'll arrange a train ticket for you to the small town of Pak Chong and arrive around lunchtime. A quick phone call to the lodge and a staff member will come and pick you up, or you can take a taxi to your accommodation (15 minutes drive, approx £2.50). The lodge is located just outside the park. It’s an eclectic mix of buildings with an open-air restaurant, herbal sauna and a pool with a little waterfall. Rooms are spacious, the furniture’s a bit dated but it's full of typical Thai charm.Around 3.30pm you'll head off to one of the most thrilling natural spectacle of your holiday in Thailand. Together with a small group of other travellers you’ll hop into a minibus and make your way to the bat cave. Around dusk the sky slowly turns orange and that’s when the bats leave the cave. Huge swarms of bats swirling above your head against an orange sky, chased by birds of prey trying to catch a light supper of fresh bat. |
Day 7: Khao YaiAt the crack of dawn you’ll set off in a small open minibus (songthaew) with your guide and fellow travellers in search of wildlife. Today it's time for some jungle adventure on your holiday in Thailand. Once you’ve paid the entrance fee to this protected National Park (approx £5 per person) you’ll follow the winding road straight through the jungle. Don’t be surprised when the driver suddenly slams the breaks and the guide quickly ushers you out of the bus. Whip out your binoculars and cameras for the huge toucan perched on a branch by the side of the road. Further up the road a noisy bunch of macaque monkeys are running riot in the trees and if you peer up high in the branches you might spot a couple of gibbons and sloths.You’ll stop off for lunch at a waterfall that famously featured in the film 'The Beach'. Though most of it was actually shot on Ko Phi Phi, this where the waterfall scenes were filmed. After lunch your guide will take you on a 2 hour hike through the dense jungle and to a viewpoint at 1300m overlooking the rainforest. At the end of the day just as the sun is setting, you’ll get ready for your jungle drive. It's not a zoo and the animals are wild but with a bit of luck you’ll spot deer, monkeys, wild cats, porcupines and with a bit of luck, elephants. |
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Day 8: Khao Yai - Bangkok / Day 9: Ko Tao arrivalAfter breakfast there’s time for a dip in the pool before continuing your holiday in Thailand to the southern islands white beaches and blue bays. You’ll be doing a lot of travelling today. From Khao Yai you’ll be transferred to the bus station, for this particular trip you'll buy your own bus ticket back to Bangkok (approx £4). In Bangkok there’s plenty of time to stock up on drinks and food before boarding the overnight bus to Chumphon (we'll arrange these tickets for you). The roomy seats can be pulled out in to sleeper seats.The next morning you’ll take the ferry from Chumphon to Ko Tao. Your charming boutique hotel has a private beach just 2 minutes' walk away and is surrounded on all sides by the turquoise blue sea. Whip out your flip flops and swimmers, find yourself a sun bed and just take in the view. |
Days 10 and 11: Ko TaoFrom today you can start enjoying the relaxed island life and slow down the pace of your holiday in Thailand. The next couple of days there’s nothing planned but sun, sand, sea and snorkelling. The nearby islet Nang Yuan is a great snorkelling spot, the water teeming with hundreds of rainbow coloured fish. The sea temperature here is around 27C. Remember the sun is deceptively strong in and on the water, so it’s best to cover up with a t-shirt when you’re snorkelling.If you want to see more of the island, there’s a hiking trail to a viewpoint where you can look out across the three islands. Ko Tao is the ideal place for an introductory dive, or even to get your PADI Diving certificate with a full diving course. Just ask the instructors at the hotel for more information about the different types of dives available. |
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Day 12: Ko Pha NganThe next island paradise on your itinerary is the neighbouring island Ko Pha Ngan. In the morning take a taxi back to the ferry pier (50 baht, approx £1) and buy a ticket for the ferry to Ko Pha Ngan (100 baht, approx £2). Our local agent will give you all the details about tickets and ferry departure times.The crossing to Ko Pha Ngan takes 2 hours. The ferry port on Ko Pha Ngan is called Had Rin, the beach setting of the famous Full Moon Parties that draw thousands of backpackers each month. You’ll stay on the other side of the island on a quiet bay backed by tropical forest. The hotel is right on the beach and there’s also a lovely swimming pool. You could try and plan your holiday in Thailand so you're on Ko Pha Ngan for the Full Moon Party, in which case we can book a hotel for you closer to Had Rin. Don't expect to get much sleep though; the party really does last all night! |
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Days 13 and 14: Ko Pha Ngan Ko Pha Ngan is the perfect spot to completely unwind at the end of your holiday in Thailand. For the next few days you can choose the pace that suits you best. For something a bit more active, you can take the trail up to highest point on the island, Kao Ra. The viewpoint is at 627m and you might spot monkeys, wild boars and deer on the way. Ask at hotel reception for directions and a map.If this all sounds way too strenuous, just limit your activity to a bit of snorkelling and swimming and while away the rest of day on a sun bed contemplating which fresh fish you’ll have for dinner tonight, and which fruity cocktail you fancy from the bar. |
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Day 15: Ko Pha Ngan - Surat Thani / Day 16: BangkokYou’ll have the whole morning on Ko Pha Ngan before it’s time to leave. Enjoy a last fresh fruit shake at the beach bar, or a final dip in the sea. In the afternoon you’ll take the ferry back to the mainland and catch the overnight train from Surat Thani back up to Bangkok. If you'd prefer a faster transfer at the end of your holiday in Thailand, it is possible to take the ferry to Ko Samui and fly up to Bangkok. If you'd like a quote for the flight and the extra hotel night just let us know.The following morning you’ll arrive back in Bangkok. You can spend the rest of the day to do some last-minute souvenir shopping on Khao San Road and enjoy another fresh Pad Thai at one of the street stalls. |
Day 17: Bangkok - UKAll good things must come to an end, and so does your holiday in Thailand. Enjoy a bit of a lie-in this morning. You’ll be checking out this morning, but you can leave your luggage at reception. Depending on the time of your flight home you can either spend the day sightseeing and shopping for last minute bargains, or head straight to the airport.It's also possible to book a day room at the hotel (at extra cost) if you have a late flight and would like somewhere to base yourself and shower before making your way to the airport. |
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Holiday in Thailand - Accommodation (click to enlarge)
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