TRIP DETAILS

The Itinerary, a Tapestry of Temples, Trails, and Homestays

This trip includes 10 days & 9 nights

DAY ONE - JAN 29TH: Bangkok
Your Thai adventure begins as you land amidst the hum and buzz of the vibrant Bangkok cityscape. A warm welcome awaits as you gather to meet your Chief Experience Officer (CEO) and fellow nomads-in-arms, and echoes of anticipation ripple through the group for the exciting days that follow.

Opt to get to know your new companions with a group dinner feasting on local flavors and sharing the first of many stories.

Overnight at Hotel Royal Bangkok @ Chinatown
(NO MEALS INCLUDED)

DAY TWO -JAN 30TH: Bangkok/Kanchanaburi
Enjoy a klong boat tour of Bangkok including a visit to Wat Pho. Travel to Kanchanaburi and head to your floating rafthouse accommodation

Klong Riverboat Tour - Travel by longtail boat on the busy Chao Phraya River and through the small canals of western Bangkok's Thonburi district. Observe colourful scenes of everyday life along the river banks.

Wat Po Visit - This temple is known for its reclining Buddha, its feet covered with mother-of-pearl engravings of Buddhist symbols. Explore the large grounds and other compounds to see other Buddha figures, murals and the chedis that contain the ashes of Buddha. This is also the birthplace of traditional Thai massage.

Overnight Rafthouse Excursion - Enjoy a unique experience aboard a floating rafthouse on the famous River Kwai.

Overnight on the Floating Rafthouse Accommodation
MEALS: (B/D)

DAY THREE - JAN 31ST: Kanchanaburi
Awaken with the river's current; today is a canvas of natural and historical tapestries. Enjoy a day of sightseeing at Erawan Falls and the Bridge on the River Kwai.

Erawan Waterfalls - Visit one of the world’s most beautiful waterfalls. Its seven tiers offer a unique experience at every climb, reaching up to 1,500m (4921 ft). Swim in the turquoise pools, snap photos from the top tier, and opt to hike in the jungle to spot monkeys.

Bridge on the River Kwai Visit - Take in a piece of World War II history on this visit. We're sure you've seen or at least heard of the famous movie "Bridge on the River Kwai." Well, now you can tour the real thing. It's massive, majestic, and imposing, offering fabulous views of the river below.

Overnight at Good Times Resort (or similar)
MEALS: (B)

DAY FOUR - FEB 1ST: Kanchanaburi to Ayutthaya to Chiang Mai
Today, delve into memories of a fallen kingdom in Ayutthaya's ruins, where each stone whispers tales from a grand capital's heyday. As twilight nears, embark on an evocative journey aboard the overnight train; let the rhythmic clatter gently rock you towards dreams of the north.

Thai/Burma Railway Centre and Allied War Cemetery Visit - Visit the Thai-Burmese Railway Museum to learn about the Death Railway's dark history, and the Allied War Cemetery where more than 6,000 prisoners are buried.

Temple Ruins Tour - Visit the ruins of Ayutthaya, which served as Thailand’s capital from the 14th to 18th centuries, when it ranked as one of the most magnificent cities in the world. Located 86km (53 mi) north of Bangkok, the ruins of this UNESCO World Heritage Site include stunning pagodas and Buddha images.

Overnight on the Train to Chiang Mai
MEALS: (B)

DAY FIVE - FEB 2ND: Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is a vibrant city with heaps to see and do. Famous for its night market and cooking classes, it's a feat to fit it all in. Experience the flavours and scents of traditional northern Thai cuisine by pre-booking the Northern Thai Cooking Class.

Chiang Mai Old Town Orientation Walk - Walk the inner Old Town of Chiang Mai with your CEO who will point out the basic landmarks and points of interest.

Chiang Mai Street Food Crawl - After the orientation walk enjoy a street food crawl of local vendors in Chiang Mai. Sample different cuisines from food stalls and open yourself up to new flavours.

Free time - Use free time here to make the most of your time in Chiang Mai.

Doi Suthep Temple Visit (afternoon) - Visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a golden Buddhist temple outside of Chiang Mai on the Mt Doi Suthep. Climb 300 steps to reach the temple and be rewarded with an unforgettable view. Admire the many Buddhist relics at this sacred temple and visit the white elephant shrine. Legend has it that the location of the temple was chosen after a white elephant carried a relic to the mountain and trumpeted three times before dying on the spot. Also, with a little luck, you may witness the chanting of the monks.

Overnight at Chiang Mai Gate Hotel (or similar)
(NO MEALS INCLUDED)

DAY SIX - FEB 3RD: Chiang Mai
Take a full free day to relax or explore the countryside of northern Thailand.

Optional Activities

Street Food Walk at Chiang Mai Night Market -Pick up a a souvenir at this shopper's paradise. Wander through the market to find music, food, and local artists selling handmade crafts.

