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Elephant rides/Becky Powell
Rafting in Umphang/Ian McKelvey

Active Thailand! - 2010/11 Itinerary

14 days - from $1310

• Stay with Thai families & experience village life
• 5-day jungle trekking & rafting adventure
• Ride bicycles & elephants!

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North to Nan
Leaving behind the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, we head north to the town of Nan - a tranquil outpost in a region celebrated for its teak forests and fast-running rivers. These valleys are also home to several hill tribes, and as we walk and take to bicycles through their lands and villages, we meet people from the Hmong and Yao groups. We spend two nights as guests in a village near Nan, staying in family homes. Depending on the season, you may help to plant or harvest rice or cook, perhaps visit the temple, or even help in the village school.


Umphang Jungle Adventure
After Lampang (where we have a chance to visit the nearby elephant sanctuary), we drive along an exceptionally scenic road to Umphang. Barely on the map, this hamlet is the starting point of our jungle adventure. For the next five days, we travel through far-flung and lush landscapes by raft, on foot and by elephant - and camp beneath the jungle canopy. At times the rafting is quite gentle, at other times exhilarating, across white-water rapids. Our guides will take us along jungle paths to the seven-tiered Thi Lor Su Waterfall, reputedly the most beautiful in South East Asia. Finally, we return to Mae Sot to freshen up - and to prepare ourselves for the culture shock of flying back to Bangkok!

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Itinerary:

Day 1 Join the tour in Bangkok; there's the chance to enjoy a trip on the city's klongs (canals). Day 3 Bangkok We visit the Grand Palace and temple of Wat Po before catching an overnight sleeper train up north. Days 3/5 Village life On foot and by bike, we explore the Yao and Hmong villages around Nan and spend two nights as guests in a family home where we join in daily life. Days 6/7 Skyway road After Lampang, where there's the chance to visit the elephant sanctuary, we drive along a scenic road to Umphang, the starting point of our jungle adventure. Days 8/12 Jungle adventure For five days, we travel through far-flung and lush landscapes by raft, on foot and by elephant - and camp beneath the jungle canopy. We also see the seven-tiered Thi Lor Su Waterfall, reputedly the most beautiful in southeast Asia. Day 13 Bangkok Fly back to the capital. Day 14 Tour ends in Bangkok.

Accommodations: 5nts hotel, 1nt lodge, 3nts village house, 3nts camping, 1nt sleeper train - lodge and village houses are basic with shared accommodation and facilities, jungle camping is at wild camps, sleeper train has curtained off berths in 2nd class air-conditioned open plan carriage; 12 breakfasts, 6 lunches & 7 dinners.
Transport: Bus/Sleeper train/Bicycle/ Elephant/Raft/Flight.
Comment: An active adventure that includes several moderate jungle treks (3-7hrs/day), white-water rafting, cycling and elephant riding! You should be fit to enjoy this tour as both trekking and rafting are an integral part of the trip and cannot be opted out of.
Group: Approx. 12 to 16.
Staff: Explore Tour Leader plus driver, boatmen and some local guides.
Trip Reference: OT2010

Dates & Prices
Start End Prices in US$ Local Payment Availability
03 Nov 1016 Nov 10$13400
22 Dec 1004 Jan 11$13100

Prices and itineraries shown for tours departing from January 2011 onwards are subject to change and confirmation with the publication of our 2011/12 brochure, due to be published in October 2010.

The price of a Single Room Option does not necessarily guarantee a single room for every night of the tour. For more information, please refer to the trip dossier / more details for this tour.
Single rooms are available for this tour at a supplement from US$ 110, depending on availability.