Travellers will be arriving at all times during the day, from all corners of the world. Feel free to arrive at the joining point at any time but please note that check-in time is 12:00pm noon. There will usually be a group meeting around 5:00-6:00pm. If you are arriving later than this your leader will update you individually the following day. 

Please note also that your leader will collect your local payment today.

We have a free day to go sightseeing - many of the main tourist attractions in Bangkok are within walking distance of our hotel - the Grand Palace, the National Museum, the National Library and Wat Pho to name a few. The streets surrounding the hotel are overflowing with colourful stalls and local activities and are great for exploring and sampling the gastronomic delights offered by the local food hawkers.

This morning your leader will take you on an orientation walk of the local area before later you catch the night train to the ‘Rose of the North’, Chiang Mai.

We arrive in Chiang Mai in the morning and transfer to our guesthouse. 

Chiang Mai is a great place for cycling and bicycles are easily available for rent. There are so many things to do here - spectacular temples, delicious food and fantastic shopping.

After settling into our accommodation, you can join your leader on a walk through the old city or undertake the many optional activities available.

We have a briefing before setting off on our 3-day trek. You carry your own belongings in a daypac and leave your main luggage at the hotel. The highlight of this trip is meeting the local people in the various villages, each with their own unique language, customs and dress. 

The trekking on this trip should not be too hard for anyone who is reasonably physically fit. We walk for approx. 4 hours or less each day and we move at a leisurely pace. Please take into account that the ground is muddy and slippery during the rainy season (around July - October) though the scenery is at its most lush and spectacular to compensate.

The exact itinerary of the trek changes from time to time taking into account the weather and local conditions. The terrain is rural rather than jungle - the hill-tribes grow rice and other vegetables on the slopes - and we walk along village tracks. Each night on the trek, we sleep in village huts. As the huts consist of a single all-purpose room in which the villagers live and sleep, we sleep on a covered balcony or a bamboo bed inside the hut. There are generally no washing facilities but we can wash in a nearby stream.

Day 2 of our trek.

Day 3 of our trek before returning to Chiang Mai.

Our morning is free for last-minute shopping and sightseeing. Why not check out Wat Chiung Man, a peaceful temple in the old city with inscriptions dating from 1581? This temple also features some beautiful examples of traditional northern Thai architecture, with massive teak columns supporting the inner sanctuary. Alternatively, you could enjoy a traditional Thai massage, which involves stretching as well as acupressure.

We board the fan-cooled overnight train for Bangkok in the late afternoon (approx. 12 hours).

We arrive in Bangkok early and transfer to our hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to catch up on the sights you missed the first time.

There's plenty to see in this sprawling metropolis - from temples to markets and shopping malls - and undoubtedly, the best way to get around Bangkok is by water taxi, as the streets are often crazy with traffic. Another bonus travelling along the Chao Phraya River is that you'll get an excellent view of this vast metropolis.

Please note that there may be some people leaving or joining the group on days 9 and 10, and you will have a different group leader for the remainder of the trip. It is also likely a group meeting will be held during your time in Bangkok to discuss the remainder of the trip and activities planned. Your group leader will advise further.

Today we have the option of taking a long tail boat to explore the canals of Bangkok. The life that goes on along these canals seems like a different world. Perhaps visit Wat Pho, home of the reclining Buddha. You can have a traditional Thai massage either here, at a school that teaches massage within the temple, or choose somewhere near the hotel - this is highly recommended!

Late in the afternoon, we leave the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, taking an overnight train to the south (approx. 12 hours) to Surat Thani.

On arrival in Surat Thani, we have breakfast in a small coffee shop before jumping on a songthaew headed west to Khao Sok (approx. 1.5 hours). In this region, we find some of the best remaining rainforest in Thailand, reputably older than that of the Amazon basin! 

Our guesthouse sits by a clear stream at the edge of tropical jungle with our accommodation consisting of basic but comfortable bungalows with local-style bathrooms. Sleeping in these small rustic bungalows surrounded by the sounds of the jungle is an evocative experience. While here, we take a short walk through the jungle with a local guide to a small Buddhist temple.

