Thai High Adventure

Day 1: Arrive in Bangkok. Free time

Rendezvous at the group hotel in Bangkok. A single timed group transfer from the airport is provided. The rest of the day is free for rest and relaxation or independent sightseeing. KE Land Only package services begin with a trip briefing at the hotel. This will take place in the early evening at a time arranged by your local guide. Overnight in the group hotel.

Day 2: Sightseeing, sleeper train to Chiang Mai

Accompanied by a local guide, we will have a morning's sightseeing tour on foot. We will visit the Grand Palace, the Emerald Buddha and Wat Po (Temple of the Reclining Buddha). The afternoon is free until we make the late afternoon drive to the railway station to catch the overnight sleeper train north to Chiang Mai. (Included meals: Breakfast)

Day 3: Walking tour of Chiang Mai

Tea, coffee and local fare is available in the morning on the train. Arriving in Chiang Mai, we make the transfer to our hotel and there will be some free time for those who wish to find a place for breakfast. Chiang Mai is cooler and far quieter than Bangkok and we will enjoy an easy-paced walking tour of the older parts of the city, with visits to the city wall and market. In the afternoon we will drive out of the city to visit Doi Suthep Temple, which is reached by a stairway of more than 300 steps, lined with ornate dragons. Perched on a hilltop, the temple has a number of impressive bells and colourful murals. It also commands views of Chiang Mai. Returning to Chiang Mai, we will have time to visit the bustling night market. Meals are not included on this day.

Day 4: Trek to Khum Pui Village

South of Chiang Mai, the Doi Inthanon National Park is a mountainous region which includes the country's highest peaks. This beautiful area is home to a number of colourful hilltribes, including Karen, Hmong and Red Lahu. We take open truck transport (known as a 'songthaew') to the start of our short trek in this area, stopping off at a local market en route, to enable us to buy cold drinks. Our journey into the park begins at an elephant camp, where we meet our transport. Riding on an elephant provides a great introduction to the jungle of the Doi Inthanon Park. After lunch at a local restaurant, we will begin our 4 hour walk to Kum Phui, where we stay overnight in a village house. Kum Phui is a village of the Karen people who practice subsistence agriculture and create intricately terraced and irrigated farmland. Embroidered and woven fabric forms the basis of the colourfully striped sarongs worn by the women and these textiles can usually be purchased locally. (B, L, D)

Day 5: Trek to Doi Inthanon, return Chiang Mai

After breakfast at the village, we continue our trek through farmland and over undulating jungle ridges to Huihom Village. Our hike then proceeds alongside the river. We will take lunch at the picturesque, cascading Wachiarwut waterfall and then onwards via a spectacular mountain road which winds its way to the highest point in all of Thailand, at Doi Inthanon (2590m / 8495ft). There are great views from here across the park, as well as a couple of interesting monuments or 'chedi', built to commemorate the king's and queen's 60th birthdays. We make the return drive of a little over an hour to our hotel in Chiang Mai. Another chance to enjoy shopping at the colourful night market! (B, L)

Day 6: Drive via Mae Sot to Um Phang

Today we make a reasonably early start for the long drive towards the south-west. Our destination is the mountainous province of Tak, close to the border with Myanmar. It takes approximately 4 hours to reach the regional capital of Tak and a further hour or so to reach the riverside settlement of Mae Sot. This is a fascinating place, close to the border and frequented by traders from Myanmar. After a stop for lunch, we continue onwards for the exciting and spectacular 4-hour ride along the so-called 'Sky Road' to Um Phang. Arriving at this remote riverside settlement of wooden houses, we check into our lodge accommodation. (B, D)

Day 7: Trek and raft to Thi Lo Su Forest Camp

Any items we don't need for the next 4 days can be left at the lodge in Um Phang. It is just a short walk down to the river, where we meet our rafts and crew and begin the first leg of our journey into this forest wilderness. With 6 persons in each rubber raft, we will enjoy a leisurely 3-hour float down the Mae Klong River, passing impressive cliffs, waterfalls and hot springs. After a stop for lunch, we will walk for 2 to 3 hours to the Forestry Camp, and from there we can visit Thi Lo Su Waterfall. Reputed to be the most beautiful in Thailand, this is another cascading fall, dropping 250 metres (800 feet) across a series of 7 tree and fern-festooned ledges. There is the chance to take a refreshing dip in the pools below the falls. Overnight at the Thi Lo Su Forest Camp. (B, L, D)

Day 8: Trek to Palatha for white-water rafting

After breakfast, the day begins with a 2-hour walk to Kotha Village, inhabited by Karen people. We have the chance to take a look around the village, before trekking for a further 3 hours to Palatha Village where we take lunch. We meet our white water rafting crew at Palatha and after a full safety briefing we begin the 2-day river descent, today rafting for around 3 hours. During the descent we will negotiate approximately 10 rapids, the most demanding of which is given a grade of 3 in the scale of whitewater rafting difficulty. Basically, this means the rafting is exciting, but safe, even for novices. If particularly high flows are encountered, we can choose to walk around one or more of the rapids. We will have 2 river guides in each boat and helmets and lifejackets are provided. Tonight we set up our wild camp in a beautiful spot beside the river. (B, L, D)

Day 9: Rafting to Thi Lo Lay Waterfall, begin trek to road-head.

Back in our rafts, it takes 2 hours to reach Thi Lor Lay Waterfall. There are no roads to this remote spot and the rafts and other gear will have to be carried out using elephants. After visiting the waterfall, we’ll paddle a short distance back upstream to the point where we’ll meet our elephant support crew! The elephants will accompany us all the way to the end of the trek at the road-head and the Karen village of Sepala. Today, we will trek for 3 hours and set up a wild camp in the jungle. (B, L, D)

Day 10: Trek to Sepala, transfer to Phitsanulok

We continue our jungle trek as far as the village of Sepala. Here, we meet our transport for the ride back to Mae Sot (1 hour) and from there continue our journey with the drive to Phitsanulok (5 hours). Overnight in a hotel. (B, D)

Day 11: Fly Bangkok, transfer to beach resort

After breakfast, we transfer to the airport at Phitsanulok to catch the morning flight to Bangkok,. From the airport we transfer approximately 2 hours to Ban Pae pier where we catch a boat across to Koh Samet island. After checking into our 3 star beach resort we can enjoy the golden sands and crystal clear waters. (B, L)

Day 12: At the beach

A day at leisure on the beach - time to swim or relax in the sun. Ko samet boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand, hiding in small bays separated by rocky headlands and with a backdrop of lush forested hills. Optional activities such as windsurfing, snorkelling, fishing and boat tours can be arranged through the resort. (B)

Day 13: Retrurn to Bangkok

The morning is free at the beach. In the early afternoon, we will set off on the journey back to Bangkok Airport aiming to arrive here at approximately 5.00 pm where KE Land Only package services end. (B)