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A 4 day adventure through the 4 southern provinces of Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi and Surat Thani. This trip will show you both the cultural and Natural history of this part of Southern Thailand. From Elephant Trekking on Phuket island and ancient temples with their Buddist beliefs, to the prehistoric caves and paintings of Phang Nga and Krabi provinces.

Stay overnight in Ao Luk and be wowed by local culture, beautiful stalactites and stalagmites and see through the eyes of prehistoric man in his paintings. Transfer to Earthlodge for overnight in mud houses close to the rainforest. Head to Cheow Larn Lake, reminiscent of Vietnam’s Halong Bay and enjoy stunning views of the surrounding rainforest covered karst mountains. Overnight on one of the lakes floating raft houses, canoe and swim in the crystal waters. Wake up to the sounds of the jungle, after breakfast trek through southern Thailand’s rainforest, a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the diversity of this part of Thailand.

Day 1
Pick up from your hotel and transfer to Chalong. Travel by four wheel drive Land Rover into Chalong highlands. Arrive at Siam Safari elephant camp on the top of a mountain. Meet Siam Safari’s elephants; learn about them and the mahouts who take care of them and also about Thai elephant conservation and how you can help. See how young elephants are trained, you can touch them and feed them bananas. Trek on elephant back in Chalong highlands, good views over Chalong bay and out to Phi Phi island can be seen along the way. This is Phuket’s best elephant trek and best cared for elephants. The only elephant camp in southern Thailand to have attained the Thai government standard award.

See how Thai jungle curry is made and try some if you dare. See how rubber trees are “tapped” to produce natural rubber latex. Watch how monkey’s are trained to pick coconuts and see them in action. Learn about buffalo’s, you can try to sit on one as well, try a ride on a wooden cart pulled by buffalo. See how coconuts are processed to make coconut milk and oil. The tour ends with a delicious buffet lunch, a selection of Thai dishes cooked not to spicy.

In the afternoon, transfer by air con vehicle and drive off Phuket Island towards Ao Luk, Phang Nga province, passing rubber plantations and small villages en route. Arrive in Phang Nga town and spend the afternoon visiting local temples and spectacular caves looking at Stalactites and Stalagmites rising and falling in the caves interior. Visit a traditional coffee house and sample the specialties, local coffee ‘Kaffe Boran’ and sweets ‘Kanom Waan’ a favorite of the locals. Head to the hotel in Ao Luk and check in to your air conditioned room and prepare for evening dinner. Head into town to one of the local restaurants for a dinner of local Thai dishes cooked not too spicy. Transfer back to the hotel and overnight.

Day 2
After breakfast head to situated in the mangroves of Ao Luk. Take a long tail boat through some of the last areas of the mangrove forest in Thailand passing local people who have worked the mangroves for centuries. Arrive at the site of thousand year old prehistoric cave paintings, cave Pee Hooa Tor. Pass ancient paintings and marvel at the images these prehistoric people have drawn. On a par with the aboriginal paintings in Australia this is truly the wonder of Ao Luk. after exploring the caves of Ao Luk, travel to Laem Sak for a seafood lunch with views over the Ao Luk bay.

After Lunch head to the waterfall Than Borkoranee. From waterfall Than Borkoranee head to Khao Sok National Park for dinner and over night in our jungle style resort. The rooms have mosquito nets and attached bathroom; the rooms are simple but comfortable.

Day 3
Wake up on the edge of the jungle, sometimes the surrounding hills are covered in mist which slowly melts away as the sun comes up and gibbons can often be heard making their territorial calls high up in the rainforest canopy. Take a leisurely breakfast at the resort then its time to head to the Cheow Larn Lake in the center of Khao Sok National Park and experience the scenery by local boat. The lake was formed when Rhajaprabhar dam was built about 25 years ago to provide water for a hydro electric power plant. The lake is about 60 km from north to south and contains more than 100 hundred islands. There are many mountains and cliffs covered in rainforest forming spectacular natural scenery and combined with its remoteness make a very unique jungle area to explore. It is similar to the landscape in Halong bay in Vietnam or Guaylin in China. In the 70’s the area was used as a hide out by communists and students fighting against the government which was a military dictatorship at that time.

Arrive at one of the floating raft houses on the lake and check in to your floating bungalows. Mosquito nets are provided and the raft house is basic but it is a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience a night in the center of the rainforest. Lunch is provided. After lunch there is the chance to swim in the clear turquoise waters of the lake from the side of the raft house and canoe down one of the channels either side. Dinner and overnight in floating bungalows.

Day 4
Wake up to the sounds of the forest, gibbons clamber through the trees and hornbill can often be seen soaring in the sky above. Take a leisurely breakfast at the resort then its time to explore the jungle on foot. The trek is designed to show a variety of ecological environments including big trees, jungle vines, lianas, palms, ferns, wild orchids, bamboo forest, insects, reptiles and sometimes mammals. It is not a wildlife safari but a chance to see the rainforest which has the greatest variety of life forms known to man. The wild animals that live here tend to be nocturnal but sometimes they can be heard moving in the undergrowth or their distinctive smells encountered. Leaf and macaque monkeys are occasional seen along the trail. Wild elephant live in the park but are seldom seen. The trek is not too difficult and OK for any normally fit and healthy person. After experiencing the jungle on foot it is time for lunch and one final opportunity to swim in the turquoise waters of the lake.

After lunch unfortunately it is time to head back to the pier and return transfer to your hotel by air conditioned vehicle.

Additional Information:

Drinks/alcohol and items of a personal nature are not included.

Bring: Non slip foot wear, sports shoes are OK, a change of footwear, changes of clothes, swim wear, towel, sun protection or a rain coat as the weather can be changeable, torch, hat and a overnight bag for the lake.

Rates:   

01 Nov 09 - 31 Oct 10   

Adult Rate: AU$470
Child Rate: AU$240
Single Supplement: AU$80

Prices are based on twin share basis, single room supplement AU$80