Northern Thailand & Full Moon

Bangkok baby, your 27 day adventure begins! So you’ve made it to this lively and vibrant city, our amazing TruNinja will meet you at the airport before heading off to the accommodation! You’ll have the first day to settle in and relax, wash off all that travelling, meet the rest of your group aka TruFam, and explore the local area. Maybe see a few markets or try some street food, whatever ya fancy! In the evening, it’s time for our welcome dinner at one of our favourite restaurants on the one & only Khao San Road! Get to know your fellow travellers over sharing a bucket or two (or any drink of choice, you do you). Holiday mode is ON and warning, you may never want to turn it off!

So you know the film Bridge Over River Kwai? Well, today we are going to see the bridge over River Kwai (surprise)! Before we head off to the river, we hop off to do some shopping and not at just any market, but a FLOATING one! Sick right? Have a browse at the stalls, selling all sorts of food, clothing, souvenirs and even homeware! Once we’ve done our browsing the market by long-tail boat, it’s off to Kanchanaburi! When we have arrived, we get on another boat and cruise down the River Kwai enjoying the sight of the bridge (an insta worthy moment fo’ sho’). It’s sunset o’clock and what a better place to watch the sunset than the bridge over River Kwai! Get those poses ready for all the 10/10 shots you’re going to get because trust us, you won’t want to miss this photo op. The view is incredible and is definitely bucket list-worthy! (B)

Imagine, a 7 tier, crystal clear blue waterfall surrounded by lush greenery, sounds unreal right! Erawan falls, just an hour away from Kanchanaburi, is basically what you imagine paradise to look like. Something you would expect to see on the television and not in real life, but it is real life! We know TLC said don’t go chasing waterfalls but ya know, I think we can be excused this once because just look at how beautiful it is? Make sure you have your swimmers as you’ll want to take a dip, and check this out, there are 7 tiers for you to cool off in. Don’t say we don’t spoil you! It is a little bit of a walk to the top but trust us when we say it is TOTALLY worth it. We’ll have some lunch at the waterfalls, gotta stay hydrated and energised from all that walking & swimming ya feel! Then we head back to Kanchanaburi, where you can either chill by the pool or explore the town before we meet for dinner and drinks! Buckets, anyone? (L)

Today you have the morning free before we hit the road again! So choose to spend this morning how you please, whether that’s by the pool or exploring the town some more. Next, we are off to Ayutthaya, an ancient capital city, that is dripping with culture and history! We’ll hop on some bikes and cycle around the world heritage site, giving us fantastic views. We’ll also learn about the fascinating history of Ayutthaya and of course, the kingdom of Siam which is what Thailand used to be called (fun fact for ya, go tell your friends!). Time to grab a bite to eat and then it’s all aboard the night train to Chiang Mai! The train is comfortable, you get your own bed with pillows and covers, comfort is key! So it shouldn’t be too hard to get a decent night's sleep ready to take on a new place in the morning. The overnight train is defo an experience in itself and should be on your bucket list, a fantastic and different way of seeing Thailand too. Chiang Mai, we’re coming in strong.

We check into our guesthouse, which is ideally situated between the old & new areas of Chiang Mai (winning). You’ll have some time to relax by the pool or do some exploring and check out the oldest temple in Chiang Mai, which is literally right opposite our accommodation (winning x2!). Now it’s time to visit the most famous and possibly the most beautiful temple in Chiang Mai, Wat Pra Maha Doi Sutthep. The views are incredible, situated high up on the mountain, you’ll get a panoramic view of the city. There is a hefty set of stairs (300 roughly) but think of the panoramic views, so worth it. Trust, you’ll feel on top of the world (literally). Once you’ve taken your snaps of the insane views and got some for the gram (it’s gotta be done), you have the afternoon free to do whatever you would like, before we meet later on, in time for dinner! You can lounge by the pool, take a little nap (having fun is tiring right?), or continue to explore Chiang Mai!

