Thailand - tour companies

[defblade]

My wife has amazed me by announcing that she doesn't want to just lay on a beach all day for our next (child free! Yipee!) holiday and we've started looking at a holiday with "something to do".

I know it would be cheaper sorting it all ourselves - which we have done around the Med or with road trips in the US - but we don't know enough about Asia to feel comfortable going it alone; we'd much rather have some experience and structure with us.

We're quite drawn to something like this (12 days - Chiang Mai/BKK/elephants/forest/Koh Samui); there seems to be a lot of companies offering a similar service, so any recommendations please?


Jan/Feb/March 2017, budget £4-5k, if that helps.

Thanks in advance

[anonymous-user]

They will all subcontract to the local operator, regardless of who you book with i.e there will be one elephant camp, one raft safari, etc at the location, and you booking will end with them.
My advice, walk out of your hotel, book with the nearest local agent, in the first 'booth' you come to on the street, book today excursion tomorrow is not an issue. That way you cut out the middle man and your money will go to the local community. But note I've only lived in S E Asia 25 years or so and all the two week tourists will be along shortly telling you I'm wrong.

[defblade]

Berw said:

walk out of your hotel,

We're not even that far along yet!

Berw said:

But note I've only lived in S E Asia 25 years or so and all the two week tourists will be along shortly telling you I'm wrong.

Thing is, living there gives a you a certain comfort. My wife and I are not the most forward, get stuck in to a new culture, new language, situation, etc types and without a degree of hand-holding, at least the first time, I think we'd miss a lot of what we might have seen/done. We're going to be less-than-2-week-tourists, in fact!
Or maybe we should be less nervous

[smifffymoto]

TBH Thailand is probably the easiest place to do everything DIY,from home.Air Asia is your best friend for getting about.Patara elephant farm is very good in Chiang Mai and for something a bit different how about a bike trip with Spiceroads.

[anonymous-user]

You will get no discount booking in advance. It is so easy to do in Thailand, and a cash economy, you can do it when you arrive, as I say, book today excursion tomorrow. We have a think called 'white man tax', for tourists it is huge, prices in Thailand are on the floor at the moment, Every tourist resort has 'tourist info counters' these are not the official European offices, just stalls in the street, they look like a rip off, the are not, there will be one in or near your hotel just book there, it is great fun.

[Blown2CV]

please don't ride elephants.

[ColinM50]

Blown2CV said:

please don't ride elephants.

why not?

[Blown2CV]

ColinM50 said:

Blown2CV said:

please don't ride elephants.

why not?

Because you are supporting and propagating a very unethical industry. Elephants are treated incredibly badly in order to try and 'break' them during training and then to keep them in line. They are worked to the absolute bone and often kept way outside of their natural habitat, separated from their young and their herd. They are big and very dangerous animals, and as mahouts receive less training nowadays, incidents with humans are becoming more commonplace. It isn't just a case of tree-hugging westerners looking down on the 'backward' thais, basically elephants are livestock in thailand (and very expensive livestock too) and need to work hard to earn their keep. Attitudes are changing but it can only be really solved by reducing the demand - tourists shouldn't go on elephant rides. Go to an elephant sanctuary instead and learn the real story, and see rescued animals living in a herd and allowed to have a bit of a happier life.

[Cybertronian]

Whilst in Bangkok and Koh Samui, my wife and I used a tour company called Asian Trails, who were very good.

Dearer than many other operators, but the numbers on the tour were very small (us and another couple). For our first tour, we visited a floating market, some temples, a coconut processing plant, and also a train market (the train comes through and all the stalls on wheels move out of the way!) Because of the small group, we were able to really get to know the tour guide, ask loads of questions etc. Ask for "Vishuya" if you do go with these guys - she bought samples of the local fruits for us as we walked through the market for us to sample.

Whilst in Koh Samui, we had our own tour guide via Asian Trails that took us all over the island. Benefit of this was we were able to spend a bit longer at sites that interested us, and a little less time at those that didn't.

[anonymous-user]

As said above. Don't spend 4-5k on booking it all from home. I did a month in Thailand staying in the best hotels, drinking and eating out every evening and doing all excursions and spent £2k.

