Participants will travel throughout Thailand’s northern and southern regions, exploring the cultural capital of the North in Chiang Mai, historic and enchanting temples, hill tribe communities, primary forests, wild rivers, limestone caves and islands, stunning beaches, an elephant sanctuary, national parks, and the Nation’s capital city, Bangkok. You will have the opportunity to participate on activities such as:

• Snorkeling around Koh Phi Phi
• Rock climbing, rappelling and cave exploration in the deep spectacular caverns in the north of Thailand.
• Sea kayaking beautiful islands and hidden Caves around Phang-Nga Bay
• Feed and bath elephants at an elephant conservation park
• Two day hill-tribe jungle trek, hiking in the jungles and to indigenous Hill Tribes in Northern Thailand
• Gain an insight into the culture and tastes of Thailand at a cultural dinner and show
• White Water Rafting the Mae Taeng River
• Thai cooking school
• Explore the beautiful Khao Sok Lake and spot a variety of wildlife
  

Note: See ISV’s Tour Itinerary (below) which specifies the Program’s Included Activities and those provided in the ISV Optional Activity Package.

Adventure Tour Locations

“Through ISV’s amazing program I was able to experience so many aspects of Thai culture. The staff truly helped make my trip one I will never forget. The effort applied for the trip to run so smoothly was apparent day after day. Thank you ISV, my life has forever been changed in a positive way!!” – Brittany VanGundy Ohio University

Adventure Tour Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrive to Khao Sok: Travel by bus from your volunteer project to Khao Sok National Park, featuring beautiful waterfalls, thick rainforest and an amazing array of wildlife including wild elephant, leopard, and over 175 bird species.  Enjoy a free night to enjoy the sounds and sights of Khao Sok National Park.

Day 2 – Khao Sok (Khao Sok Lake Tour): Free day to explore the beautiful Khao Sok National Park. Hike through the jungles to one of the many waterfalls. Enjoy a full day of exploring the inner most jungles of Khao Sok National Park by boat. Journey through the hidden inlets, visit the islands and spot gibbons at play while enjoying the sounds and sights of this magnificent area. In the evening return to the accommodation to take in the rainforest sounds at night. 

Day 3 – Khao Sok to Railay Beach: Travel to the Andaman Coast where you will take a long tail boat from the mainland to get to the peninsula of Railay. After checking into our accommodation, join your ISV Tour Leaders as they take you on an afternoon guided exploration to some of the most amazing sights Railay Beach has to offer, including a beautiful hidden cave. Finish the quick tour of Railay with a visit to our climbing school to be fitted with your climbing gear for the following day’s climbing activity. This evening, relax as you sit on the beach and enjoy the spectacular scenery.

Day 4 – Railay Beach (Snorkeling Koh Phi Phi): Travel to the islands made famous by the movie "The Beach" - Koh Phi Phi. Experience the amazing reef environments which are known as one of Thailand’s best diving and snorkeling areas. Some of the highlights you may expect underwater are sea anemones, schools of batfish, barracudas, trevallies and giant groupers. Here, we will snorkel at two locations and for those that are keen to try it, scuba diving is available at an additional cost. Enjoy a free evening to soak up the atmosphere of Railay and prepare for the following two-day Sea Kayak adventure.

Day 5 – Railay Beach to Koh Yao Noi (Sea Kayaking): Today we will sea kayak around Ao Phang-Nga, featuring beautiful limestone cliffs, odd rock formations and islands rising out of the sea like inverted mountains. We’ll spend the day exploring the beautiful islands and caves once used as hideouts for pirates.

Day 6 – Koh Yao Noi to Chiang Mai: Today we will fly into the visually striking Northern Capital of Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. Unwind with a free night out in this vibrant city and visit the famous night markets.

Day 7 – Chiang Mai (Traditional Thai Massage, Thai Cooking School): Today is a free day to explore the ancient temples and streets of Old Chiang Mai and/or take a cruise up the Mae Ping River. Visit Doi Suthep, a 1676m (5028 ft) mountain peak that offers stunning views over Chiang Mai. Near the summit, you may visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, one of the north’s most sacred temples. For those with the optional activity package you will enjoy an traditional Thai massage at our beautiful massage spa, followed by an evening learning how to cook up to five local Thai dishes with our Thai Cooking School.

