The Hidden Gem of The South

📍 Surat Thani – Khanom (76.5 km): 1.11 hr

Upon arrival at Surat Thani Airport, be picked up and transferred to Khanom. Via a short sightseeing tour in Surat Thani, visit Phra Borom That Chaiya, an ancient chedi housing Buddhist relics which are highly revered by local residents. This beautifully restored temple serves as a fine example of architecture dating back some 1,200 years to a time when both southern Thailand and Malaysia were under the influence of the mysterious, but powerful, Srivijaya Kingdom, whose seat of power was based in Java, Indonesia. Along the courtyard of the chedi are several beautiful sculptures and Buddha images.

Continue to Khanom.

Overnight in Khanom.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Khanom – Nakhon Si Thammarat (102 km): 1.30 hr Nakhon Si Thammarat – Kiriwong (26.5 km): 43 min

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up for one full day tour.

The morning trip starts with a long-tail boat ride to Ao Taled where you will experience the exotic nature of Pink Dolphins (spotting dolphins depends on the weather condition also). Then proceed to cruise to extended-layers of “Khao Pabpa” mountain overlooking breathtaking geographic view similar to Pancake Rocks (254-286 million years in South Island of New Zealand. Also see the fresh water hole in the sea, which is the beginning place of the legendary Buddhist monk Tuad standing in the sea to transform marine into fresh water for drinking.

Lunch at a local restaurant on the mainland.

In the afternoon, drive to the city of Nakhon Si Thammarat and visit one of the most revered and largest Buddhist temples in the southern region, Wat Mahathat, which houses relics of Buddha brought from Sri Lanka more than a thousand years ago.

Continue to the existing Shadow Puppet Museum (Nang Talung) of Suchart Subsin. You may be lucky enough to meet with the legendary talented Puppet Master, who is happy to entertain you with a brief shadow puppet play. Within his house is a small museum displaying his masterpieces and a welcoming living hall where his family members demonstrate and explain how to make puppet.

In the very late afternoon, transfer to Kiriwong Village, the hidden village in the lush mountain of Khao Luang. This village is known as the best fresh air village in Thailand.

Overnight in Kiriwong.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

Breakfast at the resort.

This morning, go out and explore the Kiriwong village by bike for about half a day. Follow your guide, visit different areas, see simple local lifestyle, explore local markets, and of course beautiful natural scene along the way. Then make a visit to see the making process of different kinds of local products such as Thai herbs making, tie dye making, lace fabric making, etc. After a half day biking, sit down and take a rest at a local vintage style coffee shop in the Kiriwong town.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, free day at leisure among beautiful scene of the mountain.

Dinner at the resort.

Overnight in Kiriwong

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Kiriwong – Khao Sok (225 km): 3.10 hr

Breakfast at the resort, check out and depart for Khao Sok heading towards Khao Sok National Park.

Arrive Anurak Community Lodge just in time for lunch.

In the afternoon, after a short briefing, we start hiking up and down the main dirt track in Khao Sok. This track winds through enormous bamboo forest, old growth trees and strangler figs. With a bit of luck we might see dusky langurs, long-tail macaques, hornbills, small lizards and more.

We hike at a leisurely pace with a short break from time to time so that anyone reasonably fit can enjoy this hike. From time to time we get off the main track and go down across hiking trails towards the Sok River, if there’s enough water you may even go for a refreshing dip. Keep in mind that the trails are very basic, be prepared to climb occasionally across rocks and tree trunks! At the ranger station at Bang Hua Red we stop for a cold drink if you like. After this relaxing break we follow the main dirt track back to the park headquarters.

Return to Anurak Community Lodge between 16:30 and 17:30.

Overnight at Anurak Community Lodge.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Khao Sok – Phuket (170 km): 2.16 hr

Breakfast at the hotel.

In the morning at 09:00, enjoy a canoe ride down the Sok River. Relax and take in the majestic scenery of the area while gently floating past some of Khao Sok’s most dramatic scenery and tallest limestone mountains. About halfway through the journey, stop for a swimming and coffee break (depending on the season)! Then, return to the canoe and continue paddling downstream. While drifting down the river, the expert local guide will point out brightly coloured birds, monkeys, monitor lizards and other wildlife that may be hiding in the tree canopies.

The guides come from the local villages and, although their English language skills may be limited, they more than make up for that with their infectious enthusiasm for the unique natural environment and their incredible ‘feel’ for the jungle. Don’t be surprised if they often point out things that would be nearly invisible to anyone else.  

In the afternoon, transfer to Phuket, heading towards Yacht Haven Marina Pier to board the hotel’s private speedboat (the hotel accepts the last booking for private boat at 16:00).

Overnight on Koh Yao Noi. 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

Breakfast at the hotel.

Today, take part in a feel-good activity that strives to make a positive impact in the lives of people in the local community of Koh Yao Noi. Spend the day with villagers while learning about their lifestyle and traditions. Learn traditional fish farming techniques, see how rubber plantation are maintained and practice the art of batik making.

Then, join a local family for a home-cooked lunch in their home. After lunch, take a walk through some of the area’s scenic rice paddies and snap a few photos, with grazing water buffalo and a distinctly ‘tropical’ vibe, it’s a truly photogenic place. To wrap the day up, stop by local market for an another look at the area’s local life before returning to the hotel.

Overnight on Koh Yao Noi.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

After breakfast at the hotel, the rest of the day is free to spend at leisure. Head out for some independent exploration, visit some of the island’s idyllic beaches or do nothing at all while relaxing at the hotel!

Overnight on Koh Yao Noi. 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

Breakfast at the hotel. Free day at leisure.

Overnight on Koh Yao Noi.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

📍 Khao Sok – Phuket (170 km): 2.16 hr

After breakfast at the hotel, take a speedboat from the hotel to the mainland of Phuket, continuing to Phuket Airport. 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch