Kayak and Hike Wild Thailand

Overall this trip was great particularly the kayaking and the cycling. It was clear that Seen was made leader at the last minute but he did a fabulous job of organising everything. Group dynamics were good most of the time but as would probably happen on almost every trip, some people were really annoying at times. The food was outstanding but far too much! I feel terrible about how much was wasted. The accommodation were all at least comfortable if not really, really nice. The heat is difficult to bear, no doubt about it, so I would tell others to consider carefully whether they are truly okay with being active in 35 degree heat. I decided to opt out of the stair climb to the Tiger Cave because we did not go early in the morning, like at sunrise. It should have been possible as I read reviews of others doing it then. Nobody came back raving about that bit and I firmly believe that is because the beautiful sunrise and slightly cooler temperature would have made it much better.

What a great trip to Thailand! We saw so much of this beautiful country, the lakes and the beaches were absolutely stunning but the jungle also far exceeded my expectations - the setting of the lodges was beautiful! All of the accommodation was of a really good standard (air con was top notch!), and the group were a brilliant bunch of people - we had so many laughs! The kayaking was great - loved the 3 different locations and it was an easy standard for someone who is more of a beginner on the water! The hikes were slightly less interesting - although the view at the top of the hike in Khao Sok was absolutely amazing! All in all, a really fun trip, with a great mix of beautiful scenery, fun activities and beach time as the trip came to an end. Would highly recommend!

I have just come back from my adventures in Thailand and I can not recommend it enough. You are constantly on the go but not at a manic pace although with he heat it and lack of sleep from the long flight it is exhausting to start with. The country is beautiful and the people are even more wonderful. We had a great guide who was attentive to our needs and knowledgeable alongside with the other guides and helpers on the way, it really made it magical.

Overall the trip was great. There was never a dull moment. I had a lot of fun without any significantly strenuous activity (besides, some food poisoning that I managed to pick up on the way home).

The trip starts out in Bangkok, but you don't have a whole lot of time there so coming out a day or two ahead of time to see the sites is probably a good idea. The Bangkok bike ride was surprisingly fun with an elevated track and a lot of twists and turns.

The Khao Sok Lake was beautiful. There was a hike up a waterfall (literally in the waterfall), so bring some water shoes. The guide wore closed toed Kind brand sandals, which seemed appropriate for every activity we did.

The Tiger temple hike was difficult because although it was short, it was 1200 steep steps in the full sun, heat and humidity. If you don't want to do that there is an easier option around back called the "Tiger cave temple lower loop," which is only 180 steps and well shaded.

Beware of leeches in the Huay To waterfall, I was bitten and I survived thanks to my guide, Buddy.

If I had to say something negative about the trip, I would say that there was not enough beach time and I wish there was a snorkeling trip. But over all, I had a great time.

A fantastic way to experience Thailand. Having all the accommodation and transport booked made this extremely laidback. I loved moving through the different areas from bustling Bangkok, serine lakes, steaming jungle and sparkling seas. My first time in Asia and it’s definitely convinced me to come again. Big shoutout to our guide Buddy who made this whole thing seamlessly and the waterfall hike which was outstanding.

Buddy was a great guide and I really enjoyed the level of activity. Hiking up the steps at the Tiger Cave Temple was not easy but it was worth doing! The waterfall hikes and swimming were the most fun. Throw in biking, kayaking, beautiful accommodations, good food and a fun group of people. It was a recipe for a perfect vacation.

This trip was definitely an adventure. It takes you to so many places you would never find travelling on your own.

Although it was tough at times, (climbing up the tiger cave temple in 30 degrees temperatures) it was so rewarding and every tough climb, there is a breathtaking view waiting for you.

Special mention to our tour guide Buddy, who everyone on our trip (12 of us) absolutely loved! He was kind, caring and made us feel welcome in Thailand. There was rarely something he did not know the answer to and the additional tour guides for kayaking and cycling were excellent too!

The food on this trip is amazing, every meal was delicious and filling. It’s also worth mentioning the restaurants you eat at are cooked by local chefs who again, you would not find travelling on your own.

