The Land of Smiles: Gap in Thailand

Fly to Bangkok to meet your fellow travelers and Rustic Pathways program leaders.  After a swim and delicious first Thai dinner, play ice breaker games and have an orientation to go over the adventures that await you in the Land of Smiles.

Start your adventure in SE Asia’s cultural and Economic hub.  Explore the modern charms and ancient history of this dynamic and vibrant metropolis with culture, incredible food and history on the banks of the Chao Phraya river.  Visit the Grand Palace UNESCO World Heritage site and take a canal tour by long tail boat through the ancient waterways that crisscross this semi aquatic city.  Head downtown to the impressive steel and glass metropolis of Sukhumvit.  Ride the Skytrain and mingle with uni students as you explore the malls and markets of Siam Square.

Drive north approximately 1 hour to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ayuttya, ancient Siam’s historic capital for hundreds of years. Destroyed by a combined Burmese/Laos army in 1776, “AY” as it is known, is now a sleepy  and laid back town on an island in the river that is covered in ancient ruins and parks. Sample some of the famous local noodles and ride your bike through the scenic ruins.

Drive to Eastern Thailand and explore the tropical beaches and jungles of Koh Chang Island. Spend 4 nights exploring Thailand’s 2nd largest island and surrounding archipelago. Take a boat tour to spectacular snorkel sites, relax with a beachside yoga and hike through the verdant jungles on the island’s interior.

Drive North to  Thailand’s largest and oldest national park. Hike through vast forests of Khao Yai National Park, dotted with swimming holes, waterfalls and many endangered flora and fauna. Spend 2 nights camping in the park and during the day go  trekking with local guides to experience timeless reservoir of natural beauty.

Drive to Bangkok and hop on a short 1 hour flight north to Chiang Mai, the “Emerald of the North”. Landing in this northern Mountain Oasis we will have an orientation to the life and culture of the Lanna people, whose Northern kingdom predates Thailand by 700 years.

Dive right into the local culture with a Thai cooking class.  Learn the secrets of Thai food and the simple tastes and techniques that make this one of world’s most popular cuisines.  After eating the lunch you just cooked, have time for a siesta before an afternoon Muay Thai class. This ancient martial art uses kicks, knees, elbows and punches, combined into a practical set self defense skills that is fun and steeped in Thai culture and history.

Get out in to the forested mountains surrounding Chiang Mai and work with Biologists from Chiang Mai University on ongoing reforestation projects in the National Park.  Learn how to identify the many different species, collects and propagate seeds, and  care for and transplant seedlings in the onsite mountain nursery that supports the nearby reforestation sites.  On the way back down the mountain, stop at Doi Sutep temple to make merit at Chiang Mai’s holiest shrine, with spectacular views of the city below.

Hop on bikes and explore the countryside around Chiang Mai.  The beautiful scenery and quality roads have made Chiang Mai a Mecca for biking enthusiasts and you will see why as we meander along hills and through forests ending our ride at the Grand Canyon.  A vast array of inflatable  obstacles on a large lake, let loose and become a kid again as you and your friends play on this massive floating jungle gym.

Journey North to Chiang Dao, The “Valley of Stars”,  Along the way stop at the “Sticky Waterfall”.  Swim in the refreshing waters and scale toe amazing watery staircase, naturally formed by the sticky limestone rock.  Head to the Chaing Dao Mountain, Thailand’s 3rd tallest, but easily the most impressive looking.  At the foot of the mountain, descend into the caves and caverns that have been a sacred meditation site for thousands of years.  Finish off the day with a soak in a riverside hotspring and make your way up into the mountains to stay in a local village.

Immerse in one of our local partner villages.  Wake early to hear to our service site to contribute to one of our ongoing community infrastructure development projects.  In the past, Rustic students have helped villages access and retain clean water resources, improve local community ans school infrastructure and contributed to ongoing health and sanitation initiatives.  In the evenings join the local pick games, learn village crafts, or find a quiet corner to put up a hammock and take in the picturesque mountain scene.

