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Northern Thailand & Full Moon
Experience
Tour
Destination
Thailand
Duration
23 days
Ages
18+
Operated by
TruTravels
Book now, pay later. Cancel anytime.
Trip overview
Looking for the ultimate Thai experience? Look no further! Here we combine 2 of our most popular tours Northern Thailand Adventure and Full Moon Experience for the most EPIC 23 days of your life! Starting in Bangkok and finishing in Koh Phangan, we’re bringing you to some of the most famous places to visit in Thailand and a few hidden gems and TruExclusives of course. We visit local temples in Bangkok, trek the jungle and stay with a hill tribe in Chiang Mai, visit an elephant sanctuary and that’s before we’ve even head South! Spend our days kayaking around the tranquil lake in Khao Sok National Park and sleeping under the stars in floating bungalows (yep, you heard us right), snorkelling out on our longtail boat trips in Koh Phangan before partying till the sun comes up at the world-famous Full Moon Party! Is this a bucket list trip? Hell, yeah! Are you ready to go? Obvs.
Inclusions
What's Included
- River cruise on the River Kwai
- Erawan waterfalls day trip
- Half-day bike ride around Ayutthaya ruins
- Chiang Mai temple visits
- 2 Day Jungle Trek
- Overnight Hill Tribe village stay
- Half-day zip-lining
- Elephant sanctuary
- Lod Cave visit
- Pai’s hot springs
- Cooking class
- Day trip to Chiang Mai Canyon Bangkok River Cruise & Temples
- Thai Massage & Overnight Train
- Khao Sok National Park
- Floating Bungalows, Swimming, Tubing & Kayaking
- Boat Trip Around Koh Phangan
- Snorkelling & Waterfalls (Seasonal)
- Bottle Beach
- Muay Thai Lesson
- Slip N Fly
- Sunset Pool Party
- Full Moon Party
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Meals
2 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 4 dinners
Accommodation
22 Nights of accommodation in hotels, Hill Tribe stay, floating bungalows and bottle beach bungalows.
Transportation
Transport includes private van, two overnight trains and ferry to Koh Phangan.
Global Emergency Line
Feel confident knowing we have a worldwide emergency team on standby, 24 hours a day, Monday to Friday.
gWorld access
Stay organised with your personalised portal where you can keep all of your important documents and trip details in one spot and gain insider access to everything Global.
Global Academy
Gain access to an ever-growing range of skills & languages to learn before & whilst you travel.
Marketplace Deals
Get exclusive access to deals and discounts through our online Marketplace. Save big on a huge range of products and services from our brand partners worldwide.
Get more info!
Got questions or need to know more? Ask us here, we're online 24hrs Mo-Fr.
Trip itinerary
Day 1
After we have picked you up from the airport the first day is kept free to get settled in, meet your new travel buddies & either chill out or explore the area. In the evening we’ll take you to one of our favorite restaurants and then for a few drinks on Khao San road so we can all get to know each other over a beer or a bucket (or three). Then get ready for the Northern Thailand Adventure of a lifetime.
Day 2
We leave Bangkok in a private minivan in the morning & stop off at some floating markets on the way out of town. When we arrive in Kanchanaburi an hour or two later, we jump on a boat & cruise down the river Kwai exploring your new surroundings. We head to the famous ‘Bridge Over the River Kwai’ for sunset.
Day 3
Prepare to be amazed at the jaw-dropping beauty of this amazing 7-tier waterfall just an hour away from Kanchanaburi town. Bring a towel and your swimmers because you will undoubtedly want to take a dip in the crystal clear water on some, if not all of the levels, as we trek from one to the next. We’ll provide some lunch and soft drinks to keep you energised and hydrated for the walk, then when you’re done swimming & enjoying this natural wonder we can jump back in the minivan to Kanchanaburi where we will have a few hours to chill by the pool or explore the town before meeting for dinner and drinks at a couple of well-known backpacker bars in town.
