Our first full day on tour and we're headed to the River Kwai! Before we head off to the river, we’ll do some shopping and not at just any old regular market, but a FLOATING one! Crazy right? We’re shopping via a long-tail boat. Grab a snack from a local vendor, or grab a fresh juice. Next, we’re off to Kanchanaburi! When we arrive, we'll get another boat and cruise down the River Kwai. We'll learn about some of the history of this area and explore with our local guide. It’s sunset o’clock and what better place to watch the sunset than the bridge over River Kwai?

City - tick, floating markets - tick...now it's time to visit some waterfalls! Erawan Falls are just an hour away from Kanchanaburi is pretty much paradise. Imagine a 7-tier, crystal clear blue waterfall surrounded by lush greenery, sounds unreal right? We know TLC said don’t go chasing waterfalls but ya know, I think we can be excused with this once. Make sure you have your swimmers as you’ll want to take a dip. Don’t say we don’t spoil ya! We’ll have some lunch at the waterfalls then we head back to Kanchanaburi, where you can either chill by the pool or explore the town before we meet for dinner and maybe a few drinks...

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, if you’re looking to see culture & history, then you’re in the right place! We’ll hop on some bikes and cycle around the world heritage site, 10/10 views, 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! Then it's time to grab a bite to eat and board 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 decent night's sleep ready to take on a new place in the morning! Chiang Mai, we’re coming for you.

Want to know what an overnight train is really like? Here's how TruTraveller Josh found it!🌴

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 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 Suthep. The views are incredible, situated high up on the mountain, you’ll get a panoramic view of the city. Trust us, 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'd like before we meet later on for dinner!

After a night of blissful dreaming, we head back to Chiang Mai...via bamboo raft (how cool!) Sail with the wind in your hair before we stop off for a dip at a local waterfall. Freshen up in the clear waters after an insightful evening with the hill tribe, dry off and then we’re on our way back to Chiang Mai! Today's also the day we will get to see some Elephants! Animal welfare is extremely close to our hearts, and that's why we visit a dedicated elephant rehabilitation sanctuary. The elephants here are free to roam and not here for the entertainment of tourists. We visit to educate ourselves on one of Thailand’s most popular native animals but to also redistribute funds to programmes that do good. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, a memory you’ll cherish forever, no doubt!

 It’s time to get your adrenaline pumping as we head to the jungle to spend the morning zip-lining! Fly from platform to platform through the canopy of the jungle up to 50m above the ground, throw in some rope bridges and a few abseils. You’ll experience the jungle in an entirely different (and much faster) way than walking through it at ground level. This is truly an unforgettable experience! *Just don’t look down!*

After an exciting few days, this morning, you'll have the chance to chill, read a book, grab a cocktail, and do whatever floats your boat! In the afternoon, grab your bags because we are hopping 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 its 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 then head to the waterfall nearby with an amazing view! Who needs a waterpark when we have one better, a waterfall with a natural slide? 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 get your 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 done!

Have a look at the epic views of Pai Canyon here!

Chill day let's go! After a bit of a lie-in, relax by the pool, spend your day lounging around, or play mermaids with your new besties! 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 Thailand's traditional dishes and then have a go at making them ourselves! Most of Thailand's 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. 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! An amazing experience, and you’ll get to go home with new recipes and new skills! Winner winner chicken dinner (of tofu if you're veggie of course.)

Here's a sneak peek into what you'll be getting up to!

 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 buildings etc. However, now it is a man-made lagoon which has turned into an adult playground, we LOVE to see it! There are countless 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 your pick! There’s a restaurant there on-site, so we can grab lunch, refresh and energise ourselves! In the evening, we'll head out to Chiang Mai for more dinner and drinks!

Want a sneak peek of today's activities...? 👀

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 your TruLeader 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 Vietnam 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!