This trip combines a relaxing beach vacation on Thailand’s best sandy beaches with unique nature experiences in the pristine rainforest of Khao Sok National Park.
In Phuket, on Kata Beach, the sun roasts from full blade on an almost dazzling white sand beach, which is slowly washed away by the waves. The air smells of exotic spices and salty sea. There is plenty of space, atmosphere and things to do for both children and adults. Known to be the perfect Thai beach vacation!
In Thailand’s most beautiful national park, Khao Sok, cuddly – and loud – monkeys roar at the tops of the trees, and birds join the concert from the lower branches. The trees seem to reach to the sky. Stay in a charming cottage with a door overlooking the rainforest.
The water on Cheow Lan Lake is wonderfully emerald green. The white karst islands rise from the water in bullet lines, and you can almost touch them as you fly by boat while they are there. Stay in a floating hotel in the middle of the lake in your own charming bungalow.
The trip culminates in Khao Lak, where you will spend a few more relaxing beach days enjoying the sun and sea water.
DAY 1: Departure from Finland
The journey starts from the selected airport, from where you fly via stopovers to Thailand. Check COUNTRYAAH to see other countries starting with T.
DAY 2: Arrival in Thailand
You land in Phuket, Thailand’s number one beach resort. Phuket is the largest island in Thailand, bordered by more than 30 stunning sandy beaches.
You pick up your suitcase and go through the entry check. Immediately outside the airport, you will be met by a driver who will take you to your hotel on the southwest coast of the island, Kata Beach.
Kata Beach is one of the most famous beaches on the island, which actually consists of two different beaches: Kata Yai or “big” beach and Kata Noi or “small” beach. Both beaches have in common golden sand and lush palm trees. Your hotel is located on Kata Yai, the so-called big beach. In front of you opens a 1.5-kilometer-long golden sandy beach, which is like directly from the pages of the travel brochure. The water is clear, calm and relatively shallow, so the beach is also great for families with children. The beach is bordered by cozy restaurants and small boutiques, and there is plenty to see under the surface for snorkelers. All the ingredients for a perfect beach holiday are available!
The rest of the day is free time. After a long trip, it can be nice to take a dip for a refreshing swim. You can also take a leisurely stroll along the beach and enjoy the warm sunshine and light sea breeze. And when the hunger starts to strain, you can pop into one of the atmospheric restaurants in the village.
DAYS 3-5: Phuket
Days in Kata are free.
Three days are spent lying on the wings on a golden sandy beach and swimming in the warm water.
However, if you want a little more to do, Phuket has a lot to offer. The island is relatively large – 543 km2 – and contains many interesting natural sites and fascinating cultural experiences.
Beneath the surface are plenty of beautiful coral reefs teeming with colorful tropical fish. So it is definitely worth booking a time for a snorkeling trip. At the southern end of Kata No (“small” beach) is a particularly fine reef that is easily accessible by swimming. Kata Noi is within walking distance of Kata Yai, but you can also do like the locals and take a tuktuk.
Phang Nga Bay, east of Phuket, is known for its impressive karst islands, which rise as bullet lines to the heights of marvelous emerald green water. One of the bay’s most famous attractions is the legendary James Bond Island, which served as the filming location for the 007 and Golden Gun movie in 1974.
The city of Phuket itself was once an important center of trade between China, India and Europe. History books tell us that the island was used as a base by Portuguese, French, Dutch and English merchants, and the Portuguese in particular also settled here more permanently. The Portuguese hired Chinese immigrants as house builders, and this gave rise to the island’s colorful Portuguese-Chinese architecture. About 100 years ago, the Chinese moved to the island in large numbers, which can still be seen in the city of Phuket, whose center is a lively and exciting mix of Chinese temples, Portuguese-Chinese architecture, narrow streets, lively marketplaces, trendy shops and atmospheric restaurants and cafes.
Phuket is also a shopper’s paradise with everything from rustic markets to modern shopping malls.
In the evening, sit at the beach bar to enjoy the fabulously beautiful sunset and tropical fruity cocktails. The perfect decision for the perfect holiday!
DAY 6: Phuket – Khao Sok National Park
After breakfast, it’s time to continue your journey from Phuket to new adventures. You will be transported by car north to Khao Sok National Park, where an exciting tropical jungle adventure awaits you.
Khao Sok is as large as 739 km2 in size, making it one of the largest national parks in the country – and one of the most beautiful national parks in the country is guaranteed.