Day 4
After a bit of a lie-in and a free morning, we hit the road again to the ancient capital city of Ayutthaya; a place that’s absolutely dripping in history and culture. We’ll take a leisurely bike ride around the world heritage site of the ancient city’s ruins & learn a little about the fascinating history of this place and indeed the Kingdom of Siam (Thailand). After exploring we’ll grab a bite to eat before hopping on the night train to our next destination, Chiang Mai. The train is comfortable and each person gets their own full-size bed with covers and pillows etc, so it shouldn’t be too hard to get a decent night’s sleep & wake up ready to go in the famous and beautiful city of Chiang Mai.
Day 5
After we check into our guest house, which is ideally situated between the old & new areas of Chiang Mai, you’ll have a bit of time to relax by the pool, explore the town or check out the oldest temple in Chiang Mai which is literally opposite our new digs. After lunch we’ll get a cab up to the most famous and possibly beautiful temple in Chiang Mai – Wat Pra Maha Doi Suthep (or just Doi Suthep for short) – This is situated way up high on the side of a mountain so the views from the top are incredible, here you get a panoramic view of the whole of Chiang Mai & the surrounding area. More free time in the afternoon to chill or explore Chiang Mai before we meet in the evening for dinner.
Day 6
Today we head off to the jungle to do one of the most popular activities in the north of Thailand – a trek through the jungle. We spend one night in a hill tribe village homestay, so you can experience what life is like for the many traditional hill tribes of northern Thailand; whose way of life has not changed a huge amount for generations.
Day 7
Continue the trek where you’ll see all kinds of trees, plants & wildlife; we’ll do some bamboo rafting down a river, and maybe even stop by another waterfall or two to freshen up.
Day 8
Chiang Mai is known to some as the adventure capital of Thailand and for good reason. Our absolute favourite of these and probably the most popular with tourists is ziplining through the jungle. This is an amazing experience which is bound to get the heart racing and adrenaline pumping. Practically flying from platform to platform through the canopy of the jungle up to 50m above the ground, throw in some rope bridges and a few abseils and you’ll experience the jungle in an entirely different way to walking through it at ground level.
Day 9
Today we get up close & personal with some of the planets most amazing and majestic creatures. All of the elephants are free to roam at the sanctuary and are not forced to do anything unnatural for the sake of entertaining tourists. When we arrive in the morning we will be given a quick briefing & learn about some of the elephants there, then we’ll be able to feed them some sugarcane and banana (which they love) & get to know them a bit before we wander down to the river for a swim and a bath. This is another once in a lifetime experience and something that you will not forget for a long time.
In the afternoon we’ll jump on a minibus to the awesome little hippie town of Pai. It’s about 3 hours outside of Chiang Mai & is now a very popular backpacker destination for good reason. Loads of cool stuff to see, really relaxed vibe, lovely people, good bars & excellent food.
Day 10
Today we’ll take a day trip to see some of the highlights of Pai & the surrounding areas. Starting at the biggest cave in Thailand (Lod Cave), we’ll hike through one or both of the main chambers & take a bamboo raft along the river which runs through the cave (depending on season and accessibility). After the cave, we head to the hot springs, a completely natural pool in the jungle which is heated by geothermal activity. Take a refreshing dip in the crystal clear water, give yourself a beauty treatment with the clay, & float around in the perfect temperature pool before heading to a nearby waterfall with a natural slide & an amazing view. We finish the day high up at Pai Canyon which has an even more amazing view of the surrounding mountains & jungle. You can walk along the ridge and take some amazing pics of the view as we watch the sun go down before heading back into Pai town. After a long day of sightseeing, we’ll go to a nice restaurant and possibly a few local bars to relax & mingle with the many other travellers who are here for pretty much the same reasons as us!
Day 11
A well-deserved chill out day today. After a bit of a lie-in, we head to Fluid Swimming Pool Bar where many of the backpackers in town head to relax, cool down & socialise. When we are done here we’ll head to the local Chinese Village for some tea tasting.
