Day-to-day schedule
Day 1: Bangkok
Welcome to Thailand! Your tour starts in Bangkok, where you can use your hotel room from check in time (12.00 hrs at noon) on day 1. Your travel companions will also arrive this first day, the exact time will be depending on their flight schedule. You will meet your English speaking tour leader at 12.00 hrs noon on day 1 in the lobby of your hotel in Bangkok.
You are in the busy city of Bangkok, the ‘City of Angels’ where you can explore this amazing vibrant city of contrast and colour. Stop at simple hot-dog stalls, shop in immense shopping centres, or visit one of the many Wats (temples). Wat Phra Kaew, Wat Po, Wat Arun and Wat Saket are the most popular temples. Go on a unique bike ride along green klongs (canals), immerse yourself in the busy Chinese district or go on a long-tail boat ride. Our expert tour guides will accompany you and give tips and advice.
Day 2: Bangkok
Free day in Bangkok. The morning can be used for example to visit the famous Grand Palace and the (literally) stunning Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaew). Both are easily reached by boat or tuk-tuk. In the afternoon you can choose the optional bike ride on quiet green klong paths that lead through the Bangkok of 30 years ago. At night you may opt to attend a performance at the Calypso Cabaret, Bangkok's famous "transvestite show.
Day 3: Bangkok - Damnoen Saduak - Kanchanaburi
Today you'll travel a total of 4 ½ hours (160 km) through the colorful floating market of Damnoen Saduak to Kanchanaburi, in the area of the River Kwai, and mainly known for the infamous Burma railway. This railway, linking Thailand with Burma was constructed during the Second World War in appalling conditions by Allied prisoner of war and Asian laborers. Tens of thousands lost their lives during construction of the line. You will take a ride on the Burma railway (included in the package), look at the famous bridge and visit the small but impressive museum and the largest war cemetery in the area.
Then go by boat to a floating, romantic 'Floatel', Jungle Rafts, where you spend the night. These are floating houses built on bamboo rafts. You have your own floating house with swimming ladder and hammock. There is no electricity. In the evening there is ambient lighting of flickering oil lamps.
Day 4: Kanchanaburi - Ayutthaya - Night train to Chiang Mai
We leave the River Kwai area today and drive first to Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of the kingdom of Siam. In the 17th century, Ayutthaya was one of the major cities of Asia, a "Venice of the East ', with canals, splendid palaces and beautiful temples. The city sadly lost its glory and riches when it was inexplicably destroyed by the Burmese in 1767. The beauty and grandeur of a few hundred years past, are still clearly visible. You can visit Panam Chern Wat temple and Wat Sri Samphet temple and its adjoining complex of ruins. The entrance fee to Ayutthaya is not included in the fare.
During the night you travel in the comfortable night train from Ayutthaya with reserved air-conditioned couchettes to Chiang Mai. You bridge the 660 km stretch in about twelve hours.
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Day 5: Chiang Mai
In the morning you arrive in Chiang Mai, the second largest city in Thailand. Chiang Mai offers a mix of ancient and modern, where you can wander through the small shopping streets, with their array of fascinating shops, dine at one of the many local restaurants, visit the evening market or hire a bike and explore. You can watch a Thai boxing match, visit a Buddhist monastery or travel to Doi Suthep just outside the city and climb the 300 dragon flanked steps to the exquisite temple. You can also tour one of the many temples in Chiang Mai, such as the Wat Chiang Man, the oldest temple in the city, famous for its 4-inch tall crystal Buddha statue.
Your hotel in Chiang Mai offers a swimming pool. This is a refreshing experience as you can cool down after a day of action in the tropical heat.
Day 6: Chiang Mai (optional 2-day trekking)
Free day in Chiang Mai. When booking you can apply for an optional 2-day trek through the hills which starts today, highly recommended! If not, then you can spend today exploring Chiang Mai and its surroundings in your own way.
For 'non-walkers " it is possible to learn Thai cooking (optional). The course starts with a visit to the market and then you learn how to make 3 or 4 different dishes. .
Another optional excursion for those who are keen on more action can be to opt for the 'Flight of the Gibbon' through the jungle near Chiang Mai. Hanging in a harness you glide through a cable hundreds of feet from treetop to treetop. You will know exactly how a monkey feels, high in the trees! plus, the views are amazing!
Another possibility is to take an optional visit to the elephant camp near Chiang Mai. Depending on the time of arrival, you can see how the elephants are fed and how they take a bath in the river. Also you can take a ride on one of these big grey giants!
Optional 2-day adventure trek
Today starts (for those who have pre-booked) an optional 2-day adventure trek through the hills. You are thereby supervised by an experienced guide, who also works as a cook. The trek is easy to do for people in good shape. Please be aware however that in the case of heavy rain the walking track can be slippery and therefore a bit heavier than under normal circumstances.