In your free time, there are options to take an elephant ride or to head out on foot to explore the many forest walking trails, rivers and waterfalls. Be sure to bring good walking shoes with grip and be prepared to sweat!

We travel by public bus and songthaew to Krabi Province on the beautiful west coast (3-5 hours). Fringed by sun-bronzed beaches and limestone scenery, this was the region that put Thailand on the map as one of the world's most beautiful destinations. 

Our guesthouse is close to the beach and provides a perfect spot to mellow out and relax. Weather permitting, you can take a boat out to nearby islands and snorkel spectacular reefs teeming with tropical fish.

Your leader will fill you in on all the other interesting options available in the area, such as sea kayaking and rock-climbing - so get out there and make the most of your time. This is the perfect place to get active or simply relax!

More time to relax on Krabi.

Today can be quite a long travel day (approx. 10 hours), as we say goodbye to southern Thailand and hello to the cultural melting pot that is Malaysia. 

We arrive in Penang on the evening of day 15. The original Chinese atmosphere of the island still exists today, making it a fascinating place to explore.

This morning we take a stroll down the Street of Harmony and get amongst the morning traders at the bustling Chinese market. Take this opportunity to have your fortune told by a traditional Chinese fortune teller, or visit a Chinese herbalist to see how they make up traditional medicines. Alternatively, try some freshly prepared local snacks - there's so much to see and do here!

At night, don't miss the local food stalls that set up along many of Penang's streets. This island is famous for its food, thanks to the many cultures that have lived side-by-side here for centuries. Be sure to try a refreshing ice kacang (a dessert made with crushed ice, syrup and a mixture of jellies, nuts and sweet beans), or a hearty nasi kandar (a dish of steamed rice accompanied by curries, fried chicken, seafood or vegetables).

This morning, we head for the hills (approx. 6 hours). The Cameron Highlands hill station is one of Malaysia's most famous. Established in 1885 by William Cameron, a British surveyor, the hill station is famous for its tea plantations and strawberry farms.

The afternoon is free to explore. You may want to take a walk along one of the many hillside trails, or just relax and enjoy temperatures in the low twenties!

The trip to Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur (approx. 5 hours) is along winding roads, but the scenery is amazing as we descend from the hills. 

This afternoon your leader will take you on an orientation walk of the local area surrounding our hotel - pointing out how and where to catch public transport and where to head for the best KL has to offer - food, temple visits, major sites, museums and of course, shopping!
 

We have a full free day in KL so you might like to head out of town to visit the famous Batu Caves or the informative Orang Asli Museum. The evening is best spent at the night market sampling the different cuisine and bargain hunting among the stalls. You might also want to pay a visit to 2 of the world's tallest buildings, the Petronas Twin Towers.

A short bus journey (approx. 2.5 hours) takes us to the old port town of Melaka where we can wander the narrow streets and absorb the atmosphere and heritage of this historically important town. 

With the beginning of trade with China in the early 15th century, Melaka rapidly became the most important trading port in South-East Asia. Chinese traders were followed by those from India. With them came Islam and soon the Melaka sultans ruled the largest empire in Malaysia's history.

Successively the Portuguese, Dutch and British arrived in search of trading wealth. All these traders left their mark on the town, and although the effects of recent economic growth are apparent, the town still retains its old-world charm.

The streets of Chinatown are lined with Peranakan (Straits Chinese) shophouses offering their traditional cuisine, Nyonya, and there are temples, churches, mosques, museums and forts to explore. It may also be possible to view Melaka from the water by boarding a river boat cruise. This is dependent on river tide levels.

We catch a morning bus across the border to Singapore (approx. 5.5 hours). Singapore has only a few areas untouched by modernisation but wandering the streets of Little India and Chinatown is a great way to see the old parts of the city.

Our hotel is located in the centre of Chinatown and there are many shopping centres and places to eat nearby. Being only 2 minutes' walk from Outram Park, it is only a short MRT (underground train) ride to the major shopping complexes of Orchard Road.

We spend only 1 night in Singapore so if you would like some extra time to see the sights we strongly recommend you spend an extra couple of nights. Please advise us if you would like to arrange a few extra nights at our accommodation.

Your tour ends in Singapore.