Name: Thailand Nature Retreat
Brand: ProVacation
Availability: InStock

Day 1 (Bangkok- Khao Yai National Park Night safari)

Arrive at Bangkok Airport where a luxury sedan/SUV and tour guide will await you. Complimentary mineral water bottles and hot towels are provided for your comfort as you drive to Khao Yai National Park in Nakhon Ratchasima district. Khao Yai National Park is spread across an area of 2168 square kilometres and is home to a varied topography that includes both sparse grassland as well as dense rainfore st. This is part of the larger Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, a UNESCO-conferred World Heritage Site. A large population of exotic birds and animals thrive in this forest including elephants, macaque, gibbon, barking deer, sambar deer, porcupine etc. Over 300 species of local and migratory birds make Khao Yai an ornithologist’s paradise. Barbets, Siamese Fireback, Silver Pheasant, Hornbill and Asian Fairy Bluebird are just some of the varieties of birds that you can spot here.
Our first stop will be a viewing point for the macaque monkeys and gibbons. It is fascinating to see the animals roaming freely in their natural habitat, impervious to human presence. Next, we make our way to the hotel. Guests can take some time to freshen up and enjoy tea and light refreshments.
After this, our tour continues with a visit to the Khao Yai Art Museum, a surprising art nook located on a hill top, about 8 kilometres from the north gate of the forest. The museum showcases several interesting pieces of artwork by some of Thailand’s leading modern artists including Lampu Kansanoh and Anupong Chantorn. The museum has three main galleries and a sculpture garden where Hindu and Buddhist-inspired pieces can be seen on our drive up to the main building. Many of these art pieces are on sale and you can pick up an original work to take back as a souvenir.
Next on our itinerary is a trek along the gibbon route. There are 6 main trekking trails open to visitors in Khao Yai. Our trek is a moderate 3-kilometre walk where a forest ranger will escort you at all times to ensure your safety. A jungle trek is one of the most thrilling experiences with the possibility of sudden danger lurking in every turn and corner. It also provides an interesting perspective on the forest as you work your way through dense foliage and uneven ground.
After the trek, it’s time for a well-deserved rest and lunch at one of the park’s restaurants. The fare is an excellent assortment of Thai delicacies using fresh local produce.
After lunch, we make our way to the Haew Narok Waterfall, the largest fall in Khao Yai. Take your time exploring the area around the 150m fall and then return to the hotel to get ready for the night safari. A 4WD fitted with high-powered spot lighting takes you inside the forest after sundown for a chance to spot wild animals that are more likely to come out of their caves and burrows at nightfall. Wild elephants, civets, deer, and bears can be seen on a night safari. Driving through the forest in the dark is a truly exhilarating experience. The forest seems to come alive in the dark and the white noise of crickets chirping is occasionally truncated by the nocturnal cries of wild animals.
After the long and eventful first day in the park, we return to our hotel for dinner after which you can retire to your rooms for the night.

Day 2 (Khao Yai National Park- Heaw Suwat Waterfall)

Today, we have breakfast at the hotel an d then leave once again for Khao Yai National Park.
This time, we trek along the crocodile trail to make our way to the Heaw Suwat Waterfall, where the famous Hollywood movie ‘The Beach’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio was filmed. This is a charming spot for a picnic and we settle down here for a few hours to enjoy lunch.
Swimming and diving are strictly forbidden at the falls but you can explore the surroundings and relax by the side of the falls. It is also a great place to take photographs.
In the evening, we head to the Khao Luk Chang Bat Cave. Located about 4.5 kilometres from the north gate, the caves are home to an estimated 3 million wrinkle-lipped bats. It’s fascinating to see swarms of bats flying out of the cave in search of food after sunset.
After this, we head back to the hotel. A gala spread of mouth-watering Thai curries and other local delicacies awaits you at dinner. Post dinner, you tour guide will brief you about the next day’s itinerary and you can retire early for the night.

Day 3 (Khao Yai- Bangkok)

On the final day in the forest, have an early breakfast at the hotel and then drive to Khao Yai.
Today we will set off on another trek, this time taking a different route and trying to spot the different species of rare birds in the park. This is a moderate trek and can be enjoyed by all age groups.
After a quick lunch back at the hotel, we set off for Bangkok and check into a downtown hotel by early evening.
The rest of the evening can be spent at leisure. You may choose to stay in and relax at the hotel or explore the city and local markets.

