Northern Thailand & Beaches

Bangkok baby, your adventure begins! So you've made it to this busy city, and you'll have the first day to settle in and relax, meet your TruFam, go explore the local area, whatever ya fancy. In the evening, it's time for our welcome dinner at one of our favourite restaurants on the one & only Khao San Road! Get to know your fellow travellers over sharing a bucket or two (or any drink of choice, you do you) and get ready for an incredible 21 days together. Holiday mode ON (warning, you may never want to turn it off!)

So you know the film Bridge Over River Kwai? Well, today we are going to see the bridge over River Kwai (surprise)! Before we head off to the river, we hop off to do some shopping and not at just any regular market, but a FLOATING one! Sick right? Once we've done our browsing the market by long-tail boat, it's off to Kanchanaburi now! When we have arrived, we get on another boat and cruise down the River Kwai enjoying the sight of the bridge (an insta worthy moment fo' sho'). It's sunset o'clock and what a better place to watch the sunset than the bridge over River Kwai! Get those poses ready for all the 10/10 shots you're going to get because trust us, you won't want to miss this photo op.

Imagine, a 7 tier, crystal clear blue waterfall surrounded by lush greenery, sounds unreal right! Erawan falls, just an hour away from Kanchanaburi, is basically what you imagine paradise to look like. Something you would expect to see on the television and not in real life, but it is real life! We know TLC said don't go chasing waterfalls but ya know, I think we can be excused this once because just look at how beautiful it is? Make sure you have your swimmers as you'll want to take a dip, and check this out, there are 7 tiers for you to cool off in. Don't say we don't spoil you! It is a little bit of a walk to the top but trust us when we say it is TOTALLY worth it. We'll have some lunch at the waterfalls, gotta stay hydrated and energised from all that walking & swimming ya feel! Then we head back to Kanchanaburi, where you can either chill by the pool or explore the town before we meet for dinner and drinks! Buckets, anyone?

Today you have the morning free before we hit the road again! So choose to spend this morning how you please, whether that's by the pool or exploring the town some more. Next, we are off to Ayutthaya, an ancient capital city, that is dripping with culture and history! We'll hop on some bikes and cycle around the world heritage site, giving us fantastic views. We'll also learn about the fascinating history of Ayutthaya and of course, the kingdom of Siam which is what Thailand used to be called (fun fact for ya, go tell your friends!). Time to grab a bite to eat and then it's all aboard the night train to Chiang Mai! The train is comfortable, you get your own bed with pillows and covers, comfort is key! So it shouldn't be too hard to get a decent night's sleep ready to take on a new place in the morning. The overnight train is defo an experience in itself and should be on your bucket list, a fantastic and different way of seeing Thailand too. Chiang Mai, we're coming in strong.

We check into our guesthouse, which is ideally situated between the old & new areas of Chiang Mai (winning). You'll have some time to relax by the pool or do some exploring and check out the oldest temple in Chiang Mai, which is literally right opposite our accommodation (winning x2!). Now it's time to visit the most famous and possibly the most beautiful temple in Chiang Mai, Wat Pra Maha Doi Sutthep. The views are incredible, situated high up on the mountain, you'll get a panoramic view of the city. There is a hefty set of stairs (300 roughly) but think of the panoramic views, so worth it. Trust, you'll feel on top of the world (literally). Once you've taken your snaps of the insane views and got some for the gram (it's gotta be done), you have the afternoon free to do whatever you would like, before we meet later on, in time for dinner! You can lounge by the pool, take a little nap (having fun is tiring right?), or continue to explore Chiang Mai!

Did someone say TruExclusive? Hell yeah, we did! You won't find this experience anywhere else. We are off to do one of the most popular activities in Northern Thailand, a trek through the jungle. The trek doesn't require a high level of fitness, but it is a bit of a challenge SO beers will be very well deserved afterwards! We'll spend one night in a local village homestay so that you can experience what life is like for the many traditional farmers of Northern Thailand. You'll see their lives have not changed an enormous amount for generations. This truly is an amazing and once in a lifetime experience, definitely one you'll cherish forever. Expect to see all kinds of nature and wildlife when on the trek, maybe even a waterfall or two, amazing scenes as well as photo opportunities (important stuff, duh). Once we get to the hill tribe village, our hosts will cook us a lovely traditional meal, and once our stomachs are full, we can sit around the fire and play some games or exchange some stories. Whatever we do, it's time to chill after a busy day!

