Northern Thailand Adventure - 14 Day Trip

So you know the film Bridge Over River Kwai? Well, today that’s where we're going, River Kwai! Before we head off to the river, we hop off to do some shopping and not at just any regular market, but a FLOATING one! Sick right? Once we’ve done our browsing the market by long-tail boat, it’s off to Kanchanaburi now! When we have arrived, we get another boat and cruise down the River Kwai enjoying the sight of the bridge (an insta worthy moment fo’ sho’). It’s sunset o’clock and what a better place to watch the sunset than the bridge over River Kwai! Get those poses ready for all the 10/10 shots you’re going to get.

Imagine, a 7 tier, crystal clear blue waterfall surrounded by lush greenery, sounds unreal right! Erawan falls, just an hour away from Kanchanaburi, is basically what you imagine paradise to look like. Something you would expect to see on the television and not in real life, but it iS real life! We know TLC said don’t go chasing waterfalls but ya know, I think we can be excused this once because just look at how beautiful it is? Make sure you have your swimmers as you’ll want to take a dip, and check this out, there are 7 tiers for you to take a dip in. Don’t say we don’t spoil ya! We’ll have some lunch at the waterfalls, gotta stay hydrated and energised from all that walking & swimming! Then we head back to Kanchanaburi, where you can either chill by the pool or explore the town before we meet for dinner and drinks! Buckets, anyone?

Today you have the morning free before we hit the road again! So choose to spend this morning how you please, whether that’s by the pool or exploring the town. Next, we are off to Ayutthaya, an ancient capital city, that is dripping with culture and history! We’ll hop on some bikes and cycle around the world heritage site, giving us a 10/10 view, we’ll also learn about the fascinating history of Ayutthaya and of course, the kingdom of Siam which is what Thailand used to be called (fun fact for ya!). Time to grab a bit to eat and then it’s all aboard the night train to Chiang Mai! The train is comfortable, you get your own bed with pillows and covers, comfort is key! So it shouldn’t be too hard to get a descents night sleep ready to take on a new place in the morning! Chiang Mai, we’re coming for you.

We check into our guesthouse which is ideally situated between the old & new areas of Chiang Mai (winning), you’ll have some time to relax by the pool or do some exploring and check out the oldest temple in Chiang Mai which is literally right opposite our accommodation (winning x2!). Now it’s time to visit the most famous and possibly the most beautiful temple in Chiang Mai, Wat Pra Maha Doi Sutthep. The views are incredible, situated high up on the mountain, you’ll get a panoramic view of the city. Trust, you’ll feel on top of the world, literally. Once you’ve taken your snaps of the insane views and got some for the gram (it’s gotta be done), you have the afternoon free to do whatever you would like, before we meet later on in time for dinner!

Rise and shine! Enjoy your morning in the jungle before it’s time we head back to Chiang Mai, but of course, we have a trick up our sleeve, and we are using a much better mode of transport, bamboo rafts! Sick right? We’ll float down the river where you'll even get the chance to see some Elephants - what could be better? This is a once in a lifetime experience, a memory you’ll cherish forever, no doubt! Once we get back to Chiang Mai, we'll rest up in time to continue our Northern adventure tomorrow!

The adventure capital of Thailand (some may say), Chiang Mai! Today is one of our favourite activities, that is very popular with tourists, and that’s ziplining through the jungle! This is going to get your heart racing and adrenaline pumping, you’ll practically be flying through the jungle while looking down at it all (if you dare)! Throw in a few rope bridges and abseils, and that’s experiencing the jungle in a way you never could by foot! You can thank us later, once you’ve made all your friends and fam jealous, obvs. This is truly an unforgettable experience!

After an excting few days this morning you'll have the chance to chill, read a book, grab a cocktail, do whatever floats your boat! In the afternoon, grab your bags because we will hop on a bus to the hippie town of Pai! Just 3 hours outside of Chiang Mai, a very popular backpacker destination, and we can see why! Filled with cool retro bars, market stalls, excellent food and wonderful people from all walks of life. Ahh, the life of Pai (sorry we had to!)

Day trippin’ time! Today we’ll head out to see some of Pai’s highlights, and it’s surrounding areas! Starting at the biggest cave in Thailand, Lod cave, we’ll hike through the main chambers and then take a bamboo raft along the river which runs through the cave (depending on season and accessibility). It’s like something out of a movie, incredible stuff! It’s now time to give your muscles a break, as we head to the hot springs which are situated in the jungle and are heated by geothermal activity. Take a dip in the crystal clear water, treat yourself to a clay mask and just have the ultimate relaxation session in the warm temperatures. We’ll finish this incredible day at Pai Canyon which means even more amazing views of the surrounding mountains and jungle, and even better, we’ll be there at sunset! So take yo’ pics and take in the insane view before heading back to Pai town. In the evening we’ll head to a nice restaurant and a few chilled bars where we can mingle with other backpackers too. After all, we deserve it after the day of sightseeing we’ve had!

Chill day lets goooo! After a bit of a lie-in, the day is to be spent as you please, cool down and relax by the pool or if you're feeling a little hungover, get some zzzz's in. Spend your day loungings, swimming, playing a few games or reading a good book! The choice is yours. Once we’ve had our relaxation fill, we'll head for dinner and drinks and see where the night takes us.

This morning it’s time to head back to Chiang Mai! We hope you’re ready to become the new Thai Masterchef as we are off to a cooking school to learn about some of Thailands traditional dishes and then have a go at making them ourselves! Most of Thailands delicious food comes from the North, so there’s no better way than to learn from the masters themselves right? First, we’ll head to the market where our guides and teachers will show us how to select the freshest & tastiest ingredients, they have that insider knowledge ya feel? Now it’s time for us to turn those ingredients we picked into some tasty meals! Don’t fret, you’ll be shown how to cook the recipes step by step! Now for the best bit, tasting what you’ve cooked, so make sure you’re paying attention when cooking! A fantastic experience, and you’ll get to go home with new recipes and new skills! Winner winner chicken dinner (Quorn if your veggie)!

So we all know the Grand Canyon but do you know of Chiang Mai’s very own Grand Canyon? Well, if not, don’t worry as you’ll get to know! This is an old excavation site, where they would dig out sand for building etc. However, now it is a man-made lagoon which has turned into an adult playground, we LOVE to see it! There are countless of slides, floating chairs to lay in, tubes and then for the brave-hearted have a go at cliff jumping, deep water soloing or climbing on their climbing wall. Take yo’ pick! There’s a restaurant there on-site, so we can grab our lunch, refresh and energise ourselves! In the evening, we head out into Chiang Mai our final dinner and drinks *cue sad song*.

Today is the day your Northern Adventure comes to an end (We know, we are sad too)! You’ll be leaving with some unforgettable memories and of course, your TruFam aka friends for life! If you are continuing your adventure, then our TruNinjas will be more than happy to help with any onward travel! If you have a little longer to spend travelling and exploring then check out our Laos explorer or if you’d like to carry on in Thailand, then why not head south on our Thailand Experience? It’s been real, TruFam!