North and South Thailand Trip: 20 Days

Join us on an epic boat trip that encompasses all of the reasons you came to Thailand: the culture and history, the amazing landscapes, and drinking on a boat! You'll join your fellow travellers on an epic day sailing around Koh Phi Phi in the Andaman Sea!

We depart in the early afternoon on a boat equipped with snorkel gear, tubes, and a large shady area. Bring some cold beverages for the ride and sit back, relax, and enjoy the trip! There is a Thai guide on the boat to deliver some awesome history of the area and Thailand in general.

We'll make a stop to go snorkelling among the giant sandstone cliffs. Snorkelling not your thing? Try kayaking or simply lounging in a tube. We'll end the day with a simple Thai meal while floating back to Koh Phi Phi as the sun sets and another day in paradise comes to an end.

*This is an ETHICAL ELEPHANT EXPERIENCE* Its giant size and gentle nature make it one of the most powerful, yet loving animals in the world. But because of this, they are often captured in the wild and sold to the logging industry to be worked to death hauling trees through the jungle.

Many organizations have sprung up to rescue elephants from this horrible practice and keep them in protected camps, run by families that afford to keep them fed and healthy, by giving other people the chance to interact with the beautiful animals. Deeply rooted in Thai culture, caring for elephants is extremely sacred; a family that cares for elephants dedicates a great deal of their life to the one elephant entrusted to their care, as they are usually bound to one another for their entire lives.

Getting face to face with an elephant is an incredible experience and one that you'll likely never forget!

Most of us have tried rock climbing, but it's usually been in a sweaty gym with an artificial climbing wall that is trying to mimic the outdoor experience of rock climbing. When you climb a natural cliff face, your body seems to know it and you almost feel like you're tapping into a core part of your humanity that is telling you that somehow, someway you have to scale this cliff - and most people surprise themselves with their ability to do it.

One of the best parts of outdoor rock climbing is that it's generally done in some of the most surreal places on this planet so when you get to the top of your climb you're rewarded with a breathtaking view. From Thailand to Peru and beyond, get your climb on in some of the most beautiful settings for an incredible experience and tremendous feeling of personal accomplishment.

For most travelers, shopping at home is an expensive and (for some) inconvenient chore, as we must troll through stores, malls, websites and our friends' closets in search of clothes that fit us properly and match our style. If only we could just go see some kind of person who makes clothes specifically for our size and preference… like a tailor?

Having your clothes tailor-made is something we shrug off as something only for the rich and people interested in suits and dresses, but in many parts of the world tailors are still very prevalent and surprisingly affordable - and there is perhaps no place where this is truer than in Southeast Asia.

Bangkok in Thailand is famous for its many suit and dress tailors offering great deals on a virtually infinite list of outfits. Likely the only place better than Bangkok is in the beautiful ancient capital of Hoi An in Vietnam, where you can find very cheap and very good tailors that make both western and traditional Vietnamese clothing.

And we mean they'll make you anything: suits, dresses, jeans, shoes, jackets and with any material from high-quality silk to denim to leather. It’s a dream come true for clothes lovers and an easy and cheap solution for those that detest shopping!

Now we don't want to fool you, a jungle is an unforgiving setting to hike through - there is thick vegetation, overwhelming heat, leeches and an untold amount of other creatures lurking around. But there is also an extreme beauty that lies within the power of a tropical jungle, a rainforest is full of life and every square foot is covered in something interesting and unique!

You'll experience true adventure when you trek through a jungle and even if you're tired, dirty and fending off insects when you're doing it, you'll be proud of yourself when you finish! 

On our LTC trip, we go on a 3-day jungle trek in Northern Thailand that includes an amazing array of activities (including ethically interacting with elephants and riding a bamboo raft down a river).

We camp in tribal villages at night - eating with them, seeing how they live and tasting their not-so-delicious-but-potent "happy water" (rice moonshine). We sleep in a massive hut that fits the entire group and each morning we wake up, eat breakfast, shake off the happy water cobwebs and continue on our adventure.

It's an experience that fully encompasses the trials and tribulations of trekking through a tropical jungle - from muddy uphill paths to utopian waterfalls!

