Siam Encounter

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 2-3: Kanchanaburi

In the morning we will transfer by taxi to the Southern Bus Station for the two-hour public bus journey to Kanchanaburi. On arrival we transfer by songthaew to our fan-cooled guesthouse situated near the river from where, in the afternoon, we take a longtail boat ride to the famous Bridge on the River Kwai and an Allied war cemetery. We 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. At Hellfire Pass we walk down the cutting dug by Allied POW’s during World War II. Australian, Dutch, British and other allied POW’s worked 18 hours a day in order to complete the cutting, it took 6 weeks to construct. It was the most difficult cutting to dig as it was the largest rock cutting along the entire railway. There is an excellent museum to explore as part of our stop and learn more about the POW’s and ASEAN Labourers experience.

Day 4: Ayuthaya

Today we start early with a five-hour trip by local fan-cooled bus through rich farming lands 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 5: Chiang Mai

We arrive in Chiang Mai early in the morning and transfer by songthaew to our hotel, which is centrally located and close to the Night Market. The day 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, whilst an excursion to the top of Doi Suthep offers fantastic views over the city. 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 6-8: Hill Tribe Trek - Chiang Mai

We take a two-day/one-night excursion to a Palong Village in the hills beyond Chiang Mai, where we get to try our hand at elephant riding. From on top of these magnificent creatures, we get to enjoy the spectacular surrounding scenery around us, dominated by Chiang Dao Mountain. There are a number of villages in this area that are homes to various hill tribes - each unique their own customs, housing and colourful clothing. There are plenty of opportunities for you to haggle with the villagers, in order to purchase some authentic Hilltribe handicrafts. Trekking is a great way to experience all this at a grassroots level. A fairly good level of fitness is required, but the highlight is a night spent sleeping in a local village hut, as a guest of the hill tribe people. After our trek we return to Chiang Mai for a night, where we have a final day to explore the town or shop at its markets before catching an overnight train back to Bangkok on the evening of Day 8 (approximately 13 hours).

Day 9-10: Bangkok

The train arrives into Bangkok, where you enjoy a final free day in the Thai capital. Please note that check in time at the hotel is midday, however the reception staff will do their best to have our rooms ready as early as possible, you may have to wait to check in. 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 10.

Tour Grade: Trekking

Think about the feeling you get after completing one of the world’s great treks: seeing Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate after gruelling days on the Inca Trail; looking down on Africa from its summit, Kilimanjaro; relaxing by Pokhara’s perfect lake after tackling Annapurna’s rugged tracks. The legs might ache but the feeling of pride in your achievements is overwhelming. More than that though, trekking gets you up close and personal with the world’s finest landscapes and many interesting cultures. Walk through remote jungle to visit the tribes of northern Thailand and Vietnam, or explore China’s iconic Tiger Leaping Gorge by foot, and you’ll find the country opens up in a whole new way, the slow pace all the better for appreciating the surroundings. It’s definitely better to travel than to arrive – particularly when the travel’s all on your own steam.