Did someone say TruExclusive? Hell yeah, we did! You won’t find this experience anywhere else. We are off to do one of the most popular activities in Northern Thailand, a trek through the jungle. The trek doesn’t require a high level of fitness, but it is a bit of a challenge SO beers will be very well deserved afterwards! We’ll spend one night in a local village homestay so that you can experience what life is like for the many traditional farmers of Northern Thailand. You’ll see their lives have not changed an enormous amount for generations. This truly is an amazing and once in a lifetime experience, definitely one you’ll cherish forever. Expect to see all kinds of nature and wildlife when on the trek, maybe even a waterfall or two, amazing scenes as well as photo opportunities (important stuff, duh). Once we get to the hill tribe village, our hosts will cook us a lovely traditional meal, and once our stomachs are full, we can sit around the fire and play some games or exchange some stories. Whatever we do, it's time to chill after a busy day! (B/L/D)

Rise and shine! Enjoy your morning in the jungle before it’s time we head back to Chiang Mai, but of course, we have a trick up our sleeve, and we are using a much better mode of transport, bamboo rafts! Sick right? We’ll float down the river with a cheeky stop at a waterfall because ya know, we can’t get enough of those things. Marvel at the wildlife and nature from your raft, see what you can spot. You might see some elephants along the way if your lucky so keep yo’ fingers crossed! Trekked through the jungle? Took a bamboo raft down the river? COMPLETED IT MATE! Today's also the day when we will visit an elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai, animal welfare is extremely close to our hearts, and we visit a dedicated elephant rehabilitation sanctuary. The elephants here are free to roam and not here for the entertainment of tourists. We visit to educate ourselves on one of Thailand’s most famous native animals but to also redistribute funds to programmes that do good. Once we get back to Chiang Mai, rest up in time to continue our Northern adventure tomorrow! (B/L)

Did you know that some people call Chiang Mai the adventure capital? Well, with today’s activities we can see why! Today is one of our favourite activities, that’s very popular with tourists, and it’s ziplining through the jungle! This is going to get your heart racing and adrenaline pumping, you’ll practically be flying through the jungle while looking down at it all (if you dare)! Now is your chance to release your inner child and pretend that you can fly! Throw in a few rope bridges and abseils, and that’s experiencing the jungle in a way you never could by foot! You can thank us later, once you’ve made all your friends and fam jealous, obvs. This is truly an unforgettable experience! Hey, keep a lookout for monkeys too, you might spot a few in the treetops! After our energetic day in the jungle, we have the evening free. Why not check out the night markets? Get your hands on some fab food and have a browse around the gift market, a great place to buy souvenirs for friends and fam, or yourself. (B/L)

After an excting few days this morning you'll have the chance to chill, read a book, grab a cocktail, do whatever floats your boat! In the afternoon, grab your bags because we will be hopping on a bus to the hippie town of Pai! Just 3 hours outside of Chiang Mai, a very popular backpacker destination, and we can see why! Filled with cool retro bars, market stalls, excellent food and wonderful people from all walks of life. Ahh, the life of Pai (sorry we had to!). (B)

Day trippin’ time! Today we’ll head out to see some of Pai’s highlights, and it’s surrounding areas! Starting at the biggest cave in Thailand, Lod cave, we’ll hike through the main chambers and then take a bamboo raft along the river which runs through the cave (depending on season and accessibility). It’s like something out of a movie, incredible stuff. Indiana Jones, who? It’s now time to give your muscles a break, as we head to the hot springs which are situated in the jungle and are heated by geothermal activity. Take a dip in the crystal clear water, treat yourself to a clay mask and just have the ultimate relaxation session in the warm temperatures. We’ll then head to the waterfall nearby with an amazing view! Who needs a waterpark when we have one better, a waterfall with a natural slide! We’ll finish off our day at Pai Canyon which means even more amazing views of the surrounding mountains and jungle, and even better, we’ll be there at sunset! *cue Sunset Lover by Petit Biscuit* So take yo’ pics and take in the insane view before heading back to Pai town. In the evening we’ll head to a nice restaurant and a few chilled bars where we can mingle with other backpackers too. After all, we deserve it after the day of sightseeing we’ve had! (L)

Chill day lets goooo! After a bit of a lie-in, spend your day lounging, swimming, playing a few games, reading a good book or having a snooze in the sun. The choice is yours (don’t forget to sun cream up though). Once we’ve had our relaxation fill, we'll head for dinner and drinks and see where the night takes us.

This morning it’s time to head back to Chiang Mai! We hope you’re ready to become the new Thai Masterchef as we are off to a cooking school to learn about some of Thailand's traditional dishes and then have a go at making them ourselves! Most of Thailand's delicious food comes from the North, so there’s no better way than to learn from the masters themselves, right? First, we’ll head to the market where our guides and teachers will show us how to select the freshest & tastiest ingredients, they have that insider knowledge ya feel? Now it’s time for us to turn those ingredients we picked into some mouthwatering meals! Don’t fret, you’ll be shown how to cook the recipes step by step! Now for the best bit, tasting what you’ve cooked, so make sure you’re paying attention when cooking! A fantastic experience, and you’ll get to go home with new recipes and new skills, so tell all your friends and fam to get ready! Winner winner chicken dinner (Quorn if your veggie)! (D)

