The other Thailand

Isaan 5 days

Travel through Isaan or Esaan, the northeast is the least changed part of Thailand. This region offers a fascinating mix of traditional rural life and culture, mountain sceneries, Mekong river life and spectacular Khmer temple ruins from the Angkor period. Traveling through the Esaan region is like traveling back in time. The people of the Isaan pursue agrarian lifestyles dictated by the annual cycle of the farming seasons and unchanged by the passage of time. The region’s ancient cultural traditions and customs in music, folk dances, legends and festivals are better preserved here than anywhere else in Thailand and the population is friendly and charming, even though it is among the poorest of Thailand. A region with a strong Laotian influence in its architecture, customs and language.

Day 1. Bangkok - Khao Yai

In the morning transfer from your hotel in Bangkok to Khao Yai National park. After lunch the journey through the park begins. You will drive through the most beautiful parts of Khao Yai with time to relax near the beautiful Haew Suwat waterfalls where you can swim. Later you will visit the volcanic caves and the bat caves and see more than a million bats swarming out to hunt for nightly food. Falcons try to seize the bats as food, an experience not to be missed. In the evening you can optionally visit the friendly night market of Pak Chong. You will stay overnight in a deluxe aircon room at the Khao Yai Garden Lodge, a spaciously set up nature resort spread out over a large terrain with picturesque accommodation that fits perfectly in the natural landscape of Khao Yai National Park. The hotel has a large garden with orchids, turtles, butterflies and plants, a swimming pool with bar and a cozy restaurant.

Day 2. Khao Yai national park

Drive deep into the mountains and walk through refreshing and scenic landscapes of bizarre mountains where untouched jungle still exists. You will walk along elephant trails and mountain streams and see magnificent waterfalls where you can take a swim. Admire the magnificent views from the cliff at 1270m altitude. Depending on the season you will see flowering trees, wild orchids or beautiful butterflies. Enjoy being in the jungle itself with its uncountable sounds all around you. Animal life include elephants, gaurs, monkeys, deer, bears and birds including the famous hornbill. The park has the biggest elephant population (200) in Thailand. Around 19:00 hr our night tour commences through mountain forests and grasslands. This is the time that most animals come out of their hiding. From the car, the nightly animal world is illuminated by special halogen lights and the many species can be observed. Dinner (not included) will be served upon return in the hotel. Overnight in Khao Yai Garden Lodge.

Day 3. Phimai Historical Park

During the Khmer period, large parts of Thailand were conquered by the Angkor empire. Phimai was directly connected by road with the Angkor capital. Prasat Hin Phimai was built at the beginning of the 12th century, when the Khmer empire had its glory period. The monument is of great historic and esthetic importance, it became the example and prototype for the later built and famous Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Prasat Hin Phimai is originally a Brahman temple devoted to the Hindu god Shiva but, at the end of the 12th century, was given a Mahayana-Buddhist destination. The images show Buddhist themes which is unique for a Khmer temple. The main tower of 28m high is made of white sandstone, the surrounding towers of pink sandstone and all of it is covered with many sculptures.

You will have ample time to see all of this complex and the national museum nearby. Don’t miss the opportunity to take a short excursion (2 km down the road) to Saai Ngaam, a gigantic 350 year old banyan tree-complex hanging some 2ฝ m above the ground, with hundreds of aerial roots anchoring it into the ground. A good place to have lunch in one of the many food stalls. In the afternoon transfer to your homestay address in the village Khampom. Here you can experience for yourself how the authentic lifestyle on the quiet Thai countryside still is. Before dinner you can stroll through the village at your own leisure or accompanied by your guide. During dinner, prepared by your family host, you will be warmly welcomed by the local Thai village people. The contact with the local people and their warmth and hospitality will be among the most memorable experiences of your holiday.
 

Day 4. Homestay & village life

Visit on school days the village school. See the ceremonial beginning of a school day with the children singing the national Thai anthem followed by Buddhist prayer. After the ceremony you can enter the classroom. The school children are probably as curious about Western life as you are about Thai life. Your guide will translate everything again. This school visit will be one of your more memorable experiences. Continue with a walk through the village, accompanied by your guide who has a lot of inside information and can tell you anecdotes about village life. You will stop from time to time to see how the villagers leisurely spend their day or earn their living. For instance at a "factory" where rice is being processed to "Lao spaghetti" and at a straw mat production area. Lunch is taken along the route at a local noodle & rice food stall.

In the afternoon you will go into the rice fields. Depending on the season you can see how rice is sown or harvested. If you want then you can help and do some manual labor yourself. Later this day you will buy the ingredients for your evening meal at the village market. This evening, if you want, you can prepare your own dinner. The family host mother will explain how while your guide translates. This often leads to very comical moments and also you will learn how to make an original Thai meal by yourself. During dinner you can observe the village's evening activities and talk with the Thai people in a relaxing way. As this will be your last dinner with the host family, probably half the village will want to say goodbye to you. Following Isaan tradition you will receive a lot of good wishes and a wrist full of little ropes…  Overnight stay again with the host family.

Day 5. Bangkok. After breakfast you will go to Khonkaen and onward to Bangkok by train or aircon coach. Upon arrival in Bangkok transfer to your hotel. End of tour.

Start : Day 1 in Bangkok (morning pickup at hotel lobby)

End : Day 5 in Bangkok (upon arrival at your hotel)

Included :  All transfers by private aircon minibus or public aircon coach, 4 overnight stays based on twin sharing, 4x breakfast, 2x lunch,  2x dinner, all admission fees, an English speaking tourguide.

Khao Yai has deluxe aircon rooms with private bathroom and hot water. Homestay accommodation is non-aircon with shared bathroom. Minibuses will contain maximum 6 persons including luggage.

Budget version: This tour is also available in budget version (start in Pak Chong, end in Khonkaen, superior aircon rooms in Khao Yai, not including admission fees lunches and dinners). Upon end in Khonkaen you can move on to your next destination, for instance Khonkaen to Chiang Mai,  Touching Laos,  Mekong route or  Phu Kradung challenge.