- Tour code
THAADV02
- Start
Bangkok
- End
Phuket
- Min. age
16 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Explorer
- Trip pace
Easy
- Language
English
Most visitors see Bangkok and a beach. This trip adds the pieces in between: the rattle of the overnight train, a paddle through flooded forest to a glass-clear lake, and a morning on the water in Khao Sok National Park with mist hanging off the limestone.
It starts on the river in Bangkok, with a private long-tail boat along the old canals and a temple visit most tour groups skip. A sleeper train carries you south overnight to an eco retreat in the jungle above Krabi, where you'll cook at a small family-run restaurant and eat papaya salad and grilled seafood at a local spot well away from the tourist strip.
Then the road climbs into Khao Sok, one of the oldest rainforests on earth, and you fall asleep in a raft house on a still lake. Phuket closes the trip at a quicker pace, with island hopping by jet ski, snorkeling over coral and an evening at a beach club on Bangtao Beach.
Your Soca Islands Host is with you throughout, so the boats, trains and transfers are handled and you can focus on the experience and on getting to know the group.
Why This Journey
Thailand is easy to visit and surprisingly easy to see badly, moving from one crowded viewpoint to the next. This route is built around the in-between places: the canal neighborhoods of Bangkok, the night train, the kitchen of a family restaurant and a lake in the middle of the rainforest where the only sounds after dark are insects and water.
It suits travelers who have done the classic beach trip, or never wanted to, and would like adventure with the logistics already solved. You still get your Phuket sunset, but by then you've slept on a train and on a lake, and the beach club feels earned.
Where You'll Stay
Bangkok (1 night): Riva Surya Bangkok, on the river in the old quarter. Krabi (2 nights): Anana Ecological Resort Krabi, a jungle eco retreat above Ao Nang. Khao Sok (1 night): a floating raft house on the lake inside the national park. Phuket (3 nights): SAii Laguna Phuket, on Bangtao Beach. Night 2 is spent aboard the overnight sleeper train to Surat Thani. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Rooms are based on two people sharing a double room with two beds.
Getting There
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travellers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Fly into Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and out of Phuket International Airport (HKT). Arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
What you will see and do
Paddle a kayak across the clear water of Nong Thale lake
Sleep on the water in a raft house in Khao Sok National Park
Cook Thai favorites in the kitchen of a family-run restaurant
What's included
All activities mentioned on the itinerary
Accommodations in double rooms
Experienced Soca Islands Host with you throughout the trip
Max 16 travellers per group
One farewell group activity when possible
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Group transportation
What's excluded
- International flights (travellers arrange their own)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Optional activities, such as the Railay Beach stop, spa treatments and massages
- Single room supplement (single rooms on request, subject to availability)
- Extra hotel nights before or after the trip
Group itinerary
Land in Bangkok and your private transfer takes you into a city where glass towers stand beside centuries-old temples. Check in, rest after the flight or take a first walk along the river.
This evening you meet your Soca Islands Host and the group over a first traditional Thai meal, with Wat Arun lit up across the river. Afterward, head up to a rooftop sky bar to see the city spread out in lights below.
You set off in a long-tail boat, just for your group, along Bangkok's old canals and riverside neighborhoods, past stilt houses, small shrines and floating vendors. You'll stop at a lesser-visited temple, where you'll make an offering in the traditional Buddhist way, then refuel with street food for lunch.
Come evening, you climb aboard the night train south to Surat Thani. The sleeper berths are made up, the dining car is open, and you drift off as the countryside slips past outside.
By morning you've reached the south. The transfer carries you on to the eco retreat where you'll stay, close to Krabi, set in thick jungle with a pool to cool off in.
Take it easy today: book a spa treatment if you like, or just watch the sun go down over the Andaman Sea. Dinner is at a local restaurant off the tourist track, with spicy papaya salad and grilled seafood on the menu.
Your paddle today winds through flooded forest and between tall limestone cliffs until the trees open onto Nong Thale Crystal Lake, its water so clear you can see the sandy bottom. There's an optional stop at Railay Beach, where climbers scale the rock walls above the sand.
Later, a family-run restaurant opens its kitchen for a hands-on cooking class: pounding curry paste, balancing sweet, sour and salty, and learning the dishes the family cooks at home. You'll eat what you make, either at lunch or dinner.
Today a long-tail boat takes you deep into Khao Sok National Park, a huge sweep of rainforest and limestone peaks rising straight out of the water.
Home for the night is a raft house floating on a still lake. After a Thai lunch, a guide leads you on a forest hike in the afternoon, watching for hornbills and monkeys in the canopy, then it's dinner and a drink on the water as the light goes.
Rise at first light for a wildlife-spotting safari on the water, just for your group, while the park is still quiet. After breakfast, there's time to kayak or swim straight off the raft before your long-tail boat carries you onward.