Grab your paddle and life vest, we are running the Mae Dtaeng River.  This beautiful waterway North of Chiang Mai is a famous rafting destination with calm scenic stretches of cool, refreshing water, linked by adrenaline churning rapids that will leave your exhilarated.  This is the best way to see the river valleys that cut through the Northern Mountains and irrigate the traditional villages living off fishing and growing rice. Afterwards head North to Chiang Dao and settle in at the “City of Stars”

Use this day to relax and recharge in your home base of Chiang Mai.Do laundry, revisit some of your favorite markets and restaurants or walk and explore the nooks and crannies of your neighborhood.

Spend these 2 days at a local elephant sanctuary.  Meet the herd and work with their mahouts to help with daily tasks of feeding and cleaning.  Prepare herbal supplements and lots of grass, which the elephants consume non stop throughout the day.  Help to bathe the elephants in the evening and learn first hand the incredible amount of work and care that goes into supporting these magnificent beings.

Make your way along Thailands most iconic road trip, the Mae Hong Son Loop. This spectacular road follows Thailands Northwestern border with Myanmar, traversing some of the countries most spectacular scenery, dotted with temples, hilltribe villages and lush, verdant forests.  Along the way stop at Mae Sariang, Ma Hong Son, Phang Ma Pa and Pai, the backpackers paradise.  We will take our time and stop at points of interest, including mud spas, hikes, swimming holes and waterfalls.

Take advantage of your last day in Chiang Mai to get any last minute souvenirs,  a foot massage, join an afternoon pick up soccer game or go with the group on a hike.

Trade in the mountain forest of Northern Thailand for the aquamarine waters and white sand beaches of Southern Thailand.  Board a flight to Trang and drive to the Pak Bara pier for the ferry to Tarutao Island.

Spend these 2 days exploring the wonders of Tarutao Island.  With an infamous past as a pirate den and penal colony, this remote tropical island has been completely spared from any development and is now a vibrant marine and terrestrial protected area.  Once the location of the TV series Survivor, you will have deserted beaches and lush jungles to yourself as we explore the mangrove ecosystem by kayak, visit the ruins of the former prison colony and explore the beaches on this (almost) deserted island.

Take a boat to Lipe for lunch and to load up on supplies before we make a short boat trip to Adang Island, a tropical beach paradise and your home for the next 4 nights.  This beachside camp site is second to none, with incredible snorkeling spots right off the shore, comfortable facilities and epic viewpoint hikes.  During the day we will make excursions to explore nearby islands and beaches.  Learn how to identify fish species and assess reef health and become a bonafide beach bum as you relax in this marine paradise.

Return to the mainland and drive 2.5 hours north to Trang province.  Off the beaten path, this sleepy beach province boast one of Thailand’s largest marine estuaries, a critical habitat for many fish species that need this coastal zone to mate and spawn, making this a biodiversity hotspot, and hosting one of the last populations of dugongs.   Enjoy a relaxing afternoon at the “Shark fin” beach, (don’t worry, it is named after the rock formations, not the local marine life), and delicious dinner of fresh, locally caught sea food.

Take a longtail boat to Mod Tanoi Village, a picturesque fishing village on the coast and your home for the next 4 nights. The entire village is supported through fishing  and is dependent on  the conservation of Thailand’s fragile marine resources.

Each morning wake up to help your host family with setting fish traps and return to participate in the communities ongoing marine conservation projects. Restore mangrove forests behind the village, collect sea grass seads and transplant seedlings into plots in the tidal zone, and build fish houses to protect juvenile fish before they are old and large enough to venture into the open ocean. Activities will be dependent on the needs of the community at the time of the program, and the daily schedule will be flexible based on the tides.  During the evenings help cook meals and learn traditional crafts like net repair and making batik fabrics. Kayak to nearby by pirate caves and immerse in the Southern Thai lifetstyle. On the final night enjoy a beachside BBQ with the bounty of the sea that you caught!

Journey North to Krabi province and team up with the local ecologists to learn about efforts to preserve and restore Thailand’s Southern forests. This is a complicated process which needs to account for specific environmental factors and plant phenology. The team has developed their own Framework Tree method, which uses specific fast growing, native tree species to get a canopy in place that will attract pollinators and seed dispersers.
Help the team in the nursery, sprouting, potting, and planting a host of native tree species before a lunchtime swim in a spring-fed emerald pool. Head to a nearby private reforested area in the afternoon to learn about individual citizens efforts to restore the lowland rainforest before driving north to the beachside paradise of Railay Bay.