Anyone wanting to do this trip, we recommend at booking it now!

This was a fabulous trip. It was well organised, our guide (Seen) was conscientious, well organised, courteous - and funny. The accommodation was varied and of a high standard, not 5 star but very nice. The pre-trip contact person in Thailand was quick to respond to any queries and provide the answers. It was a bit more expensive than we would normally have looked at, but at the end of the trip we agreed it was excellent value, well worth what we paid. We would highly recommend MBA.

The kayaking events were all very good. Hiking is close to non existent. Wildlife is scarce Biking is minimal. The description of the Bangkok green island is over romanticised. . very little green about this place, little wildlife and cycling on concrete paths and roads .

Day3 Khao Sok NP may well be teeming with wildlife in areas not accessible. we saw so little. i took my 400mm camera and never used it. We DID NOT trek thro jungle and did not remotely come anywhere close to a viewpoint of any sort . we scrambled up and down a slippery waterfall along with 50 to 60 or more other people, noisy and no chance of wildlife at all.

Day 4 The jungle lodge was one of many set directly off a main road, the description made it sound like we were in the middle of a jungle. the cycling was basic and short,with probably half of it on a main raod and the rest down a few local tracks past a few houses. we did see some rubber and palm trees. The evening hike was down a track in a town with many many other people noisily wandering about with head torches again wildlife was scarce, the guide had no chance . Day 5 was good but the beach was stoney and muddy, not the sort of place you could relax on. Hotel was nice and it wouldbe worth adding that a 24 laundry service is available here. ( 2 nights here). The waterfall was a bit of a drive from the temple and very limiting as regards a dip. ok for a paddle. not the most impressive waterfall.

Koh Yao Yai. the itinery sounded like we were in for a good hike around the island but it was a short wander thro some trees , not exactly lush jungle. We saw one bird!. yet more rubber tree education. . The photo in the agenda suggests we may see the view. We had no viewpoint. i suspect this is a drone image but to my mind is misleading advertising. i was hoping to see a view like this or similar.

The epic sea kayaking was EPIC. probably the. . best day of the trip.

The trip generally was very well organised and our local rep was perfect. The food provided got a bit repetitive having the same offerings every day, lunch and dinner. the food was lovely but too plentiful and we were all very conscious of the food waste we created. .

Kit list items not need: Head torches provided. No need for water bottle as we had regularsupplies of plastic water bottles, not environmentally friendly but thats what they do. No real need for travel towel Waterproof ponchos were provided, no need for waterproofs.

Snorkeling was NON existant as th waters we were in were limestone cloudy and murky.

I feel the trip notes were written by a creative writer with an inaccuracy of the actual events . I had envisaged a much more off the beaten track experience of Thailand with plenty of wildlife. We pretty much followed a typical tourist trail . The events were all 'flowered up' and from that point i was rather disappointed.

The floating bungalows were novel and fun but there was nothing tranquil about sleeping there. We had a night of constant bangs and creeks, had a better time on the sleeper train.

Just points for reflection. i dont consider the trip value for money.

From cheeky monkeys to Cheeky Charlie the boat driver on the sea kayak trip, how to describe this trip? Exhausting, exhilarating, fascinating, authentic, stunning. . . . just the best trip with the best companions! Rit, the Thai Guide was just brilliant too. . . already looking at the next one!

Seen was a fantastic guide: knowledgeable, great attention to detail, fluent in English, responsive to the needs of each individual. The tour had a great variety of activities and excellent accommodation.

A trip of a lifetime

I went on this trip solo - January 2025. There was a great mix of people and we all got on really well. It was sad to say goodbye to everyone at the end. Our host Seen was absolutely amazing and really took care of us. His knowledge and kindness massively surpassed any expectations I had of a tour guide. I would have skipped the first cycle trip but only due to my inexperience. Every day was packed full of great things to see and do. Everything was excellent. Sitting on a boat or kayak, the views were just amazing. The food was fantastic- you definitely will not go hungry. The steps up to see the big Buddha are a bit tough in the heat but manageable. So great to see the monkeys as well. Seen took plenty of photos for us and added them to the WhatsApp group chat so it was good that I didn’t need to keep taking selfies all the time. Everything was well organised and we were always informed of what was coming up next. I can’t recommend this trip enough.

