11-day Central Thailand Nature Adventure Travel

Upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Sonasia’s guide & driver will pick you up and transfer directly to the hotel in center of Bangkok

Same same, but different. This Thailish T-shirt philosophy sums up Bangkok, a city where the familiar and the exotic collide like the flavors on a plate of pàt tai.

Free for the rest of the day for your own exploration.

Overnight in Bangkok.

This morning, travel back to time and explore the old way of living along hidden canals. Head to a local floating market (only open on weekends) where we have a stroll around before we will have a tour briefing while sipping a cup of drink and moving to the starting point.

Once prepared, start paddling from a local lotus pond, through some old communities and temples. Upon arriving at the halfway mark, stop by a 200-year-old community settlement for a visit to a Chinese shrine and interacting with the locals.

Continue from here in a kayak and paddle through some tropical fruit orchards and among Bangkok’s oldest wooden architecture house where time stands still and lifestyle stress were words that were only meant for the materialistic and developed world. Simply enjoy the scenic canals and observe Bangkok’s waterway of life.

In the afternoon it’s time to visit Wat Pho, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. This statue of Buddha is 150-feet long and is coated in gold leaf. The feet alone are nine feet long and adorned in mother of pearl.

There’s no better introduction to Thai culture than taking in the royal grandeur of Bangkok’s Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha).

Overnight in Bangkok

Early this morning, drive south from Bangkok to the garden province of Samut Songkhram and head towards the famous railway market at Maeklong District. Here, catch a glimpse into typical Thai local life. 

Start the walk through the local market, located by the railway track and witness the dexterity and speed of the vendors as they quickly pack their stalls right before 09:45 am when the train approaches. 

Then, visit Damnoen Saduak Floating Market and take a long-tail boat ride through the canals and see how Thai people live alongside the labyrinth of canals in this area.

Then drive further to Kanchanaburi and stop en-route for coffee tasting at Hua Hong Coffee. 

Continue driving to the famous Bridge on the River Kwai, built by Allied prisoners of war during World War II. Visit the Art Gallery & War Museum and lunch at a local restaurant. Walk through the historical Pak Phraek Road.

Tonight, sleep in beautiful local floating rafts. These rafts have no electricity and it is the perfect place to wind down, relax and turn-off those electronics.
Overnight in Kanchanaburi.

After breakfast, it is ready for some action, take a short ride to the starting point of the bicycles and after a quick briefing, head out for a bike ride through the rural areas. Ending point of the ride is the river for some watersports! Begin paddling down the river, enjoying the peaceful nature.

After lunch at a local restaurant, go out for a hike towards a spring in Sai Yok National Park area ending up at a beautiful waterfall for some relaxing and swimming before heading back to the floating rafts.

This morning, be transferred to Kaeng Krachan National Park, the biggest national park area in Thailand and one of the least visited. Kaeng Krachan is famous for birders and wildlife enthusiasts. It is definitely recommended to bring binoculars on this trip.

Have some lunch overlooking the beautiful dam and buy some camping supplies before heading into the park area. Upon arrival, start with a look at the visitor center to see what kind of animals to spot before embarking on a 3km hike to try and spot some wildlife. 

Once completed, if time permits, add on another 2 km hike that is on even grounds around the camping area. There are loads of birds and potentially monkeys in the area.

Then, have dinner before retiring into our simple tent for an overnight camping experience.

Following a simple but good breakfast, head down the mountain and head to the most southern part of the park for one of the highlights on the trip. 
The Pala U Waterfall has 16 steps, making it one of the highest in Thailand and those who make it to the top will be rewarded by superb views over Thailand and towards Burma. It is however a tough trek up and how far we would make it, depends on personal fitness levels.
The third stage itself has a large natural pool where most people halt their hikes and hop in the cooling water to relax and soak up the area where occasionally, there is a chance to hear and see gibbons and other wildlife in this 1,000 year old forest.
Have a picnic lunch.
After recovering from the climb, hop back in the van and drive to Sam Roi Yot. After a few nature days it is time for a soft bed and good shower close to the beach.

After a refreshing night’s sleep, spend the morning at leisure.

After lunch, be picked up as we will pick for a chance to see wild elephants in the jungle of Kui Buri National Park. lunch. Take an opportunity to monitor wild elephants in the forest of which there are only a few hundred left in Thailand.

The first stop is at Ranger Station where the oriental pied hornbill can be spotted. Then, grab a chance at the second stop to monitor elephants in the wild eating and playing in the natural pond at the forest edge in the afternoon. There is a chance to explore other wildlife such as gaur, barking deer and birds.

This morning, pack up the bags before heading out to Khao Deang, a stunning karst stone formation with mangrove rivers leading though this stunning area. Start with a 1-hour boat ride through the mangroves to observe nature’s beauty. On the way back stop at a hiking point to do a hike up to a viewpoint to have a great view over this area of mountains, mangroves, and sea.

Lunch is served at a beach side restaurant and the entrance of the final stop today — Phraya Nakhorn Cave. Trekking a steep path on the side of the mountain while on the other is the beautiful sea. The first part is only one km before getting back on flat ground for a while walking along a beach. The last 500m up to the cave is a climb up on the rocks. Fun, sweaty but most definitely worth it as you enter the gigantic caves which leaves one in awe.

Head back and check-in on our final hotel for this trip. A stunning secluded place which is the best place to relax after an adventurous week of activities and finish off with a farewell dinner with the guide before he departs.

Enjoy a relaxing day at leisure at the stunning beach, huge pool or simply book an activity or rent a kayak with the hotel directly.

Enjoy a relaxing day at leisure at the stunning beach, huge pool or simply book an activity or rent a kayak with the hotel directly.

You are free to relax and enjoy the beach before transferring back to Bangkok to take the departure flight.