Northern Thailand & Beaches

Bangkok baby, your 27 day adventure begins! So you’ve made it to this lively and vibrant city, our amazing TruNinja will meet you at the airport before heading off to the accommodation! You’ll have the first day to settle in and relax, wash off all that travelling, meet the rest of your group aka TruFam, and explore the local area. Maybe see a few markets or try some street food, whatever ya fancy! In the evening, it’s time for our welcome dinner at one of our favourite restaurants on the one & only Khao San Road! Get to know your fellow travellers over sharing a bucket or two (or any drink of choice, you do you). Holiday mode is ON and warning, you may never want to turn it off!

TRANSPORT: You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.

So you know the film Bridge Over River Kwai? Well, today we are going to see the bridge over River Kwai (surprise)! Before we head off to the river, we hop off to do some shopping and not at just any market, but a FLOATING one! Sick right? Have a browse at the stalls, selling all sorts of food, clothing, souvenirs and even homeware! Once we’ve done our browsing the market by long-tail boat, it’s off to Kanchanaburi! When we have arrived, we get on 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 because trust us, you won’t want to miss this photo op. The view is incredible and is definitely bucket list-worthy!

TRANSPORT: It's bigger than a van, smaller than a bus, and just the right size for adventure.

ACTIVITY:

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 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 ya feel! 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?

TRANSPORT: It's bigger than a van, smaller than a bus, and just the right size for adventure.

ACTIVITY:

TRANSPORT: It's bigger than a van, smaller than a bus, and just the right size for adventure.

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 some more. 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 (fun fact for ya, go tell your friends!). 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. The overnight train is defo an experience in itself and should be on your bucket list, a fantastic and different way of seeing Thailand too. Chiang Mai, we’re coming in strong.

TRANSPORT: It's bigger than a van, smaller than a bus, and just the right size for adventure.

ACTIVITY:

TRANSPORT: Stretch out and get some well-earned rest en route to the next stop.

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. There is a hefty set of stairs (300 roughly) but think of the panoramic views, so worth it. 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! You can lounge by the pool, take a little nap (having fun is tiring right?), or continue to explore Chiang Mai!

ACTIVITY:

Did someone say TruExclusive? Hell yeah, we did! You won’t find this experience anywhere else. We are off to do one of the most popular activities in Northern Thailand, a trek through the jungle. The trek doesn’t require a high level of fitness, but it is a bit of a challenge SO beers will be very well deserved afterwards! We’ll spend one night in a local village homestay so that you can experience what life is like for the many traditional farmers of Northern Thailand. You’ll see their lives have not changed an enormous amount for generations. This truly is an amazing and once in a lifetime experience, definitely one you’ll cherish forever. Expect to see all kinds of nature and wildlife when on the trek, maybe even a waterfall or two, amazing scenes as well as photo opportunities (important stuff, duh). Once we get to the hill tribe village, our hosts will cook us a lovely traditional meal, and once our stomachs are full, we can sit around the fire and play some games or exchange some stories. Whatever we do, it's time to chill after a busy day!

TRANSPORT: It's bigger than a van, smaller than a bus, and just the right size for adventure.

ACTIVITY:

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 with a cheeky stop at a waterfall because ya know, we can’t get enough of those things. Marvel at the wildlife and nature from your raft, see what you can spot. You might see some elephants along the way if your lucky so keep yo’ fingers crossed! Trekked through the jungle? Took a bamboo raft down the river? COMPLETED IT MATE! 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 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 to also redistribute funds to programmes that do good. Once we get back to Chiang Mai, rest up in time to continue our Northern adventure tomorrow!

TRANSPORT: It's bigger than a van, smaller than a bus, and just the right size for adventure.

ACTIVITY:

Did you know that some people call Chiang Mai the adventure capital? Well, with today’s activities we can see why! Today is one of our favourite activities, that’s very popular with tourists, and it’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)! Now is your chance to release your inner child and pretend that you can fly! 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! Hey, keep a lookout for monkeys too, you might spot a few in the treetops! 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.

ACTIVITY:

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 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. Ahh, the life of Pai (sorry we had to!).

TRANSPORT: It's bigger than a van, smaller than a bus, and just the right size for adventure.