You'll stop for lunch at a local spot, then transfer to Phuket, where the evening is free to explore or simply unpack and rest.
The morning is slow: stay by the pool or book a spa treatment.
In the afternoon you jump on a jet ski and zip out to Yao Yai, Koh Li Pe and other islands of Phang Nga Bay, pulling into quiet bays to snorkel over coral and tropical fish below towering limestone cliffs.
Spend the morning in or beside the sea, at your own pace.
Late in the afternoon you head to one of Phuket's most popular beach clubs. Order a cocktail, or book a Thai massage instead. Watch the sun drop into the sea at Bangtao Beach, then keep the night going with your group.
After breakfast, say goodbye to your new friends and transfer to Phuket Airport (HKT) for your flight home, recharged and already planning the next trip.
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
Riva Surya Bangkok
A 68-room riverside hotel on Phra Athit Road in the old quarter of Bangkok, with the Chao Phraya River on one side and the cafés and bars of Banglamphu on the other. The Grand Palace, Wat Pho and the express-boat piers are close by, and Wat Arun sits a short boat ride downriver.
A riverside pool, a café and a riverside bar give the group an easy place to regroup after a long flight.
Rooms are 32 m² (344 ft²), with a king bed or twin beds.
Hotel websiteAnana Ecological Resort Krabi
An eco-focused resort in the green hills behind Ao Nang, surrounded by forest and limestone. The resort runs complimentary eco transport to the beaches, shops and restaurants of Ao Nang, about eight minutes away.
A long pool fed by water from the nearby mountains sits at the centre of the resort, and its farm supplies the restaurants, café and cooking school. There is a sky lounge for sunset and a swim-up bar.
Rooms are 38 m² (409 ft²), with two queen beds.
Hotel websiteSAii Laguna Phuket
A beachfront resort on Bangtao Beach within the Laguna Phuket complex on the west coast, about 25 minutes by road from Phuket International Airport. The beach clubs of Bangtao are within easy reach.
Three pools, one with a long water slide, and several restaurants, cafés and bars make it an easy base for the free time on this trip.
Rooms are 43 m² (463 ft²), with a king bed or twin beds.
Hotel websiteRooms
You'll stay at Trip Hotel.
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- +$920 per person
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
Room prices are per person for the Apr 17, 2027 departure and can differ on other dates. You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
Fly into Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) and out of Phuket International Airport (HKT).
Proposed accommodation is Riva Surya Bangkok in Bangkok, Anana Ecological Resort Krabi near Ao Nang and SAii Laguna Phuket on Bangtao Beach (or similar hotels), subject to confirmation. Night 2 is on the overnight sleeper train and night 5 is in a raft house in Khao Sok National Park.
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travellers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
Yes. Arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
8 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 5 dinners are included, as described in the itinerary. Other meals are at your own cost.
Extra nights can be requested, subject to hotel availability; contact our Customer Experience team for a quote.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day, so feel free to book your departure at your own convenience.
We recommend arriving before 3 pm on Day 1 to make it in time for the welcome event. But don’t worry no matter when you land, we’ll have an airport transfer ready for you.
Please Refer to your government’s travel advice or consult your local consulate. Remember, passport and visa requirements can change, so make sure to stay updated.
Excluding alcohol, we suggest budgeting around USD $40.00 per day for extras.
While we’re not medical professionals, we want to help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure. Here are some tips:
- Consult with a healthcare professional: Schedule an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure to get any necessary vaccines or medications.
- Up-to-date medical advice:
- US residents: Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- UK residents: Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website.
- Australian residents: Refer to the Smart Traveler Health website.
3. Government travel advice:
- US residents: Consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
- UK residents: Check the FCDO Travel Advice.
- Australian residents: Visit the Smart Traveler website.
4. Medication tips: If you take prescription medication, bring enough to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Carry a copy of your prescription in case you need to visit a clinic abroad.
We hope this helps you prepare for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Please keep in mind that our itinerary, activities, and hotels might change. These adjustments could happen with little notice due to factors like availability, weather conditions, seasonal shifts, or other circumstances beyond our control. Rest assured, we always aim to minimise any impact on your experience. Occasionally, we may tweak the itinerary to try out fresh ideas and keep the adventure exciting.
We believe solo travelers shouldn’t have to pay extra to explore the world. That’s why our group trips are designed around shared accommodation and do not include a single supplement. Solo travelers joining our group trips are paired in twin or multi-share rooms with another traveler of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Some of our Independent trips are structured differently. For these itineraries, solo travelers will need to book at the single occupancy rate.
Tips are not included in the cost of this tour. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and based on what you feel comfortable with.
Would you like to learn more or customise our Alternative Thailand trip?
Have questions about accommodations, accessibility, group preferences, or dietary needs? Complete the form below and our team will get back to you shortly.
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