Suggested Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Bangkok
Bangkok Tree House
Upon arrival in Bangkok, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
In the evening, you will stay at Bangkok Tree House which is one of the few green hotels by the river in Bangkok.
Day 2: Bangkok
Bangkok Tree House (B, L)
Thailand is famous for its markets and today your senses will come alive as you explore Bangkok’s best. Spend the morning taking in Pak Klong Talad, the city’s biggest flower market. Continue to Chinatown to weave through the tiny networks of streets before enjoying a delicious lunch. If you catch Bangkok at the weekend you will visit Chatuchak Weekend Market that boasts over 9,000 booths– selling everything under the sun–and a great place to try some weird and wonderful food. Afterwards, head down the road to Aw Taw Kaw Market which is famous for its seafood and fruit.
Day 3: Bangkok to Chiang Rai
Legend Chiang Rai Boutique River Resort & Spa (B)
At leisure until you are transferred to the airport for your flight to Chiang Rai. Upon arrival in Chiang Rai you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Today you will stay at the Legend Chiang Rai Resort which lies along the Mae Kok River. The property has a panoramic view of the nearby hills and mountains. The riverside is rich with large rain trees and lush vegetation. The immediate surroundings are relatively undeveloped, providing a tranquil, natural location ideal for a resort and spa.
Day 4: Mae Sai and Golden Triangle
Legend Chiang Rai Boutique River Resort & Spa (B)
Begin your day by visiting the Akha and Yao hill tribe communities, followed by a boat trip on the mighty Mekong River to the Golden Triangle, where the countries of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet.
Day 5: Chiang Rai – Lanjia Eco Lodge
Lanjia Lodge (B, L, D)
Transfer from Chiang Rai to the lodge. After enjoying your welcome drink, you will learn about the various tribal people residing in Thailand, with the main focus on the Hmong and Lahu tribes, your hosts at Lanjia Lodge. This presentation will provide insight into the various activities affecting the lives of the people who have lived by the Mekong River over the decades. You will also have the chance to see the famous Giant Catfish (locally known as Pla Buek), the world’s largest freshwater fish that can still be found in the Mekong.
In the evening, enjoy a sumptuous dinner with local delicacies, followed by a performance of both Hmong and Lahu music and dances.
Day 6: Meet Shaman – Boat Cruise – Village Walk
Lanjia Lodge (B, L, D)
Prepare yourself for an adventurous day with an early morning breakfast at the lodge. A local guide will then direct you through the Hmong and Lahu village adjacent to the lodge, called “Baan Kiew Karn.” You will learn about the many traditions, beliefs, and the daily way of life of these two tribes, and also enjoy a hands-on experience of local Batik making, which you will be taught by an extremely skillful Hmong woman. Afterwards, the Shaman of the village will be pleased to answer all of your questions regarding the local belief in Shamanism.
Later, you will be transferred by truck to the nearby village of Baan Muang Karn, from which you will board a boat and cruise down the famed Mekong River to the city of Chiang Khong. Today lunch will be served in a local restaurant right by the river. After lunch, your guide will walk with you through parts of this charming border town, where you will visit two temples before heading to the village of Ban Had Krai, where you will meet with local fishermen who have seen and caught the famed Giant Catfish, and who will be pleased to share their unique stories with you.
As a last stop before arriving back to the lodge, you will visit the temple Wat Phra That Jom Meng on a mountain top with a most scenic view over the Mekong River basin and Laos.
Arrive back in the lodge in time to relax and prepare for another meal showcasing the unique flavours of the local cuisine.
Day 7: Waterfall – Chiang Rai
Legend Chiang Rai Boutique River Resort & Spa (B,L)
After breakfast, take a local truck and visit a small waterfall, where you’ll have the opportunity to swim in your own pool in the middle of a tropical forest. Enjoy a wonderful picnic lunch brought to you by your guide before returning to the lodge in the early afternoon, but not before visiting an organic tea farm. The farm produces the famous Oolong tea, said to have an array of healing effects on your body.
