Northern Thailand

Day 1: Bangkok

Your trip starts today with your arrival in Bangkok. No activities are planned until your evening group meeting, so you may arrive at any time. Please check the noticeboard in the hotel lobby, located on the ground floor, for a notice containing details of your tour. This will advise you of your tour leader’s name, telephone number and the time and location of your group meeting. Normally this meeting takes place around 6pm. Until your meeting we encourage you to get out and discover the delights that Bangkok has to offer, including Thailand’s famous cuisine. Make sure that you take a hotel business card so that you will be able to find your way back to the hotel.

Day 2: Ayuthaya

Today we start early with a local bus trip north to Ayuthaya, the former capital of old Siam. Now a UNESCO listed World Heritage Site, Ayuthaya was once the thriving capital city of the Kingdom of Siam, in 1765 the Burmese invaded Siam and laid siege to the city for 2 years before eventual victory. Following the victory the Siamese established a new capital in 1769 in Thonburi on the banks of the Chao Praya River, a few years later the capital was shifted to the other side of the river where a small village called Bangkok was situated, Thonburi is now a suburb of Bangkok. On arrival we have the use of a day room at a local hotel, where we can leave our backpacks for the day. In the afternoon we jump on a bike and ride to one of the many temples located in Ayuthaya, for a guided tour. Following this you have the option of either continuing on to visit more temples, going for a leisurely ride around town to observe what’s going on, or heading back to the hotel to chill out. The bikes are yours to use for the afternoon. Tonight we board the overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai (departure time is approximately 8-9pm, estimated travel time 13 hours). Thai trains have an open, relaxed feel about them and offer a great opportunity to mingle with fellow passengers. You may want to bring along your Thai phrasebook and practise speaking Thai with a local! You can purchase food and drinks on the train, but it is also a good idea to stock up beforehand.

Day 3: Chiang Mai

We arrive in Chiang Mai early in the morning (as long as our train is on time!) and transfer to our guesthouse, which is centrally located and close to the Night Market. The day is free to do as you wish, as there is much to see in this northern city, with over 120 temples in the centre alone. A visit to the Tribal Research Institute is an ideal preparation for your hill tribe trek, providing excellent background information on the cultures and customs of the various ethnic groups that inhabit the hill regions of northern and western Thailand. An excursion to the top of Doi Suthep offers fantastic views over the city and can be combined with a visit to the museum. It’s best to visit Doi Suthep in the morning or late in the afternoon, to avoid the heat of the day, as there are over 300 steps to climb! You may also wish to get a traditional Thai massage before your trek, or even partake in a cooking class, beware - you eat what you cook! Your tour leader will be able to offer other suggestions for things to see and do your free time. This evening the Night Bazaar beckons, a shoppers paradise it is a great chance to practice your bargaining skills.

Day 4-6: Hill Tribe Trek - Chiang Mai

Our three-day trek into the hills of northern Thailand gives us a unique insight into the lives of the local people. We can store excess luggage at our Guesthouse in Chiang Mai before travelling, by songthaew, to the start of our trek. A local guide will assist with leading our trek and en route we meet and stay with several tribes, each of them unique with their own language and customs. The terrain is often steep so you’ll need to be reasonably fit, as we trek between three to six hours per day. Along the way we pass through forests, rice fields and local villages. The terrain more rural rather than jungle, as the hilltribes grow crops on the hillsides. We also take our time to stop along the way, meet the local people and learn about their fascinating cultures. Our accommodation is in basic huts in the small local villages. Please note that the ground is muddy and slippery during the rainy season (from July to October, although this can vary slightly from year to year), but this is also the time when the scenery is most lush. The exact itinerary of the trek changes with every trip, as we need to take into account such things as weather and local conditions. At night we sleep in village bamboo huts, which are usually single all-purpose rooms where the local people live and sleep. Sleeping mats, trek packs and sleeping bags are available for hire in Chiang Mai however you may wish to bring a sleeping bag to ensure quality, as the nights can be quite chilly in the cool dry season (from November to February). There are no showers or other washing facilities and bathing is usually done in nearby rivers so bring some bio-degradable soap with you. During our trek, we may come across and even stay with Lisu, Lahu and Karen people. Please note that hill tribe people have conservative dress standards and it is inappropriate to wear revealing clothes, such as singlets. You should also ask permission first before taking photos of any villagers. On one of the days we take a break from trekking and hit the river for some bamboo rafting. It’s great fun, as we make our way downstream running a few rapids along the way. We also get an opportunity to enjoy an hour-long elephant ride through the forest. Sitting on top of these magnificent animals, we make our way from the banks of the river and travel through the rice fields. Our trek finishes after lunch on Day 6 and we return to Chiang Mai by songthaew. The evening is a chance to head out on the town and celebrate your achievement and reflect on the experience, for the shop-aholics amongst the group the Night Bazaar will beckon.

