Backpacking Thailand

Let your Thailand adventure begin! We pick you up at the airport and head to your home for the next two days. Everyone gathers for the welcome gathering at 6 pm in the lobby. You'll then set off for a traditional Thai-style dinner followed by a night on Khao San Road. Arriving early? No problem. Spend the day shopping at Khao San Road (walking distance from the hotel) or soak up the sun by the hotel pool.

Experience the best of the bustling city of Bangkok - an adrenaline rush to all five senses! You'll explore by boat, by foot, and by... tuk-tuk. Ride the riverboat along the mighty Chao Praya, wind through the city streets in a tuk-tuk, visit the must-see temples, and end with a one-hour traditional Thai massage. Spend the night with your new mates for Khao San Road Round II or just relax by the pool.

Time to explore the ancient capital of Siam - the former name of Thailand - Ayutthaya. These age-old ruins provide a welcomed contrast to the ever-buzzing madness of Bangkok. Be prepared for stunning sights and a near-endless amount of golden photo opportunities. After, we are on the way to Singburi for sunset and a relaxing evening in the countryside with your new mates.

Wake up on the waterfront - scenic, serene, and surrounded by nature. Start with a quick but thorough Thai language lesson. Then head to a local temple to get blessed by a monk as he recites prayers and provides a refreshing spritz of holy water signifying the cleansing of sins. After two nights in Bangkok, some might require more holy water than others! Finish the day relaxing poolside at a quiet countryside resort in Suphanburi.

Four days on the move calls for some downtime! No better way than catching some sun poolside at the hotel with your new mates - drinking games included. If pool parties aren’t your thing, no problem! The resort also offers fishing ponds for any fishing fanatics, a 9-hole golf course, and a sprawling setting perfect for wandering bicycle rides.

Off to Erawan National Park after for some serious bonding time around the fire. There will be sunset swims, fireside chats, a Thailand-style BBQ, and a relaxing night spent camped out along the Khwae Yai River.

Bliss is this! Trek into the jungle and past the seven waterfalls of Erawan National Park as the emerald waters stream down from the hilltop. Photo opportunities abound and there is no shortage of inviting pools to stop for a refreshing swim. This is truly an incredible experience and not one to be missed! You don’t have to trek all the way to the top, but the further you trek, the more brilliant the viewpoints become.

This is one happy herd of elephants! The Elephant Nature Park is a new addition to our tour and we could not be more proud to support this group. This is a highly-vetted, no harness, no chain, no nonsense organization - spread out through Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar - that rescues and rehabilitates everyone’s favorite pachyderms (as well as an array of other animals in need). Spend a full day walking, feeding, and bathing these beautiful creatures.

We stop by a local Thai school to surprise the students and make their day. Give gifts, help out with school work, get in a game of football, or just sit down for a chat and make some new friends. You did your good deed for the day and now the nighttime festivities kick off. Then back to our hotel to some chill time by the pool, explore the many sights of Kanchanaburi, or head out for a night on the town!

The Maeklong Railway Market is a bustling market that is set up on the tracks of a train that passes through several times per day. Witness as vendors quickly and casually take down their stalls, wait for the train to pass, set up shop again and get on with business as usual. End the day at our welcoming homestay with your first cooking lesson in Thailand: Som tam - a sweet and spicy papaya salad served with mouth-watering fried chicken and sticky rice made by our host family.

Monks aren't allowed to cook so we make sunrise breakfast offerings. They respond by sharing merit, spreading goodwill and, of course, the teachings of Buddha. Then we're off to Thailand's iconic Amphawa Floating Market to explore. There are dozens of stalls selling everything from sweet grilled meats to local-made handicrafts and clothing - perfect gifts for everyone back home. Back to the homestay after for your second cooking lesson of a Thai food favorite - pad thai!

Floating is the theme of the day! We head to the ever-stunning Khao Sok National Park for a day of caves, kayaks, and floating wooden bungalows. Your door is just steps from the crystal clear water of Cheow Lan Lake surrounded by towering limestone formations wrapped in dense jungle. After the activities, sunbathing and floating beverages are suggested before we sit down for a delicious family-style meal.

After nearly two weeks on the road, beach time begins. Krabi is home to some of the best beaches in Thailand and you have nearly a week to enjoy them. This sleepy beach town looks out over the teal blue water of the Andaman Ocean and offers a variety of outdoor activities to enjoy. Our resort is just minutes walk from the beach, there is a hotel bar - in the pool - and the nightlife leaves absolutely nothing to be desired! This is about as close to paradise as you get.

This is an all-new addition to the Thailand tour and all you adventure seekers are in for a treat! Enjoy a guided paddle along the crystal-clear water of Krabi's surrounding jungle and hop in for some cool down swims along the way. You will not believe how pristine and clear this emerald-coloured river is in real life. Then free time by the pool or head down to the beach. Downtown Krabi is just a short walk away and offers plenty more to do if you wake up feeling active. You can make the rest of this day as active or relaxed as you wish.

We head out for some island hopping to visit some of Thailand's most beautiful islands. Your privately reserved speed boat brings you and your travel mates to all the must-see stops for a full day of adventure. Snorkel in the crystal clear water and enjoy a traditional Thai meal for lunch served on the deck of the boat. The trip concludes on the stunning island of Koh Phi Phi Don where you call home for the next two nights.

Time to get on that island time! Enjoy your free time on the picturesque island of Koh Phi Phi - a new addition to our tour! Mingle with the many other backpackers that make their way to the island, set up on the beach, or take the hike to the lookout for one of the most iconic photo stops in all of Thailand. Catch the sunset and then get ready for the buzzing nightlife of the island to heat up. The hotel pool is also an option if you'd rather rest up after the previous night's festivities.

Relax and enjoy the last of your time on Koh Phi Phi. Grab breakfast, a fruit shake, and take in the stunning place you just called home for three days. Not to worry, your Thailand beach time isn't over yet! We head back to the resort in Krabi for a couple more days of activities. Rest up poolside, hit the beach, or head into town - the choice is yours.

Another day, another epic Thai beach. Only accessible by longtail boat, we get dropped off on the white sands of Railay Beach - surrounded by stunning limestone cliffs. This hidden paradise is surrounded by these mountainous formations and the locals pull up their own boats to serve a variety of Thai and Western lunch options. Rock climbing optional but highly suggested.

Take a break from beach time and climb the 1,237 steps to the top of Tiger Cave Temple. You will be greeted by the dozens of families of monkeys that call this area home and a breathtaking view at the summit lookout point. Get up close and personal for some unique photo opportunities with these curious, jungle-dwelling mammals or just step back and enjoy the show. After we head back to the resort for some post-trek poolside relaxation and perhaps even some afternoon cocktails.

Free time to spend the last day in Krabi with your new group of lifetime mates. We suggest soaking up some sun and getting in as much Thai food as you possibly can as your tour winds down. Then it’s back to Bangkok we go on our newly added internal flight - saves a 12 hour bus journey and adds one more night of festivities. You have been through a lot together in the last three weeks and there is no better place for one last hurrah than one last night out in Bangkok.

Your Thailand tour is over but the past three weeks will stick with you for a lifetime. You have free use of the hotel's facilities in Bangkok until your departure including the pool and bag storage room. Get in one last breakfast together before you head to the airport on your pre-arranged airport transfer. Some will continue on in their journey - others will head back home. No matter what you choose to do, this is hopefully just the beginning of many future adventures!