You can book the excursions when you are there - Chang Mai is where its at for all of that. Book a flight to Bangkok and a couple of nights there and then sort when you are there in Bangkok - internal flight up to Chang Mai and just sort it all while you are there. Much better

[tezzer]

Blown2CV said:

please don't ride elephants.

Here here !

Google "elephant training methods" and try and watch the horrifying videos. My youngest daughter was a volunteer on an elephant rescue site in Thailand, trust me it is WRONG.

[Johnniem]

www.andamancampandcruise.com

Sun and Elizabeth are a wonderful couple. She's English. Give them a try.

Edited by Johnniem on Monday 31st October 08:49

[JapFreak786]

In Chang Mai, you have the Tiger Kingdom and a number of the other "things to do " on the same road just further up towards the mountain, including the elephant rides etc if that's what you want to do.
I'd highly recommend the zoo to see panda's, but go early on in the day as it gets quite busy.

Bangkok IMO is a very seedy place in the night. I stayed a few minutes walk from the Terminal 21 shopping centre.

[Blown2CV]

JapFreak786 said:

In Chang Mai, you have the Tiger Kingdom and a number of the other "things to do " on the same road just further up towards the mountain, including the elephant rides etc if that's what you want to do.
I'd highly recommend the zoo to see panda's, but go early on in the day as it gets quite busy.

Bangkok IMO is a very seedy place in the night. I stayed a few minutes walk from the Terminal 21 shopping centre.

not trying to bang a drum here mate but you've recommended 3 separate things where animals are in captivity... there is so much more to thailand. In any case you can go to a zoo anywhere. Also Bangkok is a massive city, some parts are going to be less salubrious, it totally depends where you go.

[Johnniem]

Blown2CV said:

JapFreak786 said:

In Chang Mai, you have the Tiger Kingdom and a number of the other "things to do " on the same road just further up towards the mountain, including the elephant rides etc if that's what you want to do.
I'd highly recommend the zoo to see panda's, but go early on in the day as it gets quite busy.

Bangkok IMO is a very seedy place in the night. I stayed a few minutes walk from the Terminal 21 shopping centre.

not trying to bang a drum here mate but you've recommended 3 separate things where animals are in captivity... there is so much more to thailand. In any case you can go to a zoo anywhere. Also Bangkok is a massive city, some parts are going to be less salubrious, it totally depends where you go.

+1. Bangkok is a fantastic city full of excellent things to do. May I suggest you pick up a copy of the Lonely Planet guide and check out some of the not so well known spots. Much of the nightlife is to be avoided, unless you like that sort of thing. My wife and I have had fantastic short stays in Bangkok and have eaten like royalty for not very much. Night markets are great, find 'monks bowl alley' and buy a handmade bowl (you can even see how they are made and why they are of seven sections), Go to Jim Thompsons house....there's so much to do! We ate amazing tepanyaki at a restaurant called Kobe and the best street food around the financial district (just find the stalls with long queues and cuttings from newspapers on the wall behind them!). Just go and enjoy the madness of it all. Go shop in MBK (department store), buy Jeans for almost nothing and they'll make alterations for you for free whilst you eat out of many of the asian, indian and European food stalls on the top floor. Take what you like and pay on the way out. Sleezy? Nah, not a bit!

[Blown2CV]

An evening at the muse roof bar, lebua state tower, or maybe the house on sathorn would very much put paid to any preconceptions about bangkok being a bit too edgy! Very nice places!

[Lexual]

Blown2CV said:

ColinM50 said:

Blown2CV said:

please don't ride elephants.

why not?

Because you are supporting and propagating a very unethical industry. Elephants are treated incredibly badly in order to try and 'break' them during training and then to keep them in line. They are worked to the absolute bone and often kept way outside of their natural habitat, separated from their young and their herd. They are big and very dangerous animals, and as mahouts receive less training nowadays, incidents with humans are becoming more commonplace. It isn't just a case of tree-hugging westerners looking down on the 'backward' thais, basically elephants are livestock in thailand (and very expensive livestock too) and need to work hard to earn their keep. Attitudes are changing but it can only be really solved by reducing the demand - tourists shouldn't go on elephant rides. Go to an elephant sanctuary instead and learn the real story, and see rescued animals living in a herd and allowed to have a bit of a happier life.

