Couples getaway or honeymoon with a difference Create memories to cherish on this private tropical eco adventure for two. With your partner or friend you will enjoy a host of experiences, from bathing elephants and diving into waterfalls, to witnessing the spectacle of a million bats swarming into the night sky. Meet and make friends with real local people while you trek up a mountain, take a Thai cookery lesson, shop at markets and see the sights of Thailand. Your two-week adventure starts in Bangkok, with a whistle-stop tour of the key palaces and temples before venturing north into the lush countryside. A 10-tier waterfall is yours to explore near Chiang Mai, before you meet (and bathe) the elephants in a sanctuary and then get to know a local family. Further north the beaten track is left far behind you as you trek up a mountain on the border with Laos, take a dip in the hot springs and dine outside under the stars. You'll get to really feel part of many aspects of village life, visiting the local primary school, learning about local customs and even joining in their early-evening football matches. The final leg of your adventure will see you exploring the Khao Yai National Park. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this massive wildlife reserve is home to hundreds of species of birds and mammals and thousands of species of plants. You'll go wildlife spotting in an open-topped jeep, trek through the jungle and watch as millions of bats swarm out into the night sky. And don't worry - there is time to relax by the pool too! This is a private tour that can be taken at your own pace and can be customised.Day 1: Fly from London with Eva Air or Thai Airways, directly to Bangkok. Regional add-ons available. Day 2: Transfer from Bangkok airport with one of our drivers. Relax for a few hours in your charming boutique hotel before enjoying the city lights and dinner in one of our recommended restaurants on the banks of the Chao Praya river. Day 3: See the key sights in Thailand with our guide - Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Pho and Wat Arun. Late afternoon free time at your hotel to plan your evening out in Bangkok, escorted by your driver (plenty to choose from in our tips and maps). Day 4: Short internal flight to Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand. One of our drivers will take you to a private home just outside the city centre. Having settled you into the guest floor of the house (which is all yours), the family will take you on a tour of the area before sharing a home-cooked dinner with you. Day 5: Morning visit to an orchid farm and then on to the Mae Sa Waterfalls. Plenty of time to explore the 10 tiers of cascading water and to enjoy the tropical wildlife while eating your picnic lunch. Your driver will take you into Chiang Mai town in the evening for dinner and a visit to the famous night bazaar. Days 6 and 7: Elephants! Overnight stay at Elephant Nature Park, an award-winning sanctuary. Meet the conservation experts and mahouts (elephant carers), and after some training, get up close and scrub down the elephants in the river. Day 8: Sightseeing around the ancient city and temples of Chiang Mai with your driver. Watch local craftsmen and women at work in the handicraft villages around the city centre and pick up some souvenirs from their co-operatives. Informal Thai cookery lesson in the evening with local family. Day 9: Transfer northwards to a breathtaking valley near Thailand's border with Laos. Lunch with your host family, then spend the afternoon with the local villagers, seeing how they fish, weave, farm and harvest. Enjoy a campfire dinner before retiring to your private chalet. Day 10: Cut your own trails today as you trek across rice fields and up into the mountains with your guide. Build a fire for your barbeque lunch, before joining in some games with the local villagers. Dinner under a blanket of sparkling stars. Day 11: Visit a local primary school, then it's off to some nearby waterfalls. Swim, picnic and take things easy before totally relaxing with a Thai massage. Round the day off with a visit to a freshwater prawn farm for a delicious dinner. Day 12: Transfer to your eco-lodge in Khao Yai National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Evening trip to the local night market. Day 13: Day to relax and enjoy the gardens, pool and lodge. Into the National Park in the late afternoon in time to witness over a million bats swarming out into the night sky. Day 14: Early start to go wildlife-spotting with a local guide. Picnic at spectacular waterfalls and then more wildlife-spotting from an open-topped vehicle. Day 15: Back to Bangkok airport by car to take your flight home. Arrival at London Heathrow at approximately 7pm UK time (same day). This 15-day eco adventure costs £1,900 per person based on two adults sharing a private tour. This includes international flights from London with Eva Air or Thai Airways, accommodation, activities/excursions, private transfers and most meals. Exceptions are August and Christmas due to peak flight surcharges. This trip can also be taken as a honeymoon with a difference and we can also add beach extensions. Or if you want to go to the beach and have only 2 weeks to spare, we can take out either the third or the fourth section to make time to spend at a boutique beach resort. Telephone us on 0800 011 2571 with any questions, we're happy to help!
Download the full itinerary with more details here
|
|
