Total Thailand - 27 Day Trip

Do you know the film The Bridge On the River Kwai? Well, today we are going to see that very bridge and we'll learn about its history. Before we head off to the river, we'll do some shopping and not at just any market, but a FLOATING one! Have a browse at the stalls, selling all sorts of food, clothing, souvenirs and even homeware. Once we’ve done our browsing of the market by long-tail boat, it’s off to Kanchanaburi! When we arrive, we get on another boat and cruise down the River Kwai. It’s sunset o’clock and what better place to watch the sun set than the bridge over River Kwai!

Erawan falls, just an hour away from Kanchanaburi, is basically what you imagine paradise to look like. 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 cool off in. Don’t say we don’t spoil you! It is a little bit of a walk to the top, but trust us when we say it is TOTALLY worth it. 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.

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 fantastic 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. Time to grab a bite 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 decent night's sleep, ready to take on a new place in the morning. Chiang Mai, we’re coming your way!

We check into our guesthouse, which is ideally situated between the old & new areas of Chiang Mai. 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. 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, and you’ll get a panoramic view of the city. There is a hefty set of stairs (300 roughly), but think of the panoramic views, so worth it. You have the afternoon free to do whatever you would like, before we meet later on, in time for dinner! You can lounge by the pool, take a little nap (having fun is tiring right?), or continue to explore Chiang Mai!

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? Marvel at the wildlife and nature from your raft, and see what you can spot. You might see some elephants along the way if you're lucky, so keep your fingers crossed! Today's also the day when we will visit an elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai. Animal welfare is extremely close to our hearts, and we'll 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 famous native animals, but also to redistribute funds to programmes that do good. Once we get back to Chiang Mai, rest up in time to continue our Northern adventure tomorrow!

Today we're 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)! Now is your chance to release your inner child. Throw in a few rope bridges and abseils, and that’s experiencing the jungle in a way you never could by foot! After our energetic day in the jungle, we have the evening free. Why not check out the night markets? Get your hands on some fab food and have a browse around the gift market, a great place to buy souvenirs for friends and fam, or yourself.

After an exciting 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 be 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.

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) We'll then 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 off our 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!

Chill day let's goooo! After a bit of a lie-in, spend your day lounging, swimming, playing a few games, reading a good book or having a snooze in the sun. The choice is yours (don’t forget to sun cream up though). 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! Today we're cooking up a storm! 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 mouthwatering meals! Don’t fret, you’ll be shown how to cook the recipes step by step! A fantastic experience, and you’ll get to go home with new recipes and new skills!

Today we're off to an epic man-made lagoon which has turned into an adult playground! There are countless slides, floating chairs, cliff jumping spots - it's the MOST fun place! In the evening, we'll head out into Chiang Mai for our final dinner and drinks.

After checking out of our hotel in Chiang Mai, you’ll have some free time to explore Chiang Mai, hit up the markets and temples one last time or spend time relaxing by the pool. Back onto the overnight train, take this time to recharge and relax as it’s back to the hustle & bustle of Bangkok baby!

We are back in Bangkok, and it’s time to explore the capital even further! We’ll hop into a tuk-tuk and head to Bangkok’s most prestigious temples, Wat Arun and Wat Pho, which is home to the infamous gold reclining Buddha. We will then ditch the tuk-tuks for long-tail boats, as we admire the views of the city from the Chao Praya River, a different way of seeing Bangkok. You’ll have the rest of the afternoon to explore at your own pace, you can grab a bite to eat from the street vendors, do a bit of shopping at the market and try your best at bartering.

Goodbye Bangkok, and hello, Khao Sok National Park. So we arrive in Surat Thani, but we are off to the serene lakes, which are situated in the national park. Get those sleeping masks on as it’s time to catch some Zzzz’s.