Rise and shine! Enjoy your morning in the jungle before it's time we head back to Chiang Mai, but of course, we have a trick up our sleeve, and we are using a much better mode of transport, bamboo rafts! Sick right? We'll float down the river with a cheeky stop at a waterfall because ya know, we can't get enough of those things. Marvel at the wildlife and nature from your raft, see what you can spot. You might see some elephants along the way if your lucky so keep yo' fingers crossed! Trekked through the jungle? Took a bamboo raft down the river? COMPLETED IT MATE! Today's also the day when we will visit an elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai, animal welfare is extremely close to our hearts, and we visit a dedicated elephant rehabilitation sanctuary. The elephants here are free to roam and not here for the entertainment of tourists. We visit to educate ourselves on one of Thailand's most famous native animals but to also redistribute funds to programmes that do good. Once we get back to Chiang Mai, rest up in time to continue our Northern adventure tomorrow!

The adventure capital of Thailand (some may say), Chiang Mai! Today is one of our favourite activities, that is very popular with tourists, and that's ziplining through the jungle! This is going to get your heart racing and adrenaline pumping, you'll practically be flying through the jungle while looking down at it all (if you dare)! Throw in a few rope bridges and abseils, and that's experiencing the jungle in a way you never could by foot! You can thank us later, once you've made all your friends and fam jealous, obvs. This is truly an unforgettable experience!

After an excting few days this morning you'll have the chance to chill, read a book, grab a cocktail, do whatever floats your boat! In the afternoon, grab your bags because we will be hopping on a bus to the hippie town of Pai! Just 3 hours outside of Chiang Mai, a very popular backpacker destination, and we can see why! Filled with cool retro bars, market stalls, excellent food and wonderful people from all walks of life. Ahh, the life of Pai (sorry we had to!).

Day trippin' time! Today we'll head out to see some of Pai's highlights, and it's surrounding areas! Starting at the biggest cave in Thailand, Lod cave, we'll hike through the main chambers and then take a bamboo raft along the river which runs through the cave (depending on season and accessibility). It's like something out of a movie, incredible stuff. Indiana Jones, who? It's now time to give your muscles a break, as we head to the hot springs which are situated in the jungle and are heated by geothermal activity. Take a dip in the crystal clear water, treat yourself to a clay mask and just have the ultimate relaxation session in the warm temperatures. We'll then head to the waterfall nearby with an amazing view! Who needs a waterpark when we have one better, a waterfall with a natural slide! We'll finish off our day at Pai Canyon which means even more amazing views of the surrounding mountains and jungle, and even better, we'll be there at sunset! *cue Sunset Lover by Petit Biscuit* So take yo' pics and take in the insane view before heading back to Pai town. In the evening we'll head to a nice restaurant and a few chilled bars where we can mingle with other backpackers too. After all, we deserve it after the day of sightseeing we've had!

Chill day lets goooo! After a bit of a lie-in, spend your day lounging, swimming, playing a few games, reading a good book or having a snooze in the sun. The choice is yours (don't forget to sun cream up though). Once we've had our relaxation fill, we'll head for dinner and drinks and see where the night takes us.

This morning it's time to head back to Chiang Mai! We hope you're ready to become the new Thai Masterchef as we are off to a cooking school to learn about some of Thailand's traditional dishes and then have a go at making them ourselves! Most of Thailand's delicious food comes from the North, so there's no better way than to learn from the masters themselves, right? First, we'll head to the market where our guides and teachers will show us how to select the freshest & tastiest ingredients, they have that insider knowledge ya feel? Now it's time for us to turn those ingredients we picked into some mouthwatering meals! Don't fret, you'll be shown how to cook the recipes step by step! Now for the best bit, tasting what you've cooked, so make sure you're paying attention when cooking! A fantastic experience, and you'll get to go home with new recipes and new skills, so tell all your friends and fam to get ready! Winner winner chicken dinner (Quorn if your veggie)!

So we all know the Grand Canyon but do you know of Chiang Mai's very own Grand Canyon? Well, if not, don't worry as you'll get to know! This is an old excavation site, where they would dig out sand for building etc. However, now it is a man-made lagoon which has turned into an adult playground, we LOVE to see it! There are countless of slides, floating chairs to lay in, tubes and then for the brave-hearted have a go at cliff jumping, deep water soloing or climbing on their climbing wall. Take yo' pick! There's a restaurant there on-site, so we can grab our lunch, refresh and energise ourselves! In the evening, we head out into Chiang Mai our final dinner and drinks *cue sad song*.

