Elephants and Adventure - Overland Trip

3 weeks: Bangkok to Krabi Province (IMT-VSEA)

Intro

Take this opportunity to assist with the preservation of one of the world’s most respected animals and to explore Thailand - the land of smiles. Visit Bangkok, the rich green hills of the tribal north, the lush jungle of the interior, and the paradise of the southern islands and beaches. As an Imaginative Volunteer you will be assisting at ‘The Elephant Nature Park’ in Chiang Mai, established to preserve the future of elephants in Northern Thailand.

Maximum Group Size

12

Arrival Transfer

Airport to hotel on day 1

Staffing & Participation

Fully escorted by Imaginative Traveller tour leader, services of local staff while on volunteer programme

Transport

Local transport, buses, minibus, pick-up trucks, tuk tuks, ferries, longtail boats, sleeper trains

Activities

Hilltribe trek, bamboo rafting, jungle safari in Khao Sok National Park, canoeing, tubing, volunteer programme at the Elephant Nature Park

Accommodation

4 nights simple hotels, 3 nights sleeper train, 2 nights village houses, 2 nights rafthouses, 2 nights beach bungalows, 1 night jungle huts, 7 nights simple accommodation at volunteer programme

Meals

As per itinerary. B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner. On days where meals are not included, allow US$12 per day

Note:

This tour ends in Krabi to enable you to extend your time on the beach or continue on to Malaysia; however we can also arrange an overnight train transfer or flight back to Bangkok. Please see the extra services section of the Imaginative Traveller website for further information.

Itineraries

Day 1,BANGKOK

Arrive in this vibrant city and check in to your hotel.

Day 2,BANGKOK

Free day. Overnight train to Chiang Mai. (B)

Day 3,CHIANG MAI

Arrive Chiang Mai and transfer to the Elephant Nature Park where we spend the next 6 days helping out and learning about these incredible creatures. (LD) On day 9 we return to Chiang Mai where we spend the night.

Day 4 to Day 9,VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME

6 days volunteering.(BLD)

Day 10,CHIANG MAI

Free day to explore Chiang Mai.  This evening we meet our trekking guide for a briefing on our trek. (B)

Day 11,HILLTRIBE TREK

Drive by pickup truck to Chiang Dao via a local market. We continue to a Shan village for lunch before beginning our trek. We stay overnight in a Karen village. (BLD)

Day 12,HILLTRIBE TREK

Trekking in a less explored area of Chiang Dao, where we visit different hilltribe villages. Overnight at a riverside village. (BLD)

Day 13,BAMBOO RAFTING - CHIANG MAI

We board bamboo rafts and float along the Mae Ping river. Return to Chiang Mai in the early afternoon. (BL)

Day 14,CHIANG MAI

Today is free for further exploration. In the late afternoon we board the overnight train and head south. (B)

Day 15,BANGKOK

Arrive in Bangkok and transfer to our hotel. There is the option to visit the war museums of Kanchanaburi and the River Kwai with its infamous bridge.

Day 16,BANGKOK

A full free day to explore Bangkok. The possibilities are endless... This evening we board the overnight train to Surat Thani.  (B)

Day 17,KHAO SOK NATIONAL PARK - RAJA PHRABA LAKE

Transfer to Khao Sok National Park. Enjoy a boat ride along Raja Phraba Lake and spend the afternoon exploring caves and waterfalls. After dinner we take a night safari in search of the nocturnal animals of the jungle. Stay 2 nights in rafthouses. (LD)

Day 18,KHAO SOK - RAJA PHRABA LAKE

Free day. (BLD)

Day 19,KHAO SOK

Transfer deeper into the National Park. Take an afternoon nature walk and spot some wildlife. If the water in the river is high, we can shoot rapids on inner-tubes. Overnight in jungle huts. (BLD)

Day 20,KRABI

Transfer to Krabi Province - famous for its magnificent limestone karst scenery. We stay away from the main town of Krabi in an area called Ao Nang, from where it is possible to take a long tail boat to many beautiful islands or just simply relax on the beach. Free afternoon.

Day 21,KRABI PROVINCE

A free day.

Day 22,KRABI PROVINCE

Tour ends.



Last updated: 22nd October 2009

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