Roam Thailand

Itinerary

Day 1-2 Bangkok

As congested, polluted and hectic as it is, Bangkok has plenty of appeal. With towering skyscrapers pressed up against Chinese shop-houses and brand-new Mercedes squeezing past vendors with pushcarts, this is a city of distinct contrasts. Culture fiends will delight in the dazzling Grand Palace and the city’s countless pagodas, while shoppers could spend weeks sifting through Bangkok’s malls and open-air markets. Entertainment ranges from highbrow (classical Thai music concerts) to low (transvestite revues) with everything in between. Dining options are equally varied. Whether you’re eating French cuisine in a plush hotel restaurant or sampling fried crickets on the side of the road, prepare to have all of your senses engaged. This is the place to eat, drink and be merry.Travellers will be arriving at all times today so there are no activities arranged. Please try to arrive by 6pm for an important group meeting where you can meet the tour leader and the other group members. You have the day free to relax and adjust to the frenetic pace and humid heat of Bangkok.On Day 2 we can have an optional visit to Wat Po, home of the giant reclining Buddha or your tour leader can arrange a longtail boat to explore the canals of Bangkok. You have free time after until we head off to the railway station in the evening to board our sleeper train to Chiang Mai.

Day 3 Chiang Mai

We arrive in the early morning and have free time to explore for the rest of the day. In the early evening, we can arrange an optional visit to the famous temple complex of Doi Suthep, about a 45 minute drive from the center of the city. Surrounded by rolling hills, Chiang Mai offers both pretty surroundings and old style architecture. Enclosed by a moat and crumbling walls, the old city features great cafes, shops and accommodations. An important Buddhist centre since the 14th century, Chiang Mai is home to more than 300 temples. Many visitors come here to attend meditation retreats, massage classes or yoga lessons. It is also a centre of handicraft production, with a long history of silverwork, woodcarving, pottery-making and weaving. Not to be missed is the Night Bazaar, a series of covered markets, shops and stalls that offer the best selection of handicrafts in Thailand.

Day 4-6 Hilltribe Trek

From Chiang Mai, we start a 3 day hilltribe trek where we visit various hilltribe minority groups, each with their own language, clothing and religion. We walk approximately 4-5 hours each day along sloping hills and valleys. Each person is required to be able to carry their own pack as our porters will be carrying food and water supplies. Accommodation is group share, where you will be sleeping on the floor of the village huts. Toilet and washing facilities are very basic in most of the villages so be prepared to rough it for a few days. It is possible to rent trekking gear in Chiang Mai before the trek in case you have forgotten to pack something vital.

Day 7 Chiang Mai

Return back in the afternoon to Chiang Mai in order to have enough time to do any last minute shopping or sightseeing before boarding an overnight train back to Bangkok.

Day 8-9 Bangkok

Arrive in the early morning and spend another day in Bangkok catching up on any shopping or sightseeing. On the evening of Day 9 board a train to Surat Thani.

Day 10-11 Khao Sok National Park

Arriving in the early morning, we take a bus to the Khao Sok National Park and settle into our simple, yet comfortable, fan cooled bungalow style rooms for 2 days of exploration and discovery. Entrance to the National Park is not included.Khao Sok is a diverse area of natural beauty, a perfect place for people who want to hike and get out there in nature or those that just want to chill out in a hammock by the riverside watching monkeys take their afternoon bath.Khao Sok National Park covers an area of 739km2. Thanks to other protected areas (Klong Saers and Khlong Nakha) next to Khao Sok, the actual protected area measures almost 4000 km2. The dominant forest is lowland rainforest and is about 160 million years old, which makes it older than the Amazon!

Day 12 Ko Samui

Lying off of Thailand’s east coast in the Gulf of Thailand, Ko Samui offers everything you could possibly want in a beach retreat: white sandy beaches, coconut palms, fresh seafood and warm, clear waters. With an area of 247 square kilometres, Ko Samui is the largest island in an archipelago of around 80 islands. The nearby Ko Pha-Ngan and Ko Tao also offer many beach resorts and great diving. Like Phuket, Ko Samui attracts many visitors but still has plenty of out-of-the-way spots for those wishing to get away from it all. After a short ferry ride from Surat Thani, arrive in Ko Samui, well known for it’s magnificent beaches and party nightlife. Take a tour of the island and it’s main sights before relaxing and enjoying the beautiful beaches.