This, definitely don't do any elephant rides or visit 'Zoos', try and find a genuine animal sanctuary if you need to see them.

I also totally agree with the others saying don't book anything in advance online or with a travel agent as you will pay way more than necessary, just do it all with a local street agent when you're there, it's part of the experience. Prices can vary but are actually usually shown on boards so you know you're not being ripped off, you can still haggle but a but you will end up on the same tour/boat/bus etc as everyone else.

Bangkok is amazing, one of my favourite cities and there is so much to do, it's not all 'buckets on Khoa San Road', go to the markets, the medical museum is a must, and check out Adhere the 13th blues bar on Samsen Road on a Friday or Saturday night, absolutely amazing little bar, my favourite in the world at the moment.
Wonder up and down Rambuttri street, do some haggling.. have some street food.. proper street food, not an overpriced tourist restaurant.

you can go up and down the river for about 50 cents, just get on the locals transit/taxi boat and you can jump on and off at various stops, go and check out China town..

Oh, for something a bit special, go to Gaggan restaurant, rated the No.1 restaurant in Asia and top 10 in the world.

Going to Thailand in December, will be about my 5th or 6th visit and have backpacked SE Asia for about 7-8 months in total.

Edit. I've just looked at the link you've posted for the 12-day tour, those prices are insane, I reckon I could do the same itinerary for c.£300 with accommodation, travel & meals.

Edited by Lexual on Sunday 6th November 15:13

[shtu]

Thailand is probably easier to self-organise than most places in Europe. Hotels, internal flights, transport, excursions are all dead easy to arrange, and a £5k budget is just immense for a 12 night stay.

Elephants - The Thai Elephant Conservation Centre http://www.thailandelephant.org/en/ is a reputable outfit that does more than offer rides and shows - conservation and rehabilitation is a huge part of their work. Try and get onto one of the multi-day stays if you fancy spending a couple of days learning how to work with and care for an elephant.

Chang Mai - try to be there on a weekend for the Saturday Night (Wua Lai) and Sunday Night (Thanon Ratchadamnoen) Walking Streets, rather than the tacky every-night markets around the big hotels.

Lots of trekking opportunities from Chang Mai northwards, be it single or multi-day trips. Chang Mai itself is literally bursting with tour companies that will have something to suit. Read up on the trips from home, then go and book what you want from one of the agents' shops.

Pai is worth a look, and is a few hours North through superb scenery.

Dead easy to fly in\out of Chang Mai, Air Asia and Bangkok Air do a lot (among others), and there's a cheap flat-rate taxi service from the airport to anywhere in town you will want to go.

12 Nights?

I'd suggest Bangkok 2-3 nights, then Chang Mai and around (I'd put bulk of time here but I'm biased.), then Koh Samui for 3-4 nights at the end.

Watch the seasons - typically March will be HOT in Chang Mai, a bit earlier would be better. Down south, watch for which side of the country you are on, can't remember which is better when off top of head, but the prevailing winds change between seasons which can make a big difference to the weather you get.

I can't recommend enough ditching the plan to get an All-Inclusive Guided Trip, you are missing out on almost all the enjoyment to be gained from just getting out there and experiencing the place.

[Blown2CV]

ko samui is a bit too commercial for me, as the islands go. Ko Lipe or Ko Lanta have a bit more interest about them, although there are loads more. However if you just want a 5-start luxury resort then yea Samui is probably a good one.

[Stedman]

Visit these guys: https://www.wfft.org/ and please don't ride any elephants etc

WFFT can arrange a taxi from Bangkok for you which is good value. The trip is about 3 hours each way - or 45 mins from Hua Hin- but absolutely worth it. The work they do is amazing. OR if you really want to get in your OH's good books, stay in the Ecolodge for about £40 pppn and wake up and open the curtains to see the elephants going for a swim right outside your bedroom!