Thai Hilltribes & The River Kwai

Day 1
Depart London.

Day 2
Arrive Bangkok.

Day 3
This morning we take a short walk to the Chao Praya river where we board a long tail boat for a tour of the local canals. Bangkok was once known as the Venice of the East because of its intricate canal network. We get a glimpse of daily life as we pass locals selling their wares by the river. We will visit what to this day remains the home of the Thai Royal family at the Royal Palace complex followed by Wat Phra Kaew, home to the Emerald Buddha, one of Thailand's most venerated images. Another highlight is Wat Po, the largest temple in Bangkok, housing a 46m long, 15m high gold-plated reclining Buddha. We then head back to our hotel by ferry. This afternoon is free for personal exploration. In the evening we board the sleeper train to Chiang Mai.

Day 4
In the early morning the train pulls into Chiang Mai, 'The Rose of the North', known for its temples, markets and the many colourful hilltribes that live in the area. This former religious and cultural centre was twice under the control of the Burmese, and a strong Burmese influence is reflected in the architecture of the city. We transfer to our hotel by songtaew (a converted pick up truck used as a means of local transportation). After a free morning this afternoon we visit the Hilltribe Museum and the hilltop temple of Doi Suthep, the most revered Buddhist shrine in the Chiang Mai region. The climb up to the temple is well worth the effort as on a clear day it affords an excellent view over the city and the surrounding area. In the evening we visit the famous Chiang Mai night market where many of the hilltribe's handicrafts can be seen. This is an excellent opportunity to do some serious shopping or just enjoy an evening browsing. For those not into shopping there are plenty of atmospheric restaurants lined along the Ping River.

Day 5
We drive (approx 2 hours) to Doi Inthanon Mountain from where we will start our trek. The highlight of our 3 day trek is meeting the local people in the various villages, each with their own unique language, customs and dress. Our exact itinerary will vary during the year as we take into account the weather and local conditions, but the terrain is more rural than jungle. Various hilltribes grow rice and other vegetables on the slopes we walk past. A reasonable level of fitness is required, as we expect to be walking about 4 hours or less each day at a leisurely pace taking in the rural scenery. We will carry our own personal belongings in a daypack and leave our main luggage in Chiang Mai. The ground may be muddy and slippery during the rainy season (around July to October), though the scenery is at its most lush and spectacular to compensate. At night, we sleep in villagers' huts, where we will be sleeping communally on fold-out mattresses on the floors of the wooden/bamboo huts typical of the villages. There are shared squat toilets and basic washing facilities in most villages (i.e. a hose or water pipe). Warmer clothing and sleeping bags are needed from November to February as the nights are usually quite cold during this period.

Day 6
We continue walking from village to village and expect to see a wide range of hilltribes, among them people from the Lisu, Karen, Lahu and Shan tribes. The people are very welcoming and we learn of their traditional lifestyles whilst staying in the villages.

Day 7
There is an elephant ride as well as more walking today before we drive back to Chiang Mai late in the afternoon, and a hotel bed.

Day 8
Today is free to explore the delights of Chiang Mai. Your Tour Leader is on hand to assist in arranging any activities. A half day cooking school is highly recommended; however, be warned, you eat what you cook! Another great alternative is to spoil yourself after the trek with a relaxing Thai massage. In the evening we board the overnight train bound for Bangkok.

Day 9
In the morning our train reaches Bangkok and we transfer by road to Kanchanaburi (approx 3 hours). Kanchanaburi province is a pretty area and a favourite with travellers for its caves, waterfalls and river trips. Kanchanburi is an area made famous by the movie 'Bridge on the River Kwai'. The film is fictional but uses the construction of the Burma Railway in 1942-43 for its historical setting. The Japanese used Allied POW's to build a railway from Thailand to Burma so they could supply their army without the dangers of sending supplies by sea. Thousands of POW's died under appalling conditions during its construction, and the line became known as the 'Death Railway'.
This afternoon we will visit the bridge itself which was reconstructed after the war and is used today to take tourist trains over the river. We will also visit Hellfire Pass so called because POW's were forced to chisel through solid rock, working by firelight on a particularly difficult section of the line resulting in a heavy loss of life. We also visit the J.E.A.T.H war museum, which is a memorial to the POW's who were killed whilst constructing the railway.

Day 10
Today we take a day tour to Erawan National Park with its picturesque waterfalls. The waterfalls are named after the Erawan, the three-headed white elephant of Hindu mythology which the seven-tiered falls are said to resemble. The day is free to enjoy the falls area and there is a chance to enjoy some swimming or to walk to the top of the falls (approx 2 hours return trip). Following this we return to Bangkok.

Day 11
Fly to London.