CASH BEFORE COMFORT - NORTH

USD$770.00

This North Thailand Cash Before Comfort trip is aimed primarily at the under forty fives,(but certainly not restricted to), who may still have to worry more about cash and less about comfort. While Baktrax always prides itself with providing more of the essentials in your up front price than any other budget operator this trip has even more of the essentials than our regular trips.

Once you arrive in Bangkok you will only need a few extra dollars to cover your arrival transfer, 8 meals not included and any drinks you require. We even include two cans of beer or soft drink with 8 of the dinners and two, one hour massages. The transport and accommodation is certainly not the most comfortable available on this trip but it is still adequate enough to get us, along with the locals, where we want to go and you will still get a good nights sleep in a clean room also.

PRICE IS THE BOTTOM LINE ON THIS TRIP RATHER THAN COMFORT. This means giving more people the chance to experience other cultures.

NO LOCAL PAYMENT REQUIRED ON ARRIVAL

GROUP SIZE: Minimum one, maximum eight.

Guaranteed to depart.

English speaking tour coordinator.

VISITING:
BANGKOK - KANCHANABURI and all its attractions including THE RIVER KWAI and TIGER TEMPLE - PHITSANULOK - CHIANG MAI - PAI - VARIOUS HILLTRIBE VILLAGES.

ACCOMMODATION:
Simple guest houses, (8 nights).
Basic guest houses, (3 nights)
Hill tribe village, (1 night )
Overnight sleeper train. (1 night).

TRANSPORT:
Bus, train, taxi; elephant or bamboo raft.

DAY TRIPS:
Tiger Temple. (three to four hours).
Hill tribe trek. (two days, one night).
Reflexology, (foot), massage. (one hour).
Thai massage. (one hour).

ENTRANCE FEES:
All included when part of the itinerary.

MEALS:
30 meals included as per itinerary.
B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner, d = drinks.

DAY 1: BANGKOK - Your trip officially starts when you check into your Bangkok accommodation. A welcoming dinner will be had in the evening. D, d.

DAY 2: KANCHANABURI - After breakfast you will transfer to the bus station to get a local bus to Kanchanaburi. After lunch there will be time for a break before a local operator takes you to the Tiger Temple, where if you don't wear red you will be able to get up close and pat a real Indo Chinese tiger. One of the dozen or so tended to by the monks and a few other volunteer helpers. B. L. D.

DAY 3: PHITSANULOK - After breakfast and a visit to the bridge on the River Kwai it will be another local bus trip to the central Thai city of Phitsanulok. A fabulous local market sets up near your accommodation daily which will allow you to try some of the local delights. B. L.

DAY 4: PHITSANULOK - A free day to explore a number of the cost free attractions in Phitsanulok. If you wish to, as an optional extra, you will be instructed on how to catch a local bus or two to self explore the nearby Sukothai historical park about two hours away. B.

DAY 5: CHIANG MAI - Heading further north today will see you in the capital of the north, Chiang Mai. Being a Sunday will give you the opportunity to visit the Sunday walking street. Every Sunday evening this road is closed to traffic and numerous street vendors set up food, crafts and numerous other stalls to amaze and tempt you. A reflexology massage is included today also at one of the street side massage chairs to relax any tired feet. After the massage we will have dinner at a great back street restaurant. B. L. D. d.

DAY 6 - Again today by local bus to every ones favourite place in the north of Pai. The afternoon is free. B. L. D. d.

DAY 7: HILLTRIBE VILLAGE - Leaving Pai at 9.00 a.m. you will drive one 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. This consists of teak wood forests, Indian mahoganies and 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 8: PAI - After a filling breakfast you will then walk for about three 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 1 hour bamboo raft ride or a 1 hour elephant ride. And you will also visit a limestone cave before returning to Pai. B. L. D. d.

DAY 9: PAI - A free day in Pai to self explore this unique mountain surrounded town. Find the time and a one hour Thai massage is also included today to help any recovery needed from the trek. Dinner again will be a local treat also. B. L. D. d.

DAY 10: CHIANG MAI - Like most others you will reluctantly have to leave Pai-adise. So it's back to Chiang Mai today with the rest of the day free. B. L. D. d.

DAY 11: OVERNIGHT SLEEPER TRAIN - After checking out of your accommodation you can store your luggage and have the rest of the day to explore Chiang Mai before catching an overnight sleeper train to Bangkok. B. L.

DAY 12: BANGKOK - Arrive a.m. in Bangkok. The rest of the day is free. As it's a Sunday you have the chance to visit the enormous Chutachuck weekend market. No meals.

DAY 13: BANGKOK - A last free day in the city of angels to shop, sight see, go to a movie or any number of other things your tour coordinator will suggest to you. A farewell dinner will be had in the evening. B. D. d.

DAY 14: Your trip is officially over when you check out of your Bangkok accommodation. An airport transfer is included also. B.

You can now head home with your bank balance less of a worry than if you had travelled with somebody else other than Baktrax and you still experienced the real cultures of another country.

TOUR DATES;
2008: Jan 16, 30; Feb 13, 27; Mar 12, 26; Apr 9, 23; May 14, 28; Jun 11, 25; Jul 9, 23; Aug 6, 20; Sep 3, 17; Oct 15, 29; Nov 12, 26; Dec 3.

2009: Jan 14, 28; Feb 11, 25; Mar 11, 25; April 8, 22; May 13, 27; June 10, 24; July 8, 22; Aug 12, 26; Sept 9, 23; Oct 14, 28; Nov 11, 25; Dec 9, 23.

Any other date on application. (Minimum two people).

PRICE: P/P, T/S, Land only.
USD$770.00;
Single Suppliment: USD$300.00

THIS TOUR CAN ONLY BE BOOKED ONLINE.