|
Prices for-
Thailand Trekking
and Adventures
Thailand Trekking
A
package to Northern Thailand visiting the kingdom’s ancient capital of Sukhothai,
Chiang Mai, Thailand’s second largest city and “Rose of the North”, and
including a 3-day trek through stunning mountain scenery. The trek features
staying overnight in hilltribe village, elephant-back riding and an exciting
bamboo river-raft trip. A trip to the famous Golden Triangle also included.
Day 1,
Bangkok
(-/-/-)
Joint
transfer from airport to Royal Hotel and check in. Day at leisure.
Overnight.
Day 2,
Bangkok
(B/-/-)
An early
morning at 07 .30 hrs. at the lobby of Royal Hotel, an excursion to visit a
floating market. In the afternoon visit three of the most famous
monasteries in Thailand and experience the beauty of these spectacular yet
delicate Thai architectural works of art: the Marble Temple, the Temple of the
Reclining Buddha and the Golden Buddha Temple.
Overnight.
Day 3,
Bangkok / Phitsanuloke
(B/-/-)
After breakfast depart for Phitsanulok at
09.30 hrs. by public air-conditioned bus, a principle city of northern
Thailand for more than 500 years. Upon arrival transfer to hotel.
Day 4,
Phitsanuloke / Sukhothai / Chiang Mai
(B/-/-)
Morning
excursion to Sukhothai, the oldest of Thailand's former capitals,
where the recently restored ruins of the Grand Palace and many temples
dating back to the reign of King Ramkhamhaeng the Great (AD 1277-1317) are
preserved as historically valuable monuments and essential elements of
Thailand's cultural heritage.
Transfer to the railway station for day train to Chiang Mai. Upon arrival in
Chiang Mai, transfer to the hotel.
Overnight.
Day 5,
Chiang Mai
(B/-/-)
Tour to
Doi Suthep Monastery, spectacularly located on a mountain top at an altitude of
3,520 feet with splendid views of the surrounding countryside. This is followed
by a visit to a centre for local handicrafts, such as paper umbrellas, silk,
silverware and lacquerware.
Overnight.
Day 6,
Chiang Mai / Trekking
(B/L/D)
Depart
Chiang Mai by pick-up, heading north for about 1 ½ hrs. to Mae Malai. Visit the
local market and then continue for 40-50 minutes to Pang Lan waterfall
for relaxation and lunch before continuing by truck for about 1 1/2 hours to
Huay Nam Dang National Park. Start trekking through the forest, mostly down
hills for about 2 1/2 hours to a Lisu village
of Baan Huay Nam Dang. The Lisu tribe is a branch of the
Lisu of Tibet who intermarried with the Mongols who and specialize in opium and
rice cultivation. The lisu is rather independent type and so not as easy going
as others, however they still much preserve their tradition way of dressing.
Dinner and overnight in the village.
Day 7,
Trekking
(B/L/D)
After
breakfast trek for 3 hours to an elephant camp and after lunch take an
elephant-back ride for 1-1½ hours to a rafting camp near by
a Karen village
of Bann Pa Khaolam. The Karen originated in Myanmar and is the
largest tribal minority in Thailand.
Dinner
and overnight at the rafting camp. (Overnight at the Karen village if in dry
season.)
Day 8,
Trekking / Chiang Mai
(B/L/-)
After
breakfast take a bamboo raft down river for 1½ hour to a small
Lahu village of Ban Pong Ngan.
The Lahu are related to the Lolo of Tibet who migrated through China and Myanmar
to settle in Thailand more than 50 years ago. Continue rafting for about 2 - 2
1/2 hours to a Shan village for lunch. The Shans are considered
among the earliest inhabitants of this region of Thailand and so their way of
living is much alike northern local Thais’. The rafting can take up to 6 hours
in the summer when the water level is shallow and the current is slow. After
lunch return to Chiang Mai by pick-up and transfer to Chiang Mai.
Day 9,
Chiang Mai
(B/-/-)
Day at
leisure.
Overnight.
Day 10,
Chiang Mai / Chiang Rai
(B/-/-)
Early
departure from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai by minibus. Make a short stop at a hot
spring and then continue to the famous Golden Triangle, where
Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet. Visit Yao and Akha hill-tribe villages
and then continue to the border town of Mai Sai with a stop for
lunch along the way. Located just across the Sai River from Myanmar the town
has a thriving market based on cross-border trade. After exploring Mai Sai set
off to overnight in Chiang Rai.
Day
11, Chiang Rai / Chiang Mai / Bangkok
(B/-/-)
Return
to Chiang Mai by local air-con bus. Own transfer from Chiang Mai bus station to
train station in connecting with night train to Bangkok.
Overnight on the train.
Day 12,
Bangkok
(-/-/-)
Arrive
Bangkok in the morning.
Termination of the tour.
Remarks:
-
Trekking
itinerary is only a guideline and is subject to change without prior notice
due to local conditions, but the same concept is well maintained
-
Not recommend
for child under 7 years old for trekking.
Services
included in the price:
-
Tours and transfers by air-conditioned transport. Non air-conditioned
transportation will be used in remote areas.