Day 12
In the morning we’ll jump back in our minivan for the return journey to Chiang Mai. In the afternoon we get picked up by our pals from one of the nearby cooking schools, where you will learn a bit about Thailand’s culinary delights and even try your hand at making a few of them yourself. Some of the most delicious food in Thailand comes from the north, so what better way to improve your own culinary skills and understanding of Thai dishes than learning from the masters themselves? The first stop is the local market where our guides & teachers will show us how to select the freshest & tastiest ingredients, to take back and turn into mouth-watering dishes of delight. You can choose between many well-known dishes & will be shown step by step how to prepare each one. The best bit for many is that we will, of course, get to eat it all after, so don’t fill up too much at lunch. This really is a great experience, even for those who don’t usually take to the kitchen too often.
Day 13
Chiang Mai’s very own grand canyon. This is an awesome place to spend the day as it’s basically an old excavation site where they would dig out sand for building etc. It is now a man-made lagoon/canyon which has been turned into an adult playground. There are floating chairs to chill in the water, paddleboards, tubes & for the more adventurous/brave of you, can do cliff- jumping, have a go at deep water soloing or climbing on their new climbing wall. There’s a restaurant on-site so we can grab lunch, snacks, and refreshments whilst there. In the evening we head out into Chiang Mai town once again for dinner and to party!
Day 14
After checking out, you’ll have plenty of time to relax, hit the markets, or explore Chiang Mai a little more; before jumping onto the overnight train back to Bangkok.
Day 15
This day is spent taking in the sights of the capital on the water as we travel by longtail boat along the Chao Phraya River. This is a great way to explore Bangkok and experience some of Thailand’s heritage. Then we head to two prestigious temples – Wat Arun and Wat Pho, to see the very impressive giant, gold reclining Buddha statue. The rest of the day is free for exploring. You may wish to indulge a little and do a spot of shopping so you can take advantage of the cheap prices! Then in the evening, we meet again for dinner, drinks and more group bonding.
Day 16
Relax this morning with a traditional Thai massage before we travel overnight on the train down south where we swap the hustle and bustle of city life in Bangkok for the tranquil lakes of stunning Khao Sok National Park – situated in the Surat Thani province of Thailand.
Day 17
Take a longtail boat out to the amazing floating bungalows whilst stopping along the way to cool off with a quick dip and dive. Try out a spot of kayaking or simply chill with a beer in a tube in front of the breathtaking backdrop of this limestone mountain range. The freshwater lake is surrounded by rainforest and looks similar to something out of Jurassic Park! Truly an experience not to be missed!
Day 18
Wake up to the beautiful views of the lake before enjoying a spot of breakfast. We will then catch a bus and then ferry to Koh Phangan. When we arrive, we go straight to a secluded paradise: Bottle Beach – Our favourite beach in the world. The beautiful, peaceful surroundings make this place so special and we pretty much get the whole place to ourselves. Relax here for the rest of the afternoon, enjoy a bit of volleyball, sunbathing or swimming. In the evening, we can enjoy dinner and some cocktails on the beach next to a campfire with our own private fire show.
Day 19
Wake up to the calming sound of waves rolling on the beach. You will have a free morning to make the most of your surroundings and take it all in. You can go kayaking, play volleyball, top up the tan, go trekking to viewpoints or catch up on some sleep. In the afternoon, we are collected and taken to a local gym to try our hand at a bit of Muay Thai boxing, Thailand’s national sport. We then head to our awesome accommodation, a beach hostel where we will spend the final two nights. For those who fancy a few evening drinks, we can head to Haad Rin to explore some of the coolest bars around the island.
Day 20
Setting out on a voyage around Koh Phangan. We spend the day taking in the amazing tropical island scenery, stopping for some snorkelling at the coolest hotspots before visiting Than Sadet waterfall (seasonal). You might think it couldn’t get any better but it does… we have a complementary bucket, flowing bar and food throughout the day with music.
