ADVENTURE BEFORE DEMENTIA

USD$1,650.00

Specially for over 45's

This tour is specially designed for active over 45's with adventure and experience in mind.".It's a trip for those still wanting some adventure and excitement in their lives and maybe even the occasional adrenalin rush, but still staying in some more than just comfortable accommodation.

NO LOCAL PAYMENT REQUIRED ON ARRIVAL

GROUP SIZE: Minimum one, maximum eight.

Guaranteed to depart.

English speaking tour coordinator, (until day 13), and local operators.

ONE OF TWO SEASONAL OPTIONS DEPART DAILY.

OPTION A: Two day rafting with jungle camp included trip departs daily between June 15th and February 15th. (Water levels are to low at other times of the year).

OPTION B: An extra day trekking and one day horse riding included trip departs daily between February 16th and June 14th.

VISITING:
BANGKOK - CHIANG MAI - PAI - VARIOUS HILL TRIBE VILLAGES and a JUNGLE CAMP.

ACCOMMODATION:
Three star boutique hotel, (5 nights).
Three star hotel, (3 nights).
One to two star hotel, (3 nights).
Very basic hilltribe village, (1 night).
(2 nights between february 16th and June 14th).
Jungle camp, (1 night).
(0 night between February 16th and june 14th).

TRANSPORT:
Plane, bus, taxi, river raft, elephant, all airport and other transfers.

DAY TRIPS:
Both options: Tour of pai area including an elephant ride, (half day).

Option A: Hilltribe trek, (two days, one night).
Option B: Hilltribe trek, (three days, two nights)

Option A: White water rafting, (two days, one night).
Option B: Horse riding, (one day).

ENTRANCE FEES:
All included when part of the itinerary.

MEALS:
20 meals included as per itinerary; B = Breakfast; L = Lunch; D = Dinner; d = drinks.

DAY 1: BANGKOK - You will be met at the airport and transferred to your Bangkok accommodation. A welcoming dinner and drinks will be had in the evening. D. d.

DAY 2: BANGKOK - A free day in bangkok to explore or relax with your tour coordinator on hand with advice on what to see and do. B.

DAY 3: CHIANG MAI - A short A.M. domestic flight from Bangkok will see you in Chiang Mai for the night. B.

DAY 4: PAI - After breakfast you will travel by mini bus to Pai. Known to some as Paiadise and to others as Utopai and known to all visitors as sensational. Pai is in a valley surrounded by blue mountains and you too will be captivated during your stay. B.

DAY 5: PAI - After a lazy morning you will be collected at 1.30 p.m. by a local operator and firstly taken to a local waterfall where you can take a cooling dip. Along the way you will pass through Lisu and Lahu villages. Then it will be through some Shan villages to the Temple on the Hill which overlooks Pai.
Next it's onto the hot springs before the highlight of the day, a 1 hour 30 minute elephant ride. An hilarious time will be had if you choose to play with your mighty friend in the river. Those who want to stay dry will be amazed by the climbing skills and balance of these amazing Pachyderms.
On the way back to Pai you will stop at the Pai Canyon for a sunset view over the valley. B.

DAY 6: HILLTRIBE VILLAGE - Leaving Pai at 9.00 a.m. you will drive 1 hour to the start of your trekking trail. Then you will start walking upstream along the Lang river surrounded by the most beautiful deciduous forests in North Thailand. These consist of teakwood forests, Indian mahoganies and other various species of bamboo.

During a picnic lunch your guide will also show you some survival skills. Then it will be uphill again while still observing the various plants, flowers, insects and birds until you reach a Red Lahu village close to the Thai-Burmese border for your overnight stay. Here you will sleep in a traditional communal bamboo house built on teak stilts with a thatched roof.

After taking a shower you will still have time for a stroll around the village to observe the local culture.
Then you can help your guide and learn how to cook a delicious open fire meal. A convivial sit on the floor dinner will be a chance to talk about the local culture and history of the Lahu people as well as share a song or two with the local kids, by then you will be ready to slip under your mosquito net for a good nights sleep. B. L. D.

DAY 7: Option A: PAI - After a filling breakfast you will then walk for about 3 hours to the main Karen village in the region through different forests and along mountain ridges. After lunch you will again get the chance to observe village life.
Then you have the option of a one hour bamboo raft ride followed by a visit to a limestone cave before returning to Pai. B. L.

