Detailed Itinerary

Day One: Bangkok
Arrive in Bangkok anytime during the day. In Bangkok, the group leader will give you a brief orientation describing the itinerary in the evening. Listen carefully as you will learn what to expect during the tour. Sleep in a simple and small but clean hotel in a good location. (-/-/-)

Day Two: Tour Bangkok and Leave for Chiang Mai
Start your tour with a trip to witness the attractions of Bangkok. For that, you will walk and use public transportation when required. Visit temples, flower market, Chinatown and Little India. You will then take an overnight train to Chian Mai in air-conditioned sleeping berths. (B/-/-)

Day Three: Tour Chiang Mai
Soak into the ambience of smaller and cooler city with a tour of Chiang Mai. Travel on foot and enjoy charming people and many other attractions. In the old part of the city, visit temples, the Warorot Market, or visit a meditation temple. You will stay at the city and move further north next day. Sometimes during the afternoon, you will part of an orientation program where what to expect in the journey ahead will be discussed. (-/-/-)

Day Four: Karen Village
You will depart Chiang Mai early in the morning. A pick-up truck will drive you north towards Huay Nam Dang National Park. Trek through forested hilly terrain for about 90 to 120 minutes in the afternoon. The trek will cover about 5 to 6 kms. You will then arrive at fascinating Karen village to learn about the tribe. The Karens are one of the most well-known hill tribe in Thailand. You will sleep in their bamboo huts and enjoy local dinner. (B/D/L)

Day Five: Trekking, Elephant Ride
Before starting a 3 hours trek, enjoy breakfast and leave. You will enjoy villages along the route and enjoy the changing landscape. Around noon, you will arrive at an elephant camp for lunch. With your belly full, gear to ride on the back of an elephant for an hour. The elephants will take you to a rafting camp near a Karen village. There are streams nearby for you to swim and enjoy. For the second night running, you'll stay in a Karen village and sleep in a bamboo hut. (B/D/L)

Day Six: Bamboo Rafting - Chiang Mai
The exciting day begins with a bamboo rafting. For 20 - 25 kms, raft with the current of the river. You will halt at different places to observe hill-tribe villages. Meet local meet also and enjoy sceneries. In rainy season, because of the greater flow of the water, the journey takes considerable less. In less than 4 hours, the whole outing will be over. During summer time, the journey can take up to even 6 hours. You will enjoy lunch after the completion and on a pick-up truck leave for Chiang Mai. (B/D/-)

Day Seven: Train to Bangkok
The train to Bangkok leaves in the evening. This gives you the opportunity to explore Chiang Mai further. Ask your group leader what you can do during the free time. You can readily try to learn Thai cooking. You can also go offer a very relaxing Thai message. A visit to Doi Suthep is also an option. These activities come at your own cost though. Please always keep in mind that you'll have to finish your activities well before evening as you'll be boarding an overnight train to Bangkok. You will travel in comfortable air-conditioned sleeping births. ( B/-/-)

Day Eight: Bangkok
Arrive in Bangkok to finish the program. (-/-/-)

If you want to be involved in excursions south of Thailand, you can see the Southern program. Any extension of stay desired in Bangkok can be swiftly organized.

Remark:
We reserve the right to adjust the program without prior notice according to local conditions; however the essential concept of the tour will always be maintained.

The tour begins from Bangkok. The transportation cost to the departure point in Bangkok isn't covered in your volunteer and travel program fees. The responsibility to arrive at the right place and at the right time is solely yours. The exact address of your travel starting point will be given to you in Thailand.