Leave the beach behind aboard a private longtail boat to nearby islands that dot the coast. Hop on and off the boat to swim, snorkel, and explore small deserted beaches. Southern Thailand is home to many fish and coral species, and the crystal blue water and stunning scenery will make for some amazing memories. After a full day, head back to the bungalows for dinner and chill time on the sand.

Spend these 3 days exploring the amazing natural landscape of Railay.  The peninsula is completely surrounded by rock cliffs that extend thousands of feet into the air, making a virtual island, with the only access available via boat.  This is a world renowned Mecca for Rock climbers, surrounded by beautiful blue water and with limestone walls, that make a natural jungle gym.  Use these days to explore the caves and coves of this aquatic playground, climb and hike with guides, or lay out a towel and relax with your friends on the beach.

Trade in the beaches of Khao Sok for the mountain jungles and cloud forests of Khao Sok National Park. One of the oldest and largest primary rainforests in SE Asia and home to many of the country’s endemic and endangered flora and fauna.  As you get to Khao Sok, you will notice that this protected area is accentuated by dramatic limestone mountains and has a rich biodiversity.  Settle in with an orientation and games before heading to a local organic farm to help out with tasks and pick ingredients that you will cook into your own meal!  In the evening, head out with guides into the jungle to see how the forest comes alive at night.

Spend the day washing and swimming with four beautiful retired elephants at Hillside Elephant Retreat. Finish your afternoon with a soak in the soothing mineral water of a nearby hot spring. Feeling relaxed after an action-packed day, you’ll close out the evening with a campfire under the stars.

Grab your tube and meander the Sok River, enjoying the spectacular scenery and jungle calls of birds and other wildlife. Enjoy a late afternoon hike through some of the most pristine forests in Thailand stopping along for swimming in the refreshing mountain rivers.

Spend the day touring the aquamarine water wonderland that is Cheow Lan Lake. Take longtail boats deep into the heart of the lake’s vast complex of cliff-lined bays and inlets. Swim in the refreshing water and hike through lush rainforests. Be on the lookout for many unique and endemic species that are found only in this natural paradise.

Grab your tube and meander the Sok River, enjoying the spectacular scenery and jungle calls of birds and other wildlife. Say goodbye to the Mountain Jungles of Khao Sok and head to Phuket, one of Asia’s premier beach destinations! Arrive in time for an afternoon swim and taking in the spectacular sunset over the water.

Spend these days exploring the tropical beach paradise of Phuket.  This is Thailand’s largest island and most popular tourist destination. The array of white sand beaches gives you many choices of relaxing places to throw out your towel and lie in the sun with  dips in the ocean to keep you cool. Head to Phuket town, originally a Portuguese settlement and port, with colonial architecture. Visit viewpoints and hikes and get lots of beach time with your travel mates.

Bid Adieu to the beaches of Thailand and fly back to Bangkok. Upon arrival we will transfer to Kanchanaburi in the West of Thailand. Known as a hotspot for adventure activities, the pristine forested mountains, lakes and waterfalls of this region make it famous for people looking to get out of the city and back into nature.

Dive into Kanchanaburi’s World War II history with a trip on the “Death Railroad”.  This infamous jungle railway earned its name from the many American, British and Australian POW’s who worked and died as forced labor constructing the rail line through thick jungle and steep mountains for the Japanese army, which planned to use it to invade British Burma.  Nowadays it is a quaint and idyllic train ride through the forest and back in time.

Head back to Bangkok for a final evening in Bangkok.  Shop at a local night market to get any last minute souvenirs and get a delicious feast and group reflection to cap off this incredible journey through the Land of Smiles!

After 8 weeks exploring the the wonders and riches of Thailand, it will be time to say goodbye to your program leaders and head home. It is always hard to leave the Land of Smiles, but you will leave with lifelong memories new insights gained from your travels… and you can always come back!