Our guide Seen was excellent and very engaging - full of interesting information and fun facts about the places and people we visited. The activities were well paced from cycling to kayaking to hiking. And so much food! 4 or 5 course locally prepared lunches on most days with a fabulous variety of authentic Thai cuisine. The accommodation was also varied and exceptionally good. Our lovely group of 12 gelled well which really added to our enjoyment of this trip. Of all the activities we particularly enjoyed the sea kayaking on the last day - a lovely way to end a truly memorable adventure.

It was less adventurous than expected with all activities light, the food and accommodation surpassed expectations - and especially good were the 2nd cycle and last day sea kayak shame the long boat broke down so we had less kayaking time.

What a great trip! We really felt we got to see the real Thailand through our adventures. The days were so well arranged from transfers to activities, cultural info to warm locals additional guides. Our guide Seen ensured the whole group was cared for from start to finish. He ensured we felt comfortable on each activity and kept checking in as we went. After the morning activity we usually arrived at a lunch location that you felt was not on the usual tourist route, with food already ordered - normally a wonderful Thai banquet. Some Dinners were included also and Seen took us to a nice variety. My father had a small accident during the week and Seen immediately sprung into action with a first aid kit and then took him off to a clinic to get seen by a nurse. All in all a wonderful 9 days getting to bike, kayak and hike through Thailand with a caring and knowledgeable guide.

What an amazing adventure we had. Every part of our trip was excellent and different. Our guide Seen made our trip memorable . His attention to detail and care was very professional but also relaxed and fun.

This was a mix of very varied activities, with each day being different. The sea Kyaking was the highlight. Jungle treks with very experienced guides were very informative. All the local guides were very experienced and knowledgeable. The main guide Seen was brilliant. Accommodation and food was amazing with the opportunity to stay in some unique locations and eat local food. The tour was rated as easy and I would agree with this. It certainly was a group of 9 like minded people.

I had a brilliant time and I really enjoyed it, and our leader Seen (the king of Thailand) made the trip x100 better as well. The places we stayed was out of this world the food was delicious and the activities was so much fun.

This was an excellent eight days with like minded people. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and our guide Seen was very informative and always up for a laugh. In short he was outstanding. The use of local community guides in different locations, gave us the opportunity to give something back to the locals. It was classed as ‘Easy’- some of the days exercises needed to be a little longer to stretch us a bit more. It would be part of the development for MBA to do an intermediate course within these locations as well. The food and accommodation was something else too. I would thoroughly recommend this adventure to anyone!

This is a really great way of seeing different parts of southern Thailand in a pretty short amount of time. It's well thought out in terms of balancing the amount of traveling you do for the reward in terms of activities and new places.

Accommodation is of a high standard throughout, you get fed very well and there's a few quieter days in there where you can catch your breath as well.

My first MBA trip and I had a great time - we had a really diverse group in terms of ages and backgrounds and it made the trip that much more enjoyable.

Huge credit has to go to our guide Issy who absolutely made the trip - she worked really hard every day to make sure we got the most out of all the activities and places we visited and was a great laugh as well.

Very much enjoyed this trip. The leader Issy was amazineg with so much energy and passion and hard working. . The trip had good variety with walks, kayaking and cycling. Beautiful national parks. . Amazing thai food.