Day 13-15 Ko Tao

Ko Tao, in English, is known as ‘turtle island’, some say because of its shape, others say because the waters in the area were rich with sea turtles, whereas now they have moved onto other breeding grounds. Initially the island was not inhabited and there was only the occasional fisherman from the neighboring islands looking for shelter in a storm or just taking a break before continuing their journey. In 1980s the first travellers discovered the island paradise and word spread and made it widely known and a popular backpacker destination. As a consequence, bigger, faster and safer boats were used to allow easier access to Ko Tao. During the past 10 years the reputation of Ko Tao's natural beauty, especially its marine life and coral reefs, has spread the world over and the number of paradise seekers and divers increased rapidly. It soon became one of the major dive sites in Thailand, attracting beginners and professionals alike. The local businesses expanded immediately to catch up with the needs of the new clientele. The island today, though still remaining a unique paradise caters for all tastes and budgets. On the evening of Day 15, return to the mainland to board a train back to Bangkok.

Day 16 Bangkok

Arrive in early morning at the train station to bid farewell to everyone. Our trip finishes here but your tour leader can help you with any onward arrangements.

Trip Details

Accommodation	Hotels (2 nts), Simple fan-cooled hotel/guesthouses (4 nts), basic hilltribe villages (2 nts, multishare), sleeper trains (4 nts), simple bungalows (3 nts).
Combination	This trip combines our Northern Hilltribes and Villages (ATHV) and Southern Thailand Sojourn tour (ATSS).
Departure	Departs every Sunday, year round
DepEnd	Sun-Mon
Group Size	Max 15, Avg 10
Included Highlights	Hilltribe trek, Beaches of Ko Samui and Ko Tao
Local Payment	USD300 or Thai Baht 10200
Meals Included	4 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 2 Dinners.
Recommendation	Finish off with a relaxing sea trip, check out our 'Thailand Sailing Adventure', code ATSA.
StartFinish	ex Bangkok
Testimonial	"A brilliant trip! The highlight was the hill tribe trek, and to think, at the beginning of the tour, that was the one part I was looking forward to the least! Such an incredible experience, and great fun!" - Kerry Edwards travelled on Roam Thailand
Transport	Local bus, train, elephant, walking, boat.
Brochure Intro	From the glorious chaos of Bangkok, head to the serene mountains of Northern Thailand. Trek through the jungle with your guide and learn firsthand about life in a hilltribe village. After the trek, trade in the mountains for beach life in the south. Hang up your hammock and enjoy the sounds of the sea in your own tropical island paradise.

When can I go?

Start Date	Finish Date	Places Available
2008-09-07	2008-09-22	1
2008-10-19	2008-11-03	7+
2008-11-02	2008-11-17	2
2008-11-16	2008-12-01	5
2008-11-23	2008-12-08	7+
2008-11-30	2008-12-15	7+
2008-12-07	2008-12-22	7+
2008-12-14	2008-12-29	7+
2008-12-21	2009-01-05	7+
2008-12-28	2009-01-12	7+
2009-01-04	2009-01-19	7+
2009-01-11	2009-01-26	7+
2009-01-18	2009-02-02	7+
2009-01-25	2009-02-09	7+
2009-02-01	2009-02-16	7+
2009-02-08	2009-02-23	7+
2009-02-15	2009-03-02	7+
2009-02-22	2009-03-09	7+
2009-03-01	2009-03-16	7+
2009-11-15	2009-11-30	7+
2009-11-22	2009-12-07	7+
2009-11-29	2009-12-14	7+
2009-12-06	2009-12-21	7+
2009-12-13	2009-12-28	7+
2009-12-20	2010-01-04	7+

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