Day 21
Get ready for an epic day party! Slip n Fly is one of the latest attractions of Koh Phangan. Featuring one of the biggest and craziest water slides in Southern Asia. We spend the day here so you can choose to chillax on the day beds or attempt the slides. Don’t worry if you are not a big fan of heights or water slides, this place has much more to offer. It’s actually a day party with DJ’s, games, a volleyball pool, bar, looooooads of sunbeds and chill out areas and of course the constant entertainment of watching other backpackers throw themselves down the slides. Then in the evening we will meet in our hostel for a UV painting session to get us ready for the Full Moon Experience. We will take you to the best pre-drinking spots before hitting up the full moon party in TruTravels style! Those of you hardcore enough to make it to sunrise (the best bit) may even get to join us at the after-party which starts at 6am! No rest for the wicked.
Day 22
Today is set aside for recovery. We felt you would probably want some chill time to recharge your batteries after the big night so the only planned activity today is a nice Thai massage and possibly a film at a local bar. Unless you are one of those crazy party animals that decided to join us at the after-party!
Day 23
Say your goodbyes as today is check out day. If you have not booked any onward travel then we are on hand to help plan your next footsteps; so have a chat with your group leader before you leave. Whether you want to stay longer on Koh Phangan, head back to Bangkok, or jet off somewhere else in Asia. The world is your oyster!
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Frequently asked questions
Why are you the best company to choose?
As the world’s leading gap-year and "work & travel" company, we pride ourselves on providing a premium service for Global Travellers. Choose from a variety of awesome experiences worldwide, and let us assist you with visas, pre-departure preparations, flights, insurance, and tours. Throughout your journey, our cool tech features will support you every step of the way. As a Global Traveller, gain access to gWorld, our personalised app designed to enhance your travel experience. Keep important documents and trip details handy, and take advantage of exclusive Marketplace deals, a vibrant social network, language learning resources, side trips, meet-ups, and more. It's like having all your favorite travel apps merged into one, but even better! But our support doesn't end there. With four international offices, over 100 dedicated staff members, a 24/5 emergency team, and the backing of over 90,000 Global Travellers who have turned their travel dreams into reality with us, rest assured you're in good hands. We also proudly boast the most and best reviews in the biz, and maintain a massive following on our social channels including Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Embark on your next adventure with confidence and ease. Join us and discover the world in a meaningful way!
Are flights & insurance included?
While we would love to include flights and insurance in our trip packages, it is not feasible to have a fixed price due to the diverse destinations, trip durations, and individual coverage needs of our travellers from around the globe. However, once you register for the trip, we will assign you a dedicated Travel Concierge. They will work closely with you to arrange the ideal flights and insurance tailored to your specific adventure. Rest assured, our team is here to ensure you have a smooth and hassle-free travel experience from start to finish!
Why should I book now?
After the last unexpected disruption to travel caused by the..c word..people are now more eager than ever to venture out and explore the world, determined not to miss out on any experiences. Global Work & Travel works on a first-in-best-dressed basis. Booking earlier ensures that you don’t miss out on the best intake, season, placements and more! We recommend our travellers take 6-12+ months to plan their trip for a reason - to make sure you’ve got everything organised perfectly, stress-free. As a Global Traveller you’ll get exclusive access to gWorld, our personalised app where you can keep all of your important documents and trip details in one spot and gain insider access to everything Global. This is where you will find exclusive Marketplace Deals, a unique social network to connect you with other like-minded Global Travellers, access to our Academy with an ever-growing range of skills & languages, and so much more. Think all of your favourite apps merged into one, but like, better? Why not give yourself something to look forward to by booking that trip!
Can I travel with a friend or partner?
Yes you can! Simply tell your Trip Coordinator after booking that your friend is also going and they can link your profiles. For most of our trips we should be able to have you and your friends placed together or nearby. Meaning that you can live, work, play & travel together! But wait there's more! Not only can you travel the world with your besties at your side, you can also earn some extra cash towards your own trip just by referring your friends to Global Work & Travel. You can learn more about the great referral rewards program inside your gWorld account once you join. And for those who decide to go-it-solo, we’ve made it easier to meet other Global Travellers in the same region as you. Just like any other social platform, you’ll be able to interact, share, chat and meet with some really cool people who are doing trips just like you!
