Thailand
13 night Thailand Multi Centre, including 3 days at Elephant Hills
This amazing holiday to Thailand starts in Bangkok before a few days on a tropical beach. Then it's off for 3 days at Elephant Hills where you get the chance to feed an interact with elephants in a completely ethical way. Finally, relax for a few days in Koh Samui either chilling out or exploring the island.
The trip is very flexible, so we can change it to suit your interests and budget.
Here's the summary...
- 3 nights in Bangkok
- 4 nights in Khao Lak
- 2 nights at Elephant Hills
- 4 nights in Koh Samui
Fly to Bangkok and transfer to your hotel. A 3 night stay is very typical, giving 2 full days, but if you want to see everything on the list at an easy pace then consider adding a 4th night.
- The highlight is the Grand Palace with its temples and pagodas, including The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the most sacred in Thailand
- Visit the floating markets of Damnoen Saduak
- Just outside Bangkok is Ayuttheya, the old capital of Thailand, and now you can tour the spectacular ruins
- Take a longtailed boat tour along the Chao Phraya River and see a bit of local life outside the main city
- Visit Wat Arun, The Temple of Dawn, which looks especially striking at sunset
Next, fly into Phuket and transfer to your hotel in Khao Lak, a charming resort north of Phuket with several excellent hotels and a choice of either chilling out for a few days after Bangkok or exploring the mangroves and islands.
Please note that this resort is very convenient for moving on to Elephant Hills next. Although you don't have to stay here the night before, it reduces the risk of anything going wrong if for example you're relying on boats or planes.
- Visit the Sai Roong Waterfall and the mangrove forest
- Go snorkelling or diving in the Similan Islands
- Enjoy a bamboo rafting adventure in the Khao Lak National Park
Next transfer to Elephant Hills for a 2 night stay. There's a number of different packages available but the one featured here is one of the most popular as it includes a night at both the Jungle and Lake camps. Here's a typical itinerary although this can be change at short notice.
DAY 1 - overnight at Jungle Camp
- Feeding and interacting with the elephants
- Jungle canoe trip past primary rainforest
- In the evening there might be movies, dance performances and a cooking demonstration
DAY 2 - overnight at Lake Camp
- Sightseeing in a longtailed boat on the lake
- Canoes are available at Lake Camp if you wish to explore further, or enjoy a swim in the lake
- Jungle trekking on foot
DAY 3
- Guided canoe safari and wildlife spotting
Please note the image shown is a stock image of an elephant in Thailand
After your adventure at Elephant Hills it's time to finish your trip to Thailand with a few days relaxing on the beach. Although you could go back to Khao Lak or Phuket, we've featured the island of Koh Samui here. There are some great hotels which are usually excellent value for money, and again lots to do if you want to venture out.
- Fisherman's Village is an old part of Bophut with rustic buildings and trendy restaurants
- Visit the Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai)
- See the Na Muang Waterfall
- Take a boat trip to the Mu Ko Ang Thing National Marine Park for superb beaches, snorkelling and diving
- Visit the Secret Buddha Garden with little streams, Buddha statues, native trees and flowers and little waterfalls
Guide Prices
The trip featured here uses premium standard accommodation and would cost somewhere close to £3,500 per person. There's many ways to change it to suit your preferences, for example you could also add time in Chiang Mai in the North of Thailand.
What's Included?
- International flights to and from the UK
- Internal flights
- All transfers
- Daily breakfast throughout
- All meals at Elephant Hills
- Activities at Elephant Hills
My Own Trip
For my own trip, I had 2 weeks to play with, and in the end decided on a 4 centre itinerary!
First, 4 nights in Bangkok, which is a day longer than most people actually book but in fact there's a huge amount to see. One day was spent visiting the floating markets, and a Thai Boxing show on the return. Another was needed to see the Grand Palace - it's a fantastic place and a must see. The other day was spent on a rice barge, visiting some of the temples and doing the night market.
After that we flew to Chiang Mai and visited a hill tribe, took a rafting trip along the river and was pulled along by an ox at some point! The night market is a highlight, and so is the views from Doi Suthep Hill - certainly good excercise!
Then it was the relaxing part - 5 nights in Phuket in a 4 star hotel, followed by 3 night s in Phi Phi which we travelled to by speedboat.
There was much more we could have done, and on my list for the next time is Elephant Hills, plus another resort / island such as Koh Samui. The longer than average time in Bangkok though was definitely worth it.
Quick Thailand Guide
Bangkok - 3 or 4 nights allow enough time to see the floating markets, temples, the Grand Palace, do a rice barge cruise, and have a stroll through Chinatown.
Elephant Experiences - 1) Elephant Hills have 1,2 & 3 night packages covering both their elepahnt and rainforest camps. The location is convenient for onward travel to a beach resort. 2) Anantara Golden Triangle is a resort hotel in Northern Thailand with a number of different elephant experiences. Good to combine with Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai.
Beach Resorts - There are dozens of choices for all budgets, and as your money goes a long way in Thailand, pool villas can be excellent value for money. There are few if any all-inclusive hotels - bed & breakfast is the norm.
More information
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