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Giant trees and bounty islands in Thailand
This Thailand adventure tour is one of our most popular trips. It's a winning combination of tropical Thai beaches and islands mixed in with a cocktail of culture in Bangkok and adventure in the jungle. Lasting just under a fortnight, it is perfect for travellers needing to squeeze their adventure into annual leave. |
| Duration |
12 days / 11 nights Start out in Bangkok on any Tuesday, Friday or Sunday |
Accommodation |
9 nights in a double occupancy room in typical Thai hotels, 1 night in floating cabin on a lake, 1 night on overnight train (see accommodation) |
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Price |
£750 per person - based on 2 people sharing |
Includes |
Accommodation with breakfast. Transport, excursions, overnight train, domestic flight, English-speaking guide, meals as described in daily itinerary |
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Transport |
Overnight train, ferry, minibus, 1 domestic flight |
Excludes |
International flights, drinks and other meals, short transport, excursions and entrance fees not in the daily itinerary |
Arrival in BangkokMost flights to Asia take off in the late afternoon. You'll fly at night and arrive at Bangkok's international airport the following morning.When you arrive in Thailand, you'll be collected from the airport and taken to a lovely boutique hotel by the river in central Bangkok, about a 10min walk (or 5min by tuk-tuk) from the immensely entertaining Khao San Road. You’ll stay in a spacious room with air-conditioning. The hotel's restaurant is located just off the river; it serves great food in the evenings and is the perfect place to wake up to a leisurely breakfast in the morning. The hotel also has a swimming pool - so you can start your Thailand adventure tour with a dip. Suitably refreshed, you can explore your fascinating neighbourhood. Those craving an instant culture fix can head straight to the Royal Palace. This is the No.1 place of interest for Bangkok visitors. The palace is only 10min by taxi or tuk-tuk and the doors are open until 3:30pm. Remember to dress modestly - your knees and shoulders should be covered. |
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Day 2: BangkokThis 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 - Surat ThaniYou’ll begin your day with some more free time in Bangkok. After a tasty breakfast, you could take the boat to Tha Ratchawong and walk into the heart of Chinatown, getting a little lost among the temples, eating houses, alleyways, and houses with curly roofs. The shopping opportunities here range from fish stalls to department stores. If retail is not your idea of therapy, you can watch the world go by from peaceful Lumpini Park or lounge around the pool with a book. In the early evening, you'll follow the instructions given by our local agent and take a taxi to Hualamphong railway station. Here, you'll board a comfortable overnight train for Surat Thani, the gateway to Thailand's tropical islands. We'll reserve a second-class seat for you, which can be folded out into a bed. In the evening, you can enjoy a bite to eat in the restaurant car before the motion of the train lulls you to sleep. You’ll be woken an hour or so before the train arrives in Surat Thani and your Thailand adventure tour really begins. |
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Day 4: Surat Thani - Khao Sok National ParkWhen you arrive, you'll be met at the railway station and driven to Racha Praba Lake. You'll need only an overnight pack for your floating cabin stay, any extra luggage will be taken straight to the lodge where you'll stay tomorrow. All meals are included and you'll have an English-speaking guide to lead you through the park. From the lakeside, a longtail boat will take you past spectacular rock formations shooting up from the water. Considering that it'll be early in the morning during this boat ride, thin wisps of mist will still hang around the rocks. After about an hour you’ll arrive at your floating bamboo cabin in an isolated and idyllic location. Sleeping mats, sheets, blankets, and towels will be provided, but you may want to bring along your own sleeping bag liner to sleep in or your own towel. The lake is the bath, so simply lather up and jump in! You'll have your own inflatable tube to float lazily about on the water - a real highlight of this Thailand adventure tour. After lunch, you'll take a walk through the thick jungle, alongside bamboo shoots and giant trees. Then, you can sit back and enjoy the sunset from the jetty by your floating bungalow. A wonderful dinner will be waiting for you. |
Day 5: Khao Sok National Park - Jungle hutsThis morning you'll wake up to the exotic sounds of the jungle. Each bungalow has its own canoe, and after breakfast you'll paddle along the jungly shores in search of monkeys and other animals. Lunch will be served after your canoe trip. After lunch, you can either take a walk further into the rainforest or head for a hidden lagoon. The choice will depend largely upon the weather and the tide. From somewhere deep inside the dense greenery you'll hear the rising calls of monkeys and toucans. Later in the afternoon, you'll be taken deeper into the Khao Sok National Park by longtail boat for an adventurous part of this Thailand adventure tour. You'll be met on the shore and taken even further into the tropical wilderness. Before long you'll reach the jungle bungalows where the rest of your baggage awaits you. There is plenty of time to get settled into your bungalow, which has a private bathroom. There's no hot water, but in such high temperatures a hot shower will be the last thing you'll want. You can spend a while taking in your fabulously remote setting. Later you’ll dine by the river, surrounded by lush green mountains and the manifold sounds of the forest. |
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Day 6: Khao Sok National ParkAfter breakfast you'll set off with your guide on a fascinating hike. You'll explore the tropical rainforest, and your guide will tell you all about the surrounding vegetation and wildlife. On the way, you'll enjoy a hearty lunch (included), served at a beautiful spot in the jungle, for instance next to a river or a waterfall. Late in the afternoon, you'll return to your jungle cabin, weary but happy. On your peaceful veranda, you can mull over the day against a background of jungle murmurs. Find a good place to watch the sunset and make sure you have that camera handy… |