The National Park area has a large virgin forest area consisting of an ancient, almost untouched rainforest. The lush nature of the park and the pulping where many different animals live. At the edge of the forest you can see gibbons, gooseberries and macaques, among other things. Here you will also find cute little dwarf deer, muntaks and serovs. If you are lucky, you can see a glimpse of the fascinating marble cat! For birdwatchers, the nature park offers a lot of interesting things to see. Storks, hornbills, cinnamon stern trogons and crown trogons, among others, keep the national park at home.
Deep in the woods, leopards, tapirs and bears also live, but seeing them already requires a little more effort, time and happiness.
Located within a national park, Cheow Lan Lake is a 165 km2 artificial lake. The lake was formed when the Rajjaprabha Dam, built in 1987, caused a huge flood in the area. 385 local families had to relocate and were compensated for lost homes. The animals, in turn, were transported to safety by boats and even helicopters. With floods and heavy rains, part of the area was permanently submerged, and high karst hills turned into islands crowned by jungle forests that now rise boldly in the middle of emerald green water. A canoe trip among the rugged karst islands is an unforgettable experience.
Cheow Lania is often compared to Guilin in China, and for good reason: the lush landscapes and the hills that rise vertically do have much of the same vision.
A visit to Khao Saki National Park is not complete without an excursion to a magical lake that opens in the middle of a rainforest, so one is naturally on the agenda.
The journey from Phuket to Khao Sok takes about 3 hours. Once you arrive, you can relax and enjoy the nature surrounding your accommodation or go on one of our many interesting extras.
DAY 7: Khao Sok – Cheow Larn Lake
After breakfast you will be picked up from your hotel. Today’s excursion is to Cheow Lan Reservoir, but before that you will visit the local market.
After this, we go to see the impressive dam structure, and next we board a long tail boat and set off to cruise the emerald green lake. On a boat trip you can admire the stunning scenery and marvel at the rugged white-sided karst islands rising from the water. If you prefer, you can take a dip in the clean lake water.
For lunch, head to the property, which is a bungalow hotel floating in the middle of the lake! The staff will welcome you and serve you a tasty lunch, which is enjoyed amidst beautiful natural scenery.
In the afternoon, there are several different activities to choose from. The guide tells you about various excursions during lunch, but we can already reveal at least some of them now: there are various hiking tours, which include nearby stalactite caves, a Lookout and a waterfall. There is plenty to do for those looking for a physical challenge as well as those who prefer to take it easy and focus on the surrounding nature. Of course, you can also just sit on a sun lounger, immerse yourself in a good book and take a dip in the lake whenever you need recreation.
Before dinner, you can take part in a joint boat trip, during which you can see a wide variety of animals.
After dinner, it’s time to relax and digest the day’s experiences under a clear starry sky. The night sky looks especially stunning here because the light pollution is at a minimum.
DAY 8: Cheow Larn Lake – Khao Lak
Early in the morning you wake up to the birdsong, and the very first is the program’s second boat trip in the footsteps of the animals. The monkeys are also starting to wake up, so there is a buzz in the tree tops! The calm water, the slowly evaporating morning mist, and the gibbon’s shouts echoing across the lake create a magical atmosphere.
When you return to the ferry hotel, it is time for a delicious breakfast to be enjoyed in complete peace. This morning is a free time to explore the surrounding nature of the hotel. Jump for a swim or go on a canoe trip – or enjoy a good book and silence that is only broken by the birdsong and the sound of the monkeys.
After lunch, it’s time to head towards new adventures. A long tail boat will take you to the pier on the dam, from where you will continue by car to Khao Lak. The drive takes about an hour, so once you get to the hotel there is still plenty of time to go swimming in the ocean or go for a walk to see the small town’s range of restaurants and cafés.
DAYS 9-12: Khao Lak
Khao Lak offers many opportunities for both a relaxed beach holiday and exciting excursions. The following days are free time.
Khao Lak’s holiday paradise is made up of several separate but interconnected beach areas. On one side of the resorts opens the beautiful blue sea and on the other side they are bordered by a lush green rainforest.
There are a few wonderful holidays to spend on the beach or by the hotel’s swimming pool. If you feel like doing things, you can go hiking in the nearby Khao Lak-Lam Run National Park or head by boat to the Similan Islands, considered one of the best diving / snorkeling destinations in the world. The trip to the islands takes about an hour and 15 minutes by speedboat. An archipelago of nine islands forms a national park known for its colorful underwater nature. Just a few steps from the whitewashed sandy beach to the clear water, and you can see countless colorful tropical fish, whale sharks, rays, sea turtles and more.
DAY 13: THE journey home begins
Today is the time to say goodbye to Thailand. You will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the airport, from where you will fly to Finland via stopover (s).