Epic Bangkok to Singapore

Welcome to Bangkok, Thailand. Your adventure kicks off with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, there's plenty to keep you occupied until then - perhaps take a walk around Chinatown and explore the vibrant streets, or head to the magnificent Grand Palace. Then, after tonight's important welcome meeting, it’s time to dig into some traditional tastes of Thailand. Bangkok is known for its street food, so you'll get the chance to head out with your leader and check out some roadside stalls around Khao Sarn Road. Later on, discover Bangkok’s nightlife and head out to one (or more) of the best local bars. Ask your guide for directions or grab your new travel mates and attempt to navigate the MRT subway train.

Good morning, it's time for an adventure. Take a train from Bangkok to Ayutthaya this morning. Ayutthaya was the capital in the Kingdom of Siam, but now the ruins of this old city form the Historical Park: an archaeological site that contains palaces, Buddhist temples, monasteries and statues. Take local tuk tuks on a visit to the Ayutthaya temple site, stopping by Wat Panan Choeng (adorned with a huge 19 metre Buddha image), Wat Yai Chai Mong Kol (with its 62 metre Victory Pagoda), and the famous Wat Maha That (the Buddhist temple with a striking figure head swallowed by tree roots). You’ll have the chance to buy some of Ayutthaya's famous Boat Noodles’ soup – trust us, they’re delicious. After your day exploring, hop on an overnight train up to Chiang Mai. You’ll have a few day-use rooms to share in Ayutthaya to freshen up before your train ride.

Arrive in Chiang Mai in the morning and transfer to your hostel. Even though check-in is at 2 pm, you’ll still be able to use the facilities, if you’d like. Chiang Mai is the perfect entrance to the Thai highlands, with misty mountains and colourful hillside villages awaiting you to explore. This will be your base for the next few days, as you’ll return here after your hillside trek. Today, spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing and exploring the city, then at night, why not get a group of you together and visit the night markets or the trendy bars in the happening Nimman area? You're on holiday, after all.

This morning at around 8 am, leave Chiang Mai and head to Mae Malai Market to stock up on some delicious fresh snacks for your trek. Then continue on to the start point of today’s 8km hike. Your destination for this evening is the Lahu Hilltribe Village of Pong Ngan Lahu (approximately 5-6 hours trekking time). Walk along the mountain ridge and take in the views of the natural forest and remote scenery. Enjoy a packed lunch in the beautiful surrounds of Huey Nam Dang National Park before continuing on to meet your local hosts. Pong Ngan Lahu Village is located beside the Mae Taeng River and you will arrive here late afternoon. Tonight, experience a local home-cooked dinner by the campfire, then take a walk around the village to chat with the locals. This is a really special opportunity to experience rural Thai life first-hand.

The best thing about being deep in the jungle in the morning is to enjoy the natural wake-up sounds of wildlife calls. After breakfast, you’ll have the opportunity to buy some handicrafts from local enterprises to help support the community. Then begin today’s trek through the storybook landscape of farmland and jungle (approximately 4-5hours, 10km), exploring other hilltribe villages along the way. Reach Mae Sae Village at approximately 2pm, where you’ll meet your transfer and drive down to Mok Fah Waterfall. After two long days of hiking, relax your legs by the gorgeous falls or take a dip in the water – there’s no rush this afternoon! Arrive back in Chiang Mai around 5pm and check into your accommodation. The rest of the day is free to relax and explore the city.

Today, head out on an orientation walk with your leader. Then you're free as a bird for the rest of the day in charming Chiang Mai. There are plenty of optional activities for you to consider today. We highly recommend checking out Wat Prasingh and Wat Chedi Luang temples. After this, perhaps stop by Chuan Chom Vocational Training Center for lunch or a massage. Here you'll learn about the work that they do to train the women from the correctional institution with skills to go back to society. Alternatively, head to Doi Suthep or try your hand at a local cooking class. It's totally up to you! At night, why not get the gang together and party the night away at a local bar.

With another day to explore Chiang Mai, you’re spoilt for options. Included for today is your chance to learn one of the world legend Martial arts, Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) this morning. Spend 1.5 hours exercising and learning the basics of Muay Thai with the pros, plus how to adapt yourselves to be the weapons and guard. Later in the evening, board an overnight train for Bangkok (approximately 13 hours). Soft sleeper class trains are used for the overnight journey, and they’ve got all you’ll need! The compartments are multi-share with air-conditioning and bunk beds that come with sheets and a pillow. Baggage travels in the carriage with you, and there's a food and drink service available on board.

