This trip will take you to the most remote and gloriously wild places in Thailand as you enjoy one incredible adventure after the next and challenge yourself with outdoor sports and activities.  Look out for wild elephants and monkeys while exploring Umphang Wildlife preserve, scuba dive in the southern islands where whale shark sightings are frequent,and rock climb on magnificent limestone karsts rising vertically out of the turquoise sea.

The most incredible month of your life begins as you touch down in Bangkok, an amazingly diverse crossroads of Southeast Asia where you’ll have time to relax and recharge after your long flight with a traditional Thai massage.  Next you’ll get your first taste of Thailand’s famous cuisine with a Thai feast at a top-notch restaurant.  Early the next morning you’ll hop on a quick flight to Phitsanulok, an ancient city in central Thailand that began as a small Khmer outpost 800 years ago and became one of the most important cities in the kingdom.  After a brief tour of Phitsanulok , you will head to nearby Sukothai, once the capital of the Thai kingdom, for a bike tour of the magnificent palace ruins.  Next it’s off to Thai-Burmese border city of Mae Sot where you’ll learn about issues affecting Burmese people and take a day trip into Mywaddy, Burma.  After returning to the Thai side of the border in the evening, it’s time to get ready to set out for Umphang. Located in the mountainous province of Tak, Umphang is the most remote place in Thailand.  Spectacular waterfalls cascade down near vertical rock faces that jut out of virgin tropical forest.  See life as it has been lived for centuries in mountain villages of ethnic hill tribe people.  Umphang Wildlife Preserve is home to many rare animals including monkeys and wild elephants.  You’ll spend several days trekking, exploring and enjoying the natural wonders of Umphang.

Next you will return to Bangkok via a short flight from Phitsanulok.  In Bangkok you will have a chance to check out SuanLum Night Bazaar, Bangkok’s most famous night market for great shopping and authentic Bangkok style food.  The following morning another short flight takes you to Had Yai in South Thailand.  From Had Yai, you’ll take a ride to the Andaman coast and its beautiful rainforest-crowned islands.  Earn your open water scuba diving certification or advance your current certification level in one of the most exquisite and unspoiled locations in Thailand.  There will also be time to chill out on the beach, explore the rainforest, and go sea kayaking.  After completing your scuba diving, enjoy the full beauty of these Andaman Sea islands with a camping trip, and sleep under the stars.

Next you’ll travel toKrabi, where thousands of limestone karsts defy gravity as they tower over pristine turquoise waters.  Here you will experience world-class rock climbing in some of the most beautiful scenery imaginable.  Plenty of beach time, and trips into town will also be part of your stay at Krabi.  You will take a ferryboat to Phi Phi Island for another chill island experience and an optional night dive to see a whole different side of life in the reef.  Explore the many small islands and beaches by boat and get ready for your next challenge.

After leaving Phi Phi, your final destination world famous Phuket, a sunny tropical playground where you can participate many exciting optional activities and sports like sea kayaking, mountain biking, snorkeling, diving.  Here you may even be able learn to fly with an optional paragliding course (subject to availability).  Return to Bangkok with a suntan and amazing stories and adventures under your belt.

For more information on this Gap Year module or any of our other extensive Gap Year offerings, please e-mail us at gap@rusticpathways.com. 
 

 
EXPLORE Um Phang – home to wild elephants and Thailand’s most spectacular jungles and waterfalls.
STEP into another world on a day trip to Burma.
SPLASH into Thailand’s world-class diving in Koh Tarutao and enjoy wreck and night dives in the warm, placid waters of the Gulf of Thailand.
ROCK CLIMB the magnificent limestone karsts that rise directly out of Krabi’s turquoise waters.
WINDSURF across breezy ocean bays and hidden coves or paraglide over the famous beaches of Phuket.
PADDLE your way through unbelievable scenery in a sea kayak and kick it on some of Thailand’s world-famous white sand beaches – you won’t want to leave!
   
 

$3,965* + Internal Air*
Departs
Returns
1 May
31 May