Can I bring my pet along?
At Global Work & Travel, we share a deep love for animals and fully understand the special bond you have with your pet. We recognise the challenges of embarking on a trip without them. Due to travel restrictions, requirements, and limited pet-friendly accommodations among our host organisations, we regretfully cannot facilitate their inclusion in the journey. However, many of our customers choose to entrust their pets to a family member or friend, embark on their adventure, and return home to wagging tails and furry cuddles.
What happens if I need to cancel my trip?
We know that life can get in the way of travel, so all our trips come with a great deal of flexibility. In most cases, if you cannot travel on your selected date, you can place your trip on hold to deal with whatever is holding you back, and continue in the future without incurring any penalty. You may also have the option of transferring to an entirely different trip and destination as well, or even transferring your trip to a friend or family member. In the event that you need to outright cancel your trip, if you give us 84* days notice you can do so with only a 50% cancellation fee. Your refund of the balance will come in the form of a Store Credit which you can put toward any other trip that we offer, including tours through third-party providers, as well as holidays through DealsAway.com, and is valid for 2 years from date of issue. As international travel can be complex, your options are based on the progress of your trip organisation and our support team can assist you in finding the best solution for your needs.
How it works
1. Choose a trip style
Find your dream experience & destination, then secure your spot with a flexible & low deposit. Activate your gWorld to unlock some cool perks. Well done! The hardest part’s over!
2. We become friends
Book a time to meet your dedicated Trip Coordinator who knows all the ins & outs of your trip. They’ll be by your side and working behind-the-scenes to pull everything together.
3. Time to go!
We’ll get your tickets, accommodation & transfers ready. Our in-country team or partner will have everything prepared & waiting for your arrival. Get on the plane with no worries!
4. Global support
Never stress, knowing we’re there with you when you need us with ongoing & unlimited local team support. And just in case, we’ve got an emergency team on stand-by, 24 hours, Mon-Fri.
How it works
1. Choose a trip style
Find your dream experience & destination, then secure your spot with a flexible & low deposit. Activate your gWorld to unlock some cool perks. Well done! The hardest part’s over!
2. We become friends
Book a time to meet your dedicated Trip Coordinator who knows all the ins & outs of your trip. They’ll be by your side and working behind-the-scenes to pull everything together.
3. Time to go!
We’ll get your tickets, accommodation & transfers ready. Our in-country team or partner will have everything prepared & waiting for your arrival. Get on the plane with no worries!
4. Global support
Never stress, knowing we’re there with you when you need us with ongoing & unlimited local team support. And just in case, we’ve got an emergency team on stand-by, 24 hours, Mon-Fri.
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Why go Global
Flexible trips
The unexpected can happen sometimes. Can't travel right now? Swap your trip, gift it or save it for later with our Lifetime Deposit Guarantee.
Worldwide support
Know that someone is always ready to assist throughout the journey & they’re only a call, tweet, comment, text or double tap away, 24/5.
We're the experts
With over 10 years in the industry and a team of over 90 passionate pros, you can bet we know our stuff better than anyone else.
Partner network
We have over 1,200 partners around the globe, so we have access to plenty of exclusive opportunities to make your trip the best it can be.
Flexible trips
The unexpected can happen sometimes. Can't travel right now? Swap your trip, gift it or save it for later with our Lifetime Deposit Guarantee.
Worldwide support
Know that someone is always ready to assist throughout the journey & they’re only a call, tweet, comment, text or double tap away, 24/5.
We're the experts
With over 10 years in the industry and a team of over 90 passionate pros, you can bet we know our stuff better than anyone else.
Partner network
We have over 1,200 partners around the globe, so we have access to plenty of exclusive opportunities to make your trip the best it can be.