Khao Laem Nationalpark

Lake Safari

Central Thailand

DAY 1: FROM BUSTLING BANGKOK TO TROPICAL PEACEFUL SURROUNDINGS
You will be picked up around 08.00 in the morning from your hotel in Bangkok, Hua Hin or Kanchanaburi (11.30) by the guide and minivan. First stop will be Kanchanaburi where we will have lunch at a good restaurant with a view to the famous "Bridge over River Kwai" from the WW2. There will be time to walk over the bridge and also time to visit the cemetery where thousands of allied forces ended their lives at the hands of the Japanese in the second world war. After a couple of hours we reach the small fishing village and board the houseboat. The atmosphere is so peaceful and relaxed and suddenly Bangkok seems a lot more than just six hours away.
The rest of the day is free to do whatever you want to do. Jump from the tower, relax on the sundeck or take a nap in a hammock. Meanwhile the cook will prepare a delicious Thai-dinner. There will always be dishes to choose from in case somebody doesn’t like the local fish. The breeze on the lake normally secures a pleasant night temperature. Oddly enough mosquito’s are never to be seen.

DAY 2: WATERFALL AND COCONUT ISLAND
After breakfast consisting of eggs any style, sausages, bread, fresh fruit, cornflakes and cold milk for the kids we will go by kayak to the end of a small bay. (Or go by the engine boat) From the distance you can hear the waterfall and after thirty minutes of walking in jungle we will reach Dai Chong Thong waterfall, which is worth the walk. Just bring sandals and swim-suit as you will get wet going up to the waterfall. (Please note, that there is no water in the waterfall from March-May) Back on the houseboat we will head towards coconut-island. We will reach the island after lunch and a couple of hours of sailing - probably after a good deal of swimming and bathing too. Coconut Island is one of few islands inhabited in this area. A small village with only 7 inhabitants, are making a living out of this rare kind of coconuts and cocoa. Of course we will taste the local coconut and bring a couple back. We will cross the island and the boat will pick us op on the other side. Sailing slowly up the lake we will pass some tall cliffs dropping directly into the lake. We will take a break here before moving further on and find a beautiful spot for the night.

DAY 3: CAVES, ELEPHANTS AND RAFTING
After breakfast, a short paddle tour in kayak will take you to five small caves. You can actually paddle into them. In one of the caves you can be lucky and see lots of bats flying out as you make your way in. After this, the houseboat will head north for some time. At 1.00 PM a longtail boat will be waiting and it will take you through a narrow river to a Karen village where you will meet the mighty elephants. You will be riding on the back of an elephant for just about an hour in a very beautiful part of the jungle. A light lunch is served before you will be rafting downstream. You can choose to steer the raft or just sit down and enjoy it. In the rainy-season the rafting tour is not for the fainthearted as it takes a good deal of balance and strength to go all the way downriver smoothly. Back for dinner its time again to just sit and enjoy the sun fading behind the mountains only interrupted by the sound of longtail boats with fishermen going out to set up their nets. Most evenings the sky is so clear that it feels like the stars are almost down to earth. It’s a priceless experience to sit counting shooting stars while having a glass of the local whisky.

DAY 4: SANGKLABURI AND BACK TO BANGKOK, HUA HIN OR KANCHANABURI
Swimming, fishing or sunbathing are options. At around 11 AM we will say goodbye to the houseboat. The small engine boat will transfer us to the village of Wang Kha where ethnic minorities: Karen, Mon and Lao people live in harmony with the Burmese and Thai. We will explore the picturesque temple which you until now have just seen from the distance. We will spend some time at the Burmese market where lots of artifacts, handicrafts and jewelry are sold. After the market we will walk through the charming village of Wang Kha, where the Mon people live. They are said to be of Indian or Mongolian origin and are known for their special dress - the longyi or sarong. We will continue to Sangklaburi via Thailands longest wooden bridge, Uttamanusorn (Mon Bridge). Here the minivan is waiting with the luggage. It is time to go back to Bangkok. Enjoy especially the first stretch of an hour or so where you drive through untouched jungle with rainforest on both sides of the road. You will see several panorama views of the lake you have just been sailing on.

Expected time of arrival in Bangkok is 08.00 PM.

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Facilities on the houseboat:

• Big recreation and lounge area

• 6 cabins with mosquito net and twin beds
  on the first floor

• Towels, bed linen, pillows

• 2 Kayaks that seats 3 persons each

• Sundeck with 4 sun-beds

• 12 Comfortable sitting-chairs

• 12 eating table chairs

• 3 Hammocks

• Jumping tower 180 cm

• Professional fishing-gear, 4 fishing poles

• Life wests in all sizes

• 2 western style toilets and showers

• Sale of snacks, chips, chocolate, beer, wine, alcohol,
  Thai whiskey

• Free drinking water, coffee, tea, ice-cubes, fruit

• Cards and board games

• 1 captain, 1 first mate, 1 cook, 1 english speaking
  local guide

• Kitchen downstairs

• Septic tank

• Pulling motor boat

• 2 tubes

• Fire extinguishers

• First aid kit

 What to bring:

• Comfortable clothing for a hot climate

• Clothing for cool nights

• Swimsuit and towel

• Sandals - Trekking shoes are not needed

• Sunhat, sunglasses and sunscreen

• Mosquito-repellent

• Camera

• Personal travel insurance

• Important: Passport as it is a border area

 Remarks:

• Beer, softdrinks, whisky, gin, snacks etc. can be bought
  on the houseboat at very reasonable prices.

• The trip is suited for everyone, young people, families with kids, seniors etc. the customer set their own pace and level of activity.

• From November to February it is dry and nice temperatures, around 25-30 degrees. March to May is still dry but temperatures are a bit higher and from May to November the weather is changing and there is the possibility of tropical rain showers, which normally last for about 1-2 hours and it helps clear up the humidity and its also at that time of the year, where nature is most colorful, lush and beautiful.

• Minor program changes are sometimes necessary, depending on road conditions and room availability.
   

included in the tour prices are:

• Return transportation Bangkok - Houseboat - Bangkok
  in new air-conditioned minivan

• 3 nights on the houseboat in private room with windows, beds with linen, mosquito-net, towels. Shared western
  style toilets with shower-facilities.

• All meals on the houseboat 

• Drinking water, fruit, ice-cubes, coffee and tea on the houseboat.

• Elephant ride

• Bamboo rafting trip

• All excursions as mentioned in the program

• English speaking local guide on the whole trip

• Free use of canoes, tubes, fishing gear etc

 Joint tour requires a minimum of two persons (maximum of 9 persons)

 Guaranteed weekly departures on every Tuesday & Friday from 01 November 2011 to 31 March 2025
 and 01 - 31 October 2024 with English speaking guide

 Guaranteed weekly departures on every Tuesday from 01 April - 30 September 2012, with English speaking guide