So we all know the Grand Canyon but do you know of Chiang Mai’s very own Grand Canyon? Well, if not, don’t worry as you’ll get to know! This is an old excavation site, where they would dig out sand for building etc. However, now it is a man-made lagoon which has turned into an adult playground, we LOVE to see it! There are countless of slides, floating chairs to lay in, tubes and then for the brave-hearted have a go at cliff jumping, deep water soloing or climbing on their climbing wall. Take yo’ pick! There’s a restaurant there on-site, so we can grab our lunch, refresh and energise ourselves! In the evening, we head out into Chiang Mai our final dinner and drinks *cue sad song*. (B)

After checking out, you’ll have plenty of time to relax, hit the markets, or explore Chiang Mai a little more; before jumping onto the overnight train back to Bangkok. (B)

This day is spent taking in the sights of the capital on the water as we travel by longtail boat along the Chao Phraya River. This is a great way to explore Bangkok and experience some of Thailand’s heritage. Then we head to two prestigious temples – Wat Arun and Wat Pho, to see the very impressive giant, gold reclining Buddha statue. The rest of the day is free for exploring. You may wish to indulge a little and do a spot of shopping so you can take advantage of the cheap prices! Then in the evening, we meet again for dinner, drinks and more group bonding.

Relax this morning with a traditional Thai massage before we travel overnight on the train down south where we swap the hustle and bustle of city life in Bangkok for the tranquil lakes of stunning Khao Sok National Park – situated in the Surat Thani province of Thailand. (B)

Take a longtail boat out to the amazing floating bungalows whilst stopping along the way to cool off with a quick dip and dive. Try out a spot of kayaking or simply chill with a beer in a tube in front of the breathtaking backdrop of this limestone mountain range. The freshwater lake is surrounded by rainforest and looks similar to something out of Jurassic Park! Truly an experience not to be missed! (L/D)

Wake up to the beautiful views of the lake before enjoying a spot of breakfast. We will then catch a bus and then ferry to Koh Phangan. When we arrive, we go straight to a secluded paradise: Bottle Beach – Our favourite beach in the world. The beautiful, peaceful surroundings make this place so special and we pretty much get the whole place to ourselves. Relax here for the rest of the afternoon, enjoy a bit of volleyball, sunbathing or swimming. In the evening, we can enjoy dinner and some cocktails on the beach next to a campfire with our own private fire show. (B)

Wake up to the calming sound of waves rolling on the beach. You will have a free morning to make the most of your surroundings and take it all in. You can go kayaking, play volleyball, top up the tan, go trekking to viewpoints or catch up on some sleep. In the afternoon, we are collected and taken to a local gym to try our hand at a bit of Muay Thai boxing, Thailand’s national sport. We then head to our awesome accommodation, a beach hostel where we will spend the final two nights. For those who fancy a few evening drinks, we can head to Haad Rin to explore some of the coolest bars around the island.

Setting out on a voyage around Koh Phangan. We spend the day taking in the amazing tropical island scenery, stopping for some snorkelling at the coolest hotspots before visiting Than Sadet waterfall (seasonal). You might think it couldn’t get any better but it does… we have a complementary bucket, flowing bar and food throughout the day with music. (L)

Get ready for an epic day party! Slip n Fly is one of the latest attractions of Koh Phangan. Featuring one of the biggest and craziest water slides in Southern Asia. We spend the day here so you can choose to chillax on the day beds or attempt the slides. Don’t worry if you are not a big fan of heights or water slides, this place has much more to offer. It’s actually a day party with DJ’s, games, a volleyball pool, bar, looooooads of sunbeds and chill out areas and of course the constant entertainment of watching other backpackers throw themselves down the slides. Then in the evening we will meet in our hostel for a UV painting session to get us ready for the Full Moon Experience. We will take you to the best pre-drinking spots before hitting up the full moon party in TruTravels style! Those of you hardcore enough to make it to sunrise (the best bit) may even get to join us at the after-party which starts at 6am! No rest for the wicked.

Today is set aside for recovery. We felt you would probably want some chill time to recharge your batteries after the big night so the only planned activity today is a nice Thai massage and possibly a film at a local bar. Unless you are one of those crazy party animals that decided to join us at the after-party!

Say your goodbyes as today is check out day. If you have not booked any onward travel then we are on hand to help plan your next footsteps; so have a chat with your group leader before you leave. Whether you want to stay longer on Koh Phangan, head back to Bangkok, or jet off somewhere else in Asia. The world is your oyster!