Southeast Asia: Hilltribes & Street Food
21 days
From
$ 1555
Duration21 days
Now's the time to explore Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore on your terms with this tour that's affordable for young travellers. Feast on mouth-watering laksa at the night market in Kuala Lumpur, explore the hilltribes of northern Thailand by foot, and mellow out on the white-sand beaches of the sunny south. Get the freedom of roaming where you want, between highlights and must-sees, and experience this side of Southeast Asia like never before.
This tour is operated by
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Duration: 21 daysService level: Basic
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Physical Grading: Average
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Ages: 18+
Tour Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Bangkok
Arrive at any time.
There are no activities planned today, so take this free time to relax, explore the city, and adjust to the heat and pace of Bangkok.
After meeting your group and CEO, head out for an optional dinner to get to know everybody better. Please arrive at our start point hotel before 18:00 for an important group meeting where you will meet your Chief Experience Officer (CEO) and the other group members. Please look for a sign on the hotel's notice board for the time and location of your group meeting.
There are no activities planned today, so take this free time to relax, explore the city, and adjust to the heat and pace of Bangkok.
After meeting your group and CEO, head out for an optional dinner to get to know everybody better. Please arrive at our start point hotel before 18:00 for an important group meeting where you will meet your Chief Experience Officer (CEO) and the other group members. Please look for a sign on the hotel's notice board for the time and location of your group meeting.
Day 2: Bangkok/Chiang Mai
Opt to visit Wat Po and the Grand Palace, or check out the city's klongs by boat. Board an overnight train to Chiang Mai.
Due to disruptions of Thai trains in the north during the monsoon season, trips running July through October may use alternative transport.
Meals: B
Day 3: Chiang Mai
Enjoy one of two street food crawls with the group and CEO. Opt to visit Doi Suthep temple, comb the night markets for souvenirs, or participate in a Thai cooking class.
Explore rural lanes of Chiang Mai in a tuk-tuk by pre-booking the Full Day Tuk-Tuk Adventure or experience the flavours and scents of traditional northern Thai cuisine by pre-booking the Northern Thai Cooking Class.
Day 4: Chiang Mai/Ban Mae Jok
We might have time to visit a local market before stopping for lunch and starting our trek.
Tucked away in the hills of northern Thailand is where the most colourful and unchanged traditional communities can be found. Trek through forests and rural terrains to visit some of these diverse hilltribe villages; often, each will have their own unique language, clothing style, and belief system that differs significantly from those of neighbouring tribes. You are well looked after by your local guides, who take the responsibility of preparing all meals and carrying food supplies.
Tucked away in the hills of northern Thailand is where the most colourful and unchanged traditional communities can be found. Trek through forests and rural terrains to visit some of these diverse hilltribe villages; often, each will have their own unique language, clothing style, and belief system that differs significantly from those of neighbouring tribes. You are well looked after by your local guides, who take the responsibility of preparing all meals and carrying food supplies.
Trek through rugged forests and experience the wonderful diversity of this region: each village has its own language, belief system, style of dress, and traditions. Drive from Chiang Mai to Mae Malai village, where the trek will begin. After a few hours of hiking, reach the first village.
The exact itinerary of the walking on this trip may change from time to time, taking into account the weather and local conditions. Also, please note there may be times when the use of video and/or still cameras may be inappropriate -- your CEO and guides will be able to advise you. Be prepared for the accommodation to be basic; remember, it's all about an authentic and unique experience!
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5: Ban Mae Jok/Pa Khao Lam
You will also have the chance to fish at Mae Tang River using local tools; learn how to construct a bamboo raft.
Trek 2-3 hrs and, after lunch, head to a Karen village to see how to make traditional baskets and scarves. Continue trekking another few hours to the next village for the night.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 6: Pa Khao Lam/Chiang Mai
After breakfast, leave the village by bamboo raft, stopping at other villages along the way. Meet the van after lunch and head back to Chiang Mai for some free time to explore.
Meals: B, L
Day 7: Chiang Mai/Bangkok
Opt to go shopping, enjoy a Thai massage, or explore Chiang Mai's many temples. Board an overnight train to Bangkok.
Due to disruptions of Thai trains in the north during the monsoon season, trips running July through October may use alternative transport.
Meals: B
Day 8: Bangkok
Get out and explore this fantastic city where there is endless sightseeing to be done.
As this longer tour is comprised of two shorter tours, there is the possibility that you will need to change hotels on this day. Check in with your CEO about this while on tour. The two hotels we generally use are within walking distance.