Day 4 (Bangkok- Kanchanaburi- Hin Tok River Camp)

Today, our premier sedan/SUV will pick you up from the hotel early morning and drive to Kanchanaburi, best known for the Death Railway built by Allied prisoners of war during World War II.
Our first stop is the Thailand- Burma Railway Centre, a museum dedicated to the history of the Death Railway and the memory of Allied soldiers who died building it.
We will continue to the War Cemetery and the iconic Bridge over the River Khwae. The bridge was commissioned by the Imperial Japanese Army and completed the rail link between Bangkok and Rangoon in present-day Burma. From here, we drive on to Hin Tok River Camp. The picturesque campsite is located on a cliff overlooking the Khwae River. Between July to September 1943 Hin Tok River Camp was home to 300 Allied prisoners of war. The camp is dedicated to honour the memory of the soldiers and every room and fitting is designed to replicate the old camp motifs like guard towers and bell tents.
This eco-friendly camp is dedicated to following camping best practices to minimise the impact of tourism on local surroundings. The camp has a ‘go local’ approach and employs workers from neighbouring villages. The camp offers luxurious deluxe tents with en suite bathrooms where every care has been taken to ensure your comfort. The spacious canvas tents are fitted with air conditioning and plush bedding while the washrooms have hot running water. Experience nature at its best while enjoying top quality comfort. A simple but delicious lunch awaits you on arrival at Hin Tok Camp.
After lunch, we set out for Hell Fire Pass Memorial and a trek along the former Thailand- Burma Railway embankment. The route is a 2.5 kilometre stretch that we complete in an hour. It’s advisable to wear comfortable walking shoes on this trek.
We make our way back to the camp in the late afternoon and after tea and refreshments, head off for a bicycle tour of the neighbouring Mon villages. Get a taste of rural Thai life up, close and personal as you ride through the settlements of the countryside where locals can be seen weaving baskets from bamboo fibres.
Return to the campsite at sundown and enjoy a great bonfire dinner before retiring for the night.

Day 5 (Hin Tok River camp)

Have an early breakfast at the camp and then leave for a long-tailed boat ride to SaiYok Yai Waterfall. This is one of the most popular waterfalls in Kanchanaburi and a favourite haunt for locals and tourists alike. Spend the day splashing in the water and enjoying the beauty of the surrounding forest.
We return to the camp for lunch and in the afternoon, set out to explore the Lawa Caves, located inside Saiyok National Park. Lawa Caves are the largest caves in Kanchanaburi and a large part of the caves remains unexplored. See the varied stalagmite and stalactite formations inside each chamber of the cave. Lawa is also home to the Khun Kitti Bat, the smallest bat in the world.
We return in the evening for your last night at the camp. Enjoy another exotic barbeque dinner around the campfire. We can arrange a tribal dance performance at the campsite on special request. Enjoy the cultural show while over dinner and drinks and finally retire to your tents for the night.

Day 6 (Hin Tok River camp- Death Railway train- Bangkok)

On the final day of the tour, rise early and after breakfast set off on a long-tailed boat ride to a neighboring Mon Village. The Mon is a tribal community hailing from Burma. The boat ride takes you to the shore of the Mon Village that is home to a tribal temple and school. Disembark for a short hike into the village. Interact with locals and get an insight into their daily life. After this, we head back to the camp for lunch.
Post lunch, take a ride on the iconic Death Railway train. The two-hour train ride from Kanchanaburi to Nam Tok is one of the best-known tourist attractions in Thailand and takes you along a picturesque route. Having visited the Hell Pass Memorial earlier, will provide a better context for the journey and allow you to appreciate its tainted history.
At the end of the train ride, we make our way back to Bangkok for the final leg of the tour. On the drive back, you can reflect on the events of the last few days and the places you visited and the people you met.
This tour is designed for those who love nature and to get away from the hustle bustle of city life for a few days to get in touch with themselves. Our tour comes to an end in Bangkok where we drop you off at the airport to continue your onward journey.

Thailand Nature Retreat

What is included in the tour

What is NOT included in the tour

OTHER POPULAR TOURS

OTHER ACTIVITIES