Real Thailand This 2-week tour of Thailand is an immersive adventure for those who want to really get under the skin of the country. A rare opportunity for the more adventurous travellers to discover the culture and meet the real people of Thailand. You will take in four different areas and meet local people who will welcome you into their lives. This off-the-beaten-track itinerary is designed for couples who want to get away from it all, but are prepared to get immersed in different cultures during their very own 'soft adventure' holiday. You will also have a bit of time to yourself and at the end of your journey, relax at a beautiful boutique beach resort. This is for the really cultural adventurers only (though not a physically-active itinerary, and you will get a couple of days at the end at a boutique beach resort). It is very similar in itinerary to our cooking holiday, the Lemongrass Trail but without all the cooking (still lots of eating!) You'll start in Bangkok where you'll stay with a friendly family who will help you get the inside track to the bustling city, and you will find out about the lives and ways of different people, including the Mon (yes, Mon not Hmong). You'll also do some classic sightseeing with one of our guides. Then you will visit the Central Plains, the agricultural heart of the Thailand, known as the 'rice bowl' where you will be staying in a traditional Thai village. Next on your trip, Isan, in the northeast of the country. Though it takes up more than a third of the country, very few tourists venture here. You'll learn about life for both Thai people and tribes who have come from neighbouring Laos and also get a glimpse into life in Thailand 3,000 years ago on a bisit to Phu Phra Bat Historical Park, named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2024. Final stop, the Andaman Coast. You'll be staying on a small island, just off the mainland where people still make their living from fishing and farming. Finally, a couple of days to relax in a boutique beach resort on the most beautiful beach on the mainland. Day 1: Overnight flight from London Heathrow to Bangkok with Eva Air or Thai Airways. It is also possible to book this trip without flights. Day 2: D (dinner included) You will be picked up by one of our drivers and taken to a residential area. Settle into your 'private suite' or small guesthouse in the garden (depending on host) and have a walk around the local area with your hosts, before a delicious home-cooked dinner. Day 3: B A leisurely start before a day with one of our professional guides who will take you to the main sights like the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Pho (the oldest temple in Bangkok" and Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn). Whilst a bit touristy by Tell Tale Travel standards, will let you tick off the main sights in Thailand, though you will still get a flavour of local life by taking in a local market. If you have been to Bangkok before, you can choose to spend the day differently. Then you'll meet up with one of our drivers and you can explore Bangkok in the evening as you wish. Do have a look at our tips in your Tell Tale pack to choose where to eat, from charming restaurants set in peaceful gardens to the hustle and bustle of Chinatown, or visit the lively Asiatique night bazaar. Day 4: B L D Today you will be taken to the nearby island of Ko Kret. This car-free island, set in the Chao Praya river, is home to descendants of the Mon people who originally came to the island in the 1700s. Life on Ko Kret is far more relaxed than the rest of busy Bangkok - people sit in the shade beside their houses, completing household chores and chatting to pass the time. The people of Ko Kret are renowned for their fine craftsmanship skills in pottery, covered in intricate carvings, and you will end your day at a village to watch this time-honored tradition in motion. You'll stop by a pottery workshop and a place where they specialise in Thai desserts. Day 5: B D Time to say goodbye to Bangkok and your new friends. You will be picked you up this morning by one of our guides, Tong, and one of our drivers. On your way, you will visit Bangkok’s vast farmers’ market, Aw Taw Kaw. Have a look around the freshest crops from around Thailand, you can also snack on food like Mieng Kam, a betel-leaf wrapped sweet and sour explosion served as an appetizer in posh restaurants but on the streets as a snack. Then you will drive onto the Central Plains, the agricultural heartland of the country, often referred to as the ‘rice bowl of Thailand’. Rice is the staple food here, but you will also enjoy fresh vegetables like bok choi, snow peas and straw mushrooms, along with chicken, beef or pork or fish from the waters of the Chao Praya river which heads north through this area.You are heading to a sleepy, canal-side village in the Central Plains where the way of life has been relatively unspoilt by modern ways. When you get to the village, you will meet some stalwarts of this community, the village headman, Prachim, his wife Pao and their family who will welcome you into their beautiful house which overlooks the canal and has views over the family’s paddyfields at the back. As the sun sets, you’ll be taken around the local area by a traditional wooden boat. As you drift down the canal, you will see everyone from fishermen to housewives ending their work for the day. You will also stop at a local temple - you may see people feeding the fish in the water by the temple, Buddhists believe in a merit system and this is a popular way of earning it. As you will be spending a couple of nights in this village where English is not really spoken, our guide Tong you met the day before will be accompanying you for this part of your holiday. Don’t worry, you will still have one-on-one experiences with local people and time on your own, but Tong will be on hand to translate when required! Please note whilst this village would be considered fairly prosperous by local standards, people follow the traditional communal form of living. Although you will have the top floor of the house to yourselves and it is light and airy with beautiful teak panelling, you will have to sleep on Thai-style mattresses and share a bathroom for the family (for these two nights of your 2-week trip only). After a traditional rural dinner, you will have a quick culinary lesson – the village headman’s wife, Pao, will show you how to make traditional Thai desserts. These are extremely sweet and the perfect end to a spicy meal. Day 6: B L D An early