I am so pleased I booked this trip, it was a great way to see so much of Thailand. We covered a lot of different places over these 9 nights and it never felt rushed. Our tour guide Issy made this trip even better, she was absolutely amazing! Nothing was ever too much trouble and she always ensured we had everything we needed and certainly kept us very well fed! All of the restaurant choices were phenomenal, a lot of which were nestled in the quieter and more local areas which gave you the 'real feel' of Thailand and how the local communities live. The accommodation was a good mix, I particularly enjoyed the Floating Bungalow and Jungle Raft house. The sleeper train was a great experience also! The activities planned each day were just right and not too strenuous, the Tiger Cave Temple was definitely a challenge for me being quite steep in areas and the waterfall climb allowed me to channel my inner mountain goat! I would class these two as slightly more on the moderate rating than easy. Overall, an absolutely cracking trip, very well executed and made even better by Issy. Couldn't have asked for more, I'm already looking to book my next trip via MBA!! Thanks all.

I’ve been to Thailand before but not like this. Most of it really is off the beaten track. Saw a new side to the real country, met new friends. Would I do again? YES! activity level varied from gentle walks? Bike rides and kayaking to a couple of tough climbs. The Tiger temple climb is tough! But it’s optional but our whole group completed it! Mixed group of 11, aging 19 to 60 ish. Mostly brits plus 2 Europeans and 2 Canadians. Superb mix, worked really well. Food was amazing (and so so much! You’ll never go hungry) and varied, tried lots of new things. The guide Issy is a legend, couldn’t do enough ♥️

What a fantastic way to experience Thailand for the first time. Our guide Issy made the whole trip run so smoothly, was always available for questions, giving us an authentic experience throughout. Food was plentiful and delicious from all locations & accomodation was great throughout. Activities were both challenging & fun, highlights for me were the wildlife hikes and kayaking. If you want a fun and sustainable option to meet others, spend time with locals & see some top sights in Thailand, book this!

This trip was made extra amazing by our lovely guide Issy, nothing was too much trouble and she helped us experience the real Thai life. The water bungalows were fantastic and I personally would have liked to have stayed 2 nights here. We saw wild elephant, monkeys and the whole trip was a fabulous way of seeing the best bits of Thailand.

I have just finished this trip and I can’t wait to book the next!

The activities were full of variety and well organised. They were by no means strenuous but left you suitably tired each day.

Our guide Issy was incredible, she was so accommodating and caring. She was a great laugh and she felt more like part of the group. We couldn’t have asked for a better guide.

I have no complaints at all about this trip, it was amazing from start to finish and I highly recommend to anyone looking to adventure Thailand😊

The trip was amazing from start to finish, each day when you thought it couldn’t get better, it just did! We had so many amazing experiences packed into the trip. Made new memories and new friends for life.

This was a great way to see some less touristy parts of Thailand. The kayaking in particular was really special. So many wow moments and our guide, Issy, was fantastic and really made the trip.

If you are planning a trip to Thailand, look no further. I can’t think of any other way you can experience so much of a country in 10 days: from the lights and clamour of Bangkok, to the tranquil waters of Khao Sok National Park, and the bustling night market of Old Phuket.

A real highlight for me was the floating bungalows and jungle lodge around Khao Sok, where we were lucky enough to see and hear wild gibbons. Their territorial cries are something you’ll never forget. Neither are the sounds of the jungle, loud, but also peaceful and far from the hustle and bustle of people.

That said, this isn’t a relaxing holiday. The days can get intense, especially with 37-degree C heat and high humidity. Most days we were up for breakfast by 7am and out by 8am, ready for a full day of activity which didn’t stop until late afternoon/early evening, and usually involved packing bags and travelling 100 or so miles. This and the intense heat made the activity level on this trip a challenge. Walking 5km uphill in near 40-degree heat is not easy.

Echoing the comments below, the food was fantastic, and our guide made sure all dietary requirements were well catered for. With our guide, Rit, and other local guides to help us, I also felt we saw so much more of Thailand than we could’ve achieved alone, and certainly much more if you stick to the tourist spots.

Things I couldn’t live without on this trip were: mosquito spray/repellent, walking boots, loose fitting tops and shorts which covered shoulders and knees (helpful for sun and mosquito protection as well as temples), waterproof phone case.

I also highly recommend staying an extra night in Bangkok and Old Town Phuket. There's so much to explore!