Day 8 – Chiang Mai to Mae Taeng (Elephant Nature Park): Today visit an elephant conservation park. Gain an understanding of the issues relating to elephant tourism in Thailand. View Asian elephants in their near natural environments as they roam free throughout the park. Getting close and personal with the elephants; assist with the mornings feeding and bathing of the elephants, or assist in walking them to the elephant haven, a beautiful jungle setting where the elephants roam free at night. You will stay in the beautiful Lisu Lodge nestled in the valley of Mae Taeng. Experience the friendly hospitality and hill tribe culture of this authentic accommodation.

Day 9– Mae Taeng (Jungle/Hill-tribe Trek): Today you begin an overnight journey into the jungles of Northern Thailand. You will journey by foot, hiking through the hillsides and local villages. Visiting a number of different hill-tribe people you will gain an insight into the lifestyles of these cultures.

Day 10 – Mae Taeng (Jungle Trek – White Water Rafting): After breakfast, you depart the village, further travelling by foot, passing by a waterfall for a quick swim. Later, we will travel to our rafting company, who will take you on the high adrenalin white water rafting on the Mae Taeng River (Class III and IV rapids). Following the fun and excitement of the white water rafting, you will travel back to Chiang Mai.

Day 11 – Chiang Mai (Free day): Enjoy a free day taking in the sights, sounds and surrounds of Chiang Mai. You may which to continue your adventurous travel with a trip to Doi Inthanon for a day of canyoning; rappelling down waterfalls, jumping into deep pools and sliding down natural rock slides.

Day 12 –Chiang Mai (Rock Climbing, Rappelling and Cave exploration): Spend the day learning to rock climb, exploring the cave systems through some tight holes and rappelling into a massive cavern that opens up to an alternate exit point. It will be a first for many people as we also zip across a Tyrolean traverse (zip-line) to a rappel that takes us into one of the large caverns. Our expert instructors will keep you challenging your fears with the reward of a great accomplishment.

Day 13 – Chiang Mai to Bangkok: Today is a free day to explore the rest of Chiang Mai; visit the ancient city of Wiang Kum Kam, and enjoy the shopping at the handicrafts villages and Thai Silk Village. Or simply relax and explore the temples surrounding Chiang Mai. This afternoon we depart Chiang Mai to travel by overnight sleeper train to the buzzing and steamy capital of Thailand Bangkok.

Day 14 – Bangkok (Sights and Temples; Siam Niramit): Today is a free day in Bangkok to explore the many temples, busy streets, markets and river life.For those with the Optional Activity Package you will explore the capitals Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha plus traveling by long-tail boat through the old waterways (khlongs) of Bangkok. This evening we will enjoy the spectacular stage performance of Siam Niramit. Discover the traditions, culture and tastes of Thailand through the stage show, exploring the Thai Village and a pre show meal.

Day 15 – Bangkok (Departure): The adventure ends! Time to return home.

Accommodations:   All accommodations have been carefully selected for their comfort and ideal locations. Accommodations range from nice tourist class hotels to jungle bungalows.

Meals: Most meals are provided by ISV. Meals during times of sightseeing will be the responsibility of participants.

Activities:  ISV includes a minimum of five activities in the program price to make your experience unforgettable. Activities are subject to change but may include activities such as snorkeling the tropical waters around Koh Phi Phi, rock climbing and rappelling at Railay Beach, Thai cultural dinner and dance performance, Northern overnight hill-tribe trek and two day sea kayaking in Ao Phang Nga.

Disclaimer: Exact dates, itineraries, accommodations and included activities will be given to participants in the ISV Participant Travel Manual approximately 30 days prior to departure. ISV reserves the right to change the ISV tour itinerary, accommodations and activities without notice. Any and all changes are within the discretion of ISV Inc.

Optional Activity Package (OAP)