start this morning, you will watch the locals giving alms to the monks (depending on the day, the monks may come to the house or you may go to the temple) and you are welcome to participate if you want to. Then, Pao will take you to the local market so she can pick up some fresh ingredients for the day’s meals. The market is just a short distance away by local taxi but if you want the best of the seasonal produce, you have to get there early and jostle with everyone else! When you get back to the village, you will spend the rest of the morning learning how to make a few traditional central Thai dishes and Pao will show you some insider tricks and secret family recipes. After feasting on your efforts, you’ll have a couple of hours to relax on your own, a great chance to sit with a book on the terrace overlooking the canal, enjoying the breeze. In the late afternoon, you can relax on the terrace or go for a bicycle ride around the village and surrounding fields. Day 7: B D Time to pack up and say goodbye to your new friends. You'll be driven to Bangkok airport for a short plane ride to the northern part of Isan. This vast region covers the north-eastern part of the country - its southern-most point is east of Bangkok and in the north, it borders Laos, with Cambodia lying to the east. On the eastern side lies Cambodia, and along with architectural influences from here, you will see influences from both Laos and Cambodia in many areas of the Isan’s culture and food. You'll have a 2-hour drive to a village at the edge of a forest. More creature comfort here - there's a pool you can enjoy before a walk around the village to meet the friendly locals. This village is close to the border with Laos which reflects in the people. Day 8: B L Day sightseeing. You will be taken to Phu Phra Bat Historical Park, named a UNESCO world heritage site in 2024. Surrounded by forest, this site features stunning sandstone rock formations with petroglyphs and pictographs which will give you a glimpse into life in Thailand 3,000 years ago. You'll also stop at a local village to see local handicrafts such as cotton-weaving. This evening, you'll visit Mukdahan, a town along the Mekong River. It has charming restaurants, as well as a lively food market, a great place to taste regional delicacies. The town is famous for its bustling night market, particularly lively with locals at the weekend, which sells everything from Chinese electronics to handwoven silk made locally. Tell Tale Tip We recommend buying packets of coffee from Laos as delicious but lightweight gifts to take home. Day 9: B L D This morning, you will meet the local children in the village who will show you their traditional dancing and drumming. The villagers say having people from other countries take interest in their culture encourages the children to take pride in and maintain traditional ways. This may help stem the flow of young people going to the big city where they have a poorer quality of life and are away from their families.. Then you'll go foraging in the forest and have a picnic lunch. In the afternoon, you'll have time to relax by the pool. Then time for a delicious home-cooked dinner.
Day 10: B D You'll be driven back to the airport in Isan to fly to Bangkok and change planes for another short plane to Krabi in the south of the country. You will be met at Krabi airport by one of our drivers who will quickly whisk you away from the tourists going on coaches to their resorts. As you drive along Krabi’s winding roads, you will soon see the famous rock formations of the Andaman Coast, which rise like cliffs by the roadside and are covered with tropical jungle plants. This breathtaking landscape has served as backdrops in Hollywood films ranging from Star Wars to James Bond’s The Man with the Golden Gun. You will be taken on a short boat ride to an island called Ko Klang literally off the coast of Krabi, but unlike the islands which are full of hotels and resorts, it is home to people who mainly live traditional lives from fishing and farming. This tiny island is free from cars but abundant with the bright colours of emerald-green paddyfields, fruit such as the yellow jackfruit and tropical flora such as hibiscus and birds of paradise, all of which provide a contrast to the surrounding azure sea. When you get to Ko Klang, you will meet one of our friends. Settle into your simple but charming chalet, before you have a delicious feast of the island’s specialities. These are often made with the fresh fish and squid straight off the boats, or bounty from Ko Klang itself, from the mussels on the beach to the berries in the trees. Day 11: B L D Today, you will have a private boat trip around the small uninhabited islands which dot the Andaman coastline. Drifting along on a long- tail boat is a great way to experience the stunning scenery and is extremely relaxing, although you will stop to snorkel in coral reefs teeming with tropical fish. Today, you’ll explore the Hong Islands, considered to be some of the most beautiful in the area, containing pristine white beaches and a hidden emerald lagoon and perfect white beaches. At the end of the day, back on shore, why not join the locals in a game of volleyball? Day 12: B L D Your hostess, will take you to the mainland to Krabi market to check what's on offer and catch up on the latest gossip. You can have a breakfast of curry and roti in the market and see the fresh seafood and luscious fruit from the area. You can spend the afternoon lazing in a hammock, explore the island on your own or learn how to make spicy southern-style dishes with your hostess.
Day 13: B Time to pack up and say goodbye to your new friends. You'll be taken to the mainland and on a 30-40 minute drive to an idyllic boutique hotel, right on the beach called the Tubkaak. Afternoon at leisure. Day 14: B Day at leisure. Day 15: B Transfer to Krabi airport and short flight (1 hour) to Bangkok for an official connection to your daytime flight back (arriving in Heathrow approximately 7pm UK time). This cultural tour, Real Thailand, costs from £2,275 per person, based on two people sharing a private tour (price applies most of the year except peak summer and Christmas, if booked well in advance). The price includes direct flights from London with Thai Airways or Eva Air, accommodation, activities/excursions, transfers in private chauffeur-driven cars, and most meals. If you have any questions or would like to customise this itinerary, call us on numbers below or send us a message.
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