Did you know that there are still tigers and elephants living wild in some parts of Thailand? Admittedly, you’ll be very lucky to catch a glimpse of those elusive stripey cats, but this two week adventure will undoubtedly give you the opportunity to see some of the very best of Thailand’s wildlife including wild elephants, gibbons and other primates, lizards, native deer, hornbills and much more…
Wildlife and Adventure Holiday
Visiting two of Thailand’s very best National Parks (Khao Yai and Khao Sok), each with their own unique flora and fauna, not to mention stunning natural scenery, as well as seeking out the wildlife, you’ll be able to enjoy guided treks through the lush jungle, canoe along hidden waterways and across vast lakes and pause to swim in jungle pools and waterfalls.
At the end of your trip, enjoy a well-earned few days relaxing on a palm-fringed beach, exploring nearby islands, snorkelling, biking or just soaking up the scenery on one of Thailand’s most idyllic islands.
Why you’ll love this trip
Explore the vibrant city of Bangkok
Wildlife safari, jungle walking, elephant trekking, kayaking and waterfalls in Khao Yai and Ko Yao National Parks
Chilling on the desert island beaches of Ko Yao
15 days/14 nights
From £1250 per person based on 2 adults travelling together
Perfect holiday as it is or would you like to make a few changes?
As with all our trips, this itinerary can be tailor-made to suit you.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Bangkok
Upon landing in Bangkok, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel to check in and unwind after your flight.
After checking into your hotel, either chill out and relax or head out to get your first taste of this crazy, noisy, bustling, fascinating city.
Day 2: Bangkok – Free at leisure
After breakfast, why not set out to explore the crazy, bustling, exciting city of Bangkok? We’d definitely recommend a visit to the Grand Palace with its stunning temples and ornate statues, and maybe also a “long tail” boat ride on the river which will give you the opportunity to explore the klongs (backwater canals), witness daily life both on the water and along the banks, and fully appreciate why Bangkok is sometimes known as the “Venice of Asia”.
Note: if you would prefer us to arrange a guided tour, we’ll be happy to include this in your itinerary.
Day 3: Bangkok – Khao Yai National Park – Jungle Walking, Wildlife & Nature Watching
After breakfast, meet your guide and drive to Khao Yai National Park.
In the afternoon, take a slow drive and then an easy hike alonge one of the most beautiful trails in the park. Our goal will be to see Great Hornbills (which often have wingspans of over 130cm), and the White Hand Gibbons at play, routinely falling 50 feet from one tree limb to another before casually arresting their fall by grabbing a passing branch, all the while hooting and crying out.
Then drive to the Heiw Suwat Waterfall where you can take a dip to cool off after your jungle walk.
After dinner at your hotel, take a night safari drive to try and seek out some of the nocturnal jungle animals including the Large Indian Civet Cat, porcupine, Samba and other deer… maybe even a wild dog or elephants at the salt lick.
Day 4: Khao Yai National Park – Jungle Walking and Wildlife & Nature Watching
Today’s hike will take you along the Orchid Waterfall trail, through a rather different eco system to that experienced yesterday, as the path takes you along the picturesque Lam Tha Klong River on one side and bamboo forests on the other. The trail is aptly named because of the many different kind of orchids you’ll see growing along the route. Sometimes – if you are lucky – you may even catch a glimpse of a Water Dragon (similar to an iguana) and/or the Siamese Crocodile!
After a local lunch, drive to the 3-level Heiw Narok Waterfall, one of most beautiful, and certainly the tallest waterfall in the park, to enjoy spectacular views of the waterfall itself and the surrounding mountains. There is also a chance of seeing wild elephants at the salt licks along the road.
Day 5: Khao Yai National Park – Bangkok
Enjoy the morning relaxing at your resort before driving back to Bangkok for the night.
Day 6: Bangkok – Fly to Phuket – Khao Sok
At a convenient time, transfer to Bangkok airport in order to take a one hour flight to Phuket.
Upon arrival in Phuket, you will be met by a driver with a sign with your names on and escorted to a tiny resort deep in the heart of the jungle. The journey takes about two hours but the scenery, especially once you enter the park itself, is quite breath-taking.
Settle into your little jungle house and start to acclimatise to the sights and sounds of the jungle – if it’s your first time in an area of such abundant wildlife, you may be quite surprised at how noisy it is, especially at night, but you quickly get used to it!
It has to be said that visiting here IS a bit of an adventure but if you don’t mind roughing it a bit for a few days, it’s one that’s definitely worth it for the stunning scenery, the teeming wildlife (especially gibbons and other primates) and indeed, simply the experience itself!
Day 7: Khao Sok National Park
Enjoy an early breakfast before setting off for a two-hour guided trek through the jungle.
Return to the resort for lunch and then in the afternoon, take a guided canoe trip along a nearby river. Your guide will point out the wildlife and plants along the way.
Day 8: Khao Sok National Park
After breakfast, leave for Cheow Lan Lake where you’ll spend the day exploring this fairyland of majestic limestone cliffs and caves.
Khao Sok National Park is one of South East Asia’s best-preserved habitats for tropical flora and fauna. The park covers an area of about 645 km, with evergreen virgin jungle, waterfalls, massive limestone cliffs and crystal clear rivers and streams. Many species of protected wildlife live in the park including elephants, gibbons, monkeys, tapir, birds of prey and wild gaur. Strikingly beautiful Cheow Lan Lake features spectacular limestone karst rising out of the sparkling waters, it’s a part of the park that you won’t want to miss.
Day 9: Khao Sok – Ko Yao Island
After breakfast in the jungle, drive back to Phuket and then take a breathtakingly beautiful one-hour boat ride to Ko Yao Resort.
Days 10 to 14 – Ko Yao Island
Relax in this stunning location or enjoy some of the activities and excursions on offer from the resort.
Day 15 – Depart
At a convenient time, take a boat/car back to Phuket airport in order to catch a flight to Bangkok and connect with your homeward flight.
“Thank you so much again for your wonderful consideration and care, we felt in wonderfully capable and safe hands throughout and would definitely look to go through you for our next adventure rather than a more run of the mill ‘amazing-by-numbers’ affair offered by one of the bigger tour operators.
I’m sure everyone involved with the company have done this a thousand times, but everyone still managed to make it special for the first time for us, and that really IS special in our experience!”