Family Holidays Overview

Nature, wildlife and waterfalls, Thailand Family Adventure


Nature, wildlife and waterfalls, Thailand Family Adventure

Get away from it all on your very own wildlife and nature eco adventure with Tell Tale Travel. No groups, no coaches, no tour leaders - just you and your family on holiday, having a great adventure in Thailand. The lovingly-designed itinerary starts with a whistle-stop visit to Bangkok to tick off the main sights before you venture away from the tourist trail and into the lush landscapes of tropical Thailand. First stop, the countryside outside Chiang Mai in the north. Here you'll explore cascading 10-tier waterfalls as songbirds and butterflies flit around you and explore one of Thailand's highest mountains in Chiang Dao, home to rare birds extinct elsewhere in the world. You'll also spend a day at a unique sanctuary for elephants, Elephant Nature Park, a far cry from the elephant camps that the typical tourist visits - you'll even get to scrub them down in the river! You'll have a bit of time to go into the city of Chiang Mai for some sightseeing and shopping (our driver will take you and wait for you), though we recommend staying away from the touristy night bazaar and buying your souvenirs in the handicraft villages dotted around the outskirts of the city. Then it's time to head further north and really off the beaten track. Here, you'll trek up a mountain for spectacular views over neighbouring Laos, bathe in hot springs and dine outdoors, under a blanket of sparkling stars. You'll also get to meet meet locals of all ages - you'll visit a local primary school and the early-evening football matches are a highlight in the village's social calendar! The last part of your holiday will be at Khao Yai National Park. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it spans over 2,000 square kilometers and is home to herds of wild elephants, clouded leopards and monkeys, as well a vast array of flora and fauna. Here, you'll see over a million bats swarm out into the night, trek through the jungle and drive around in an open-topped jeep to see as much as possible of this vast wildlife reserve.


When
This particular itinerary can be taken all year around although there is risk of running into heavy rain in September and October.
Stay
in Bangkok you will stay in a riverside hotel which has a swimming pool. In the rest of the country you will stay in villas and bungalows in the grounds of private homes.
Price
£1,465 per adult for 14 days, DURING SUMMER 2006 (some discounts available for under 12s). This includes direct overnight flights from London Heathrow with Thai Airways, all accommodation, activities, transport (internal planes and chauffeur driven cars/minivans) and most meals. Please allow £75 per party for some local expenses such as entrance fees as well as some money for the few meals not included. Regional departures are available.
Itinerary
Please contact Tell Tale Travel for full details of this recommended itinerary. This itinerary can be taken by families with teenage or younger children (aged 6 or above). They have designed this itinerary to be perfectly balanced, however, they can customise the itinerary if needed. Beach extensions are also possible.
Day 1
Direct overnight flight from London by Eva Air or Thai Airways, regional add-ons available.
Day 2
Arrival at Bangkok airport where one of our drivers will pick you up. A few hours to settle into your room at a charming boutique hotel and relax in your small private courtyard. This evening, your driver will take you for a drive to see the city by night and wait for you as you dine at one of our recommended restaurants.
Day 3
Sightseeing in Bangkok with our local insider who will take you to the main sites of the Grand Palace, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Wat Pho and Wat Arun. Free time in the late afternoon and then an evening exploring Bangkok with your driver (choose where to go from our maps and insider tips or go anywhere else of your choice).
Day 4
Transfer to Chiang Mai in the north via short internal flight. Car/minivan transfer to the countryside outside the city, time to relax and settle in, followed by a walk around the local area and dinner with a local family.
Day 5
Explore 10-tiered waterfalls at your leisure. Climb up as far or as little as you want, swim in various spots (child-friendly) picnic in the midst of fluttering butterflies. Visit Chiang Mai this evening and have dinner at a riverside restaurant, choose from our recommendations list or pick your own.
Day 6
Get close to elephants by spending the day at Elephant Nature Park, a unique elephant sanctuary where you can learn about them from conservation experts and elephant carers, mahouts. You can get hands-on with the elephants and scrub them down in the river!
Day 7
Sightseeing in the city of Chiang Mai around the ancient city and temples and/or the handicraft villages dotted around the city where you can watch the locals work expertly and buy directly from their co-operatives.
Day 8
Explore Chiang Dao mountain you can start at the caves, thought to be the deepest in Thailand (and home to ancient spirits!) and containing spectacular stalactites and stalagmites, then head up the mountain to trek the family-friendly nature trails.
Day 9
Transfer further north past Chiang Rai by car/minivan. Arrive in remote countryside where you'll stay with a friendly family with young children (in a private chalet in their garden). This afternoon, you'll meet the villagers, learn how they fish and farm in traditional ways, then have dinner round the campfire.
Day 10
Swim in waterfalls and hot springs and walk in the surrounding forest or relax or nap by the waterfalls. You'll also visit a primary school in a Hmong village.
Day 11
Trek up the mountain with trekking guides, it's certainly off the beaten track, you'll have to cut your own trails and build a fire to make your barbeque lunch. You'll end the day being given a Thai massage, before you visit a freshwater prawn farm for a delicious feast to round off your stay.
Day 12
Transfer to Khao Yai by short flight from Chiang Rai to Bangkok, then a car journey to an eco lodge. Time to settle in and take a dip in the pool before an evening visit to the local night market.
Day 13
Day at leisure to relax in the gardens or swim in the pool. In the early evening, you'll have your first visit to Khao Yai National Park for the unforgettable sight of over a million bats swarm out into the night sky.
Day 14
Wildlife-spotting in Khao Yai National Park requires an early start for a chance to see the animals at their most active with an expert local guide. Picnic by beautiful waterfalls before driving around in an open-topped vehicle to cover as much of the reserve as possible.
Day 15
Morning transfer to Bangkok airport by car and international flight back, arriving at London Heathrow at approximately 7pm UK time.

Ways to Book

By Telephone

To speak to a Tell Tale Travel expert call between 9am-9pm, 7 days a week to discuss your trip or book, and quote 'Take the Family'.

Telephone

0800 011 2571

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