Thailand Itinerary

With thanks to Explore the trip Itinerary is as follows:

ACTIVE THAILAND 2007

Day 1.Thursday 5 July 2007.
Fly from Manchester to Bangkok via Dubai,

Day 2. Friday 6th July
Arrive Bangkok in the evening and check into our hotel.

Day 3. Saturday 7th July
Sightseeing tour of Bangkok on foot and by boat and includes the Grand Palace with its stunning Emerald Buddha and Wat Po (Temple of the Reclining Buddha). In the evening we board the overnight train for Den Chai in northern Thailand.

Day 4. Sunday 8th July
Drive to Nan passing rolling hills and fields of cotton, tea and teak. Visit some of the interesting wats and museums around the town. Afternoon we take to bicycles to explore deeper into the surrounding countryside and villages.

Day 5. Monday 9th July
Walk through the forest and along hilltops, admiring the scenic views in this quiet northern area, before heading back to Nan. Then transfer to our homestay villages and are accommodated in local Thai houses with our host families. Conditions are the same as for the family, nothing more, nothing less.

Day 6. Tuesday 10th July
We spend a full day with our host families. The emphasis is to fully integrate into the family's daily routine and to participate in whatever needs doing; whether that be cooking, planting rice, fishing etc.

Day 7. Wednesday 11th July
Saying goodbye to our hosts, we leave the hills and head down to Lampang by local bus. In the afternoon there is time to wander along the Wang River and around the town and markets. We visit the Elephant Conservation Centre not far from the city and we may be to arrange a trip to Wat Phra That Lampang Luang, one of the architectural jewels of northern Thailand.

Day 8. Thursday 12th July
Drive to Umphang and meet our local guide and prepare for our 5-day jungle adventure.

Day 9. Friday 13th July
Begin jungle adventure, start rafting then walk through the jungle to our first camping location.

Day 10. Saturday 14th July
Today we set on foot to the Thi Lor Su waterfall, the largest and most impressive waterfall in Thailand and possibly South East Asia. We then trek to the minority Karen village at Kotha for our overnight stay.

Day 11. Sunday 15th July
We travel on elephant back to Palatha village, and then take to rafts again for our white water adventure. In the late afternoon we make our wild camp by the river.

Day 12. Monday 16th July
We make an easy return trip along the river to see Thi Lor Lay Waterfall. Then with the elephants crrying the rafts we walk for about 4-5 hours before making a wild camp deep in the
jungle.

Day 13. Tuesday 17th July
Final trek back to Sepala village, then bus to Mae Sot and an overnight hotel.

Day 14. Wednesday 18th July
Time permitting, we may have the chance to visit the Burmese border market just a few kilometres to the west before transferring to the airport for the short flight to Bangkok.

Day 15. Thursday 19th July
Minibus and ferry to Koh Samet for palm fringed beaches and relaxation.

Days 16 & 17.
On Koh Samet various optional excursions such as boat trips around the island, walks and watersports.

Day 18. Sunday 22nd July
Today we take the ferry and minibus back to Bangkok. Lots of interesting sights sounds and smells to experience in Bangkok

Day 19. Monday 23rd July
In Bangkok so last chance for shopping. In the evening we transfer to the airport and fly to Manchester.

Day 20. Tuesday 24 July 2007
Arrive Manchester around lunchtime and coach transfer back to THS mid afternoon.