THAILAND

Arrival day is here! When you land in Bangkok after a long flight, your guide will meet you at the airport. You’ll have plenty of time to land on your feet, chill out and meet everyone in the group, after settling in at your accommodation. 

After a tasty breakfast, you’ll head to the Chao Phraya River with your guide to check out the amazing views of the Bangkok skyline. At the river, you'll get on board a Klang - a traditional Thai longtail boat - for a tour of the river. On the way, you’ll pass through a range of local wooden stilt houses along the river, taking in the atmosphere, the sites, sounds and smells.

Next up is a visit to the majestic Grand Royal Palace which is a massive complex of buildings in the heart of the city. You will end your time with your guide at Pier 9 on Chao Phraya River and can choose to spend the rest of your day exploring nearby temples, shopping or wandering the streets of the bustling city.

During the day you’ll have time to explore on your own. In the evening, your guide will meet you at your accommodation to accompany you to China Town. Here you’ll explore the secrets of this lively neighborhood and will taste dishes that are loved by Thai and Chinese alike. You’ll try the spicy stuff, indulge in the sweet deserts, hear stories about the dishes, and talk to the food sellers. In between, you'll explore the less-traveled side-streets and hidden alleys for temples, local customs, and the behind-the-scenes of this world-famous foodie haven.

Today you have the day free to do whatever you want, giving you the opportunity to continue to explore Bangkok. Go shopping, try the food markets and museums or relax. In the evening (around 18:00) you'll be picked up from your accommodation and transferred to the Northern Bus Terminal where you will board an overnight bus to Mae Sot. Remember to stock up on snacks for the ride.

Your local guide will meet you at the bus station in the (very) early morning and take you by songthaew (an open Thai vehicle) to a simple hotel where you’ll have a few hours to rest, take a shower, and eat breakfast. After breakfast, your next songthaew arrives to start your journey to Umphang. 

After seemingly endless and curvy roads across the mountains, there's a stop at Umphang town where you’ll get the time to visit one of our favorite places to drink a delicious local coffee or fresh-squeezed juice (we recommend the passion fruit juice!). After this final stop, it's a relatively short drive to reach the Karen Village of Palatha. When you arrive, you’ll be welcomed by your host family and learn about the Karen community and their culture. Each host family will accommodate a small group, and they will prepare a local dinner for you.

Wake up and enjoy a simple breakfast prepared by your host family and then leave into the jungle to begin your search for Thailand’s most iconic and animal: the Asian elephant. Depending on where you find the elephants on the day you visit them, you’ll either have lunch at a waterfall or deeper in the jungle. 

After lunch you’ll trek back to Palatha and have some free time to shower before meeting at the village’s handicraft center to experience a local weaving demonstration and learn how the Karen people make their handicrafts. You’ll have some time after the weaving demonstration to walk around and we suggest visiting the village’s coffee shop before heading back to your homestay for dinner.

Wake up and enjoy your host’s home cooked breakfast as you await your songthaew to take you to today’s adventure. Leave your luggage at the homestay and only bring what you need for tonight’s camping underneath the stars in Umphang National Park. The songthaew will take you to the river where you’ll board a boat to go deeper into the jungle. It's a breathtaking experience to witness the unspoiled natural beauty of Umphang. After the boat ride, you'll be taken to Southeast Asia's largest waterfall: Thi Lor Su (which quite literally means "big waterfall"). Here you'll have lunch and spend a couple of hours taking a refreshing swim and, if the water level permits, cliff jump from the top of the waterfall!

From Thi Lor Su, you’ll trek through the forest for a few hours to reach your campsite before sunset and set up camp next to pristine Ko Tha Waterfall.

Wake up to the sounds of nature and breakfast at the campsite before hiking a few hours through dense jungle to return to Palatha Village. You’ll arrive just before lunch so you can take a shower and freshen up, have a quick lunch, pick up your luggage, and then hop on the songthaew for the long (and curvy) road back to Mae Sot.

In the morning, you’ll be picked up at your accommodation in Mae Sot in a songthaew and driven to the bus station. Please note that breakfast is not included today, so we recommend buying some snacks for the road before boarding the bus. Expect to arrive in Chiang Mai in the late afternoon. Check-in and enjoy the rest of the day on your own, exploring the city.

Now's the time to either relax or go on a little urban adventure. You will hop on a bike for a delightful cycling tour in the early hours of the morning! Pedal through the serene alleys and quiet backroads of the old town, where you'll get to witness the breathtaking sight of golden temple spires glistening in the dusky light. Plus, you'll get to learn a bit about the city's history while you're at it. You'll bike to a local night market where you can try some different treats and delicacies. Yum! On the ride back, we'll pass by some historical landmarks unique to the city. 

Wake up and enjoy your breakfast, and then get ready to experience real Thai cooking with a little of the special Northern Thai flavor. You will be picked up between 8:30 and 9:00 for your morning cooking class which will start with a visit to a local market to pick up the ingredients for your dishes. After that, roll up your sleeves and start cooking!

Today you will go to Khao Sok National Park. You will start by transferring to Chiang Mai Airport where you'll board a local flight to Surat Thani. On arrival, you’ll be transferred to Khao Sok National Park. In the late afternoon follow your expert jungle guide for an evening safari in the park. After a couple of hours, you'll return to the hostel and enjoy a tasty dinner together.

Today is a full day in Khao Sok National Park. Start the day with a tasty breakfast, and then go on an overnight trip to Cheow Lan Lake. Take a boat ride through the incredible scenery to a raft house where you will have lunch. In the afternoon, swim in the emerald waters and go on a jungle hike or spend some time kayaking. After a fresh dinner, spend the night in a floating bamboo bungalow. 

Wake up early for a morning mist safari, and look for giant hornbills, monkeys, and gibbons feeding in the trees before breakfast. Check out of your room and relax, swim, or kayak until lunch, after which you'll take a boat to the Dam.

From here, you'll continue to your next destination: Krabi. Expect to reach your hostel just before sunset. The remaining time in Thailand you will travel without a guide accompanying you.

Check into your hostel in Krabi by evening and spend the next day doing whatever you feel like. Make plans with the group, or take a day off, exploring or lounging by yourself. 

The day after, you'll hop on a ferry to your next stop - paradise, also called Koh Phi Phi! You’ve got three days to spend however you like. After all the adventures, maybe you just want to chill on the beach or work on your tan? You can also take a dip and snorkel in the crystal-clear water or rent a kayak and go exploring!

Your adventure is almost wrapped up, and it’s time to catch the ferry to Phuket. You’ve got the last two days to explore on your own before it’s time to say goodbye to your new travel buddies and head to the airport. Thinking about sticking around Thailand or heading to another spot in Asia? Let us know when you book, and we’ll help you extend your trip!