Each day you walk between 3 and 5 hours and of course you make frequent stops, so you have the opportunity to become acquainted with some of the many minorities who live in this beautiful environment, such as the Karen and Lisu. You stay in one of the minority villages. On the second day of the trek take a ride on the back of an elephant and go rafting on bamboo rafts (depending on water levels). Sleeping bags and backpacks for the trip could possibly be hired. Baggage that you do not need during the trek can be stored in our hotel in Chiang Mai. The first trekking day lunch and dinner are included. On the second day breakfast and lunch included.
Note: This trek is run in different ways. Sometimes the group split in two, and depending on the season and weather conditions the route is slightly modified. It is possible that you are going to other villages on your trek. Your tour leader looks at the situation on the ground. The number of course hours above is therefore approximate.
Day 7: Chiang Mai (2nd day of optional trekking)
Free day for those who have not opted for the optional two-day hike. As you have read earlier in this description: there is plenty to do in Chiang Mai and the surrounding area. Travelers who have chosen the beautiful optional hike will spend today hiking and at night like the rest of the group again in Chiang Mai.
Day 8: Chiang Mai - Bangkok - Surat Thani
Today you take a domestic flight from Chiang Mai to Bangkok. Note: For domestic flights from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, you can check in up to 20 kg of luggage. For any excess baggage you must pay extra per kilo.
At the end of the day you board the night train to Bangkok where you have reserved comfortable air-conditioned couchettes to Surat Thani in southern Thailand. You cover the 545 km stretch in about thirteen hours. A relaxing way to bridge this long journey!
Day 9: Surat Thani - Koh Phangan
The paradise island of Koh Phangan is your next destination (the transfer by bus and ferry from Surat Thani to Koh Phangan takes about four hours / 192 km).
Time to enjoy this beautiful island off the Thai coast in the Gulf of Thailand. You stay in accommodation on a quiet beach in the north of the island. You can take a boat trip and hike to the waterfalls in the jungle. There are many beautiful palm beaches and there are opportunities for diving and snorkeling. Or just laze on the beach and eat seafood, sleep and swim if you feel like it.
Day 10: Koh Phangan
Day at lesiure. The attractions of the island include a temple on a mountain top, the Wat Khao Tam, which is ideal for meditation, the Tan Sadet waterfall, Hat Rin Beach, Paeng National Park and satellite islands such as Koh Tao where you will find beautiful beaches and coral reefs. Koh Phangan is familiar to many - largely due to the monthly Full Moon parties when, at each full moon there is a big party on the beach.
Day 11: Koh Phangan
Today you'll have an entire day to enjoy this beautiful island before travelling back to Bangkok tomorrow.
Day 12: Koh Phangan - Surat Thani - Bangkok
First today, you will take a ferry boat ride for nearly four hours back to the mainland of Thailand. At the end of the day you step onto the comfortable overnight sleeper train at Surat Thani with reserved air-conditioned couchettes to Bangkok. A ride of about twelve to thirteen hours again.
Day 13: End of tour in Bangkok
The last day of your tour. You can spend some more time this morning exploring Bangkok before you leave to travel home. The group will have the shared use of several day rooms which will be available until around 12 noon (most times). We wish you a comfortable journey home and are sure you will take with you some wonderful memories of Thailand.
Your personal ‘my.shoestring’ page on our website is the perfect way to make contact with other travellers before and after your trip. You can read and create journals from trips and upload your photos onto the photo gallery. Visit my shoestring today.
When booking your tour, please check to see whether you need any post-tour nights, bearing in mind that accommodation for the night of the final day of the tour (day 13) is not included.
Note: The above journey time per day is of course approximate.
Our Adventurous Thailand trip is already guaranteed with a minimum of 2 participants.
Note: Departures containing 2 to 5 participants have been adapted for the travel tour guide and transfers. For part of the journey there is no tour guide with you during the trip. During the first days in Bangkok and the days on Koh Phangan is an English-speaking tour guide also available for the small groups.
For groups of 2 to 5 participants: from day 4 to 9 you will have different local English speaking guides (guides/drivers). Some transfers are 'joint' transfers (ie no private bus, but shared transfer).
From 6 passengers upwards is the trip as described, with a private tour guide for the whole trip, and separate (private) transfers for the group.
It is possible that the group for the Thailand part of this trip is combined with the participants of our 13-day Thailand and Cambodia trip. Obviously, we ensure that the maximum of 24 participants is not exceeded. The local English-speaking tour guide(s) ensure(s) proper execution of the trip.
FESTIVAL TOURS
On the trip with departure date April 12, 2012 visit the Songkran Festival - ''Thai New Year - The Water Festival