Your train is scheduled to arrive into Bangkok in the early morning on Day 8 of the trip. The rest of the day is free to explore. As this is a combination trip, your group leader and the composition of your group may change at this location. There will be a group meeting to discuss the next stage of your itinerary. You're welcome to attend, as this is a great chance to meet your new fellow travellers.

Wake up ready to explore Bangkok's oldest neighbourhoods on a walking tour with your leader. Begin after breakfast and hop on a public boat. This is a good chance to take some beautiful pictures of the curves of the Chao Phraya River. After, take a short walk around Talad Noi, with more than 200 years of history and plenty of opportunities to spot the hidden street art. Then head to Wat Tri Mit temple – the site of the world’s largest solid gold seated Buddha from the Sukhothai era, measuring nearly 5 metres tall and weighing 5.5 tonnes. Along the way, you’ll be able to stop by some food stalls on Sukorn Alley for some snacks. Onto the Odien Circle intersection and the Chinese Temple, and finishing with a walk through the bustling daytime Sampeng wholesale market. You’ll have an included lunch at the famous Labour Egg Noodle (or similar), so tuck into some Fish Ball Noodles or Tom Yam Pork Noodles. This afternoon is all yours to explore as you wish. Perhaps pass by Wat Pho and stop in to see who can spot the most images of Buddha (rumour has it there are up to 1000). Tonight, board your overnight train to Surat Thani.

Arrive in Surat Thani early in the morning, then transfer by private minivan to Khao Sok National Park. It's an amazing environment, so colourful and vivid it almost looks like it's fake! When you reach Ratchaprabha Lake Pier, hop on to a long tail boat for another hour to reach a raft house on Cheow Lan Lake, where lunch will be served. These dense rainforests are humming with exotic animals and plants, and some walking trails lead to awesome waterfalls alongside the huge Cheow Lan Lake. Cruise along it and see the limestone cliffs set against the jungle backdrop. Then, you'll enjoy a walk with your group leader to a nearby cave or waterfall. Afterwards, take an evening safari on the lake, when the animals are most active - keep your eye peeled for animals like elephants and Gibbons. In the evening, enjoy a traditional southern Thai dinner, and stay in a simple raft house, which is literally on the lake. Wait till you see the view when you wake up!

This morning, get up bright and early for one final safari on the longtail boat - after last night's adventure, it's time to check out the early morning risers in the animal kingdom. After time for breakfast and a little relaxation, it's time to head back to the pier and then travel to Ao Nang in Krabi province in a private minivan. Home to sweet white-sand beaches and limestone karsts jutting out of cerulean waters, Krabi is a picture-perfect paradise. The main street of this lively beachside town has heaps of bars and restaurants to enjoy. As the sun begins to set, take a quick 15-minute trip out of Ao Nang to a local Thai family’s home. Sit down to the table and share a dinner, along with laughs, and a heart-warming evening experience.

That's the trouble with paradise – there's too many ways to enjoy it. Today is free for you to explore, so that means time to kayak or climb the karst rock formations that surround this place. Your group leader will recommend a trip to Railay Beach, which is definitely a must when visiting Krabi. This bay is only accessible by a short 15-minute long tail boat trip because of the limestone cliffs that surround the bay. It’s an extraordinary sight to see, and a perfect place for a relax and a swim. Otherwise, you might like to take an optional kayaking trip to Ao Thalane and paddle through mangrove forests, coves and narrow karst-walled canyons, keeping an eye out for kingfishers, herons and crab-eating macaque monkeys.

Today is yours. You're free as a bird. An island-hopping day trip is a great way to get a real sense of just how amazing this part of Thailand is. You can take a longtail boat out to stunning islands like Phi Phi, where the swimming is great and the views are even better. You'll never tire of looking up at those karsts towering above the turquoise waters. The real adventure types might opt to go scuba diving. Either way, you approach it, paradise is paradise.

