Kayak and Hike Wild Thailand

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!

This was my first trip to Asia from the US and I thought it was the trip of a lifetime. Our main guide, Rit, and each of our local guides in each city were enthusiastic, welcoming, knowledgeable, and highly communicative. Every single day we saw and did things that were unique and mind blowing. The trip was rated "easy" but due to the very hot weather some of the activities seemed very strenuous. Luckily, everyone was patient with each other, and on kayaking days our guides would offer to do most of the paddling for us so we could lay back and enjoy the scenery.

I think as long as people go into the trip with realistic expectations about roughing it in remote tropical places they will be very pleased. The hotel accommodations were mostly top notch, however, the overnight train, the floating bungalows, and the jungle bungalows are not what many Westerners are used to. If you can overlook having bugs or salamanders in your room for a few nights and relish in the beauty of where you are, you will enjoy the trip.

The food was outstanding everywhere we went and even on our free nights our guide, Rit, was kind enough to organize dinner for anyone who wanted to join so no one ever had to dine alone. The spreads that showed up at each meal were jaw dropping and delicious.

In our 50% US and 50% UK group we had a few solo travelers, a couple, and mother/son duo, which led to a balanced and interesting group. I have hundreds of photos of this trip (and the meals) that I will treasure for years to come.

Had an absolutely wonderful time on this journey. The itinerary is perfectly mixed with adventure and time for relaxation. Initially concerned about being just four people on this trip, but we quickly formed a close bond. With only the four of us, we felt a sense of exclusivity every day. I is amazing how you can feel so secluded and serene in this popular turist destination. loved avery minute. Our guide, Ritt, was amazing. No other words are needed.

Brilliant trip with a super group of likeminded people. Loved exploring forests, mangroves, islands and caves before falling asleep to the sounds of the jungle in wonderfully comfortable accommodation. Although the trip is rated “easy”, there was enough physical action to ensure we were nicely tired at the end of each day. Delicious, plentiful and authentic Thai food. Vegetarian/vegan very well catered for; lots of choice with sharing-style dishes. Our wonderful guide Rit went above and beyond to make sure everyone was looked after (thank you!). TIP: Pack a pair of binoculars if you’re into wildlife spotting (get up for a dawn kayak from the floating bungalow), and highly recommend an extra day or two in Phuket to explore the Old Town or chill at the beach.

This is a fun trip with beautiful scenery and amazing food. All the accommodation was varied and excellent. Great mix of activities, we were on the go every day. The kayaking and hiking activities were a bit on the easy side, they were more like tourist excursions rather than actual hiking and kayaking. There was a lot of time spent travelling from place to place. Ko Yao Yai was fabulous, I'd love to have spent more time there. The Krabi hotel location was disappointing as there's nothing to do in the vicinity. This trip gives you a fabulous taste of Thailand!

Amazing trip, would definitely recommend!

Highly recommend this trip! The activities were well rounded and manageable for most individuals and still gave a reasonable time for relaxing! Nai, our guide, was great and really attentive and the food was great throughout! The accommodation was also wonderful throughout! Staying on the floating huts on Khao sok lake was magical and also the kayaking exploring the islands off of Phuket was fantastic despite not the best weather Already looking to book my next adventure

Great trip with great people! Would recommend it for anyone looking to do what normal tourists don’t get to do

Really great trip, happy we saw so much of the real Thailand, away from lots of tourists. Our guide Nai was great. Khao sok floating hotel was a real highlight! Plenty of delicious food

The areas visited were all fantastic. Krabi and the location of the hotel was the one weak link

This was an excellent trip connecting us with the beautiful natural environment of Thailand through outdoor adventure. It’s amazing how we managed to experience so many things in ten days - hiking to scenic lookouts, kayaking through mangroves and caves, walking on white sandy beaches, and immersing ourselves into the culture of the local communities. Our guide Rit did an amazing job to make sure we were seamlessly moved along and he always ensured the food arrived piping hot just as we sat down. I can only imagine how much work Rit and the organisers put in to create such an unforgettable and mind blowing experience for all of us. You’ll be missing out if you haven’t already signed up for this trip!

If you’re wavering about doing this trip, stop now and book it! You’ll see and experience so much. From start to finish we had the best time, amazing experiences, fantastic people, wonderful food, scenery which will make you sit silent in wonder. The organisation was seamless and it’s difficult to think how our guides could possibly have been any better; they were so enthusiastic and went out of their way to make sure we had an extraordinary time. The accommodation was really comfortable and exciting - floating bungalows/jungle tree house/top notch hotel - just smashing from start to finish, one of the very best holidays we’ve ever had.