Enjoy the chance to explore Wat Pho alongside a knowledgeable local guide for a peek inside ancient and modern Thai culture. This Buddhist temple complex located in Bangkok is one of city’s oldest temples, having been established before Bangkok itself. It houses over 1000 Buddha images, making it the largest collection of Buddha relics in all of Thailand. This includes the statue that Wat Pho is most famous for: an enormous 49 meter-long golden statue of a Reclining Buddha. The Buddha’s feet alone are 3 meters high. It is probably one of the grandest sites you will behold in all of the city. On an interesting side note, Wat Pho is also known as the birthplace of traditional Thai massage, which is still taught and practiced at the temple. If you have the time, ask your guide to tell you Bangkok’s real name…it’s the longest city name on Earth! *****Please note: Not included on the following trips: A Backpackers Dream and The World's Greatest Waterfight

There are a lot of incredible cities in the world, but there is only one Bangkok. The main jumping point for virtually every person traveling through Southeast Asia, Bangkok is full of people from all over the world and there is something for everyone in this massive, colourful city.

And the temples, markets and shopping are sure all nice and dandy, but most "memories" that come from Bangkok are created after you have that first Chang beer or Sangsom bucket set, because after that really anything is possible!

We won't get into the details of what all happens in Bangkok because everyone will have their own story to tell after a night of partying in a city filled with all-night clubs, street-side bucket stands and essentially an adult "playground" everywhere you look. It's a common feeling to wake up in Bangkok, have no idea what time it is and try to figure out if what you remember happening the night before was a dream or if it really did all happen!

Drive deep into the jungle in Thailand’s Khao Sok National Park to arrive at the shores of Cheow Lan Lake. Tall limestone rocks jut out around the lake, massive trees poke through the surface and all around you is a lush jungle breathing with life. Your journey doesn’t end there though!

Hop onto a long tail boat and enjoy one of the most picturesque boat rides in existence as you go deep into the lake to arrive at your home for the night – cozy and rustic bungalows floating right on the lake! Here you’ll be greeted by an amazing Thai family who will take care of everything during your stay at the lake house.

Hike to caves, kayak to coves, swim in the clear freshwater or just lay back and enjoy the serenity of one of the most beautiful places we know of! After the sun falls, treat yourself to an array of adult beverages and dance the night away with your group and the Thai people living there who certainly know how to have a good time!

It’ll be hard to be hungover when you wake up to the calls of gibbons monkeys and tropical birds, then poke your head out the door to see the sun rising over the lake. You can go ahead and pinch yourself at this point because no matter how many times we experience this it’s hard to believe it’s real.

Snorkelling is a great alternative for those looking to save a little money on diving costs or those who can’t dive for medical reasons. Floating along the surface of the water at any one of our incredible destinations around the world will give you a peek into a magical underwater world.

More confident snorkelers can even dive down to get a closer look at the fauna and flora found in our oceans. From glittering fish, to colourful anemone, and super cool sharks (don’t worry, the non-carnivorous ones), snorkelling is a wonderful experience for the non-diver. So snap on a mask and grab your flippers (and DON’T inhale while diving) and you’ll be all set for a little adventure under the sea.

This must-do activity in Northern Thailand is a dream come true for any foodie, traveler, or just plain hungry person. Start the day by meeting up with your host at a local market where you will help pick up fresh ingredients among the bustling, laughing Thai people.

Then it’s off to your host’s home, a beautiful villa with a huge garden where more of your ingredients come from... you know it’s going to be good. Even though nothing is pre-made and you are actually preparing every part of the meal, this doesn’t feel like work. With nap time included, it’s an easy-going day of cooking, tasting, and enjoying with your FnEZ family.

Plus, with 5 meals in total (one of them is desert!) you’ll be stuffed, rested, and ready to show off your new skills in the kitchen to your family and friends back home.

You want authentic? You got it. Grab a cold one, take a seat, and come watch the national sport of Thailand in its hometown: Chiang Mai! With open-air stadiums surrounded by street food, street beers, and a ton of locals, you’ll be right in the middle of an ultimate part of Thai Culture.

The Thai People take Muay Thai quite seriously, with events ranging in age from young children to full fledged athletes who have been training all of their life. This is real, intense, amazing stuff that you won’t want to miss on your trip to Northern Thailand. Feeling gutsy? Place a bet with a local, or your TFF, and join the scene!

Step off the beaten path and into the lush jungle where a meal becomes an experience with 12 authentic, home-cooked Thai meals included in this adventure. Our food journey begins in the villages of the North Thai jungle and continues through to the lakehouse for four days of delicious family-style meals.