Today is a long travel day by private vehicle. Sit back, relax and let Thailand disappear in the rear-view mirror. Next stop – Malaysia! Penang is Malaysia's prized island. You may have heard that people from Penang are serious about their food, and it is delicious, but there is so much more to this place, such as a gorgeous coastline and a colonial heritage that thrives amid the skyscrapers over Georgetown. The Georgetown area is a cool (and World Heritage-listed) blend of religious sites of worship. Now, what time is it? Street food time! Head with your leader on a tour of the best local haunts, and pick up some delicious specialties on offer. Obviously, things change from day to day, but you might snag an ice kacang (a dessert made with crushed ice, syrup, and a mixture of jellies, nuts and sweet beans), a hearty nasi kandar (steamed rice accompanied by curries, fried chicken, seafood or vegetables) or the popular char kway teow (stir-fried rice noodles)! Afterward, perhaps head out for an optional bar crawl with your leader and the gang – they’ll take you to their favourite spots.

Today your group leader will take you on an orientation walk through the Georgetown area to check out the shophouses, Penang Museum, street art, and clan jetties. Once you've become old friends with this place, the rest of the day is yours. You might like to get your heart rate up with a testing hike up Penang Hill, where the views are oh-so-worth the effort. Or, perhaps check out Kek Lok Si (the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia), Khoo Kongsi (amazingly ornate and one of the oldest clan houses in Malaysia), or Cheong Fat Tze Museum (fascinating if you have an interest in Feng Shui), then go looking for delicious food. This place is famous for its cuisine, as you would’ve worked out from yesterday’s delicious outing, and it’s all thanks to many cultures that have lived side-by-side here for ages.

You'll enjoy a free morning before setting off for Malaysia’s capital today. A short taxi ride will take you to the ferry terminal and then you will take the ferry to Butterworth and from there, you'll take the train to Kuala Lumpur. You'll arrive in the country's capital in the evening and if you're still feeling up for a little adventure, you might like to head out to a bar with a view and take in the city’s lights over a cocktail. Be sure to try and find one with a view of the mighty Petronas Towers, which come to life under lights at night.

Today, you’ll take the train, just like one of the locals, and head out of the city to the famous Batu Caves. Check out the tall Murugan statue and the colourful steps that lead up to the limestone karsts. Be careful of the mischievous monkeys though! If you’re hungry, your leader can show you a place that makes some of the best roti in Kuala Lumpur right near the caves. After some time here, the afternoon will be yours to explore Kuala Lumpur as you wish, make sure you get a map and venture out on some walking adventures. You can hit Bukit Bintang (for restaurants and bars), the Golden Triangle (for shopping), or Menara Tower (entry fee applies). Kuala Lumpur also has some great nightlife - your locally based leader will be sure to know the best spots.

Today is another free day to explore this bustling city. You might like to get up early and grab your tickets to see two of the world's tallest buildings, the Petronas Towers. Be sure to ask your leader how the system works, as probably the best thing to do is book your tickets the day before to make sure you’ll get up the towers. The evening is best spent at the night market sampling the different cuisines on offer and bargain-hunting among the stalls of the famous Petaling Street.

An intriguing blend of Malay, Indian, Chinese and Portuguese cultures, Melaka has a wealth of interesting architecture, distinctive food and proud cultural heritage. You'll take a public bus there and enjoy a free afternoon. Once the most important trading port of Malaysia, Melaka attracted Chinese, Indian, Dutch, Portuguese and British traders, and you'll notice how this diversity is reflected in its overall vibe. Check out Harmony Street where these communities have their places of worship, with a church, mosque, and a couple of different temples.

Today, a public bus journey will take you to Singapore. Your leader will take you on a walk to give you an introduction to this ever-evolving city. There will be time to take in the retail hot spots like Orchard Road and the 'booming cross-cultural culinary scene' before enjoying an evening with your fellow travellers. You might like to hit up one of Singapore’s famous hawker centres (Newton, Lau Pa Sat and Tiong Bahru, to name a few) or take the chance to get up top of the mother of all buildings, Marina Bay Sands. The Sky Bar at Marina Bay Sands boasts sweeping views of the Singaporean port and skyline, perhaps grab a couple of drinks here with the gang. The 360-degree views across the city also give a great bird’s eye view of Gardens By The Bay. While you’re up in the clouds, you might catch its light show!

With no activities planned for today, you’re free to leave at any time. However, we recommend spending a couple more days in Singapore to check out all the British, Indian and Malaysian influences.