Day 7: Khao Sok National Park - PhuketThe next morning, you'll leave this spellbinding location and you'll continue with your Thailand adventure tour. The hotel reception desk will help you arrange your transport from the lodge to Phuket. The transfer should take about 2 hours and a shared taxi cab will cost you about £20 per person. During the months September through November, there's quite a lot of rainfall in Phuket. To make sure you get a better chance of seeing some sunshine, we'll adjust your itinerary to include a beach getaway to the southeast coast of Thailand. |
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Day 8: Phuket - Ko Yao Yai IslandToday, your Thailand adventure tour will take you on an island hopping adventure. You'll be whisked away from your hotel in Phuket to experience the wonderful Phang Nga Bay for three full days. In this enchanting protected area, more than 100 limestone islands rise dramatically from the turquoise sea.You'll be taken to the pier where you'll hop into a local boat for a ride to the island of Ko Yao Yai. This costs under £1 and can be paid directly to the boatman. On the way, you'll pass bizarrely shaped rocks and caves with huge overhanging stalactites. You'll be met on Ko Yao Yai Island by our local agent and within 40mins you'll find yourself on a deserted ivory beach. You’ll stay in a wooden bungalow with a fan and private bathroom (shower/ toilet). Air conditioning is available at a surcharge. The bungalows stand romantically on their own private beach. In the evening, you can enjoy a meal of fresh fish on the sandy beach while watching the sun set between the palm trees. |
Day 9: Ko Yao Yai IslandAfter breakfast - around 10.00 - you'll sail across Phang Nga Bay in a longtail boat to uninhabited islands and beaches with your English-speaking guide. You'll stop at Ko Hong, an abandoned island with idyllic white beaches and a breathtaking lagoon. Ko Hong means 'room island', and the lagoon really is reminiscent of a room as it is surrounded by tall limestone walls. Swallows and bats live in these caves. Every year the Thai men 'harvest' thousands of swallow nests to be sold to the Chinese as a delicacy.Take a dip into the deep turquoise waters of the lagoon, a definite highlight of your Thailand adventure tour. The water is so clear that you can see the fish swimming up to you. The coral here is in pristine condition and snorkelling gear comes free with the boat. Around 3pm, you’ll be taken back to Yao Yai, in plenty of time to enjoy the sunset from the beach. |
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Day 10: Ko Yao Yai Island - Ko LantaAfter an early rise and a quick breakfast, you’ll be taken to the pier for the ferry to Krabi, which leaves at 7:30am. As wisps of early morning mist float by the towering rocks of the bay, the ferry will take you back to the mainland. Once you reach the mainland, you'll take the bus or boat to the island of Ko Lanta.Ko Lanta is a long stretched out island with endless beaches. You'll stay at a small-scale beach bungalow resort on the shores of a small secluded bay. There's a swimming pool as well if you want to take a quick dip after your arrival. Your charming bungalow, the ivory sands and the tropical vegetation make this the perfect place to stay before returning home from your Thailand adventure tour. |
Day 11: Ko Lanta
This morning you'll wake up at your own pace to the murmur of the surf hitting the shore. The plan for today is.... that there are no plans for today. Enjoy the island's intoxicating combination of sun, sea and sand. After an elaborate, leisurely breakfast you can cool off in the pool or explore the colourful sub-marine world beneath the sea's surface while snorkelling. Ko Lanta is primarily a beach destination, however there are a few interesting sights to see on the island as well. If you want to get out and about, you can. The island is located in the centre of a Marine National Park, so for instance you could hang out on a longtail boat and visit one of the neighbouring tropical islands. The limestone rocks towering out of the sea are one of this national park's most fascinating features.
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Day 12: Ko Lanta - Bangkok - Flight to UKToday, you'll make your own way back to the airport in Krabi for a domestic flight back to Bangkok where you'll connect with your international flight home.If you'd like to break up this journey, you could spend a night in Bangkok for some last minute shopping. We'll be happy to book this for you. You could also extend your Thailand adventure tour, by spending a few extra days on Ko Lanta, or by visiting Railay Beach or Ko Phi Phi. Just ask one of our Travel Specialists if you'd like to hear more about these options. |
When is the best time to do this Thailand adventure tour?
The southwest coast of Thailand is warm and dry from December through to April. This is also peak tourist season in the area. There may be a bit more rain from May through to August, but it's still a nice time for a visit and the resorts will be refreshingly quiet. Ko Yao Yai and Railay are very quiet from September through to November because it rains quite a bit then. We would recommend staying on the southeastern island of Ko Samui, which is likely to be drenched in sunshine during this time of year.
The southwest coast of Thailand is warm and dry from December through to April. This is also peak tourist season in the area. There may be a bit more rain from May through to August, but it's still a nice time for a visit and the resorts will be refreshingly quiet. Ko Yao Yai and Railay are very quiet from September through to November because it rains quite a bit then. We would recommend staying on the southeastern island of Ko Samui, which is likely to be drenched in sunshine during this time of year.
Thailand Adventure tour - Accommodation (click to enlarge)
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