DAY 7: Option B: HILLTRIBE VILLAGE - Instead of returning to Pai you will again continue walking and visiting other villages and experience another night in a different hilltribe village. B. L. D.

DAY 8: Option A: JUNGLE CAMP - At around 8.45 a.m. a local operator will again pick you up and while having a coffee with your fellow rafters you will receive your safety equipment. ( helmet & life jacket ) After a safety briefing you will drive one hour to the river and receive your last paddling instructions. Your first strokes will see you among lush jungle vistas.

After a few rapids you will have a picnic lunch under the shade of a wild mango tree. Then, passing through a gorge you will experience the thrill of some grade three to four rapids. After another fifteen rapids you will stop at a small waterfall where you can enjoy a frolic in the water. Then again following the meanders of the river through the deep jungle you will arrive at your jungle camp where you can take a shower, relax or explore the area before a welcome drink and snacks will be served.

Later on a delicious Thai dinner will be prepared on an open fire followed by fresh fruits and tea or coffee. The guides will also show you some tricks of their own.
Getting tired you can spend the night in harmony with nature in your bamboo huts complete with sleeping bag, pillow and mosquito nets. Showers and toilets are simple but clean with bamboo walls also. B. L. D.

DAY 8: Option B: HILLTRIBE VILLAGE - Similar to day 7 option A . B. L.

DAY 9: Option A: PAI - After a filling breakfast of homemade bread, eggs, coffee or tea you will again put in around 9.00 a.m. and enjoy another twelve rapids of grade three.

You will then reach the Kong river junction and a few minutes later take a break at the main hot springs area while getting ready for some more excitement through the rising stones rapids. ( About five rapids from one hundred to four hundred metres long of grade two to three ).

After the excitement a picnic lunch will be served on the banks of a clear stream. Then you can enjoy a paddle or a swim through the Pai gorges scattered with a few more tricky rapids.

Coming to the end of your expedition you will pop out into the Mae Hong Song valley amid some lush farming areas. At around 3.00 p.m. you will transfer back to Pai, two hours away. B. L.

DAY 9; Option B; PAI - On horseback today a local operator will take you around the back lanes of Pai to see the local way of life amid the spectacular scenery. B. L.

DAY 10: PAI - A totally free day in Paiadise to relax by the pool or explore this sensational Utopai. B.

DAY 11: CHIANG MAI - Today it's back to Chiang Mai, again by mini bus with the rest of the day free to shop at the famous night bazaar or any of the other shops that abound. B.

DAY 12: CHIANG MAI - A full day in the Rose of the North, Chiang Mai, to explore or shop. A farewell to your tour coordinator dinner will be had in the evening B. D.

DAY 13: BANGKOK - Again a short domestic flight will see you back in Bangkok for a final night. Rest of day is free to explore or shop. B.

NOTE: After breakfast the rest of the trip, while still being organised for you, will be on an independant basis.

DAY 14: Your adventure is officially over when you check out of your Bangkok accommodation. No meals.

You can now go back home knowing you still have what it takes.

NOTES:
UPON FULL PAYMENT; We will send you a packing list and some other useful information as well as answer any other questions you may have.

ON ARRIVAL:
An airport arrival transfer is included with this trip also. Please let us know your flight name and number and your arrival time in Bangkok.

TOUR DATES:

2009: Jan 2, 9, 16,23, 30; Feb 6, 13, 20, 27; Mar 6, 13, 20, 27; April 3, 10, 17, 24; May 8, 15, 22, 29; June 5, 12, 19, 26; July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; Aug 7, 14, 21, 28; Sept 4, 11, 18, 25; Oct 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; Nov 6, 13, 20, 27; DEc 4, 11, 18, 25.

PRICE: (both options).
P/P, land only; (Includes domestic flight Bangkok to Chiang Mai return).
USD$1,650.00.

Single Supplement; USD$450.00.

THIS TRIP CAN ONLY BE BOOKED ONLINE.

EXTRA ACCOMMODATION IS AVAILABLE IN ALL THREE PLACES BUT MUST BE BOOKED AND PAYED FOR WITH YOUR TOUR BOOKING.

ACCOMMODATION PRICES:
BANGKOK: USD$40.00 per single, twin or double room per night.
CHIANG MAI: USD$60.00 per single, twin or double room per night.
PAI: USD$100.00 per single, twin or double room per night.