Day 7-8: Chiang Mai - Chiang Rai

We have a whole day to relax in Chiang Mai our trek. You can make the most of your free day by taking in further highlights of the city, enjoying a traditional massage or checking out Chiang Mai’s famous Night Bazaar. The option of a half-day cooking school is highly recommended. On Day 8, we depart early in the morning and travel by local bus (fan-cooled, no air-conditioning) to the sleepy riverside village of Thaton , on the banks of the Mae Kok River (approximately 3 ½ hours),. Here, we board our longtail boat around midday for an exciting three-to-four-hour journey downstream to Chiang Rai. Hang on to your hats, because it really is a fast boat! Please note that, at some times of the year, it may be necessary to travel by songthaew due to the low water making it unsuitable to travel by boat. At other times, if the water levels are only just sufficient, you may have to lend a bit of muscle in the drier months to push the boat over a sandbar or two. On arrival we transfer to our centrally located guesthouse in town. This evening you can walk to the night market from the guesthouse for dinner.

Day 9: The Golden Triangle - Chiang Rai

A local songthaew takes us north to the border town of Mae Sai, where we have the opportunity to cross the border to the busy Burmese trading town of Tachilek for sightseeing and shopping. Please be aware that the border unexpectedly closes from time to time. If this is the case, alternative arrangements will be made. In the afternoon we travel to the Golden Triangle - the point where the three countries, Laos, Burma (Myanmar) and Thailand, meet. You have the option to visit the small opium museum that provides information on the infamous trade for which this region is known. We return to Chiang Rai in the late afternoon, where we spend the night. We have free time in this small city to visit the temples of Wat Phra Kaew and Wat Jet Yot and also to browse around the markets, where the local hill tribe people sell their wares.

Day 10-11: Lampang Thai Elephant Conservation Centre

We leave Chiang Rai on Tuesday morning and travel by bus (approximately 3 hours) back to Chiang Mai, where we board another local bus and head further south (1 hour) to Lampang, former centre of the teak wood trade. We then transfer by songthaew to our basic local-style accommodation at the Lampang Thai Elephant Conservation Centre, where we get a guided tour of the complex as well as free time to relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. Originally used as beasts of burden in the timber trade, their vocation was brought to an end when the government outlawed logging in Thailand in 1989. Since then owners of elephants have been challenged to find ways of earning money to feed the huge beasts and their families. Unfortunately some have found their way into the illegal logging trade in the Thai-Burma Border region where they face many dangers, including landmines. The Elephant Conservation Centre in Lampang was created in 1991 with many functions in mind, but the main goal being maintaining the wellbeing of these magnificent beasts. The Centre cares for ill or injured animals, but it also has programs aimed at re-introducing elephants to the wild. Their latest initiative to raise money for the centre is ‘dung paper’ - that’s right, paper which is made from elephant dung! We stay the night in basic local-style accommodation at the centre. On the morning of Day 11, we have another early start as we head into the forest and watch the elephants being gathered from their overnight grazing grounds. After watching them take their morning baths, we see a demonstration of the skills that had made elephants such an integral part of the Thai logging trade. It is a great chance to get close to these magnificent animals. After lunch we spend some time in Lampang itself, visiting Wat That Lampang Luang, the town's main temple. This evening we catch our overnight train back south to Bangkok from Lampang.

Day 12-13: Kanchanaburi

Arriving in Bangkok we transfer to a bus for the two-hour trip to Kanchanaburi, renowned for its natural beauty. On arrival we transfer to our fan-cooled guesthouse situated near the river from where, in the afternoon, we enjoy a bicycle ride to the famous Bridge on the River Kwai, JEATH Museum and an Allied war cemetery. We also enjoy a full day tour to Hellfire Pass and Erawan National Park, where we have time to relax in the cool blue waters of the pools beneath the beautiful seven-tiered waterfall. If you are feeling energetic, you can also trek along the jungle trail to the top of the falls.

Day 14-15: Bangkok

We catch the bus back Bangkok, where you enjoy a final free day in the Thai capital. There is much to see and do in this exciting city. A visit to the Grand Palace is a must, whilst the temple complex of Wat Po, home to the famous Reclining Buddha, is also well worth a visit. You can make you own way to discover these attractions or ask your tour leader to help you book on a city tour. Your journey comes to an end after breakfast on the morning of Day 15.

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