After checking out of our hotel in Chiang Mai, you'll have some free time to explore Chiang Mai, hit up the markets one last time or spend time relaxing by the pool. It's now time to head onto the overnight train, cos we're going back to Bangkok baby!

We are back in Bangkok, and it's time to explore the capital further! We'll hop into a tuk-tuk and head to Bangkok's most prestigious temples, Wat Arun and Wat Pho, which is home to the infamous gold reclining Buddha. We will then ditch the tuks tuks for long-tail boats, as we admire the views of the city from the Chao Praya River, a different way of seeing Bangkok. Take a look into the water and try to see if you can spot the fish, they aren't normally shy! You'll have the rest of the afternoon to explore at your own pace, you can grab a bit from the street vendors, do a bit of shopping at the market and try your best at bartering (our TruNinjas can give you some tips don't fret). In the evening, we will meet for dinner and then head out for drinks on Khao San Road which full of backpackers, some may say it's backpacker heaven. We'll let you decide that for yourself. Either way, it's a good time, you can't go to Bangkok and not go to Khao San Road.

Alexa, play Don't Stop Believing by Journey. Yes, you are taking the midnight train but not just to anywhere! Goodbye Bangkok and hello Khao Sok national park. So we arrive into Surat Thani, but we are off to the floating bungalows and serene lakes which are situated in the national park. Get those sleeping masks on as it's time to catch some Zzzz's.

Okay, so we know everyone says this, but we actually mean it because this place is PARADISE (Coldplay were right). It's like something out of a movie, but it's all real! Imagine clear turquoise lakes, unreal surrounding landscapes and then the best bit, floating bungalows! This is where we will be spending the night, so you can go back home and say you have actually stayed on a floating bungalow. How sick, a real once in a lifetime experience! When in Khao Sok National park, you can take part in some kayaking and explore the lakes more, lounge in a doughnut but make sure you lather up suncream because it can get hot hot hot and no burnt TruFam allowed, sorry we don't make the rules (even though we kinda do!) or you can just lounge in the sunshine with a beer in hand! Not sure about you but that all sounds perfect to us! You'll soon see why this place has always been one of our favourites, absolutely unreal.

Get ready for a TruExclusive, an experience that you won't find anywhere else. Rise and shine, we are up bright and early to enjoy breakfast by the lake before we head to the island of Koh Phangan. When we arrive at the island, it's straight to Bottle beach which is secluded and pristine, it's like nowhere you have seen before. Another one of our favourites! Bottle beach is only acceptable by boat or by a four-wheel-drive that drops you off at a point nearby and then it's a short walk from there. It is insanely beautiful, and we basically have the whole beach to ourselves. We will be staying in the beach bungalows which have an amazing view of the crystal clear sea. While you are here, you can laze around on the beach, have a game of volleyball (winning team can buy the first round) or head out for a bit of snorkelling to see what sea life you can find. There are lots of activities to choose from, you won't be disappointed. In the evening, we'll have some dinner and cocktails with a campfire on the beach, and even a private fire show. We flame to please ya know (sorry not sorry for the pun)!

You are in for a treat today because we are going on a boat trip around Koh Phangan! We will be stopping off at the best snorkelling spots around the island, so dive in (if you can dive, if not jumping is fine too) and see what exotic sea life you can find. The day is spent sailing the day away with the wind in your hair, snorkel at the ready and the factor 50 suncream on! Snorkel amongst the diverse marinelife, make your TruFam member take those all important insta pics or just cool off in the aqua blue waters. Whatever you fancy, it's a 10/10 day. After our fun in the sun, we head back to our accommodation, have a dip in the pool before heading out for our last night *sad reacts*. Enjoy the nightlife in Koh Phangan, because it's only good vibes TruFam!

Today we say goodbye to Northern Thailand and Beaches, but don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened! You'll be leaving with some amazing memories, to cherish forever, and also a pretty amazing bunch of friends you've just made or shall we say, an amazing TruFamily. If you are continuing your adventure, then our TruNinjas will be more than happy to help. Until then, stay epic Trufam