Following afternoon refreshments at Lanjia Lodge, transfer back to Chiang Rai.
Day 8: Bangkok – Elephant Hills (B,L,D)
Take an early morning flight from Bangkok to Phuket. Start your four day adventure with a scenic drive and a glimpse of rural life in southern Thailand. Board a dinghy to navigate through small channels, spotting the plentiful birds found in this region. Follow the coast then board a traditional Burmese junk where you’ll feast on delicious Thai cuisine. The afternoon will be spent on a deserted beach where you can swim, relax or paddle a canoe with the mangroves and banyan trees as a backdrop.
Late afternoon, bid farewell to the boat and transfer to Elephant Hills in Khao Sok, your home for the next few days.
Day 9: Elephant Hills
Elephant Camp (B,L,D)
Early in the morning, transfer to the Elephant Camp where you will not only see these magnificent animals, but get a chance to touch and learn more about them. Your guide will explain the role of the Mahout, the person that trains and takes care of the elephants. Interact with the elephants and learn the secrets of Mahouts including feeding, scrubbing, cleaning and watching them bathe. You’ll even have the option to take an elephant-back ride amongst beautiful limestone Karst Mountains to experience the differing ecological niches in this part of the world. Then it’s time for a well deserved lunch, followed by a jungle river canoe trip down the Sok River, where you can experience a world that has changed little in thousands of years. In the evening enjoy a delicious Thai dinner.
Day 10: Elephant Hills
Elephant Camp (B,L,D)
Today is exploration day. Board a local boat and visit a nearby incredible lake that very few people have ever even heard of, let alone visited. Surrounded by limestone cliffs covered in tropical rainforest, this lake is home to over 100 islands. There will be ample chance for swimming if you wish. After a relaxing day at the lake, return to the camp for dinner.
Day 11: Elephant Hills – Krabi
Tubkaak Boutique Resort (B, L)
Enjoy a hearty breakfast to prepare yourself for today’s amble through the jungle to get closer to the sights and sounds of the forest. You will learn about the different trees, birds, gibbons and monkeys. Weather permitting, lunch will be served in the rainforest and cooked in bamboo, a tradition of jungle explorers for centuries past. In the afternoon, leave the magical forests and head to the paradise of Krabi.
Today you will stay at the Tubbak resort in Krabi. Tubkaak is the name of the most romantic and secluded beach in Krabi which literally means “Homes for Visitors.” The award-winning Tubkaak Krabi resort is designed and operated with care and respect for the environment. When built, the green hotel in Krabi avoided cutting mature trees and now enjoys cool shade from the tall canopies, reducing the use of energy.
Day 12: Krabi
Tubkaak Boutique Resort (B)
Today, enjoy a relaxing day of leisure.
Day 13: Krabi
Tubkaak Boutique Resort (B)
Today take a trip to Thung Teao Forest National Park which is a virgin rainforest and home to spectacular flora and fauna unseen elsewhere in Thailand. A 2.7 kilometre nature trail provides a superb vantage point, plus there’s a waterfall to explore, although the major attraction is the crystal lagoon, also known as the emerald pool. The emerald waters are wonderfully warm and crystal clear, making them great for swimming.
Day 14: Departure
Inclusions:
- Accommodation at selected hotels with daily breakfast
- Meals as mentioned (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner included)
- English speaking guide on land tour as mentioned
- Tours and transfers, as mentioned by private air-conditioned vehicle
- Sightseeing fees and permits during guided time
- Included flight tickets (economy class): Bangkok – Chiang Rai; Chiang Rai – Bangkok – Phuket; Krabi – Bangkok
- Note: Check-in time is 2:00PM and check-out time is 12:00PM. Early or late service is subject to availability with surcharge.
Exclusions:
- Visa fees
- International airport departure tax
- Early/late check in/out service at hotels
- Tips and gratuities
- Services and meals, if not mentioned in itinerary
- All drinks, including water, soft drinks and alcohol on all included or optional excursions
- Laundry, telephone calls and expenditures of a personal nature
- Travel insurance (required)
