REISEABLAUF SOUTHERN EXPLORER 5 Tage / 4 Nächte, Bangkok – Phuket

Reiseroute Bangkok -> Amphawa -> Petchburi -> Hua Hin -> Sam Roi Yod -> Chumphon -> Khao Sok -> Phuket

1. Tag: Bangkok – Amphawa - Petchburi - Hua Hin (Driving distance approx. 258 kms.) [-/L/D] 07:00 Early start from Bangkok to visit the Railway Market of Mae Klong where you can see fresh market stalls lying on both sides of the railway tracks. Witness breathing-taking scene when the train approaches the tightly packed market, and watch vendors dismant- ling their stalls while the train passes through and immediately reoccupying the rails af- ter.

Continue drive to an enchanting Amphawa Market where you have the opportunity to explore probably the most popular weekend market among Bangkokian and admire the century-old wood houses. Take an exciting boat ride in a motorized long-tailed boat to see traditional Thai life along the canal. Disembark at Wat Bang Kung, a rarely found and amazing temple since Ayuthaya period with a huge Banyan tree embracing the cha- pel with its roots.

Afterwards, drive to Wat Pumarin Kudi Thong, famous for its teak-wood chapel and serve as temple museum with antiquity preservation.

Proceed to Petchaburi, en route lunch at local restaurant. After lunch, drive to cave with its many much-worshipped Buddha statues. Another stop is at King Mongkut's Summer Palace, climbing up on a 92—meter high verdant hill.The whole compound is comprised of royal halls, palaces, temples and other buildings which were elegantly constructed in a well-balanced Thai, neoclassical West- ern and Chinese architectural styles.Proceed to Hua Hin. Check in at the imperial hua hin beach resort or similar hotel. Dinner and accommodations.

Optional: Opportunity to visit Hua Hin city's night market.

2. Tag: Hua Hin - Sam Roi Yod - Chumphon (Driving distance approx. 285 kms.) [B/L/D] Breakfast 08:00 Drive to Sam Roi Yot National Park. Upon arrival, take a boat ride and hike to Phraya Nakhon cave with the beautiful small pavilion. The cave is made mainly of limestone with skylights above and when the sun shines enter through these skylights, the effect is truly mystical. Return by boat and lunch at a local restaurant.

Continue drive southwards to Chumphon, stop at Ban Krut to visit Wat Tang Sai – Beau- tiful Buddhist temple on the top of Thongchai mountain. A superbly developed site dedi- cated to the King and Queen of . Proceed to the beach in Chumphon and check-in at novotel chumphon beach resort. Dinner and accommodations.

WE DIVE TRAVEL AG · Trockenloostrasse 45 · CH - 8105 Regensdorf Telefon: +41 (0)44 870 32 32 · Fax:+41 (0)44 870 02 15 · Email: [email protected] · Web: www.wedive.ch

Optional: Night squiding (19:00-22:00 subject to local condition and not available during rainy season) Extra: Baht 4,000.- net per boat/10 pax Enjoy the touching authentic fishermen life style. Experience squid trapping accompa- nied by fishermen. Enjoy a late night BBQ on the boat with your nights catch.

3. Tag: Chumphon - Khao Sok (Driving distance approx. 267 kms.) [B/L/D]

Breakfast 08:00 Drive to the white sandy beach Hat Sai Ri. Visit the shrine of the Prince of Chumphon followed by a visit to the province’s largest Robusta coffee plantation. Try a cup of freshly brewed coffee with home-made snacks. Afterwards, drive to Lang Suan district to explo- re fruit market which offering fresh fruit from local orchards as well as some processed fruit.

Continue drive to Surathani. En route, visit Ban Phumriang, a small handicraft which is notable for its gold and silver brocade silk cloth and jute head gear. Visit to Phra Borom That Chaiya, this ancient chedi houses Buddha relics, which are highly revered by local residents. Lunch at local restaurant. Afterwards, proceed to Khao Sok.

17:00 Arrive Khao Sok National Park and check-in at elephant hills, the safari tents with com- fortable beds, reading lights, mosquito net, blanket, cold & hot water and western style toilets. Dinner and accommodations.

4. Tag: Khao Sok [B/L/D] Breakfast 08:00 Start the activity, transfer to elephant camp, here you can see, touch and find out about the life of Thai elephants and about the elephant conservation project the company is running. Participating in our Elephant Experience you will get close to and experience hands on these magnificent animals, you will have the chance to interact with them and learn the secrets of their mahouts. You must prepare and feed them one of their daily meals, scrub and clean and watch them bathe. Feed them their dietary supplements that help with digestion and overall well-being and plant some of their food which will be ready for next year’s crop. A once in a lifetime chance to experience the , the largest land animal in this part of the world.

Returning from the camp with a huge appetite you will appreciate the buffet lunch that is served, a variety of Thai dishes cooked not too spicy. After lunch take a jungle river canoe trip down the Sok River. The canoes are very stable and safe, life jackets are pro- vided as well as a local river guide to paddle the canoe. Drift along the jungle river pass- ing limestone mountains and cliffs covered with exotic tropical vegetation. Sometimes hornbill can be seen flying high overhead or reptiles basking in the sun on the riverbanks. From the canoe you can experience a world that has changed little in thousands of years, some of the last areas of primary . Dinner and accommodations.

5. Tag: Khao Sok - Phuket (or Khao Lak or Krabi) [B/L/-] Breakfast 08:00 Proceed to Takuapa passing small rural villages, rubber and oil palm plantations. Glimpses of rural life in tropical can be seen along the way. Explore the rivers that cut through the mangrove forest by dinghy boat. For people who want to explore the smaller creeks, see some bird life and get closer to nature self-paddle cano- es with life jackets are available for a silent journey into this dense green world.

WE DIVE TRAVEL AG · Trockenloostrasse 45 · CH - 8105 Regensdorf Telefon: +41 (0)44 870 32 32 · Fax:+41 (0)44 870 02 15 · Email: [email protected] · Web: www.wedive.ch

Emerging further along the coast meet up with our classical Burmese junk where lunch will be served, a variety of Thai dished cooked not too spicy. Drinks are available, as well as bathroom facilities on board. Cruising on the junk gives the feeling of traveling back in time when nature was untouched. In the afternoon, transfer to Phuket/Khao Lak/Krabi.

B = Frühstück / L = Mittagessen / D = Abendessen

EINGESCHLOSSENE LEISTUNGEN: Unterkunft in guten Mittelklasshotels, private Rundreise mit eng- lischsprechendem Guide, Minibus mit Klimaanlage und Fahrer, alle Eintritte und Gebühren sowie Mahl- zeiten gemäss Programm.

Tour kann optional auch mit deutschsprechendem Guide (auf Anfrage) gebucht werden oder als Grup- pen-Rundreise (Start immer am Sonntag). Private Rundreise mit englischsprechendem Guide kann täg- lich organisiert werden.

WE DIVE TRAVEL AG · Trockenloostrasse 45 · CH - 8105 Regensdorf Telefon: +41 (0)44 870 32 32 · Fax:+41 (0)44 870 02 15 · Email: [email protected] · Web: www.wedive.ch