Northern Thai Cooking Class - Channel your inner chef with a home-style Thai cooking class. Take a trip to the market with your teacher and learn about regional flavours as you pick out fresh ingredients. Head back to the cozy kitchen for a hands-on lesson in whipping up delicious local favourites like hot and sour soup, green curry, and sticky rice.

Half-Day Chiang Mai Cycling Tour - This half-day ride takes you on a memorable tour of the countryside's most interesting sights. Go beyond the city to see Buddhist temples, local markets and organic farms. Just off the beaten track, you'll get a sense of how the locals live and see Chiang Mai from a totally different view.

Overnight at Chiang Mai Gate Hotel (or similar)
(NO MEALS INCLUDED)

DAY SEVEN - FEB 4TH: Chiang Mai/Ban Pha Mon
Tucked away in the hills of northern Thailand is where the most colourful and unchanged traditional communities can be found. Trek through forests and rural terrains to visit some of these diverse hilltribe villages; often, each will have their own unique language, clothing style, and belief system that differs significantly from those of neighbouring tribes. You are well looked after by your CEO and local guides, who take the responsibility of preparing all meals and carrying food supplies.

Hilltribe Trek Day 1: Ban Mae Malai – Ban Pha Mon, 3h 30m - Hit the road early in the morning to head to the trailhead. Start the trek through forests and rugged terrain that winds itself around various hilltop villages. Trek from Huay Nam Dung National Park to Ban Pha Mon, a Lahu village.

Ban Pha Mon Homestay - These agricultural communities support themselves with farming and hunting but typically struggled to survive financially outside of growing seasons. To prevent families from leaving and the gradual loss of culture and history, we worked with a local NGO to help sustainably build tourism opportunities through a year-long training program, including this overnight stay.

Overnight at Ban Pha Mon Homestay
MEALS: (B/L/D)

DAY EIGHT - FEB 5TH: Ban Pha Mon/Ban Muang Pam
Nature's morning mist fades to reveal day two of our trek, navigating paths less trodden to Ban Muang Pam. We weave through Karen lore, mould bamboo beneath our craft, and glean wisdom from the weft and warp of textiles painted with history. Trek between villages, over farmlands and grasslands and ascend to the ridgeline. Learn about bush medicine, seasonal fruits and plants and seeds. Slip your wet shoes on and descend to the Huew Hin Poon Creek for lunch.

Here, go for a swim and help the local guides make a friction fire and prepare lunch. Continue another hour and a half to the jungle Buddhist temple outside the second village. Spend the night in the Karen village learn about wood carving, weaving and cooking. Opt to learn about medicine from a shaman or play football with the locals.

Hilltribe Trek Day 2: Ban Pha Mon – Ban Muang Pam, 6h - Trek to reach the lunch stop, taking in the beautiful scenery along the way. Enjoy lunch before carrying on to the Karen village of Ban Muang Pam. Here, discover more about local life, help prepare dinner, learn about weaving or meet with a traditional shaman.

Ban Muang Pam Homestay - Experience traditional White Karen culture in a mountain valley when you’ll explore how to live a self-sufficient life. Trek the conservation forest area and rice fields with trained local guides, observe traditional weaving by the Women’s Textiles Group, and learn how to make a bamboo souvenir. By staying in a traditional Karen home with host families, you’re supporting community efforts to preserve White Karen culture.

Overnight at Ban Muang Pam Homestay
MEALS: (B/L/D)

DAY NINE - FEB 6TH: Ban Muang Pam/Ban Jabo
Breakfast paves the way to Ban Jabo's next chapter. We raft into Tham Lod's cavernous entrails; then, within bamboo's hush, we listen to the hills' secrets, cradled in Black Lahu's community, learning of their lives and lending hands in culinary quests.

Hilltribe Trek Day 3: Ban Muang Pam – Ban Tham Lot, 3h - After breakfast, leave the village and continue on, trekking beside the Pam River through lush jungle. Arrive at Tham Lod, a 1666m deep cave. Bamboo rafts are required to enter the cave and move to different chambers - a truly unique experience.

Prehistoric Wooden Coffin Cave Visit - See hundreds of log coffins, some as old as 2,000 years, buried in these remote, chilly caves with some tight passages. Locals believe spirits lurk here.

Ban Jabo Homestay - Experience an unforgettable stay in this highland village. Connect with a Black Lahu family and learn about daily life for this hilltribe. Try your hand at bamboo weaving or playing a Lahu instrument, and help your host family prepare a traditional meal. Visit a nearby prehistoric coffin cave.

Overnight at Ban Jabo Homestay
MEALS: (B/L/D)

DAY TEN - FEB 7TH: Ban Jabo/Chiang Mai
Every journey has its sundown; today, we say our heartfelt goodbyes. Winding back to Chiang Mai via private van, our voyage culminates with exchanges worth more than any currency. As you depart, take a piece of Northern Thailand with you, vivid and vibrant, forever etched in your traveler's heart.

Tour Ends Upon Arrival in Chiang Mai
MEALS: (B)

Not ready to leave yet? Consider joining us on our small group journey ‘Sailing Thailand’ beginning Feb 8th.