Traditionally Thai cuisine is centered on five essential flavors: sour, sweet, salty, bitter, and spicy. Each meal includes a delicious rush of flavor and leaves you wanting more. Once we arrive at the first village our local guides work with the villagers to prepare the homemade meal, and there’s always room for an extra set of hands in the kitchen. Later we sit down to this fresh meal overlooking the rice fields and gardens where the food was grown.

Our second day in the jungle is filled with a delicious variety of meals! We start the day with the freshest of eggs, trek to our lunch spot to enjoy endless noodle soup, and finally, for dinner we dive into a meal of meat and veggie skewers with curry, which is presented to us on homemade bamboo plates. What a rush!

After a much-needed digestion break, we head to the campfire and top our night off with some local “Happy Water”. The following morning we hop on our bamboo rafts and head for a Pad Thai lunch stop on our way out to the lake house. Our flavour journey doesn’t stop there as our taste buds are in for a treat out at the lake.

Some highlights include traditional Chiang Mai sausage with sticky rice, fresh fish, tom yum, and pork chops. Vegetarian? No problem! All of our meals can be adjusted to accommodate a vegetarian diet. Take your taste buds on a flavour rollercoaster in Northern Thailand!

A trip to Thailand is not complete without a day spent shopping in Bangkok. Whether male, female, or a bit of both, there’s something for everybody in this crazy city! From the infamous street markets to the luxurious malls to the seemingly infinite amount of random market stalls, you can literally buy everything in Bangkok!

Get right into it and sift through boxes of knock-off designer jeans, check out the funky tee’s created by local artists, find piles and piles of rad shoes. Hit the electronics and find every movie ever made or cheap cellphones, computer software and old video games. Peruse the knick-knacks and score samurai swords, unique art, Buddha carvings, and homemade jewellery.

Our beach cleanups are a great way to do good, feel good, and get some sunshine all at the same time. With thousands of tons of trash swirling around the oceans, the unfortunate reality is that some of it washes up onto the beautiful beaches we fall in love with around the world. So we thought ‘Let’s do something about this!’.  Whenever possible, we grab some garbage bags and take it upon ourselves to leave the places we visit better than we found them.  A beach cleanup day is always one of the most fun and rewarding days on a trip.

 ** We will always strive to make a beach cleanup happen, but sometimes due to time constraints we may not be able to.  Or maybe the beaches are just already clean in that region!**

Party for Prosthetics is one of our newest initiatives that turns the aluminum tabs from beer cans into prosthetic limbs for people in need, such as those who have been dismembered from injury, disease, or landmines. We have partnered with a Thai organization called The Prostheses Foundation that has been doing this since the early 90’s - when we realized how much we could help out just by saving our beer tabs we thought this was a real win-win!

Through a combination of our beach bevvies, travel day sippy cups, and all-night ragers, we have been known to put away a few beers from time to time, and now we are turning these parties into prosthetic limbs! This initiative adds even more zest to each cheers, shotgun, and beer bong, and fills us with a sense of pride as we gather the tabs over the course of each trip and see buckets fill with valuable little pieces of metal that are going to change someone’s life!

Life under the water is silent and peaceful, everything is flowing and moving in a way that we land creatures are unaccustomed to. Despite all of our high tech equipment, we are extremely out of our element in the water and it is a humbling experience to watch and observe what life is like under the sea.

Fish come in all shapes, sizes, and colours and move together in a harmonious unison through beautiful coral and twisted sunlight. On our trips, scuba diving is a huge activity as we travel to countries that offer some of the best diving in the world. The Caribbean in Central America possesses the second largest reef in the world, the warm waters of the South Pacific in Southeast Asia are home to the largest diversity of sea-life in the world and the seas of the Mediterranean are full of rich history and beauty.

There is a whole universe under the ocean and experiencing what it's like to be in it is a must at least once in your life!

What better way to end a days-long trek through the jungle than by retreating to a secluded lake house in the middle of the hills of Northern Thailand? Rinse off the jungle muck in the clear freshwater of the lake, crack open a beer (or five), and relax in your own private lake house.

Oh, did we mention that this lake house is also floating in the middle of the lake! We include all meals in this stay so there's no need to even worry about what you're going to eat. With one amazing meal after another served up to you right at the floating lake house, you can spend your days in a cool reclined position or roll into the water for a refreshing swim or hop on a kayak and paddle to an amazing local temple.

It's your place and it's smack dab in the middle of the lake so you can do whatever you damn well please! There's a rule that many of us already know: what happens at the lake stays at the lake!