Our Adventures in Thailand

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Itinerary 12 day detail below Cost: $1,900US/person Includes: Guides, all transport (including bicycles, 4 internal flights, scooters, boats and elephants), all accommodation and most meals

What makes our adventures so incredible and unique? What do we promise you? What should you bring for this adventure?

Get ready for Smiling Albino’s favorite adventure of the year - the 6th Annual ‘Songkran Extravaganza’ - April 12-23, 2005.

Songkran (Thai New Years) is Thailand’s grandest holiday. Officially from April 13th to April 15th, but running unofficially for up to a week in northern parts of the country, Songkran sees Thailand’s 63 million people arm themselves with waterguns, hoses, buckets and engaging in what amounts to the world’s largest unorganized water fight. When stepping outside during this holiday one must be prepared to be nothing less than drenched. The only thing Thais love more than soaking a foreigner is being blasted by a visitor’s water-weapon of choice. Grab your soaker and hang on for a cultural adventure never to be forgotten.

When stepping outside during this holiday one must be prepared to be nothing less than drenched. The only thing Thais love more than soaking a foreigner is being blasted by a visitor’s water-weapon of choice. Grab your soaker and hang on for a cultural adventure never to be forgotten.

The price quoted is from an airport pickup the day before your adventure officially begins in Bangkok until the end of our planned itinerary. The adventure includes 80% of your meals (as indicated), 12-nights of quality accommodations, all transport, internal airline tickets, all admissions, tips, snacks, and western and Thai adventure leaders most times. Aside from alcohol and souvenirs you’ll rarely need to dig into your pocket during your Smiling Albino adventure – we’ve got you covered. Prepare to be hosted and truly taken care of!

Read more about Scott's Songkran adventure

Day 0 – Welcome to Thailand!!

Right from the start you’ll experience the Smiling Albino difference. Where most ‘tour’ companies count picking you up at the airport as a day, we don’t. After all, it’s only a few hours. We count a ‘Day’ as just that – an entire day of adventuring.

We’ll be waiting when your plane touches down, brush off the airline peanut shells and welcome you to the ‘Land of Smiles’. Our local representative will escort you to your home away from home and introduce you to your surroundings. Sit back, relax, enjoy a swim and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime.

This day is simply incredible! Today we’ll tick-off five must-see sites, while using all forms of urban transport (tuk-tuk, motorcycle, rapid train, boats and taxi) in a citywide blitz of temples, alleyways, rivers, canals and fine eats to give you a true appreciation of the ‘City of Angels’. Today you’ll see the Golden Mount, the stunning Grand Palace, Wat Po (reclining Buddha), Wat Arun and the urban-canals of Bangkok Noi, to name but a few of our stops. Not only can you tick Bangkok off your list, but you’ll do it in swinging style!

Meals: B,L

Day 2 - Headlights (evening - First day of Songkran!)

Enjoy the day to relax by the pool, explore on your own and get ready for tonight’s main event – Headlights. This is your chance to experience ‘One Night in Bangkok’. While dodging urban water-throwers, we’ll start with an incredible meal then it’s off to check out Muai Thai kickboxing at the country’s premier stadium. We’ll slide into a spectacularly lit temple, visit quirky corners and perhaps snack on a well-seasoned local delicacy - fried grasshoppers! Finally, we’ll end things at legendary Patpong, where night markets collide with colorful characters. Keep your eyes peeled, as you may even see Thai Tom Jones!!

Meals: B,D

Prior to its sacking by the Burmese in 1767, Ayutthaya was the crowning jewel of Siam. We’ll board a private shuttle for our short journey 90km north from Bangkok then use Mary-Poppins-style bicycles to explore the ancient ruins and stone palaces that make up this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The best part is there are no ropes between you and the sites, affording an up close and personal look at Thailand’s most famous historic temples. After our day exploring, soaking, and being soaked, we’ll dry off and blast back to Bangkok in our private shuttle to catch an early evening flight to the country’s northernmost province, Chiang Rai.