Now, if we had a list of the 7 Tru Wonders of the World, Khao Sok would be on it. Picture low clouds floating over the limestone mountains which surround the emerald green lake. Tonight, we are staying at an actual floating resort on this amazing lake that looks like something from Jurassic Park. Told you we don’t do average. In the afternoon, you’ll have free time to relax by the lake with a beer in hand, read a book, or explore the lake in kayaks. After sundown, we are treated to a delicious Thai buffet dinner in the floating restaurant and bar. Doesn’t get much better than this.

The sounds of the waves breaking on the beach will probably be the first thing you hear when you wake up. We have a lovely lazy morning planned, sleep in, enjoy the beach, trek through the jungle or up to that viewpoint, and generally make the most of your idyllic surroundings and recharge those batteries. In the afternoon, we’ll head to a local gym, where we get an intro lesson to the ancient art of Muay Thai (Thai Boxing), Thailand’s national sport.

Today we’re going sailing and taking you on a tour of this wonderful island. We’ll sail around the coast of the island, and stop off at some of the island's best snorkelling spots to check out the sea life and cool down. Lunch is provided on the boat, there's plenty of space to spread out and soak up some rays with some nice tunes playing all day to wrap it all up. We get back to land around sunset, just in time to refresh for dinner and drinks on our last night in Koh Phangan.

Wave goodbye to the magical island of Koh Phangan, and say hello to its pretty little neighbour Koh Tao. People visit Koh Tao for the diving, beautiful beaches and laid back lifestyle. When we get to the island, we check into our hotel near Sairee Beach, which is now lined with cool little restaurants and beach bars (and plenty of dive schools, of course). Spend the afternoon by the pool, exploring the town or on the beach. In the evening, we will hit some of the beach bars and see where the night takes us!

Today, we get to see what all the fuss is about with the snorkelling in Koh Tao, plus we get to visit a beautiful island called Koh Nang Yuan. We provide snorkelling gear, lunch and drinks on the boat, but if you would prefer to top up your tan on the boat, then you do you, anything goes! In the evening, we’ll go for dinner at one of the island's lovely restaurants and have a few beers (or cocktails, even waters if you prefer) at one of the many little bars lining Sairee Beach.

Today we are off to Tanote Bay for anyone who wants to come spend the day at this little gem of a beach. If you would rather keep the adrenaline flowing, we can help you arrange one of Koh Tao’s extreme activities. From rock climbing to the more common and much wetter activities like scuba diving or water sports. Or you can stay in bed all day until we check out.

Today after a chilled morning soaking in the last bit of magic from Koh Tao we will head over to our next incredible destination! They just keep getting better and better! In the afternoon, after an amazing speedboat trip, we will arrive in Phi Phi. When we have arrived and checked in, you have some free time in the early evening before meeting up for a group dinner on this amazing island! The evenings are always interesting when in Phi Phi, like Koh Tao, it has a very chilled, “islandy” vibe, but also a lot of young backpackers and beachgoers, so naturally, it has a lively nightlife with beach parties - so whatever you fancy this evening, you can do it!

After a chilled morning, we will jump on another boat to visit a stunningly beautiful spot called Maya Bay, which was made famous by Leo’s renowned film, “The Beach” which was filmed here many moons ago. We’ll do some more snorkelling, visit some other cool spots like the Viking Cave and Monkey Beach, as well as lunch and watch the sunset from the boat.

First up this morning is an amazing optional hike to a stunning viewpoint in Phi Phi! It's the ultimate way to end our couple of days here and the ultimate Thailand photo opportunity too! Then we are off to Phuket! We end our trip on this crazy island for two main reasons. One, because it has an airport and loads of hotels and transport, so it makes your life easier. Two, because you have to experience it once when you come to Thailand. We stay near Patong Beach, which is a lively centre of activity with many tourists and many locals buzzing about on motorbikes and taxis. There are lots of things to do, and the last afternoon is free to chill, explore and get ready for the last night out with the group.

It's our last day, and there are tears all around. The last 27 days have been unreal, and we hope to see you again soon for another adventure. Total Thailand, completed it, mate! Until next time, TruFam.