THAILAND EXPERIENCE

Day 1 - Departure

Fly to Bangkok from London Heathrow.

Day 2 - Bangkok

On arrival transfer to your hotel. Spend time exploring the bustling city of Bangkok.

Day 3 - Kanchanaburi (River Kwai)

Depart Bangkok early in the morning for Damnoen Sadauk Floating Market. Continue on to Kanchanaburi and visit the Bridge of the River Kwai. Spend the night in Kanchanaburi.

Day 4 - Kanchanaburi

Today visit the Lava Cave and Waterfall in the National Park. Spend the night in Kanchanaburi again.

Day 5 - Bangkok

In the morning visit the Khmer temple 'Prasart Muang Singha and museum before leaving for Bangkok. On the way, stop at the largest pagoda in Thailand and 'Sanam Chandra Palace' the royal retreat of King Rama VI. Stay overnight in Bangkok.

Days 6-7 - Chiang Mai

Transfer to the airport for a morning flight to Chiang Mai.

Spend the days visiting cultural sights such as the Dhamma Park Gallery and Heritage Garden (a centre for socially engaged buddhism, set in beautiful gardens), the Folklore Museum of Yong People, and Ban Muang Kung (a small village where traditional clay pots are made).

On the first evening experience a traditional dinner at Ban Kong Sai, a Nothern Thai style house. On the second night spend time exploring Chiang Mai's fantastic night market.

Days 8-10 - Elephant Nature Foundation

Transfer to the Elephant Nature Foundation for volunteer activities for 4 days. The Elephant Nature Foundation is a non-profit organization which advocates and acts on behalf of the rights of Asian elephants in Thailand. Their mission is to increase awareness about the plight of the endangered Asian elephant, educate locals on the humane treatment of their elephants, and provide sanctuary for rescued elephants at the nature park. There is a whole choice of activities that you can choose to do while here whether it's helping to take care of the rescued animals, building a new fence or a new house, or preparing fruit each morning for the elephants, no two days will be alike during your time as a volunteer. You can expect to be tired at the end of each day, but to also feel satisfied that your work is making a difference.

Day 11 - Chiang Mai

Transfer back to Chiang Mai and spend the day relaxing and exploring the city.

Day 12 - Lisu Lodge

In the early morning visit a local market before driving north to Mae Rim where you can enjoy a stroll around the extensive gardens and orchid farm. After lunch at a local restaurant, continue driving to Lisu Lodge where you can take part in various outdoor activities and the Himmapaan Reforestation Project. Several plots of land near the Lisu Lodge have been selected to give the guests of the lodge an opportunity to participate in an active program of carbon offsetting. At the Himmapaan site the purpose is not to engage in a ritual of planting parallel rows of ‘make-us-feel-good trees’ but instead it has been set up as a workshop to show how a forest ecosystem can be recreated by planting a careful selection of seedlings of complementing species. The program follows the guidelines developed by Dr Steve Elliot of Chiang Mai University and its aim is to recreate forest structure that will sustain biodiversity recovery.

Day 13 - Khum Lanna

After breakfast at Lisu Lodge drive to visit the Buffalo Camp before arriving at Khum Lanna. Here you can enjoy a Thai cooking class and where you can learn about the local ingrdients and how to cook traditional dishes. Overnight at Khum Lanna.

Day 14 - Tha Ton

After breakfast and morning activities at khum Lanna proceed over spectacular mountain roads to Doi Ang Khang, a large botanical research station where many temperate flowers and crops are grown at high altitude. Continue to a very beautiful and traditional high altitude Palong village (Nor Lae) to visit the friendly hilltribe people with their colourful costumes. Drive to Mae Kok River Village for overnight check-in.

Day 15 - Chiang Rai

After breakfast at the resort, depart for Doi Mae Salong and visit the hill tribes and Chinese market. Visit the Akha Lorcha and the Yao village of Lao Sip. Continue to Mae Chan and then on to Mae Sai, a border town to Myanmar and have lunch at a local restaurant in Mae Sai. Proceed to the Golden Triangle and check in to your hotel for the night.

Day 16 - Bangkok

Transfer to Chiang Rai airport for your flight to Bangkok. Overnight in Bangkok.

Day 17 - Return

Transfer to the airport for your flight back to London.