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. Indiana Jones, who? 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 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! *cue Sunset Lover by Petit Biscuit* 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!

ACTIVITY:

Chill day lets 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.

ACTIVITY:

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, they have that insider knowledge ya feel? 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! 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, so tell all your friends and fam to get ready! Winner winner chicken dinner (Quorn if your veggie)!

TRANSPORT: It's bigger than a van, smaller than a bus, and just the right size for adventure.

ACTIVITY:

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*.

ACTIVITY:

After checking out, you’ll have plenty of time to relax, hit the markets, or explore Chiang Mai a little more; before jumping onto the overnight train back to Bangkok.

TRANSPORT: Stretch out and get some well-earned rest en route to the next stop.

We are 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 tuks tuks for long-tail boats, as we admire the views of the city from the Chao Praya River, a different way of seeing Bangkok. Take a look into the water and try to see if you can spot the fish, they aren’t usually very shy! 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 (our TruNinjas can give you some tips don’t fret). In the evening, we will meet for dinner and then head out for drinks on Khao San Road, which is full of backpackers, some may say it’s backpacker heaven. We’ll let you decide that for yourself. Either way, it’s a good time, you can’t go to Bangkok and not go to Khao San Road.

ACTIVITY:

Enjoy a Thai massage in the morning, before boarding a sleeper train for the night, a truly authentic Thai experience. You’ll get your very own berth on the train, and it’s a great place to get to know the rest of your group a little better. We travel south, out of Bangkok, towards Khao Sok National Park – situated in the Surat Thani province of Thailand. Watching the scenery change from a sprawling cityscape to countryside dotted throughout by limestone mountains is definitely something you won’t forget in a hurry

TRANSPORT: Stretch out and get some well-earned rest en route to the next stop.

Head via longtail boat, into Khao Sok National Park to our floating bungalows, stopping for a quick dip along the way at a couple of Instagram-worthy locations. Try your hand at some kayaking or chill with a cold beer in a tube in front of the absolutely stunning backdrop of the surrounding limestone mountain range. You’ll soon see why this place is, and always will be, a TruTravels favourite destination.

TRANSPORT: Settle in and enjoy the ride aboard one of these always-unique riverboats.

ACTIVITY:

Wake up in your floating bungalow and why not take a quick dip in the freshwater lake before breakfast. After a relaxed morning, we make our way over to Koh Phangan; an island to the east. Once we get there, we go straight to a place called Bottle Beach, another one of our favourite locations! It’s beautiful, quiet, accessible only by boat, and to make it even better, we get the whole place pretty much to ourselves, staying in beach bungalows pretty much right on the water. Relax here for the rest of the day on the beach or in the bar. After dinner, we’ll all enjoy a bonfire on the beach, complete with a fire show.

ACTIVITY:

A nice chilled wake up to the sound of waves rolling in on the beach. You will have a free morning to make the most of your surroundings. You can go kayaking, play volleyball, top up the tan, trek to viewpoints or enjoy a lay in. We are picked up early afternoon and taken to a local gym, where you can try your hand at a bit of Muay Thai boxing, Thailand’s national sport. After, we head to our awesome accommodation where we will spend the final nights of the trip. It’s got a great bar, and atmosphere; an ideal location to spend the evening.

ACTIVITY:

Today you’re a pirate. Arrrrrrr. Well, you can pretend to be if you want, cos we’re getting going sailing and taking you on a tour of this magical island. There’s a reason so many of the TruCrew live here on Koh Phangan. We’ll sail around the coast of the island, we’ll stop off at one of the small islands off the coast of Phangan for some beach shenanigans and at a snorkelling spot to check out the sea life and cool down. Sailing in Thailand for the win! 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. The island is well known for its party scene so if the group’s up for a boogie on the last night in Koh Phangan, we can find something that suits, alternatively a quiet night by the pool/beach bar can also be arranged.

ACTIVITY:

Check out is at 11am & our awesome staff are on hand to help you plan your next steps, whether it is continuing your adventure or heading back to Bangkok to catch a flight home, we will make sure you get to where you need to be.

ACTIVITY: Your trusty travel ninja is on hand to assist you.