-
Except while trekking accommodation will be at
standard (or first class) hotels based on 2 persons in twin-bedded room, B/B
basis. All rooms are air-conditioned with attached bath and toilet.
-
Sleeping
facilities, consisting of a mat for the floor and a sheet, as well
as a rucksack and water canteen, will be provided during the trekking.
-
Full board while trekking (boiled drinking water
provided during trekking, not bottled drinking water).
-
Public
air-conditioned deluxe bus from Bangkok to Phitsanulok.
-
2nd class
air-conditioned day train from Phitsanulok to Chiang Mai
-
2nd class train
with air-conditioned sleeping berth from Chiang Mai to Bangkok.
-
Service of local English-speaking guide.
-
Admission fees where applicable.
Services not included in the price:
INFORMATION ABOUT TREKKING
Trekking
In general the
trekking on this tour will not be too hard for anybody who is reasonably
physically fit. The precise itinerary of the trekking may have to be changed
from time to time to take into account the weather and local conditions,
but the same concept is well maintained.. The trek will be in a group of 6-12
people.
While trekking
participants will sleep in the villagers’ huts. As the huts consist of a single
all-purpose room in which the villagers live and sleep, participants will sleep
on the covered balcony or a bamboo bed inside the hut. A mat, a sheet and a
blanket will be provided but for additional comfort participants may wish to
bring a sleeping bag as in mountain areas it can be quite cool at night,
especially in December/January.
Additional equipment
such as a rucksack, water canteen, life jacket are available from our office in
Chiang Mai.
Clients who book
pre- and post-trek hotel accommodation through can store their additional
luggage at the hotel.
In addition
participants will require :
Good trekking shoes
(good tennis shoes will do but only in dry season when it is not too slippery),
rubber sandals for when not trekking, light warm clothing and rainwear during
July - October and heavier warm clothing November - February, (March - June will
be only a little cool in the evenings), a sun hat, torch, small first-aid kit
(plasters, foot powder etc.), insect repellent, toilet articles and toilet
paper.
As participants are
required to carry their own kit, unnecessary items should be avoided. (a private
porter can be provided upon request for an additional charge).
Clients are required
to buy their own drinking water. Bottled drinking water is sold in the market
and local shops in each village.
Meals while
trekking, which start from lunch on Day 1 until lunch on the final day, will be
prepared by the porter. During the day a stop will be made by a stream, in a
hilltribe village or at some other suitable spot, allowing time for relaxation,
and for cooking a simple meal of noodles. In the evening dinner will be
prepared in one of the huts by the porter. Similarly with breakfast the
following day.
The guide
accompanying the group will have long experience of the country through which
they will travel and be very familiar with the tribes people and their customs.
His advice on these subjects should be followed.
Elephant
riding
To experience
elephant-back riding is great fun and should not be missed. However, please bare
in mind that we do not encourage clients to ride the elephant on its neck.
Though some might feel it is challenging it can also be dangerous. Clients
wanting to do so must take full responsibility themselves as we cannot guarantee
their safety and ETC will accept no responsibility in the event of an accident.
Rafting
The rafts are about
1.5 - 2 M. x 15 - 18 M. and can carry approximately 7-8 persons. The rafting
can take up to 6 hours in the summer when the water level is shallow and the
current is slow. During the rainy season it might take only 4-5 hours. Along
some parts of the river there are a lot of snags (dead trees, big rocks, broken
wood, etc.) which can sometimes be dangerous. A life jacket is essential as it
will not only keep you afloat if by chance you should fall off the raft but also
help to prevent injury if hitting any of these snags. During the rainy season
(or the dry season following heavy rainfall) the current will be quite strong
and the guide will decide if the rafting should proceed or not. His advice on
this matter should be strictly followed.
THE MAIN THINGS NEEDED DURING THE TREK
-
Walking
shoes or tennis shoes.
-
Slippers or
sandals.
-
Trousers and
T-shirt. A pair of
zip-off trousers where the shorts almost come to the knee is a good
idea. Not only could you trek in them and then easily switch to
something more modest in the
-
hilltribe villages, but they were great for temples and
any situation where you want to start off dressing more modestly and
then change into something cooler if it was acceptable.
-
Sweater /
jumper, jacket, sleeping bag (Oct-Feb).
-
Raincoat,
poncho (May-Sep).
-
Torch /
flash light.
-
A T-shirt
and shorts for swimming (Swimming trunks and swim suites are not
appropriate for the local culture)
-
Sun glasses,
sun protection cream.
-
A
water-proof camera bag
-
A hat with
strap.
-
Mosquito /
insect repellent.
-
Personal
necessities such as soap, towel, tissue, tooth brush.
-
First aid
and personal medicines (pills – diarrhea, cold, headache etc.).
-
A sense of
adventure.
Important:
Before you travel please check your Tour Voucher and Arrival
Information for the latest joining instructions. This will be sent to you
upon receipt of final payment.
All
itineraries are subject to change without prior notice.
Prices for-
Thailand Trekking and Adventures
|
