Thailand Explorer

Congratulations, you plucky adventurer! You've chosen an epic trip that will deliver so much all packed in to just 15-days. On arrival at Suvarnabhumi International Airport (Airport Code: BKK) your driver will meet you and transfer you to your first hotel located in bustling heart of the Chinatown district. Depending on your arrival time, one of our team will either be there to meet you, or if you arrive late at night, will meet you tomorrow afternoon. Either way, you'll receive a lot of information that you'll need to make sure you get the most from your trip. If you arrive early enough, once you've had chance to freshen up you'll be met by one of our team who will sit down with you to go through your itinerary in more detail. They'll give you everything that you need, answer your questions and make sure you're ready to go! They will then take you out for a walk in the immediate local area to introduce you to Chinatown and point of places of interest. If you're feeling hungry, we'll organise some mouthwatering street food for an official welcome to Thailand treat!

Being in the heart of Chinatown means you're in the heart of the old city. This area is steeped in history with some incredible sights and places to visit. As Bangkok is such a sprawling metropolis the quickest, and most fun way to move around, is by electric scooter! So today you'll be led on a guided tour as you navigate the narrow backstreets, markets, temples and more of this stunning area of the city. You'll be collected from the hotel and returned there in the afternoon so that you have chance to freshen up and prepare for your overnight train transfer to charming Chiang Mai in the north. Everything will be organised for you so that all you need to do is be ready to leave the hotel on time for your transfer to the station. On board the train you have your very own bed, with bedding supplied, to give you a comfortable nights sleep allowing you to arrive in your next destination ready to go!

On arrival in Chiang Mai you'll be met at the station by your driver who will then transfer you to our supported elephant camp in the Mae Tang area. You'll be met there by the team from the camp who will introduce you to the mahouts (elephant handlers), the other staff and of course, the stars of the show! You'll be shown to your accommodation, which is basic but functional, and have chance to settle in before a more in-depth orientation of your stay over lunch. From then on you're under the guidance and supervision of the team at the camp. There is always a lot of work to do, many projects to complete and heaps of activities to keep you going. The work and the activities that you'll join will depend on several factors, such as, the weather, the amount of people in your group and the requirements of the camp at the time of your stay.

Starting your day with breakfast as you overlook the jungles that are home to the elephants is the perfect pick-me-up. The team will explain to you the plan for the day and this could be one of many different projects. But, needless to say, you'll be spending a lot of time with the elephants, washing, feeding, cleaning the land and assisting with whatever is required at that time. Please remember that you're working with enormous animals. Although they are very docile and almost domesticated, they are big! Please take extra special when you are around them and follow the instructions of the mahout's at all times.

Your time with the elephants continues today and we guarantee that by now you'll be feeling like the King of the Jungle and already have a relationship with one, if not more, of these majestic beasts. The work is never ending but we promise you'll have time to recover, maybe with a refreshing dip in the local waterfall. This is going to be a genuine experience of a lifetime so we urge you to grab it with both hands and to give it everything you have. Please remember that working with these animals, in the heat of Thailand, will get you sweaty and dirty. Please ensure you hydrate properly each day and don't wear your best clothes!

So the time has come to say a sad farewell to the elephants, the mahouts and the team that will have given you so much over the last few days. But not before you help to make sure that your projects are complete, the camp is clean and the elephants have had enough hugs to last them a lifetime! After lunch you'll be collected and transferred in to Chiang Mai city and to your next accommodation at Hetai Resort, located a short walk from everything that you need to enjoy your stay in the city.

To give you time to recover from what will have been a full on last 3-days, today you can choose to do as little or as much as you please. Your accommodation is ideally placed to enable you to get out and explore the city on your own. Or you can choose to chill by the pool! In the evening we recommend an easy stroll to Chiang Mai's world famous Night Bazaar. The perfect place to big up some unique handmade crafts, one-of-a-kind arts and for a good cheap meal and a few drinks. Located about 15-minutes walk away, it's definitely a great place to spend an evening.

So today you head from the elephants to the beach. Around midday you'll be collected from the hotel, giving you ample time to prepare, and transferred to Chiang Mai international airport. You'll then climb aboard your 2 hour flight south to Krabi where you'll be met by your driver who will transfer you to your next hotel. Once you've checked-in and organised yourself, head out and explore. You're in a great location to explore the Ao Nang beach area that's bursting at the seams with wonderful cafe's, restaurants, bars and shops. Krabi is a very laid-back beach resort with a cool vibe. Some great nightlife here thanks to young travellers that venture here looking for a stunning beachside location.

The mangroves in this region is vital for the sustainability of so much marine and land life. The crystal clear waters are replenished by the half-sea, half-land trees. They offer protection to the land, vital resources to the marine life, shelter for the animals and so much more. It's imperative these are well protected and even replaced when they ultimately fail. Today you'll be joining a guided kayaking tour where you'll see this firsthand, learn about the very special eco-system and see for yourself the reasons why they need protecting. This is a genuinely eye-opening adventure, and coupled with the kayaking element, a whole lot of fun! You'll be collected from the hotel in the morning, and returned there in the late afternoon. Don't forget, as you'll be at sea, please take a hat and some strong protection from the sun!

You now have three days in Krabi to do as you please. Three days to explore, beach, pool, party - whatever you want, it's yours to do as you please. Don't forget that our team are a message or a phone call away and so if you have your sights set on a particular activity; a trip to the world famous Railay Beach, for example, just let us know and we'll happily organise this for you.

There's heaps of activities that you can choose to join if you've still got the energy levels. From trekking to rock climbing, horse riding to shopping, Krabi has a lot going on. If you're stuck for an activity, and the hotel pool is no longer the best place to be, you can always enquire with the team at reception. They will have the latest information on the very best activities to join and would be delighted to help organise these for you. Don't forget that on day 13 you have a boat trip included so maybe you don't want to join two?!

Well by now you'll have earned that day of rest so use it wisely! Get back to the beach and top up that tan. Sadly, it's not long to go before the end of your trip and we return to where it all began. Reflect on what an incredible and unforgettable adventure you've had and start planning your next! And most importantly, praise yourself for getting this done without the need for a guide to mummy and daddy you all of the way through. In fact, get to the bar and raise a glass to your achievements - you've earned it!

For your final day in paradise we've organised a very special day at sea where you can mix it with the marine life, snorkel your heart out, soak up those last few rays and enjoy the Andaman Sea the way it's supposed to be enjoyed. You'll be collected from the hotel in the morning and transferred to the pier where you'll board your vessel and take off in to the big blue, stopping at several of the best snorkel locations. Krabi has some of the clearest waters in the Andaman that makes it so easy to make the most of this wonderful experience. Your lunch is included to keep your energy levels up and you'll be back to the hotel by sunset.

So this is it. The final day is finally here. Today we'll have your driver collect you from the hotel and transfer you back to where it all began two weeks ago. you'll have your flights booked and tickets given to you and once you've landed back in Bangkok, your driver will be at the airport waiting to transfer you back to the hotel. Hopefully, time permitting, you'll have the chance to check-in, freshen up and head out in to the big city for a final night celebration and to give your adventure the send off that it deserves. We're sure you've had an incredible time on this trip so make sure you finish it off with an unforgettable final night!

That's it! It's all over. Sadly, the trip has officially come to an end. You're free to move on to wherever your next destination may be and if you any help with organising onward travel please let one of our team know. We know that you'll have had a wonderful trip with us through the Land of Smiles and will be aching to return and we can't wait to see you again very soon.