Day 9: Bangkok/Surat Thani
Opt to visit Wat Po, home of the giant reclining Buddha, or arrange a longtail boat to explore the canals of Bangkok. Enjoy some free time ahead of boarding the sleeper train to Surat Thani, the gateway to the south.
Enjoy a street food crawl with the group and CEO either today or another day on tour. Option to visit Wat Po, the Grand Palace and Bangkok's many markets. Overnight train to Surat Thani.
Meals: B
Day 10: Surat Thani/Khao Sok
Khao Sok is a diverse area of natural beauty, a perfect place for people who want to hike and get out there in nature or those that just want to chill out in a hammock by the riverside watching monkeys take their afternoon bath.
Travel to lush Khao Sok. Opt to go hiking or swimming in Khao Sok National Park.
End place: Khao Nom Sao
Day 11: Khao Sok/Ko Samui Island
Start place: Khao Nom Sao
Lying off of Thailand’s east coast in the Gulf of Thailand, Ko Samui offers everything you could possibly want in a tropical retreat: white-sand beaches, coconut palms, fresh seafood and warm, clear waters.
Take a ferry to Ko Samui and explore the island's beautiful beaches and vibrant nightlife.
End place: Ko Lummu Yai
Meals: B
Day 12: Ko Samui Island
Start place: Ko Lummu Yai
Take a day trip to scenic Ang Thong Marine Park. Take in the views and opt to snorkel if the tide is right.
End place: Ko Lummu Yai
Meals: B, L
Day 13: Ko Samui Island/George Town
Start place: Ko Lummu Yai
Gear up for a long day of travel. Ferry back to the mainland and continue by private vehicle to cross the border into Malaysia and on to George Town, Penang, the "Pearl of the Orient".
Meals: B
Day 14: George Town
Full day in Penang.
Day 15: George Town/Chenderoh Lake
Travel to a local island homestay in the middle of a scenic lake. Spend the evening connecting with the locals and taking in the scenery.
Meals: D
Day 16: Chenderoh Lake/Cameron Highlands
Continue to the Cameron Highlands. Take a walk along one of the many well marked trails, visit the tea plantations or just relax and enjoy the cooler temperatures!
Meals: B
Day 17: Cameron Highlands/Kuala Lumpur
Enjoy ample time to see the city's impressive architecture and experience the fascinating cultural mix that gives this city such a uniquely cosmopolitan feel.
Opt to take a city tour, visit the famous Petronas Towers or check out the Islamic Arts Museum.
Day 18: Kuala Lumpur
Enjoy a full day in Kuala Lumpur to explore. Just outside of town, to the north, are the famous Batu Caves and the Orang Asli Museum. The evening is best spent at the night market sampling the different cuisine, some of the best in South East Asia. Bargain hunt among the stalls of Chinatown's night market and don't forget to visit to the Petronas Towers, the tallest twin towers in the world.
Full day in Kuala Lumpur. Explore the city, head out of town to visit the famous Batu Caves or the Orang Asli Museum. Opt to visit the Petronas Towers.
Day 19: Kuala Lumpur/Melaka
Visit the old port town of Melaka, wander the narrow streets and absorb the atmosphere of this historically important town. The streets of Chinatown are lined with Peranakan (Straits Chinese) shophouses offering their traditional cuisine, Nyonya. There are temples, churches and mosques, museums and forts to explore.
Opt to tour the canals of Melaka by boat.
Day 20: Melaka/Singapore
In the morning cross the Straits of Johore and onto the island of Singapore. Tonight opt to visit the world famous night safari, take in a harbour cruise around Boat Quay or sample some mouth watering local food at one of the many hawker street stands.
Wander the streets of Little India and Chinatown for a great way to see the old parts of the city.
Wander the streets of Little India and Chinatown for a great way to see the old parts of the city.
Border crossing from Malaysia into Singapore. Free time to take a harbour cruise or try mouth-watering street food.
Day 21: Singapore
Depart at any time.
Meals: B
Inclusions
Included
- Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group Your Discover Moment: Bangkok Your Discover Moment: Chiang Mai Your Local Living Moment: Chenderoh Lake Homestay, Chenderoh Lake
- Hilltribe trek
- Bamboo rafting
- Ang Thong Marine Park island hopping tour
- Two street food crawls
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
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Transport
Local bus, Minibus, Train, Walking, River raft, Ferry -
Accommodation
Simple hotels (twin-share) or hostels (multi-share) (13 nts), Basic bungalows (2 nts), Basic hilltribe huts (2 nts, multi-share), Sleeper trains (3 nts)