Riding: 20km (paved roads)
Meals: B,L,D

Day 4 – Bikes, Boat & Elephant (Third and final official day of Songkran)
Hang on for a day you’ll never forget. We’ll put mountain bikes on a longtail boat and head up river to a Karen (hilltribe group) elephant camp. You’ll get a chance to mount your very own pachyderm and ride through the hills. After lunch we’ll ride beautiful country routes back to Chiang Rai city while trying to soak as many people as we can. Tonight we’ll enjoy a dinner of champions then cut the cord affording you time to peruse the Night Bazaar and maybe even treat yourself to a traditional Thai massage to sooth those aching legs. Watch out as people in this part of the country are known to keep blasting water for a few extra days (somebody buy them a calendar)!

Riding: 20km (paved roads)
Meals: B,L,D
Note: non-cyclists can enjoy all of today’s activities by private van/jeep transport
Note: advanced cyclists can opt for a more challenging and longer bicycle ride back to town

Day 5 – To Chinatown

We’ll kick things off with a comprehensive scooter-driving course then it’s off to one of the Kingdom’s most stunning destinations – Doi Mae Salong. Nestled amongst terraced tea plantations, this area was once opium country, but is now home to Thailand’s premier Oolong tea production and Chinese who fled China during the Cultural Revolution. This 70km ride takes us through, up and over spectacular jungle-covered mountains and through several hilltribe villages. Doi Mae Salong exudes a special, quiet energy that will leave you reflecting on your time here for years to come. We’ll spend tonight in a beautiful Chinese villa, perched on the side of a mountain.

Note: non-scooter-riders can enjoy all of today’s activities by private van/jeep transport
Meals: B,L,D

Day 6 – Over the Hills and Far Away

It’s back on the scooters for a full-day of backcountry riding. We wind up, down and around twisty mountain roads as the hills of Myanmar line the horizon. This dazzling 75km ride takes us through a back entrance to Doi Tung Royal Gardens for lunch, then along the Kingdom’s most spectacular road which literally straddles the Thai-Myanmar border. We’ll bed down at the country’s most northern settlement, Mae Sai, where you’ll sleep right on the border.

Note: non-motorcyclists can enjoy all of today’s activities by private van/jeep transport
Meals: B,L,D

Day 7 – Golden Triangle

We’ll enjoy a short, relaxed country ride to the infamous Golden Triangle where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar converge on the mighty Mekong River. Here we’ll enjoy lunch in a riverside hut then gear up for something a little bit different. We’ll board a high-speed longtail boat, visit a Laoation market, then continue hurtling down river to our destination for the night, Chiang Khong. Here we’ll check into beautiful riverside bamboo bungalows for our final night in the north.

Meals: B,L,D

Day 8 – Mekong Life

Chiang Khong sits on the banks of the Mekong River with Laos facing her from the east. This pristine area is home to some of the most colorful characters in all of Thailand. We’ll venture down river for a Thai-style BBQ along the banks of the beautiful Mekong and a casual afternoon of ‘sabai-sabai’ (relaxed goodness)! Early in the evening we’ll catch a private shuttle to the provincial capital of Chiang Rai and fly back to Bangkok.

Meals: B,L,D

Early in the morning on Day 9, you’ll board a flight to experience true tropical paradise – Krabi & Railay Bay. Located 850km south of Bangkok, Krabi is quickly becoming ‘the’ sun and fun destination in Thailand. You’ll spend the next four days and three nights in a charming bungalow, backing onto jungle-covered mountains. Nearby Railay Bay where climbers dangle from limestone cliffs that rise hundreds of feet straight from the ocean is just a short longtail boat ride away and a perfect place to waste your days away on one of the many beaches. For the more adventurous, the area is a perfect place to paddle a sea kayak, take a climbing course, snorkel, scuba dive, hike, bike or learn how to be a fire-juggler from one of the locals. While you’re in the area, listen carefully and the sound of jaws dropping can be heard – it’s really that spectacular!

Meals: B daily

Day 12 - (afternoon)

As the saying goes, ‘all good things must come to an end’. An afternoon flight will take us back to Bangkok.

Saying goodbye is hard to do and we’re sure you will leave us dreaming about your next SA adventure! “Krang na, pope gan mai na” (see you again next time).